What was your best new baby present?

[bli]

Advice please...

Would like to send a friend a present as she's just had her fourth (yes fourth) baby. She has always given me great baby presents e.g. a basket of muffins and cake (brilliant in those first days for me and visitors), casting kit etc - so would really like to find something useful or a bit unusual, and as she already has all the baby gear I'm a bit stuck - any ideas?

What were you given that you really liked or enjoyed?

Thanks

[katgod]

A cooked shepherds pie that I could just pop in the oven to feed us all. Absolutely brilliant, kind and much appreciated gift for those early days with baby 3.

[dulwichmum]

Yes! Food sounds like the ideal gift. There is a shop called "Cook" that just opened on Park Hall Road junction with Croxted Road and they have all manner of lovely frozen dishes, from lasagne to mousakka and everything in between. It is nicely presented too.

[The Nappy Lady]

Food good - otherwise (depending what sort of Mum she is), and wit 4 maybe she's seen it all before, but for me with my 2nd it was the stuff I did't know about, or feel I could indulge/afford first time around so;

lovely sheepskin buggy liner

amber teething necklace for the baby

breast feeding necklace so I didn't get my hair pulled etc.

that belly band thing for breastfeeding (didn't have, but since found out about them - very clever)

those mittens that fix to the buggy handles so you don't lose them - just slide hands in and out when necessary - (as above, actually a school Mum who just had her 4th has discovered them and loves them!)

drawstring nightgowns for baby to make night changes quick and easy

oooh, yes and Cuddledry baby towels - soooo lovely....makes bath time much easier and less soggy for Mum.

Molly

[katgod]

Wow Molly please tell me more about these mittens! Husband has them for his Vespa but never seen buggy version.....

[MothersInc]

Ummmmmmmm something different. Maybe print out a picture of her and the baby or her and the whole family and print it onto some mugs. Try - www.snapfish.co.uk. Then with the mugs you can get different types of teas and put it all in a lovely basket.

Hope that helps x

[Fuschia]

Something like this is great for a baby you haven't got time to force legs etc into snow suits

http://www.babykind.co.uk/cuddlesnugs.htm

http://www.babyrug.co.uk/index.php?_a=viewProd&productId=2

[The Nappy Lady]

katgod - not sure where the Mum I know got them, but just did a quick Google and found these;

http://www.buggybrolly.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=8

Think there are a few around now, though maybe not at this time of year!!!

I've lost so many gloves during the whole palavar with buggy's, change bags, unwrapping children from layers of clothing -(school run is a complete nightmare in the winter - 10 minutes putting coats and wellies onto kids (often 3 or 4 as help out other parents in the street) for a 5 minute walk to school in torrential ran etc, then changing soggy kids back into shoes, getting coats off etc. when we get there....sigh), cannot tell you how happy I am that the spring is here!

Think Fuschia's suggestion is very good for the above reason as quite often when baby C was little I ended up either waking her up to wrap her up for the school run, or getting home with her all bundled up and fast asleep and worrying about her overheating.....

Molly

[bli]

Thanks everyone, there are some lovely ideas there.

I do think food is a fab present at this time, but as she doesn't live in London it seems a bit tricky. But love the idea of the mittens (thanks Molly) and babyrug so will see what can come up with. More ideas still welcome though - I've just had another baby myself and hearing about all these new products is making me want to go shopping!

[Smiler]

Love the cuddledry-style towels, they are sweet and can be used for a long time.

Some local places will deliver ready-made, home-cooked meals: fab idea.

I think any gift vouchers are also good, as it can feel extravagent to spend money on stuff for new babies when already have most things.

Congrats Bli - hope you are similarly receiving nice gifts from your friends and family!

[kittysailing]

I can second the 'cook' suggestion. My husbands work sent us a big box of lovely frozen food the day we came out of hospital. It really was a lifesaver in those early days - nothing like a delicious pudding to get you through a hectic day. You can order online - it all comes boxed up - we went on to order a couple of times.