We have neighbors that just moved in over the summer and they are getting ready to have their first child any day now. I'd like to do something for them or bring a gift. We have barely spoken; they really keep to themselves but seem nice. What would be an appropriate gift or gesture for them? I don't want to spend a lot of money. I was thinking of dropping a card in their mailbox offering to get things from the store for them or something like that, along with a little gift. I'd cook dinner for them, but would they really want to eat something essentially made by a stranger? Any ideas?
DIAPERS. What new mom can't use them? It's not too personal, but lets them know you're thinking about them. When the baby comes, maybe bring by some muffins or snacky-items.
I agree with the baked goods idea. A couple of small loaves of pumpkin bread or something similar would have been super just coming home from the hospital. Then, maybe a week or two after they're home, surprise them with a meal. I was so tired at that point, I know I wouldn't have cared who cooked, just as long as it wasn't me!
Food/dinner of some sort.
And just a thought about them keeping to themselves. When we bought our first home many years ago I was 6 months pregnant and working 12 hour shifts as a floor nurse. I never developed full blown pre-eclampsia but I was monitored the last 3 months. And was given strict orders that on my days off I was to be on the couch with my feet up or I would be placed on bed rest! So I'm sure most of our neighbors thought we kept to ourselves, because he car came home, pulled in the garage and no one was seen. ;)
When I got home after having our son, with complications, one of the BEST gifts was friends dropping by food, already plated so all we had to do was heat and eat.
Baby gift and a meal.
Could you put together a little gift basket of necessities? Maybe some baby wipes, baby bath stuff, burp cloths, a rattle, things that you know would be used. Then a note saying welcome to the neighborhood and congrats on the new little one.
Aww I did this too! Since I didn't know if they had any food allergies or baby-diaper preferences, I gave them a gift card to get curbside to go at a local restaurant, a target gift card (for baby stuff), and some of those cute little velco hair bows for babies hair (that baby has AWESOME hair!)... I left a little note that said 'If you ever need anything, please don't hesitate to ask' with our phone number... we rarely see them, but the new mom emails me kid questions all the time! :)
I agree with Lisa J. Even though your a 'stranger', baking for them, or making or picking them up a nice meal would probably mean a great deal.
Maybe some pizza vouchers for pizza delivery or chinese take out?
Baking is always a nice idea. Can you bake bread? They would like it, promise. After baby comes, give them a dinner. She will be so tired to cook.
I think a meal would be great. When we came home from the hospital with our oldest our neighbors brought over a few things that could be frozen and cooked later. It was wonderfull, I didn't have to worry about cooking for the first few days. Our neighbors son even offered to walk our dogs for us so that we didn't have to worry about it. We had only been on our street for about 6 months at this point so it was really great and made us feel like we were part of the neighborhood.
When I was about to pop, a friends brought over a frozen home made pot pie. It was nothing like the kind you buy in the stores. It was divine! It was large enough to last for several meals. I put it directly in the freezer and we pulled it out when we were ready. With a big salad, it was perfect.
I think my friend chose this particular dish because there was very little in it that could cause an allergy, since she didn't know if we had any allergies.
Dawn
I think a gift card for a local grocery store would be good. That way they can pick out whatever it is that they want or need.
I know that some people, like myself dont like taking homemade food from strangers or people they dont know well. And you dont know if they have any allergies or not either so maybe just safer to let them pick out what they want.
It's sweet of you to be thinking of them!
I know what you mean about wondering about eating a strangers' cooking, but my neighbor who I hardly knew brought over a shephard's pie and I was just so grateful not to have to worry about dinner that night. Getting a home-cooked meal without having to cook was great! Honestly I was so overwhelmed by the baby and thought it was such a nice gesture. So you could bring her over a lasagna or something, or even a gift card to Domino's?
~Gift cards to nearby restaurants is a great idea. My mom did this for us when we had our second baby.
~And you can NOT go wrong with Target! They could pick up anything they realize they need for the baby. She could even use it to get a couple of new shirts for herself for that in between time. I just remember having to buy a decent amount of new tops before wearing my normal shirts again. Obviously you don't think about this at first, but you know once you start feeling better and getting into a routine again it's important to feel good about yourself.
~you could always pick up a few things & make them a little basket ~ stuff you know they'll need
•Butt Paste
•gas drops
•gripe water
•Vaseline in the tube ( if it's a boy)
•that new Johnson's Naturals shampoo & wash
•they need a little rubbing alcohol for the cord while it's healing...I just remember not having any at the house
•maybe a tube of that baby oil gel for the baby's scalp if she/he needs it
•and of course diapers & wipes...they prob don't have a real preference with those yet so you could get which ever one you like the most
•oh & I didn't see these in time before my boys started using the big tub, but they make those cute washcloth cover up things for the infant bath so the baby doesn't get cold. I've seen them at Target and I think Kohl's. You could stick one of those in your basket...they're cute little turtles and fish :-)
