Suggestions for Gift for New Family

Instead of an item how about giving some time.Offer to clean the house or do the laudry while she gets a little shut eye. J. J.

K.,

Diapers, diapers, diapers! Starbucks was a great suggestion too. My girlfriend brought me a frappuccino that I was craving. Maybe a gift certificate for a massage or mani/pedi would even be nice.

-Char

Yeah, lots of people take dinners. I like to take breakfasts such as an assortment of Einstein Bagels and a latte from Starbucks! It always seems appreciated. A friend brought me Starbucks when I had my son, and I was so overjoyed. It's just something small, but something that is way to hard to do when hauling around a newborn :)

Hello K.....I think one of the most wonderful gifts you can take to your new friend is TIME. Go over to her house....do a couple of loads of laundry, from start to finish...pick up the livingroom and vacuum for her...wash dishes, clean the bathroom.....or you can offer to hold the baby and entertain any older children while she catches some much needed sleep.....start dinner and set the table for her.
I am sure she would appreciate your gift of time and help more than anything else. AND, when time has passed and the dinners are no longer being brought in...that is when you could take a casserole.
N. C.
East Texas

Take a meal that she can freeze for one of those days where she has not gotten anything done and does not know what to cook for dinner. Then she has something in the freezer that she can pop in the oven and be done. It will be a big blessing on a bad day when you have had a fussy baby.

I've had one child and yes the meals are great. You might want to do a gift card to their favorite restaurant or a gift card to Babies R Us or to a spa. Maybe doing something for Mom and Dad to use later on. Tickets to the movie or gift card out to eat or dessert.

Gift card to a cleaning service would be nice too, as you can't do a whole lot of cleaning when you have a baby. She can always use it later when things calm down and she's able to get out.

Something personal for the new mom would be nice - offer to babysit and give mom & dad tickets to a movie; a pedicure (sometimes those feet get a little beat up during pregnancy); a girls afternoon out while dad plays with baby while you have a nice lunch with dessert and no crunch for time; watch the baby for her while she takes a long bath and maybe a nap afterwards; run some errands for her - post office, dry cleaners, grocery store, get her thank you notes for gifts (w/ stamps included);a new bathrobe; a housekeeper for the day - I could go on, but these are a few of my favorites.

One of the best gifts I could think of for a new Mom is something to pamper herself, like a gift certificate for a pedicure or manicure. I have four kids and although I was so blessed with each child to have people bring meals, and things for the baby and other children, the greatest gift to receive when you are in Mommy overdrive is something to gently remind yourself that you are an individual as well and not just Mommy. A coupon for babysitting time would be something treasured as well.

I vote a gift certificate for a mani/pedi. or massage! She'll enjoy being pampered.

What about a post pardum doula - someone who could help out. And if the family liked her, they might hire her to continue for a while. Just a thought. There is a website www.mothermedoulas.com you could check out.

Hello Kathrine I think a great idea for a gift to give a new Mom is things she will definatley need no matter what. I would suggest a basket put togtehr by you with baby tylenol, mylecon drops, pedealite, diaper rash ointment, q-tips made pacifically for a babies ears, baby vicks vapor rub, baby wash, and of course good ole baby lotion, powder, baby oil, and diapers and wipes. More then likely she has already gotten alot of that already though so I would go with the baby tylenol, mylecon drops, pedealite, baby vivks rub, and q-tips...its always handy to have things like that around because babies do get colds and fevers and they do get gasey, and I bet no one has thought to get her any of those things. Good luck to you anyway!!

I got a baby sling as a gift, and I love it.
My friend makes them you can reach her at ###-###-####

You might try some books or magazines. I really enjoyed those when I was pumping. Also, a pre-made scrapbook (the pages are already created and the new mommy can simply apply her own pictures). It doesn't have to be a big one, something like a 6X6 that she can carry in her diaper bag/purse. Try to think of the new mommy....everyone is preoccupied with the new baby. Maybe this will help.

Most people provide dinner, but my sister had some friends bring over breakfast and that was a great idea. Also, some good girlie magazines, candles, lotion to pamper mom is always a great idea.

Hi! I would either take a cassarole or something that was ready to be frozen (or even grab something from the freezer section) so that she can just pop it in the oven when the bringing of food is over. My mom did that when my son was born and I LOVED it.

You could also offer to run errands. My BFF did my grocery shopping for the first 2 weeks so we didn't have to get out. Since the Flu is so bad this year that would be a great option.

Or just offer to sit with the baby while she takes an extra long pampering shower -- maybe even bring her some "smell-good" stuff to use in there.

Best of all -- ask what you can do for her. It may be something you or I would never think of!

Good Luck!
B.

The very best gift I recieved when my twins were born were 4 oversized flannel blankets. They were lightweight, washable, oversized (unlike a recieving blanket), I could put them on the floor for them to lay on, they kept the wind off them without adding bulk, they were warm, but not too warm. My caregiver loved them too. We wore them out. Since then, I have made several for gifts. The 45" bolts of flannel at the cloth store are perfect. Just have them measured at 45" and hem all around. If you don't sew, you could probably get the dry cleaner to do it for you.

My #1 advice would be DIAPERS--if she already has tons of the newborn size, bring her the next size up (#1's I guess??). If she's bottle feeding, ask her what kind of formula she is using and bring her a couple cans. And as some of the others have mentioned, offer to watch the baby while she takes a bath or shower. Taking that little break will be so wonderful for her--my baby is now almost 6 months old and a nice long shower is like a day at the spa for me. If she doesn't have any family staying with her right now, just offer to go by the house and help take care of chores (fix her meals, laundry, run to post office, etc).

I would take something for HER. Maybe some luxurious lotion, a comfy pair of pajama pants... slippers. You could also schedule some of your time to go to her house and help out folding laundry or light cleaning. You could ask her for her shopping list and run her errands. ALso... I always give new parents a giant package of diapers.

You can never have to many Diapers! or get one of those systems that the mother can play for the baby when the baby goes to sleep that play's different sounds like what they hear when they are in the mom's stomache. I would go with diapers. When I had my last son my in law's bought me so many diapers they lasted me a year so I was very thankful I did not have to buy any. It sure helped cause those things are expensive.

My very favorite most used baby gift was the Dr. Sears Baby book. Or how about a homemade gift certificate to watch her little one when she needs to get a haircut. A grocery store gift card is nice too. She can splurge on something she wants and take the baby along especially if you have a nice store with a coffee shop or restaurant/deli inside.

New Moms need breaks; so, if you have the time, maybe offer to watch the baby while she takes a nice, warm bath soak or something. Other than that, if she's using disposable diapers, maybe get her a package of those. You can never have too many with a newborn, can you? lol

Diapers and wipes!!!

One of the best gifts I got when I had a baby was paper plates and plasticware!

I like to give the mother something for her. We all bring gifts for the baby and family but forget the Mom. here are some examples of the things I have given; flowers, an inexpensive necklace, a pair of sweatpants, t-shirt something just for her.

Hi K.,

I am late in responding. When I was a first time Mom a friend told me about Mylican drops after my baby was several months old. It was a life saver for all my kids. Some of my favorite things are baby hangers, Munchkin duck bag dispenser (Target), perfume free cream (my hands hurt from all the washing), a divided formula holder if bottle fed, washer basket for bottle pieces, silky cuddle rag, shopping cart protector/cushion, bumpie, gift certificate for a pedicure.

You are a new Mom yourself. I am sure you had a favorite gift. Hope you find what you are looking for.

Well, I don't know about you but I think diapers and wipes are some of the best gifts you can receive. The meals are always nice but how many casserols can a family eat?? I was up and around right after I had both of my girls but one thing that would have been REALLY nice, would have been for someone to come and clean my house, like for Merry Maids to come in for a day and just do the dusting, floors and things I couldn't get too. I was always worried about the way my house looked with people coming in and out all day. Don't know if it's something she would appreciate of not, but just a suggestion! GOOD LUCK!
H.

paper cups, plates, plastic silverware. napkins.. I know i didn't want to have to washes dishes unless i really needed too. In a cute basket that she could use in the babies room, or in another room in her house..

I love the diaper idea, we were/are always appriciative of diapers. Maybe even get some wipes, you know they get used for everything.

You might make a suggestion to baby sit her new baby so new mom and dad can have an evening out or even help with cleaning her home. Also since she has a new baby they can always use things such as diapers, baby oil, powder etc.

I can't tell you how much I just wanted to take a long shower. My family was at my home for the first week, then I was alone after a c-section. I wanted a long shower so bad, but I didn't want to leave the baby alone. I needed Someone to watch baby while I take a real shower and even shave my legs. Then maybe a quick nap.

Give her your time. She will love you for it...

Get her a white noise machine. I got one for myself right when I came home from the hospital so I could get some sleep. Now we use it in the baby's room to drown out the noise when she goes to bed. Some are expensive, but I got mine online for $25.

A set of REALLY comfortable pajamas or a robe is a great idea too.