What was *THE* most useful product/gift you received for your newborn?

[Tinker]

Very kind sil is insisting on buying a present for the new baby. Trouble is, we have virtually everything (mostly because she has lent it to us) So, I don't can't think of anything we "need" except one or two things which I think are too expensive to request.

Anyone have any suggestions for anything beyond the obvious? I know she wants to buy a baby swing but space is lacking and they look like they take up a lot of room. We did wonder on just some champagne but that been dismissed.

Anyone?

Thanks

I would have long since lost it completely if not for DS's Ocean Wonders swing. For several weeks after we got it everyone I met said to me "You look much happier" or variants thereof. There's barely room to walk about in our living room now but I don't care...

I vote for the Baby Einstein dvd with Mozart music. Kept ds fascinated from an early age. Also a baby gym thing with musical rotating penguins - very popular with the baby, he broke the rotating bit recently, but now I hang other toys from it, like teethers and stuff - he still loves it.
He liked his vibrating bouncer (ala 'sex and the city')with hanging toys as well, and now he eats food in it - it is covered in porridge - and doesn't really like his proper seat.
Also a whoozit we received from my cousin - I thought it was horrible, but it still captivates ds.

DD hated swing too, loves her Winnie the Pooh lullaby dreamshow to this day 3.5 now. It was one of the very first things she recognised, still play it every night to go to sleep. Baby sleeping bag & nightie with elasticated bottom were two of my faves.
Babysitting offers during the day were great too, sometimes you don't feel like going out but just an hour or 2 to yourself for a nap/shower/dvd & chocs on the couch are priceless.

Thanks everyone. Think we've decided we should go for the swing after all. Lots of lovely suggestions here but, luckily for us, sil has already lent us most of them

Get the swing and the Einstein baby video from Mothercare makes'em brainier.