New baby gift - ideas please!

panpipe

My cousin is expecting a baby, due in early December. She is only 20 and has to rely on lots of help from family etc. as her partner is self-employed so they don't have a regular income.

She has already been given lots of baby clothes etc, so I was looking for ideas for gifts - I think useful things would be appreciated but I wouldn't want it to look too much like 'charity' in case she gets offended. I had thought of putting together a hamper of some little bits and would like suggestions on the least expensive way to do this!

jammydodga

Maybe do a smellies basket, for both her and baby?

Or do a nappy cake, im sure ive seen some on the special occasions board.

sun1000

Baby baskets are a good idea, I did one for my cousin, when I went to the supermarket i picked up nappies, baby wipes etc every week things that they will always need.

*Dee*

I would also agree with the baby basket type gift. I have done this for a few of my friends and family and they have appreciated it as its things you need but never get given. I joined boots baby club and tescos to so i got the money off vouchers and picked bits up when they were on buy one get one free. I normally get some bits for when they are older to like a drinking cuop and bowl and cutlery too.

becs

Have a look at the Nappy cakes on the forum under special occassions. I make them and receive alot of orders once people see them. They're dead easy to make, something a bit different, longer lasting than flowers and extremely practical. All the recipients seem to genuinely love them as they're often not something they've seen before. If I do a 3 tier cake it usually has a fleece blanket, 2 muslin cloths, appx 40 nappies, a teddy bear, a sleepsuit, bodysuit, hat mittens, socks, bib, booties, dummy, johnsons shampoo, Johnsons bubble bath, Johnsons soap, a tommee tippee bottle (think that's all!). So you can see it's very practical, you can put whatever you like in the cake really so if they've already got lots of clothes you could do one with other bits in like nail scissors, bath thermometer, toileteries, cotton wool, sudocream all that kind of thing. This is a picture of one I've done so you can see what it is if you haven't seen them already.

Becs

becs

By the way Panpipe above cake costs around £20-£22 to make up.

Becs

Millie's_Mum

Why not try to put practical things in the baby basket if thats what you decide on?

I'm thinking Calpol, a thermometer, nail scissors, hairbrush, karvol, scratch mitts, nappy cream

EDIT just read becs reply above and she had already said this pretty much, sorry!

MrsTinks

Or... if they are going to be struggling for money why not buy her some re-usable nappies... Yes they cost a bit more but she'll not need to buy reusables again then

Then again - I DO love becs' nappy cakes hehehehe

Edinburghlass_2

Buy the things that she will actually need and no-one ever buys, like ordinary little vests, socks, mitts, plain baby-grows. Its all very well giving a lot of fancy clothes but they seldom get worn. If you can knit or crochet do a shawl, it was the best present I got and was used daily for tucking her into the car seat as well as wrapping her in.

becs

Thanks MrsTine

It's a bit strange because we are trying to start a company doing washable nappies and also trying to think of how to incorporate them into nappy cakes! Washable nappies are a very expensive outlay unfortunately and the majority of people aren't keen sadly! We're trying for our own little one at the mo and I'm determined to at least give them a go if we have one much to all my friend's amusement! My argument is if my mum managed it with terry towelling in the 70's I'm quite sure I can give it a chance with all the modern nappies and washing machines and tumblers! Have got to be alot easier than Mum had it!

Becs

MrsTinks

Becs my view exactly I'm entirely planning on using re-usables but disposables if we're out for the day... I'm just waiting till christmas/new year before buying anything as Bean isn't due till May :rotfl: