new mum box ideas

[Pugwash]

A work colleague is leaving in a couple of weeks to have her first child in February, We want to make up a 'New Mum (or parent) Box to give her on her last day. She has most baby stuff given to her by family including clothes so we thought that our box will have 'silly' and essential items. She travels by train so everything will need to be small and light.

So far ideas have been nipple cream, breast pads for leaky boobs,cooling eye mask.

Ideas please - what got you new mums through the first few weeks? what made you laugh, what turned out to be the most useful thing to have?

She lives quite away from the rest of the team so we cannot offer babysitting/making meals etc.

[nikki73]

Can't think of anything funny but hand cream is a must with all the hand washing, a nice lip balm for hospital.

[Fuschia]

Herbal mix for in the bath after

Small flask and nice coffee

[Strawbs]

Thermos cup with a lid is absolutely essential ! A ready made carton of formula (79p) and a dummy - both things we said we wouldn't use and did, a box of granola bars as she will be eating with one hand most of the time!! A bottle of antibacterial gel, a bottle of infacol, a bottle of gripe water, coffee, ear plugs fOr if her other half does a shift and she gets to sleep for 3 hours or else the instant you hear them you want to get uP to helP, vests for babies - you can literally not have enough of these.. X

[Strawbs]

Tea tree oil as if she has stitches she can put a few drops in the bath which promotes healing..

[Otta]

This is why a bloke shouldn't read this section.

I was going to suggest that an idea might be to give it a rest for a while.

Arf Arf.

[amyw]

i second all of strawbs ideas.

a water bottle that can be easily opened and closed with one hand

a nice notebook in case she wants to record feed/sleep times

reusable wipes from the nappy lady website, or the facecloths from mother care - these are both good for catching wee's while the baby is on the change mat

one thing i think is a good idea but haven't bought is a mat for nappy free time which will catch any accidents:

http://www.cleangreennappy.co.uk/accessories/change%20mats/cp-fdd

the nicest thing our work colleagues bought us was a sheepskin from john lewis.

[Fuschia]

Though, not wanting to open a debate, I would have been quite offended at quite a few of those

[Fuschia]

For instance I hate dummies, if there was one in the house mr f would surely have offered it

I would prefer to make my own considered decision about those sort of things

[Fuschia]

A good DVD box set

[Otta]

My wife liked a snug new dressing gown that baby could snuggle in with her.

[Fuschia]

That's a lively idea, ESP this time of year

[jollybaby]

I like the idea of a notebook. I used one for keeping a record of feed, boob side and nap times. I also kept a list of baby JB's presents as they arrived. I occasionally have a peak and then smile as I realise that my 'never sleeping baby' did in fact sleep and for up to 4 hours at a time!!

And for a simple addition to the box - chocolate biscuits!

[BeccaL]

Definitely plenty of little, individually wrapped snacks, e.g. flapjacks, chocolate, sweets - friends with newborns always appreciated those as easy to keep on hand and don't need to be in the fridge etc.

[Polly D]

Lovely idea. How about about a gossip mag, some tissues, hairbands/clips/alice band?

[Jo'sEnglish]

My best friend sent me a box when I was nearly due. It was really lovely and very appreciated I'll try and remember what it had....

-metanium

-Ansons (?) teething powder

-little bottle of rescue remedy (came in handy!)

- some mama mio toiletries

- fennel tea (good for milk production apparently)

- a bag of pick and mix (a godsend during my long labour!)

hmmm... I'm sure there were a couple of other things... I'll let you know if I think of them!

[Mrs TP]

Controversial perhaps - a designer leather belt to aim to get back into post baby (needs to be a realistic sz).

[bumpy]

Although you're making your own box, maybe this site will offer some inspiration? http://www.sprogbox.co.uk/

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

A wheel of the runniest cheese possible. That's what I craved for the last three months (that and liver & bacon). I suspect liver wouldn't travel very well.

[Strawbs]

Fushia - she has her own free will as to whether to use the dummy or not and I'd be surprised if anyone would be offended to be given a dummy as part of a new mummy pack, surely they wouldn't get their knickers in a knot so easily and just throw it out or in the back of the cupboard?!

One other thing I thought of was a swaddle - the miracle blanket was great for us - you can get them off amazon..

X

[Strawbs]

Mothercare vouchers

[Otta]

I dunno Strawbs, to be honest, dummies divide people almost as much as controlled crying. It's a mine field out there!

[Yak]

Thermos mug, and loads of nicely packaged dried fruit / flapjacky snacks. I also make up sea salts infused with lavender and a drop of lavender oil for baths - a nice gift if you are quite close to them. And maybe a pretty scarf to wear when it feels like nothing fits and all your clothes are covered in baby sick....

[amyw]

yes a swaddle is a good idea

and vouchers - just check they can be used online or that there is a store close by

and obviously anything with a gift receipt! esp from a big store like john lewis as they are very good on returns policy etc.

[Fuschia]

I vote for all yak's suggestions!