Any ideas for a leaving gift for pregnant work colleague?

[WestYorkshireGirl]

I am organising the leaving collection for someone at work who is leaving in 2 weeks. I was pg, but miscarried earlier this year so haven't actually been properly pg myself so I don't know what to get her. We usually get the Mum something for herself and a card when they leave and then a card and something for the baby when it arrives. I was looking at spa vouchers, but can't see us getting that much in the collection so something about £25 would be good. Any ideas of something nice and maybe useful would be great! Thanks very much!

an activity playmat for the baby? I got one from my work when I went on maternity leave with DD. It was from the early learning centre and was a travel playmat. When I saw it, I didn't think much of it to be honest. However, DD LOVED it she should play hours and hours with it and so did DS after her. Although I didn't realise it at the time it was a fab and thoughtful present (much better than clothes or softtoys as you get a lot of them

Some luxury toiletries
A voucher for a manicure

OR

What about one of those cast making kits- you make a cast of your bump so you can keep it and remember what it was like.

we bought a colleague having a winter baby a luscious dressing gown - you never wear it so much as with a new baby

I would suggest the Hush cardigown but it's a bit pricey, ditto white co.

aha this is better, shame it's viscose

ypu get th e idea though

Sorry about your MC WYG - I think I must have already left "our" AN thread when it happened?

Anyway, I can tell you what NOT to get - a bunch of flowers! That's what I got from my workplace after 7 years there - one bunch of frigging flowers. OK, they were quite nice flowers but still!

How well do you know the colleague? One of my friends gave me some toiletries which was a lovely thought but I don't use them, so it was a waste.

The most useful things I got were Mothercare/Boots vouchers and people giving me things for the baby - a little cot toy here, a baby suit there, a lovely baby towel, packets of muslins. Someone gave me this book, which was a bit ahead of time but still useful; depending on her sense of humour, there are books like this - but if you don't know her too well, or it's not her first, then that's probably a bit risky!

I second mrsbadger. Even though we are now coming into spring, it is cold and miserable at 2am still and a nice dressing gown would be lovely, I think... just make sure it is machine washable and low maintanance, I mean can be washed quick and easy and doesn't need ironing!!
For a baby... hard to know what they need... don't want to buy a duplicate of something else. What about some clothes or a voucher for a high street store? We didn't have a lot of money for buying new clothes for baby so I enjoyed spending a next voucher or similar and that way, she can buy what she needs once she has opened all her presents?

Sorry, re-read your OP again - I see that you get stuff for the baby when it's born.

OK - how about a lavender wheat pillow, maybe some nice massage oil for her bump (appropriate for pg women of course), although actually Mothercare/Boots etc. vouchers are still useful as they can be used prenatally as well!

I also got given this book - amused me no end! [sad person emoticon]

How about this: www.nealsyardremedies.com/new-mother-gift-box

I bought that book for my brother thumbwitch! Ithought it was very funny but I'm not sure he got the humour.
When I went on mat leave 2 years ago I got some baby clothes and...the "Eat yourself thin" recipe book. Not quite sure what the hidden meaning in that one was specially as I had a fairly tiny little bump and hadn't put any other weight on.
Friday is my last day before mat leave again, I'm agog to see what they've got me this time !

Sorry WYG I didn't actually answer your question. I like the dressing gown idea, maybe you could also get a lovely box of chocs and a magazine or two to encourage her to relax before the baby arrives.

You can get mum to be smellies from boots!

voucher for a predicure - coz you can;t reach at the end!

some gift vouchers for a clothes shop? i had nothing to wear after i hatched dd.

definately voucher for pedicure or waxing!! I leave for my maternity at end of may and am going to need to do all that, I already cant reach down there. I would LOVE it if I got that when I left work!!

WYG what did you decide in the end?
Have to be honest and say getting waxed would be a really crappy present for me, but depends on the person!! Ditto pedicure...
But nice smellies sounds nice!

Thanks for all the ideas. It's always so hard when you don't know someone that well! I think it will be Mother to be smellies of some kind depending on how much is raised it will be Boots (budget option) or Neal's Yard (more luxury option!)

Depending on the person, perhaps a book token so she can choose a nice book to read while putting her feet up and waiting for the baby to arrive with some luxury hot chocolate or other nice chocolates or biscuits.

I personally would love a pedicure or manicure, but I know others who wouldn't be interested in that. It is actually really hard to find spa treatments that are comfortable to have in late pregnancy. Pretty much forgot facials, or anything where you have to lie down or sit for long periods.