Baby Gift-List

Blue_Monkey

My first baby is due soon and whilst we've been slowly getting bits and pieces sorted, I'm getting asked by friends and family as to what they can buy for us. I've never been specially comfortable presenting a list to people for "what I want" but I would rather give people a clue than have them waste their time and money on something we'll never use or don't want. I also think there is a "surprise" baby shower being planned.

So I guess I'm looking for inspiration as to what would make nice gifts. I saw my cousin at the weekend and his wife gave me a bag full of wipes, cotton wool, baby bath stuff, baby flannels, some bibs etc which was perfect - nothing flashy and so so useful.

But it feels strange asking people for things that are day-to-day and that I could just get for myself.

We don't know the sex and already have:

Baby bath, hooded towels, 2 x changing mats, changing station, cot, moses basket and stand, a few vests and baby-grows, baby's first year book, steriliser and bottles (even though I hope to breastfeed), car seat.

The things I'd been eyeing up recently are:

Bouncy chair (nothing flash or battery-powered, just one of the wire type ones), Sophie giraffe, cellular blankets (yawn), breast-feeding pillow and electronic breast-pump and that's about it.

I would kind of like some bits for me, but not sure that asking for these are appropriate... I would like a changing bag, but not sure what one. I'd like some nice PJs but not sure whether to get maternity ones or not or which size, some nice bath/pamper stuff, and I need more bras (I like the Topshop nursing/maternity ones). But I know these fall under the "mummy" category and not the "baby" one so I think it's better that I get these bits myself eh.

Anyway, I'm being 'pressured' to handing over a list asap. I am really grateful but asking for stuff has never sat specially comfortably with me... Plus pregnancy seems to have affected any ability I did have in terms of making-decisions. I've always been a bit of a faffer, but now I could get Olympic gold in it if it was a sport.

So anyway, what would you put on a baby gift-list?

Gigglepig

I would not normally provide a list either but if people ask I think it is fine.
I think a changing bag and maternity bras are very baby related and that you shouldn't feel bad about asking.

It is quick and easy to make a "wish list" for example on amazon, and quite nice to browse... and it may help people buy what you really want.

Gillyx

My OH's mum is telling me to make a list now so she can distribute it amongst the family :eek: I point blank refused which resulted in "well you'l get things you already have or that you don't want"

Looks like I can't win. If it's people you know well then I don't think making a list is a bad thing, it helps people with the buying and you don't even up with 101 0-3 babygrows

mirrorimage0

definatley socks, vests , babygrows muslins and scratch mitts and lots of nappies, vouchers for babysitting services and ironing piles lol

have you been stocking up with the huggies vouchers and starter boxes yet?

if you haven't already join the ADSA baby club. it gives you a voucher for a free huggies newborn starter box. this is the box that has the vouchers inside the sleeve the box contains a packet of huggies newborn nappies and a packets of huggies wipes plus a hat. Print the voucher when it asks if it pronted okay click no. then it lets you print is again giving you 2 boxes of newborn stuff free. Vocuhers are worth £5 and the starter packs are currently reduced in asda to £3 so you can get £2 off your shopping if you buy other stuff at the same time

step 2- Got to adsa and buy a huggies newborn baby box either using the voucher u printed above or buy one for £3.

Step 3- now inside the sleeve open is carefully there are 3 vouchers one for £2 off any huggies newborn nappies- use that voucher to buy another huggies newborn box u will only have to pay £1! the second voucher is for £1 of huggies pure wetwipes these are currently £1 a packet in boots and were £1 in asda if they still have them so you get a packet of free wipes. also a voucher for £2 off swimmers nappies these are currently reduced to £2.99 in boots so u can get a packet for 99p

step 4- take the £2 off huggies newborn nappies voucher to asda and buy another huggies newborn box for £1 and the £2 voucher. again it has the vouchers inside so you can repeat step 3 again and again and again.

when you have enough newborn size one from inside the box you can be cheeky and return them to other supermarkets asking to swap for a larger size as you/ other half bought the wrong ones and u have lost the receipt.

thanks to jenjade for the description, 9sorry jenjade i was being lazy andnot typing it out myself, you explain it so much better than me)

onlyroz

Can you ask for Mothercare vouchers?

PinkLipgloss

My baby loves this:

http://www.elc.co.uk/Blossom-Farm-3-in-1-Sit-Me-Up-Cosy/130437,default,pd.html

It has two settings (baby on back, baby sitting up with support). Nice and comfy and interesting for him to sit in when play with him, read stories or quickly go answer the door etc.

A "memories box" would also be nice to keep scan pictures, baby cards, photos etc.

Since he was only just around 3 months he fell in love with this hard book (big bright pictures of babies with sound of them laughing):

http://www.marksandspencer.com/Marks-and-Spencer-Baby-Giggle/dp/B003FW1LRQ?ie=UTF8&ref=sr_1_1&nodeId=42966030&sr=1-1&qid=1321479612&pf_rd_r=0K4W76RT56T9E2NJ35Q9&pf_rd_m=A2BO0OYVBKIQJM&pf_rd_t=301&pf_rd_i=0&pf_rd_p=215485807&pf_rd_s=center-3

caz74

We have a 2 month old, and other than the things you have already listed, these are what we have found useful

baby sleeping bags
warm hat and mittens, especially if a winter baby
baby monitor
room thermometer
mobile for cot
books - either cloth type books or something for when he or she is a bit older - e.g. book of nursery rhymes/fairy tales
clip on pram toys
travel cot
sling
baby gym
Babycare books

Hope that gives you some inspiration!

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

You'd be better off asking for vouchers, purely because the little ones grow so very, very quickly.

And that means you can spend them on whatever you like.

stiltwalker

Next size up stuff (3-6 months) It looks so huge when you get it out of the packet but you'll need them sooner than you realise. My little man was 7lb 11oz at birth so not huge but he's really long and ws in the 3-6 month stuff at about 6 weeks old. He's now just 6 months (on Monday) and last sat we went to see a friend of mine with him wearing the gorgeous top she got him for his christening 3 weeks ago - she apologised saying she thought she'd bought the next size up and I said you did - 6-9 months is already a little short in the arm!!! (He still looks so cute in it and at least it stops him getting his sleeve in his mush)

scottishchick27

I'd say vouchers or baby vests and baby gros in various ages, very handy. When I had DD I got enough clothes to kit her out for six months and a lot were hardly worn so would've appreciated bigger sizes. If you do make a list, make it for items of different value so that those who want to spend more will but those on a budget can get something too.

Sammy85_2

When people have asked us what they can get for baby we've asked them to wait until baby arrives and we know if its a boy or girl and then bigger sizes in clothes would be good as we have tons of basics and white/cream stuff in newborn and 0-3 but nothing else.

Have specifically asked people to stay away from nursery bits and pieces or other gadgets as we have nowhere to store things and baby wont have a room of its own for some time yet.