Gift for New/Expectant mother - ideas??

Scarlet81

Hello all

I'm looking for some inspiration really. My best friend is about to have her 1st baby alone (father went AWOL when found out she was preg) I would like to buy her something nice after the Baby is born for herself but am stuck for ideas?

Did anyone ever receive such a gift after the Birth of their children?

thank you.

miss_independent

My BFF, had a baby shower and everyone bought gifts for the baby but she was really touched to receive a "pamper" gift for herself. A local spa offers a Yummy Mummy Day where they basically get pampered for the day, I thought that would be a great gift for friends to club together and buy for a new mum. My friend really wasn't coping the first three weeks after having the baby and the one thing that helped her was when her DF's mother offered to babysit for half a day whilst she had her hair done and looked round the shops. She said she felt mildly human again! Perhaps offer to babysit for a couple of hours and treat her to voucher for a beauty therapy centre or spa and she can pick a massage or facial or whatever she feels may relax her. Also my friend didn't have time to cook so her and DF survived on takeaways for ages! I gave my cousin (a busy working mum) an M&S voucher and I was surprised she was over the moon as it meant she could buy the M&S Dine In Deal and some meals which meant she had a weekend where she didn't have to cook and she could recharge her batteries without eating total junk - sometimes you just don't realise how something that simple can make someone's life a little easier! If you don't think any of these ideas are any good, have a look at the special occasions board - they have pictures of hampers you can make up, there was a thread once for ideas for new mums, and tbh you can make it very nice without having to spend a fortune. You could put things like Lush goodies in and I'm sure she would appreciate it. I love babies but I always think its sad that the new mum's get overlooked when they have such a hard job to do.

Scarlet81

thanks so much, you've given me some fab ideas there.:)

whitewing

As a former single parent, I can only say that absolutely anything will be very touching.

Flowers are great (imo), particularly if you take a photo of them, and her and baby as a momento.

sarymclary

If your friend is going to be a single mum, then she's going to be worn out if she's not getting plenty of support from family & friends.

How about getting her some nice treats and some practical goodies too, as well as putting in some 'vouchers' where you offer to babysit for her, ie. IOU An Afternoon of Peace, A Night Out, A Trip to the Shops, An Afternoon Off, etc.? It can be very isolating when you're stuck at home with a baby for the 1st time, so knowing you'll have an opportunity to get out at some point in the future, or just go for a mooch around the shops without having to take baby along, is a real treat.

As a tip, if buying toiletries such as bubble bath/shower gels, try to get ones with a neutral PH, because your 'bits' take a bit of a hammering, and need some tlc. I'd recommend something like Badedas, which is ideal. Lush maybe a bit strong and soapy, as lovely as they smell. If your friend is intending to breastfeed then I can recommend Kamillosan. I did a basket of lots of practical items for my best friend when she had her 1st baby alone. I put in some sachets of Calpol (that first cold comes quicker than you think), Infacol for colic, Kamillosan, some breast pads, nipple shields, tub of Sudacrem, E45 cream, electronic thermometer, some packs of sweets & chocolate to nibble while she breastfed and was stuck on the sofa, etc. She said it was the best gift she'd received, and lasted her months.

As much as it is nice to have pampering stuff, the reality is that you don't even get to sit on the loo alone when you become a mum. To do anything like that, your friend is going to need to have help and support caring for baby, or a chance to have some 'me' time by having a babysitter.

Have a look in the Boots Mother & Baby department, it will have lots to choose from.

keys_2

I made my friend a hamper and she loved it ..I got my ideas off a thread on here , but im not to sure which one it is ....There is some on here I think thow
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/...nished+baskets

zzzLazyDaisy

You can get 'vouchers' to print off the internet that say 'I promise one hour babysitting' etc.

As a new single mum, probably the thing she will need most is a long hot bath without worrying about the baby! So I'd suggest some fleecy pj's, a good book, some candles, and a babysitting voucher.

Seriously, when I was a new single mum, the worst of it was the loneliness and the 'cabin fever'. I am sure she will appreciate your company above anything else.

freebiequennie

I would suggest buying some of those takeaway silver foil trays and cooking some meals she can freeze and then just get out of freezer and re-heat in oven such as casseroles, lasanga, cottage pie, curry. Make her some soup and freeze into individual portions.

Also the offer to babysit for couple hrs here and there so she can get some sleep.

mums_got_no_pennies

i think the meal suggestion is great,not so sure about the toiletries though,had my third baby 5 months ago,as a single parent i still havent found the time for a lovely long soak and have barely read a newspaper let alone a good book,but maybe thats just me lol.What would be heaven for me is if someone would come and make me a cup of tea,instead of just sitting there and waiting for me to offer.Little things mean alot when you are going through something like this IMHO

Scarlet81

thanks so much I'm going to make some vouchers and print them off for her, she's quite an independent person who never asks for help so she'll be able to redeem these vouchers with me, fab ideas thanks

fiscalfreckles

Just want to echo those who have suggested babysitting etc - time to yourself is what every new Mum is in need of. Even with a partner, it is so hard to even have a soak in the bath without making all sorts of arrangements! It must be very stressful on your own. So I think offers to babysit while she goes to the shops, even popping round with a takeaway one night to keep her company (and let her go & have that bath!), things like that would be much appreciated.