Best baby shower gift?

[Helpordont]

A good friend is expecting her first. We both cycled though ivf at the same time (after multiple previous cycles) mine failed, hers worked. Not sure why this is relevant, maybe explains why I want to get it so right.
But what is an excellent shower gift? Around £50. Not sure this is the best board, but didn't know where it should go ........

I've recently had a baby shower and a relative got me a caddy type thing with all the essentials in (nappies, wipes, baby lotion, baby oil, cotton wool, ear buds etc) to keep in our living room to save us running up and down the stairs. Perhaps a changing mat as well to go with it? We'd already bought two (one for upstairs, one for downstairs) so didn't need one but I think go with things that are more practical!

I wanted to get a nice practical gift, creams/wipes/muslin etc. But was worried that would be seen as boring or insensitive (barren woman buying shit gift type scenario)

I agree - I was given a caddy (think the range was ok baby?) with nappies/wipes/sudocrem/change of clothes/baby sponge etc. It had a compartment at the top that lifted out that I used as a top and tail bowl, and it was all kept downstairs to use through the day

It's lovely that you want to get her a nice gift, it must be incredibly difficult for you. I hope your baby shower is next good luck.

I got a caddy type thing too, it's brilliant so don't think to badly on that idea, it's not a bad gift, honestly.
What about something for her, one of my friends got me a teacup and saucer (love tea) and quite a few got their favourite children's books for me too.

Can anyone share links of caddy's for me please?
Book is a great idea too. Round 4 starts in jan wish me luck 💕

I was given a Morrck baby hoodie as a baby shower gift.
It was used every day in my baby’s car seat. Perfect for keeping him warm even through winter.

Ours was similar to this one www.amazon.co.uk/Enyoir-Foldable-Organiser-Changeable-Compartments/dp/B07BDFDF6V/ref=asc_df_B07BDFDF6V/?hvlocphy&linkCode=df0&hvptwo&psc=1&hvnetw=o&hvadid&hvpone&hvlocint&hvpos&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl&hvqmt=e&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&hvtargid=pla-4584001419448805&hvrand
You seem lovely OP and as a PP said, I hope it's your baby shower next

Nappies/creams etc are so subjective and personally I’d rather choose my own than feel obliged to use something I was gifted or guilty for throwing it away if it doesn’t work for my baby - sudocrem literally made my newborn’s skin fall off her bum, and we’re all horribly reactive to Johnson’s products for example.

Personally I’d go for something more along the lines of a tuppence and crumble star blanket or a moby wrap for example. Other ideas could be a pram organiser or waterproof hand muff for the winter, a nappy clutch (Tiba and Marl or similar) or a sheepskin pram liner - something lovely and useful, but that you might not necessarily buy yourself as it’s not 100% essential.

You sound lovely and thoughtful, best of luck for your upcoming cycle.

We live in the tropics ........so warm gifts are useless (Sorry should have said)

I'm pregnant and received a fantastic gift last weekend.

It's a voucher for a full pedicure with gels that I can use anytime in the next 12 months. And a really lovely white stuff blanket for the baby. It's beautifully made.

I was really chuffed. My feet are sore and ugly at the moment, I can't reach to cut my nails and the blankets I had already are not so lovely. I'll treasure this one.

This sounds really ungrateful I know, but my favourite baby shower gifts were the ones for me (or were made specifically for the baby eg hand knitted stuff) I went through IVF too and that allowed me to plan for a whole host of things I wanted to get the baby - I even have a notebook filled with lists - so anything anyone got for the baby was slightly disappointing.

So from that perspective either go all out on her and spend that £50 on some amazing bath products she can use before / during / after the birth, or see if you can get a hand knitted baby blanket or clothes from somewhere (eg a church fete / market etc).

I agree with PP a caddy for downstairs would be so handy and really thoughtful it came prefilled with useful bits and bobs!

