Good and bad presents for new babies/parents

[Pruni]

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BIBS! Bibs, ffs, what is it with bibs?!!! I have 26 bloddy bibs and I don't use any! Sooo many people have given them to us and I cannot understand why, both ds's bfed, and at this age any dribble just runs down their face past their ears since they can't sit up... which reminds me, I must rinse poor neglected ds2's crusty white snail's trail off his ear before hv sees it and calls social services...I wonder if I could use a bib instead of a flannel?!
And the hideous brown velour bear suit for a 6-12m old baby friends of dh gave us, I've put a pic on my profile if you want to give yourself nightmares!
In fact velour outfits generally. And denim. Why give a newborn denim??
Good presents have included a pram chain, a fleece to lie on, swim nappy. And for ds2, vouchers since we have most of what he needs from ds1 anyway.

oh, and if you really like them, a machine washable lambskin.
they are brilliant but cost a blardy fortune so not enough people get them

that babygro is truely revolting 2happy!

am with you on the bibs too, even while weaning i don't use them as the food just gets under them anyway.

Oh yes - canvas Oshkosh dungarees for a newborn

Thanks, pinktulips, I'm sure by the time ds2 would be big enough to fit into it, even he would be embarassed to be seen in public in it!

Some of the less useful presents for ds were:
clothes inappropriate for the time of year (eg - snowsuit that would only fit in the summer )
toiletries
endless cuddly toys
pram shoes

Great presents were:
handmade/knitted things
blankets
bibs (I could never have enough)
books which have been read as he got older

If any of your friends are going to try reusable nappies, how about buying a nice wrap?

I got loads of flowers, which was lovely, but didn't have enough vases for them all. I think offering practical help can be a great gift, eg - taking round a meal.

My best present was probably the book "What Mothers Do." And I wish someone had made me read a Deborah Jackson book while I was pregnant or during my first weeks with ds. So perhaps a book you have found inspiraional would be a good present?

2Happy, of my 3 children 2 went/are going through at least 3 bibs a day almost from birth, and they were/are the fully breatsfed ones. Even the mix-fed one needed bibs once he started solids. Decent cotton bibs have been very welcome presents at the Candelabrum!

baby tv, any new parent will thank you for it

All of our best and worst presents were baby clothes.

The ridiculously thick cream velour trousers and jacket set that would be way too hot for indoors and so thick you'd never get it over another outfit for outdoors was the most useless.

The most useful was a set of tiny sleepsuits for our tiny baby when everyone else bought giant ones "for her to grow into". Poor thing had nothing to wear for the first month of her life.

I loved it when people bought us things that ds would like soon ie a Lamaze play ball, and a really great mobile, as opposed to cuddly toys that he won't be into for ages. I also loved bath things for me, was bliss to get 20 mins while DP took the baby . Wasn't so keen on massive sleep suits with disney characters on, which we got quite a few of from DPs aunts and uncles, but was really touched by how much effort people put into choosing stuff for us