Hi all,
I'm very excited as i'm going to be an Auntie for the first time in Feb! Although i've had friends have children it feels completely different now it's flesh and blood.
Thing is my brother and his girlfriend don't have a lot of disposable income - especially now the little one is on his or her's way so I'm going to be the rich Auntie that buys all the brand spanking new stuff.
So, onto my question for all of you lovely ladies - what would you say was the best present you received for either the baby or yourself or the daddy-to-be? (Cost wise - up to �100)
I'll be buying clothes/toys/blankets etc., all sorts of stuff when the baby's born but wanted to get something now as a congratulations.
Any help/advice will be gratefully received!
Many thanks,
kis
FORUMS
FORUM RSS
What was the best pressie you received?
Author
Message
Hello. If you want to get something *big* and *memorable* and *really useful* I would recommend waiting until the dust has settled. Newborns really need nothing, apart from clothes (and don't buy newborn clothes like I did, they're out of them in weeks) and mother's boobs.
I bought pretty much nothing and waited to see what I needed to fit in with our lifestyle as she got out of the newborn stage. For example, my baby is 9 months old and I don't have a pram and I don't have a cot. I had bought a sterilizer before she was born which I only ever used for a few bottles of expressed milk here and there.
However, you could think about getting a carrier or a wrap -- something she may not have considered getting and which are useful for newborns who are colicky. Or you could get the mother a gift that treats her. I buy my female friends Diptyque candles when they've popped.
I lived abroad when I had my baby and apart from my work sending flowers and my husband's works giving a hong bao (Chinese money gift), I never got any presents. My husband bought me a Bottega Veneta bag which I hardly ever use, but which was nice.
How about a bottle of vintage Dom Perignon to wet the babies' head? We've kept our bottle as a memento.
And a card which you make out as a Voucher for xxx number of nights of you babysitting (priceless....)
ETA. How about arranging a professional photographer (be careful as some are unbelievably naff)? Or getting a beauty therapist to come and give her (mother!) a pedicure?
I bought pretty much nothing and waited to see what I needed to fit in with our lifestyle as she got out of the newborn stage. For example, my baby is 9 months old and I don't have a pram and I don't have a cot. I had bought a sterilizer before she was born which I only ever used for a few bottles of expressed milk here and there.
However, you could think about getting a carrier or a wrap -- something she may not have considered getting and which are useful for newborns who are colicky. Or you could get the mother a gift that treats her. I buy my female friends Diptyque candles when they've popped.
I lived abroad when I had my baby and apart from my work sending flowers and my husband's works giving a hong bao (Chinese money gift), I never got any presents. My husband bought me a Bottega Veneta bag which I hardly ever use, but which was nice.
How about a bottle of vintage Dom Perignon to wet the babies' head? We've kept our bottle as a memento.
And a card which you make out as a Voucher for xxx number of nights of you babysitting (priceless....)
ETA. How about arranging a professional photographer (be careful as some are unbelievably naff)? Or getting a beauty therapist to come and give her (mother!) a pedicure?
We've had lots of lovely presents but one of the best was the cuddle dry baby towel: http://www.cuddledry.com/
It's something that we would never have treated ourselves to, as you can certainly manage without, but it was great in the early fumbling bath days, and it is so lovely and soft it is still in near constant use 6 months later.
Sunnie x
It's something that we would never have treated ourselves to, as you can certainly manage without, but it was great in the early fumbling bath days, and it is so lovely and soft it is still in near constant use 6 months later.
Sunnie x
I've re-read your post and guess you're after more practical ideas.
Well, for around the 100 pound mark you could perhaps get an Amby Bed (hammock cot used from birth, I loved mine) or a playmat -- invaluable when you have to run to the loo. Or one of those rocker things (I personally hate the look of them and not all babies take to them, but some do) like Fisher Price do, or a BabyBjorn sitter (useful for a couple of months).
Another total necessity is a child seat and the one most parents get is the MaxiCosi - costs 99 quid. This fits in many buggy systems.
Or if you want to get a stroller which can be used from 6 months the Quinny Zapp is a nice one, costs around 100 quid.
Oh, and many mothers like Moses baskets for the first few months for naps and carrying.
Well, for around the 100 pound mark you could perhaps get an Amby Bed (hammock cot used from birth, I loved mine) or a playmat -- invaluable when you have to run to the loo. Or one of those rocker things (I personally hate the look of them and not all babies take to them, but some do) like Fisher Price do, or a BabyBjorn sitter (useful for a couple of months).
Another total necessity is a child seat and the one most parents get is the MaxiCosi - costs 99 quid. This fits in many buggy systems.
Or if you want to get a stroller which can be used from 6 months the Quinny Zapp is a nice one, costs around 100 quid.
Oh, and many mothers like Moses baskets for the first few months for naps and carrying.
The best buy I've had, not that they were presents, was baby swing's. The twins have one each and I don't know how I managed without them now. They are great for me because if I'm feeding one baby and the other starts grizzling I can pop them in the swing and it calms them until I've finished feeding his brother. But it would just be as handy for one baby. I can put them in there and it gives me a chance to do a bit of washing up or something in between naps. I bought the Fisherprice precious planet take-a-long ones which means I can bring them in the kitchen with me in their swings and I can chat to them and they can watch me do the washing up, the poor things lol. I originally bought a mama's and papa's starlite swing but I wouldn't recommend it. Liam started to have a tiss just as I was putting him in it and he pushed up on the seat and banged his head on the starlite bit. I thought it was dangerous. They prefer the fisher price ones a lot more
<div align="center"><font color="#00ccff"><strong><br /><br /><img src="http://lb1f.lilypie.com/ASkip1.png" alt="Lilypie - (ASki)" title="Lilypie - www.lilypie.com" width="400" height="80" align="left
Hi all,
Thanks so much for all your advice. Much appreciated. Problem is I want to buy all of it!
