Thursday, 22 January 2009
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Best Gift for a New Mom?
My cousin, who I grew up with and ADORE, is expected to deliver a wonderful baby boy (little Nate) on St. Patrick's Day. Although she already had her baby shower a month ago, I want to send something to her after Nate is born. Because she lives in Florida, it's hard to figure out what would be appropriate for the weather, so clothes are ruled out.
I'm looking for something new and trendy, either for her to give better care to him, or something cool and fun for Nate himself. She has tons of new baby books and bedding, so I'd like to stay away from that as well.
What was the most crucial item to have when your child was born? All I keep hearing about is how awesome a Diaper Genie is! ...But I'd like to do something a little nicer than that. :)
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Comments (24)
Well, money is always a crucial item... But it's always difficult to send money without looking like a snob.
Try various $10 gift cards to baby stores you know she visits or are in her area? For example, $10 to Toys R Us, to Baby Gap, to WalMart, to Borders... and so on. It'll be like the gift card gift pack, and I'm sure she'll find something useful at each of those stores ^^
I have heard, from a new mom personally, that hand sanitizer without alcohol is invaluable. One for the diaper bag, one for the changing table and one on the back of the sink. I've seen it at Target in the body soap aisle but don't remember the brand name. I know this gift is probably a little more "low rent" than you wanted go to though.
Bath stuff! Lush has some awesome bath bombs. Having a little time to pamper yourself is the best thing when you have a newborn around.
I'm buying my friend a journal. Nothing fancy, just something she can write to her son in and add pictures if she feels the need.
It's $5 for a hardback nice journal that's not Hello Kitty mini sized, and it has enough room to turn into a makeshift scrapbook.
Personally, I think Diaper Genies are worthless - after a while they get a horrible smell that just won't go away!
I really like the first idea of a gift card package.
I am most excited about the baby wrap that I purchased for baby #2 (expected 2/8/09). I got it at www.sleepywrap.com. As far as other baby items you could purchase - I would stick to items that you know they will need: diapers, wipes, etc.
Great gifts for mom to be: pedicures, massages, body pampering gift sets, etc.
does she have a baby registry? i'd recommend a gift card to Babies R Us or maybe a gift certificate to a spa. i will be a mom in 2 months and i know that I will have everything that I need by the time the baby is born. i know people mean well but i've already received a lot of items that i will never use.
Man...my friend got me THE most adorable baby book. I am bringing it with me to the hospital so they can put her footprints in it when she's born. I can't wait!
You could always do a gift pack...like go and get baby shampoo, baby lotion, baby oil, nail clippers/files, etc...and put it all in a basket to send to her. You can always decorate the little basket as well. That stuff is not only necessary stuff to have for the next few years, but it would be cute, as well!!!!! (At my shower my friends got me all the bath stuff with towels and hooded towels and stuff, and put it in the baby bath, which is shaped like a whale.)
As a "new mom" gift I'd totally go with something for the mom (rather than baby). Things I would have loved to get as a gift right after the birth would be a very cute new outfit (a gift card to a clothing store would work); a pedicure (she might not even be able to see her feet for a few months before the birth and afterwards won't have the energy to do them herself. My sister came and visited when my baby was one month old and gave me a glorious pedicure. I felt so much better afterwards). If she will be breastfeeding something that would help her to feel comfortable while feeding would be nice. Maybe even some small, easy to hold in one hand books that could help her be entertained while stuck in a chair. Another thing that comes to my mind - a food gift of some sort. A pre-made meal every week delivered to her, or something along those lines.
Something like this http://www.sendameal.com/new_baby
A gift certificate to a place that delivers. No kidding, or even olive garden. food. She doesn't have time to cook, will eb tired and won't eat right. Trust me
I'm about to give birth in 2 weeks to my 2nd child... If I could have anything I would love 1) a massage! your body goes through so much!! 2) anything meal related, anything that would not require ME cooking, meals delivered, a casserole to freeze, gift cards to a restaurant anything to not have to worry about meals. or 3) the gift card basket, so many times we've been at the store and find something cute, or realize we needed nail clippers or something and it was so nice to discover a gift card to cover that purchase. These are all thoughtful gifts about life after bringing home baby and helping the family have time together to regroup and rest together. Good luck deciding on the perfect gift!
I second the gift cards for food. You have so little time to think about, let alone cook.
My other suggestion would be a sling. There are so many nice ones out there. It was such a great thing for me to have when my little one was young. It was great to be able to have him close to me, but also to be able to do things with my hands.
I really like the idea for the gift cards for the food places... and sendameal.com.. GENIUS! I am definitely going to look further into those two.. and I'll hopefully be able to find out places near her house that deliver, so I can arrange for gift certificates for her. :)
I'd give a housecleaning or gift cards to restaurants with take out.
Gift certificate for formal portraits..... when my son was born, we got professional pics at about 10 days old. I would have loved to take him in for pics at, say, three months, six months, etc. but our budget was tight, and it felt extravagant to be spending for portraits when we had to buy diapers and clothes.
A WONDERFUL new mom gift I got at my baby shower was a pretty bathrobe. Recovering from birth meant a lot of lying around, which was easiest to do in sleepwear, and it takes several changes with all the spit up and breast-leaking. It makes you feel a little more 'together' to be outfitted in something comfy and pretty, even if it's just a bathrobe! That was probably the most memorable and appreciated gift I got.
A hotsling or another kind of baby carrier. I love my hotsling, and there are a ton of cute patterns they come in. I love the idea of giftcards to places that deliver also. Stuff like finding time to feed yourself after having a baby is nearly impossible!! Or get her both. She can put the baby in the sling and grab a bite to eat!
go here. She makes these beautiful slings and sells them. She lives in Hawaii, I think. They are the most beautiful colors.
Anyway, I haven't purchased one...my babies are now too old, but, these are awesome, i think.
I buy a few SMALL crucial items...a pacifier, bottle, nail clippers, onesies, socks, diaper rash cream, etc.
I then attach them to floral picks, and arrange them to look like a bouquet by inserting them into a piece of styrofoam and placing it in a flowerpot.
This is ideal because it can be done even if you don't know the sex of a baby.
The Miracle Blanket @ www.themiracleblanket.com
I like the food gift card ideas. We really just wanted something easy after the baby was born. I also liked the idea for a gift card to a spa. If you really want to buy something, I got a few neat things - a Baby's First Year Picture Frame (you put in a picture at each month of age), and I love our wipes warmer which I never would have bought myself.
Good luck!
I, too, love my Sleepywrap. If she plans on nursing, a nursing pillow if she doesn't already have one (like a boppy) or a nursing cover (like one from Nursing Undercover) would be invaluable.
I live in maine and the most important thing i recieved for my daughter Kassidy when she was born was a wipes warmer....people say that they are over rated but even i don't like my butt wiped with something cold at 2 in the morning.
But I think you should stay away from all things baby. She is going to have a baby and most likely has everything already and set. I think the best thing in the world for a new mom is something for herself. something to make her relax and feel better after so many sleepless nights.
definitely something for mom herself. my best friend gave me a robe and a pair of slippers so i could be comfy at the hospital. little did she know that i'd be living in this robe since. if you're not leaving the house it's the most practical and comfy outfit especially if you're nursing. and get one with pockets! perfect for carrying around baby monitors, pacifiers, hair ties...because you're constantly losing things if they're not strapped onto you.
after baby she took me out to lunch and treated me to a pedicure and a massage -- so a spa certificate would be great.
and yes, ready made food is also always welcome!
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