Maternity gift advice please

[Ellie]

I need IDEAS.

So my colleague who is practically my work-wife but is also a close personal friend is having her second baby at the end of Feb. It's pretty much up to me to organise all the cards and collections and that's normally pretty easy in the office. I've set up a Monzo account for donations, but being gladly childless myself I'm a bit stuck.

It was easy with her first baby but being the second, a lot of the regular stuff you'd think to buy, she already has. She has a girl already and is having a boy now. Vouchers are a bit of a cop out, and what business is it actually safe to buy vouchers from now? Clothes are rather obvious.. then again she has a massive family, is a big bargain hunter and she has very close cousins with babies not that much older, so I presume she's going to be knee deep in baby clothes already.

@Star - What did your work do for you?

 

[Sally Thomsett]

CONDOMS.

 

[Kate]

@Star - What did your work do for you?

Asked her when she'd be back, I expect.

What about something for her rather than the baby? A nice HAMPER or something.

 

[Ellie]

CONDOMS.

I DID ask how it happened since at the time of conception her mother was living with them during lockdown and in the next room, with thin walls.

 

[lolly]

If she already has a lot of stuff from previous children and has a big family who she is also likely to get baby stuff from, then I think Kate's idea of something for her is a lovely one.

 

[Frozen]

I did this when my friend had her second, a voucher for a meal out for her and the husband as they already had everything they needed for the new baby.

 

[Mats]

boarding school gift card

 

[Ellie]

We're deciding on something for her and husband (lots of us know him pretty well too) but also things like baby bouquets. When name is decided maybe some personalised gifts and blankets etc. from www.my1styears.com as they're usually pretty good.

 

[lolly]

boarding school gift card

If we're past the knitting needle and gin stage, definitely

 

[Star]

I got nothing from work, not even a card!!

Mr Star's work put together a selection of children's books. Each one had a label inside saying 'to Baby Kylie, The Hungry Caterpillar was chosen by X'. I thought that was really nice.
Second time round they bought us clothes (which is good because the second child gets the hand me downs!). They got us one outfit from each age range i.e 0-3 months, 3-6 months, 6-9 months etc. If you're buying clothes do think of the season it'll be when the child is that age.

I'd also suggest (depending on your budget), a baby photo session. I know some are still going on, although not in this tier of lockdown.
And another thing is gift vouchers for a Baby Sensory class. A term is about £80 I think Again they're currently running online via zoom but each area tends to have their own Baby Sensory leader.

 

[Ellie]

Ooh, thank you so much Star. How utterly rubbish of your workplace though. We go all out depending on the person. We have a few people who tend to keep themselves to the themselves and never want anyone to know anything about their lives, but for any of the long term gang, we’re quite generous.

Books etc. they definitely have tonnes but the sensory classes sound lovely.

 

[Star]

Another thing I've seen gifted a lot is those hand/ foot imprint things. Again usually someone does them for you

 

[Star]

This is the baby Sensory company;

https://www.babysensory.com/

 

[Star]

I also loved Hartbeeps too;

https://www.hartbeeps.com/

 

[Star]

In terms of buying for the new parents, that's a tough one as you just don't have time to enjoy anything. A meal out would be nice, but only if there is someone to look after the kids. We actually haven't had a night out in almost 4 years

The other useful thing with a newborn is someone cooking/supplying you with food!

 

[Ellie]

I also loved Hartbeeps too;

https://www.hartbeeps.com/

Yes! I think I remember her mentioning this with her firstborn.

 

[Lucille]

A KNITTING NEEDLE