Nice baby shower gift for a colleague?

[Peppin]

I know this probably isn't the right place for this question but I can't see where else might be more appropriate. Popped onto the Childbirth board thinking that would be where I'd find the most current new mums, but it's all chat about VBAC and elective C-sections there!

I've been invited to the baby shower of a colleague this weekend. I've never been to a baby shower before and I don't know what an appropriate gift might be. I've only been in the job a few months but we get on very well. It's her first baby. I have 2 but they are quite big now and I'm not very au fait with what the current "thing" (or "things") is (or are). She is well organised and I think has all the essentials so I'd like to get her something a bit unusual/something you wouldn't buy for yourself but would like to have, IYKWIM. She is having a girl. I'd like to spend about £20.

Any ideas?

a named rose here might be nice? or frankly a bottle of champagne would be a fab gift - i loved that a couple of people got me that as after 9 months sobriety it's a great treat...

Sophie the Girraffe

Second Sophie the Giraffe- got one for my boss' newborn and his wife loved it. Seriously, she talks about it every time I see her. So either it's an amazing, chic, French-cult toy or she has no small talk skillz.

20 pounds is a lot of money to spend on a colleagues shower present (in my opinion) I'd get a couple of cute board books like
Giraffes Can't Dance
Peach Pear Plum
The Gruffalo

or something like that

We got one of these for DD and had so many compliments, plus it was really handy and easier to use than a snow suit - presuming your colleague is due in a few weeks, this would last her through the winter:

m.notonthehighstreet.com/tuppenceandcrumble/product/fleece-baby-star-wrap

Love Sophie the Giraffe but I think someone else has got that for her.

Ramona, she has been really helpful to me since I started and I'd like to give her something nice. Having had a look online it seemed that everything costs at least £10 and you don't get much for that! Books a nice less expensive idea but it will be a couple of years before the baby's doing anything more with books than chewing them.

nm123 that is lovely. Wish I'd had one when my 2 were babies. Endless wriggling in and out of snow suits was very tiresome!

In the past I have bought these for friends/colleagues as they're so pretty and well presented. Or you could club together with one or 2 others and get these which I had and are fab.

or this which is so cute. My best gifts were things like this that I would consider too much ££ for one single item but lovely to receive as a present.

Hello, I was given the sanctuary mother to be set which you can get in boots. The body butter was particularly Lovely I recall.

Went to a baby shower last month and gave this www.giftsboxedforyou.com/gbfy0002_baby_gift_box_37.asp and my friend loved it.

I like nice blankets/ towels as gifts for babies....
gorgeous blanket

funky towels

I've bought baby sock cupcakes in the past and they've gone down well. My aim is usually to get something which the mum-to-be probably wouldn't buy herself on the basis it's too frivolous and this fits the bill and is a lovely present to boot!

Ooh whilst we're talking about socks, the trumpette ones are so cool! But you may need to know the sex of the baby first... www.trumpette.com/socks.html

Next have a lovely brightly coloured knitted blanket. It's a bit like a Mamas and Papas 'Gingerbread' one that was very popular a couple years ago. Can't find it online.
Mamas and Papas blankets are usually top expensive- this one is half price though
www.mamasandpapas.com/product-knitted-blanket/7883d4100/type-i/

What a lovely site Blowninonabreeze I might have found a Christmas present for my December arrival!

I recommend the funky stripy travel changing mat by Built NY at £19.99

Dry shampoo and takeaway vouchers

Have a look on Nordic Kids or OhBaby websites for some more unusual clothes/blankets.

Baby Blooms are nice.

Second Tethers' suggestions. OhBabyLondon have frequent discounts. Am sure they had 50% off the other day and it might still be on. I love Nordic Kids but always worth a quick eBay search if you find a Scandi brand you like.

Whoozit toy - my children loves this. Or Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell.

A friend sent me a cheese gift box from a posh cheese shop, but it would be easy to make your own with nice crackers etc. Eating the forbidden foods again is really nice.

I put together a box for a friend with a few small toys for the new baby, a little thing for her older DD, a pack of biscuits, a magazine, some chocolate, some nice alcohol hand gel stuff, and a few other little treats. It was well received as everyone had something, and what new Mum doesn't want to sit down with a magazine and a biscuit sometimes? You can even do that while feeding the baby....

The only other idea I have is to get her something for when her baby is a little bit older - 3-6 month stuff, or a lovely outfit for the Spring/Summer. I got lots of lovely newborn clothes, but by the time DD was in 6-9 months she was in some stuff I didn't really like, but was a job lot on ebay not quite as well attired as she had been. I'd have liked to have something nice to put her in, and would have worn it to death.

I went for the star baby wrap suggested by nm123 but want to let you all know you can get it for £5 less if you buy direct from the Tuppence and Crumble website instead of Notonthehighstreet.