New Baby / Survival Hamper

full-time-mum

Forget the hamper. a whole wodge of "Babysitting tokens" or other promises.
ideas:

• Ironing
• Cooking a meal
• baking a cake
• shopping trip (so she can buy some clothes for her new body and you can hold the baby whilst she is changing)
• Hoovering/general housework
• Come around and watch the baby so she can shower/bath/wash hair without having to worry
• Take baby for walk so she can get a kip

Its the everyday things that get out of hand when you have a new baby.

Obviously what you can offer depends on how well you know the person and what would be right for them and how much time you have.
Simple things like saying "I'm going to tesco, can I get you anything" can make the difference between surviving the week or not.
I often got to the end of the day and realised I'd forgotten to eat lunch or hadn't drunk enough.

ella2002

Brie or pate or something she really loved but couldn't eat whilst pregnant.
A picture frame so she can put up a picture of the baby ASAP

pookienoodle

Hi,
in a similar vein to a previous poster, we did this last year for friends of ours and included a card from a local ironing service for which we had pre payed for a couple of hours worth. Also included pate and peanuts(peanuts only if she is not breastfeeding) and a copy of the book "what to expect the first year"

machairs

Thermos style mugs. Keep a cuppa hot for longer and safer.

Katyag

I always put in bits for the parents and any siblings so they dont feel left out.

My mum has already said she has a box of stuff for me started already, didnt have the heart to tell her id prefer her to bring some food over or come and wash up for me or do the nursery runs with DS while the baby is small than give me material things! Yes the nursery runs would really help!!

LifeisEvenbetter

As a Mum to a twelve week old gorgeous baby I know I would have appreciated the "babysitting tokens" or other promises that full-time-mum suggests.

Only other suggestion I can think of would be some sort of device that would have limited our guests to 30 minute visiting slots!!!

Best wishes with the baby Newtonlot.

full-time-mum

ella2002 wrote:

Brie or pate or something she really loved but couldn't eat whilst pregnant.
A picture frame so she can put up a picture of the baby ASAP

You should think carefully about this. My midwife advised me to continue avoiding these for a bit. Her argument that whilst the baby was no longer at risk and even though the risk of contaminated food was low, with a tiny baby, breastfeeding and lack of sleep, the last thing your body needs to cope with is listeria or whatever.

Initially, I was a bit miffed but when I thought about it logically, it made sense.

full-time-mum

LifeisEvenbetter wrote:

As a Mum to a twelve week old gorgeous baby I know I would have appreciated the "babysitting tokens" or other promises that full-time-mum suggests.

Only other suggestion I can think of would be some sort of device that would have limited our guests to 30 minute visiting slots!!!

Best wishes with the baby Newtonlot.

I used to stick a notice on my front door saying
"Do not disturb, mother and baby sleeping" - you don't actually have to sleep but it can give you some time in peace.

If guests overstay their welcome how about yawning and saying "I know its a cheek but I'm behind on my washing*, you wouldn't be a sweetie and empty the washing out of the machine and put it on the line for me, please"

* sustitute ironing/hoovering/dusting/peeling potatoes.

If they are going to stick around, they might as well earn their keep.:rotfl:

or take the baby upstairs to bed, come down and flop in the chair and say something like "I'm exhausted, make us a cuppa would you"

Failing this, just say, "sorry to throw you out but if we don't get a nap now, our routine will be out of step" or just fall asleep on the sofa and hope they get the message!

full-time-mum

Katyag wrote:

I always put in bits for the parents and any siblings so they dont feel left out.

It is really important not to forget the siblings as they are already feeling insecure with the new arrival and its demands on THEIR mum.

When visiting, always make a fuss of the older children first and don't go straight in for the baby cuddle - might be hard but it will make life so much easier for mum. Comics are always good for younger children, they usually have a free toy on the front and don't make them hyper like chocolate and sweets do!

Don't forget that big children need support too - even teenagers who are old enough to know better can get frustrated, I'm not suggesting that they need comics and chocolate but a friendly chat to make sure that everything in their life is ok might be good.

Newtonlot

Ok, just a quick reply as I am knackered today.

One of my cousins is in labour as we speak. So I have been out shopping all afternoon. I bought a massive wicker basket with handles and liner from Poundstretcher for £4.
A passion kit reduced to £5 (two champagne glasses, two bottles of mini champagne and a lovers cheque book)
A big bar of Galaxy
A big bottle of lucozade
A box of tea bags,
two pot noodles
A couple of mini packets of pringles,
two bananas, & two apples
A lemon baby blanket,
Some baby socks
A hand full of bio-degradable nappies (freebies)
An avent welcome pack (bottle, cup, dummy, feeding spon, breast pads, and loads of mini samples.)
Couple of packets of paracetemol.
Packet of jammy dodgers.

I am going to pick up tomorrows paper (if it is born tomorrow obviously) and some take away menus from my parents as I don't live near my cousin.

All of the ideas were great and am going to mix and match for the other relatives and DH boss.
Some of them like the babysitting and ironing are great if you live near or don't have kids of your own, but I live over 20 miles away, already have dd and another due in 12 weeks so don't feel I would be able to honour them.
I know that when I do get to see them (will be a couple of weeks to let them get over the event and abundance of guests), I'll offer to do the dishes or hoover whilst I am there, or any other odd job they need doing.

Thanks for all the ideas. Hope someone I know reads this and makes me a basket. I'd much prefer the personal touch than some one spending a bomb.

PS I reckon I spent about £15 in total using BOGOF, freebies and reduced stuff (had bananas and apples already).