Present for Best Friend's Baby

princeofpounds

So my best friend and his wife have had just had a baby girl.

I'm really keen to get the baby a gift that will have some significance and hopefully value/use when they get older.

Problem is, I'm kind of stuck for ideas!

I don't want anything too soppy, as they will be getting a lot of that kind of thing already I think, plus it's as much to mark my valued friendship with the parents as anything.

I was thinking of getting them the gold sovereign from the year of their birth, but that costs about £470 and really I was budgeting up to £200ish (In case they have another one!)

Anyone got any thoughts?

Tixy

A half gold sovereign would be within your budget?

I know someone who gave a baby a case of champagne to be opened on their 18th/21st (not from the supermarket but something direct from a vineyard designed to last/mature)?

I heard of someone else being given a saxaphone as a birth gift (from an uncle who was a musician) obviously unusual but quite special to that family I guess.

Is jewellery too soppy? Not necessarily a traditional christening bracelet but something the baby could wear when she grows up?

Indie_Kid

All I can think of is those hand / foot print things. I but I guess you want something different?

Bennifred

Premium Bonds?

clw1

While I think a gold coin would be nice it's also one of those things that gets shoved in a drawer and never looked at so personally I wouldn't go for it.

Instead how about a small baby gift and a voucher for the couple to go out for a meal in a few months time (and an offer to babysit).

For the baby I loved getting a blanket embroidered with the childs name / D.O.B. and I have seen some lovely books that you can get personalised eg http://www.gettingpersonal.co.uk/gifts/personalised-childrens-encyclopaedia.htm

Or you could get premium bonds for the child.

Sezzagirl

Why not get something from this range and then bank the rest of your budget for the baby's future


http://www.royalmint.com/our-coins/gifts/christening-and-baby-gifts


I like the set of coins from this year or the lucky sixpence

princeofpounds

A half gold sovereign would be within your budget?

Yes it would have been great but to be it just sounds like I bought half a gift, if you know what I mean!

I know someone who gave a baby a case of champagne to be opened on their 18th/21st (not from the supermarket but something direct from a vineyard designed to last/mature)?

That's not a bad idea... but storage would be an issue.

I heard of someone else being given a saxaphone

Now you might be onto something. My friend is an excellent musician (violin and guitar)

All I can think of is those hand / foot print things. I but I guess you want something different?

Haha this was almost exactly what I was thinking of when I talked about soppy things. I actually think they are quite cool, but I don't feel I'm the person to be giving that gift, you know.

BigAunty

Purchase a gift voucher or pay for a commission for a local photographer that specialises in children's photos? I've seen some portfolios of the most amazing baby photos or mother/baby photos, particularly the naturalistic social reportage style rather than the posed.

gingin_2

You could get them a limited edition print, I am thinking in a style that would suit a nursery ( Beatrix Potter or Winnie the Pooh ).

I actually have something commissioned by this lady, I can't recommend her more highly. Her style is whimsical and fairy tale but with a modern touch.

http://www.helenmusselwhite.co.uk/

She's amazing and has had commercial mass produced work done as well, so I think she might take off value wise (it's a risk, I know). It suits from child to adult and she's a really lovely person to communicate with as well if you want something particular.

Quackers1

I've done things like a nappy cake or flower bouquet - definitely a talking point.

Beautrix potter things to keep.

If you use Facebook - search for Not Just Bunting. They do individual letters so when a friend had her 2nd, I got both boys their initial.

My brother (now 28) was given a case of port to one when he was 21. I was given a silver bracelet.

We both also had plates made with name, date of birth and weight etc

hieveryone

I was going to suggest the photography idea too, it's my 'go-to' present for new babies!

A lady round my way does 'casting' - she does casts of newborn babies hands/feet etc, entwined with the mothers/fathers hands too if they want to.

She also makes jewellery items with prints of the babies fingerprint/hand print which she engraves with details of birth, which is quite nice.