Hope all goes well for your friend with the pregnancy and for you in Jan OP! xx

I got my DIL to be a big fabric trug thing from John Lewis. I filled it with lots of nice bits and pieces. What went down really well as the books I bought, I got one's my son remembered from his childhood like Where's Spot and Hairy McClary.

Just another perspective, currently expecting baby myself, and I wouldn't like a caddy with random baby stuff in it.
I am planning on using reusables so wouldn't use disposable nappies, wipes or cotton wool. I wouldn't use baby lotion or oil on a baby either.

Things i would like from a friend:

• Nice classic book or mini collection they can grow into.
• large muslin swaddles 120 x120 size. not white.
• offer to meet up for breakfast/ coffee/cake with baby.
• some easy to heat food brought around after baby is born.
• nice baby cardigan in 100% cotton in larger size ie 6+ months
• offer from a friend to come and hold baby whilst I have a bath or to sleep an hour.

I am kind of particular in most items i know I want to get, and also want to stay fairly minimal in what we get due to space. So extra 'stuff' isn't really needed or wanted.

All the above still good possibilities bar the star blanket and hand muff in that case! Sheepskin one of the best materials for thermoregulation/not having a horribly sweaty baby in the heat. For a hot weather carrier, a bamboo stretchy wrap or the ergobabu aura, or if you can stretch the budget/split with a friend, an integra solar carrier.

Totally agree though that a gift for mum is a lovely idea too. I received a facial, and a voucher for a meal out with my husband at our fav restaurant for when we were eventually ready post-baby.

I love the baby hoodie WhataLump, added to my bookmarks in case someone I know has a baby.

I think a caddy is a good idea, we use baskets we already had but it is useful to have a supply of things next to the bed and in the living room. But I also agree that creams and nappys etc. can very much be personal choice so unless you know what she is likely to go for (traditional baby wash stuff, the more fancy stuff, not using anything like that etc.) then stuff could get wasted.

A voucher for a massage or pedicure that she can use while pregnant - or food once the baby has arrived. Maybe a token gift for the baby. Like a cardigan or muslin.

Hi OP,

You sound like such a wonderful friend to your friend. She’s lucky to have you. I can’t give many gift suggestions as I’m PG (first baby) myself and am not planning a shower. I’m secretly hoping that when baby arrives, friends and family will give us +3 months baby clothes as we have the essentials covered, but that’s just me.

No gift from would ever be boring (as you said in your second post). You want to give something lovely and practical to your friend and that’s great! I’m really wishing you the best of luck for round four in Jan. I have my fingers and toes crossed for you.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/OKBaby-Beauty-Carrying-Changing-Ivory/dp/B003YQMK2S/ref=ascdff_B003YQMK2S/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=310856674931&hvpos=1o2&hvnetw=g&hvrand=9100171385491755087&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9046823&hvtargid=pla-583285334633&psc=1&th=1&psc=1

This is mine sorry I don't know how to do the little links!

People might just be being polite but I gave 1 friend a voucher to a baby massage course which she absolutely loved. And another I did a little basket of some bits you might need in the first year, like calpol, calpol plug in, saline solution, teething gel etc and she said it was actually so handy having it all "in stock"

Would you feel comfortable asking her? My sister has planned a shower for me and one friend who can’t make it messaged me asking if there was anything on our list we hadn’t bought yet, so she’d know we’d actually use it. It was lovely of her and she has bought us a couple of bits we do really need. Could be an idea!

As above, I would ask her if possible. I feel like we have 101 essentials on our to get list, and if someone bought something off that it would actually be super helpful.
Ie as mentioned looking at reusable nappies, they are around £15 each, and we need a fair few. So if someone bought one or two from the brand we are getting it would save us money, be super useful and used daily..

I have asked her if she has a list. Will report back. If I was to get her essentials I would ensure they were all organic/animal friendly etc as I know that's important to her. Thanks for all the help/love!