Think I might suggest that I buy them the car seat then buy a playmat or swing closer to the time.
I've got a feeling that all my disposable income is going to go to this little munchkin (and I can't wait!!)
Thanks again
x
EDIT: ...and I love love love the cuddledry blanket. So lovely!
Thanks so much for all your advice. Much appreciated. Problem is I want to buy all of it!
Think I might suggest that I buy them the car seat then buy a playmat or swing closer to the time.
I've got a feeling that all my disposable income is going to go to this little munchkin (and I can't wait!!)
Thanks again
x
EDIT: ...and I love love love the cuddledry blanket. So lovely!
For us: baby sleeping bags in sizes up to 2 yrs old (saved having to keep going and getting more when they outgrew the last lot so you may need 4 +). Muslin cloths - we still use them now and D is 3! Family all year entry to the zoo etc good luck!!
the best pressie I got was a Baby Bjorn carrier. As I live in a city, it's much easier to dump her in a carrier, rather than assembling a pram constantly. And the Baby Bjorn is kind to my back which is knackered up by an injury I got years ago.
Wow to be honest its really hard. Even now as a mother i still find gift giving a real challenge.
We were very organsised parents webought everything WE needed and then people gave us more and most of it was wasted. She had far too many clothes in the age group 0-3 and far too many towels shes used two and shes 7 months now.
We were given far too many toys and cuddly teddies which she doesnt like and i already had a heap left over from my childhood.
We were warned that people would gift us many things and they did. We were gifted a travel system and a cot/mattress. Both brand new and invaluabl but she only started using the cot two and half weeks ago and didnt get in the buggy till she was nearly 3 months because till then we'd had her carrier or the shopping trolley cradle thingy for car seats.
To be honest the best gifts we got were cash for her savings fund or vouchers to use in stores like kiddicare which is 20 mins down the road. I bought so many useful things after her borth tht i didnt think id need like a breast pump at �90 and more bottles. Nappies, wipes and bottle milk (if shes not breast feeding) rack up pounds and if you spot a bargain grab it now. I did this in my last few weeks i found a bumper pack of wipes pampers sensitive a 4 pack for �3.66!!!!
Marina:)
We were very organsised parents webought everything WE needed and then people gave us more and most of it was wasted. She had far too many clothes in the age group 0-3 and far too many towels shes used two and shes 7 months now.
We were given far too many toys and cuddly teddies which she doesnt like and i already had a heap left over from my childhood.
We were warned that people would gift us many things and they did. We were gifted a travel system and a cot/mattress. Both brand new and invaluabl but she only started using the cot two and half weeks ago and didnt get in the buggy till she was nearly 3 months because till then we'd had her carrier or the shopping trolley cradle thingy for car seats.
To be honest the best gifts we got were cash for her savings fund or vouchers to use in stores like kiddicare which is 20 mins down the road. I bought so many useful things after her borth tht i didnt think id need like a breast pump at �90 and more bottles. Nappies, wipes and bottle milk (if shes not breast feeding) rack up pounds and if you spot a bargain grab it now. I did this in my last few weeks i found a bumper pack of wipes pampers sensitive a 4 pack for �3.66!!!!
Marina:)
<p><br /><img id="ctl00_main_ctlTicker_imgPreviewTop" style="border-width:0px;" src="http://global.thebump.com/tools/tickers/TickerTicker.aspx?&TT=bdy&TT1=bdy&CL=29&CT=&CG=F&O=
oo00 oo000 ooo0000
Set up a kid start account. BEFORE you start spending. If you click on the website and go to a website through them you'll get cash back which you can then put in to the babies child trust fund!!
I wis we had known about this before we bought all our expensive things........... http://www.kidstart.co.uk/Default.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2fUsers%2fPageView.aspx%3fp%3dMyHome&p=MyHome
You can also link people to it so they d the same thing and you can really cash in!!
Marina:)
Set up a kid start account. BEFORE you start spending. If you click on the website and go to a website through them you'll get cash back which you can then put in to the babies child trust fund!!
I wis we had known about this before we bought all our expensive things........... http://www.kidstart.co.uk/Default.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2fUsers%2fPageView.aspx%3fp%3dMyHome&p=MyHome
You can also link people to it so they d the same thing and you can really cash in!!
Marina:)
<p><br /><img id="ctl00_main_ctlTicker_imgPreviewTop" style="border-width:0px;" src="http://global.thebump.com/tools/tickers/TickerTicker.aspx?&TT=bdy&TT1=bdy&CL=29&CT=&CG=F&O=
Who's online?
Promotions
MORE FROM HANDBAG
Contact | Privacy | Terms & Conditions | Advertising | Site Map | Popular Forum Threads
Copyright © 2012. Hearst Magazines UK is the trading name of the National Magazine Company, registered in England 112955, and its affiliate company, Handbag.com, which is registered in England 03819979. The companies are registered at 72 Broadwick Street, London, W1F 9EP. All rights reserved.