new baby "problem" gift

sooty&sweep

Hi
What about vouchers for their favourite takeaway or local restaurant.
With a new baby they'd probably fancy a night or two off cooking but probably wouldn't want to spend their money on it if money is tight.
Jen

laurabllue

With clothes if it's a girl don't be afraid to get some slightly practical day-to-day girly clothes. I have a 3-month old baby and we got countless pretty dresses in 3-6 and 6-9 months but really they're pretty impractical for her to wear regularly and she has so many she'll probably only wear them all once or twice...she doesn't have that many formal events to attend!

I love the photo idea, or John Lewis vouchers (with a note saying you didn't want to risk buying a duplicate of something she already has). Perhaps a nice Lamaze toy to go with the voucher (they're generally a bit cheaper on Amazon), my little one loves her (she has the firefly) and we didn't actually get many toys for her as gifts. You could give her the toy along with the voucher and say

skintchick

Do you have a Cook or M&S Food nearby? If so vouchers for there so they don;t have to cook. We got given vouchers for Cook and we so appreciated them.

notanewuser

Counting_Pennies wrote: »

I have done this for every baby that has been born. I have put in toiletries, vests, pack of pampers, weaning spoons, bib, weaning cubes, an outfit and then a gift for mum.


I love the idea of a babysitting voucher.


I would also recommend taking round the odd home cooked meal in a disposable container that can be frozen if not needed immediately. Invaluable.


hth

Agree re the food parcel idea, but most of what you listed in the first bit wouldn't have been used here.

We had a gift like that given and the majority of the stuff got given to the local refuge. Toiletries and nappies are such a personal choice, we didn't feed DD purees so spoons and cubes would not have been needed, we didn't use dummies (DD's choice) and she was quite small so grew into the outfits she was bought at just the wrong season. I never got much time to use anything I was bought!

Lieja

PasturesNew wrote: »

I'd go for an unbreakable heirloom piece. e.g. if it's a girl, then a silver/adjustable, sturdy, bangle, engraved with name/date of birth.

Something to treasure for life that's not going to be a hassle to keep/store/move. e.g. not a plate/cup set.

When my brother and I were born my auntie bought us silver Christmas Tree decorations with our names, dates and weights on. They still go on the tree every year along with the Xmas stuff we made as children - lovely keepsakes, not always hanging around but get to come out at that lovely sentimental time of year. I wouldn't normally buy someone an ornamenty type gift but I still love looking at these every Xmas when I visit my parents, and they really treasure them.

jackyann

I knew that there would be some lovely ideas here.
Even the ones that I know wouldn't quite suit this couple have set off useful trains of thought, and I hope that others have found it useful as well.
Thanks to all.

hieveryone

jackyann wrote: »

I knew that there would be some lovely ideas here.
Even the ones that I know wouldn't quite suit this couple have set off useful trains of thought, and I hope that others have found it useful as well.
Thanks to all.

Do let us know what you go for in the end!

BAGGY

What about starting a savings account for the baby? I would also do a goodies hamper of bathtime things like wash, wipes and a rubber duck. You could also do a first aid bundle - thermometre, pain relief syrup, nail clippers, vapour rub/drops, teeething rings that go in the fridge etc. things that they might not necessarily think of and may not have the opportunity to go and buy 'on the hop'.

whitewing

I wouldn't buy any kind of pain relief syrup. Firstly the guidelines seem to change fairly frequently on dosages. Secondly, the doctors like to see babies if they are ill, as I believe pain relief can mask urine infections and so on.

Lara44

Our baby is 3 weeks old and we have been lucky to receive lots of gifts from family.

We were grateful to receive lots of very sweet but practical clothes, but have so many 0-3m and barely any 6m plus, so perhaps buy for the older age. Also lots of the clothes are a little hot for a June baby so bear in mind the season.

We appreciated being given things that are "nice to have" but not essentials. Such as an expensive Moby wrap that is very cool but I wouldn't have splurged on for myself, and Gro Bags (good value from TK Maxx). We would just have used cheaper blankets. These might be a bit personal though.

Oh, we also got a nice quilt to put down on the floor for LO to play on. You could get an inexpensive one, or something personalised if you wante a keepsake that was also practical.