Premature Baby Gift Ideas Please!

messy_cook

Hello

This is my first post so please be gentle with me!

A friend of ours has just had a very prem baby who will be in SCBU for a while, although Mum has been allowed home following a C-section.

I've already done a nappy cake as a "baby shower" type pressie, but I'm stuck for ideas for a gift.

I could send flowers but I remember when DS was born I received so many that I ended up taking several bouquets up to the local residential care centre as we ran out of vases!

All ideas welcome please!

Many thanks

rainmac

Hi messy cook, hope mum and baby are doing ok.

How about sleepsuits in premature size - newborn or 0-3m clothes must be huge on a prem baby, maybe it would be nice to have something that fitted a bit better? For mum how about lavender oil to put in bath (great to help with the healing process) or can put couple drops on pillow to help sleep.

HTH

Cinny91

I hope they're both doing okay.

If you can knit how about doing afew premmie hats? Or a pampering kit for Mum?
You could get always afew books of classic fairy stories, like the ladybird classics, so she can read to the baby, and they'd hold up well for when s/he starts to read.

rainmac

Found some prem baby clothes sites...

http://www.babyprem.com/?gclid=CO2pz8_ZwZQCFQ7llAodb1DnFg (this one is free p&p)

http://www.tinybabyandco.com/

http://www.babycity.co.uk/SC/baby-products/1/Premature-Baby.aspx

http://www.earlybaby.co.uk/acatalog/index.html

http://www.teddyandme.co.uk/prod1.asp?ID=276

Sorry, that's probably enough sites isn't it!

RustyFlange

Cinny thats a lovely idea about the book so she can read to the baby.

Again as mentioned before some premmy clothes for the baby although the baby may not be wearing anything other than a nappy if it is SCBU. Boots do a range or premature nappies, but again hospitals may or may not provide these.

How about some pretty bottles or cups for when baby is older, a couple of teething rings, etc, all things which can be put away for when the baby is older, and maybe a pamper kit for mum. Again boots do a range of things for new mums and mums to be so maybe look at something like that.

sarahf191979

What about one of those plaster kits for hand/ foot prints you can buy?

Love all the other ideas too.

Hope mum & baby are doing well

tiamai_d

Tesco premature nappies are IMHO the best, but are really for babies over 4-5lb. For very premmies, SCBU provide itty-bitty ones, so no nappies required at the moment.

A memory box is a good idea, you get lots of momentos from SCBU, a little log book, their ID tags, photos etc.

I always wanted a plaster cast momento kit but never got around to buying one.

Clothes are always handy, but check sizes first. Tiny socks are so handy as babys feet get cold and they are used as scratch mits too! And 'lets not pull our nasal gastric tube out our nose mits'. Scratch mits don't fit yet and the socks end up lost so a good supply is appreciated. As are tiny knitted hats.

For me, a neck support pillow is a must (two kids with plagiocephaly) to stop tiny premmie baby getting plagio (flattened head syndrome), halfords do a Mr Men one, mothercare have winnie the pooh etc. They are for in the car seat or pram NOT for sleeping on.

A nice cot-buddy soft toy to keep baby company.

A few puzzle books for Mum, visiting SCBU can be a bit boring, you want to sit there but there is not a lot you can do when baby is sleeping.

oh and peenyweeny baby are awesome!

http://www.peenyweeny.co.uk/sess/utn;jsessionid=15487d10d02af14/shopdata/index.shopscript

dawnteabag

My best friend had a very prem baby 29 weeks but stopped developing at 25 weeks) a couple of years ago and I went for a memory box. (bought a blue gingham hat box and stuck some baby embellishments and 'memories' on top).
Prem baby clothes don't fit too long and they have to be washed at v high temperatures to minimise risk of infection so any nice ones will go out of shape pretty quick.
Things were pretty touch and go with Will (it seems its often 3 steps forward 2 back with v pre babies) and I wanted to make sure that my gift was still appropriate should the worst happen.
Wish her luck though. He's now a happy handful at 3 years old!

rsdiscos

When our son was in neonatal we didn't have family nearby and few real firends - what would have been really nice was some home cooked food that could be frozen and reheated later on or offers of cleaning. I am thinking of your friend - it's a very emotional time!

tiamai_d

Lifts to and from the hospital especially if they are one of the ones who charge for parking! Luckily we still get a patient/parent pass but I know a few do charge.

A home made check book would be handy for that, I promise one return trip to the hospital, to clean your over, to cook a meal, to mow your lawn etc. Would depend on your situation ofcourse and some people clam up during this time, refusing help as they can do it on their own.

Best wishes for baby and family.

NBirdy

The Zaky Gloves (can get them from shop below) look brilliant. My daughter was only 4 weeks early and fortunately didn't need SCBU, but I would definitely have used one of them for her if I had known about them back then.

http://www.peenyweeny.co.uk/sess/utn;jsessionid=15487de39cae118/shopdata/index.shopscript