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Ideas needed please!

Hi all!!

OH’s SIL has just found out she is pregnant!! I would like to put together a baby basket for her but as I have no children of my own yet I am a bit stuck as to what to put in it. So far I have:

Sudocrem
Nappy sacks
Cotton wool balls
Baby bath
Talc
Baby oil/lotion

Could any of you give me some ideas as to what I can add?!
«13

Comments

  • kegg_2
    kegg_2 Posts: 522 Forumite
    baby socks
    a few flannels or muslin cloths
    a little baby rattle or teether
    a pack of dummies
    a pack of nappies
    a baby bath toy
    a little baby hair brush
    a bottle cleaner
    baby nail clippers or sissors
    and something nice for mummy like chocalates
  • gonzo127
    gonzo127 Posts: 4,482 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    not wanting to be too much of a pain but how far along is she?

    just try to think that up untill 12 weeks there is quite a high chance of miscarrage and although you mean well if she does miscarry, then seeing your loverly baby basket could upset her (sorry happened to me and my wife)
    Drop a brand challenge
    on a £100 shop you might on average get 70 items save
    10p per product = £7 a week ~ £28 a month
    20p per product = £14 a week ~ £56 a month
    30p per product = £21 a week ~ £84 a month (or in other words one weeks shoping at the new price)
  • I did a basket for my sil too! I picked up a thing a week when i went to asda. Anything from flannels, towels, bibs, nappies, babygros, bath toys, toys for new borns ie pram toys, socks, mittens etc. I neever spent more than £3 on an item and when she finally had the baby i had a hamper the size of goodness knows what!!

    Also, dont forget mummy in all this! Some massage oils, candles, bubble bath, babysitting voucher, nail polish, new book, chocolates etc..everyone always forgets mummy!
  • newcook
    newcook Posts: 5,001 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    gonzo127 wrote: »
    not wanting to be too much of a pain but how far along is she?

    just try to think that up untill 12 weeks there is quite a high chance of miscarrage and although you mean well if she does miscarry, then seeing your loverly baby basket could upset her (sorry happened to me and my wife)


    sorry to hear that :(
    I think she's about 8 weeks or so - I wasnt going to mention to her at all about the basket as I wanted it to be a suprise!
  • newcook
    newcook Posts: 5,001 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Forgot to say that mommy wont be forgotten – I was going to get her a bath set, a bottle of wine and the offer of free babysitting (I iron as well when I babysit as I get bored!!)
  • sassyblue
    sassyblue Posts: 3,793 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Don't bother with talc, it's not recommended these days for babys (tiny powder particles)

    Something that would be particularly useful would be a pack of nappies not newborn but the second size UP, because being a new mum is very busy and your baby just grows so quickly it helps to have things in ready for use. ;) (Morrisons and tescos own brands are highly recommended from me, never got on with huggies or pampers though l tried them)

    I'd also say don't bother with baby lotion (not something l ever needed), shampoo (babies don't have that much hair - unless you're buying a luxury brand like Burts Bees it comes in smaller bottles and is then somehow a nicer present):

    But would recommend:
    Baby wipes, you get through so many!
    Muslin cloths
    Bibs
    Scratch mittens (ones that are longer in length as they slip off easily otherwise - Asdas were short - it was either mothercare or boots ones that were better)
    Bath/ pram toys
    natural bath sponge
    choccies/wine for mum!
    all laid on a supersoft white baby towel??

    Hope that helps, if you also want to get your SIL something before the baby comes how about The Baby Whisperer book by Alison Hogg, it's fabulous and comes very highly recommended, there's a page which describes babys cries and how they sound and what they mean (very useful when you're a new mum until you 'understand' your own baby), she'll need to read it while she has time before baby comes.

    Good luck your SIL is lucky to have you be so kind :D


    Happy moneysaving all.
  • gonzo127
    gonzo127 Posts: 4,482 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    edited 25 November 2010 at 3:37PM
    newcook wrote: »
    sorry to hear that :(
    I think she's about 8 weeks or so - I wasnt going to mention to her at all about the basket as I wanted it to be a suprise!

    no worries, it was a while back and my wife fell pregnant again pretty much stright after she had finished with the misscarrage, much to our surprise as she hadnt actually had a period since she had stopped. and now we have a wonderful girly who makes us gigle every day :D

    i was just wanting to point out that i would keep any baby baskets secret until at least after the 12 week scan

    so far a lot of good suggestions, but i would also add

    baby sleeping bag
    vests
    baby grows
    i would suggest for nappies to think about getting small packets of different brands as they will find out you dont automatically get along with one of the big named brands so it will allow them to try the different makes, my wee one for example has never got on with pampers and constantly leaked, however huggies and tesco's own worked much better

    a good website i found to point them to was babycentre as it had a progress chart telling you the week by week development of their baby, which i thought was fab :D
    Drop a brand challenge
    on a £100 shop you might on average get 70 items save
    10p per product = £7 a week ~ £28 a month
    20p per product = £14 a week ~ £56 a month
    30p per product = £21 a week ~ £84 a month (or in other words one weeks shoping at the new price)
  • FatVonD
    FatVonD Posts: 5,315 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker I've been Money Tipped!
    Infacol and Snuffle babe (may be called something else nowadays), trust me she'll thank you for it (it just might be in the middle of the night :D )
    Make £25 a day in April £0/£750 (March £584, February £602, January £883.66)

    December £361.54, November £322.28, October £288.52, September £374.30, August £223.95, July £71.45, June £251.22, May£119.33, April £236.24, March £106.74, Feb £40.99, Jan £98.54) Total for 2017 - £2,495.10
  • clairelou44
    clairelou44 Posts: 1,114 Forumite
    A baby hat. Chocolates and wine for Mum are a great idea :D
    Everything Happens for a Reason....
  • Hiya

    I did this for my best friend when she had a baby. I did all the baby stuff mentioned above but also put in a Yankie Candle in Baby Powder which smells lovely. For her, I bought some of The Sanctury's mum to be range - it's really nice and a bit pampering for mum.
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