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Calling all the mums out there,
I'm going to be an aunt for the first time this year and really wanted to get my BIL and SIL something great for the new baby.
What was the best baby shower present you received? Whether it be the one that meant to most to you or was the most helpful or something you had no idea you needed but turned out to be your life saver.
They don't have much yet. And it's going to be a girl!
Thanks in advance :)
I was given everything for nappies "on the go" such as scented nappy disposible bags, disposible bibs, disposible change mats & a on the go nappy wipes thingie. Up to this day, I still use it a lot and was such a practical gift. Coming close second was the Baby Bounce...a really simple, unfancy bouncer but really light to move around and has been a life saver..
Congrats on becoming an auntie :)
Best baby shower i ever recieved was a massage voucher! after bubs is 6 weeks it is always nice to be pampered on for an hour or so!
Here are some things I have been given or have given that were loved.
* Dummy Pod - there are ones in Coles that hold two dummies & clip onto the nappy bag
* Travel Wipes - lots of people remember ones for home but not the nappy bag.
* Nappy bags for used nappies (if they're using disposables)
* Breast Pads - I like to give cloth ones, check out Maz's store
* Baby on Board sign for the car
* I loved the body wash & lotion I got to use in hospital after Zander & made sure I got it the next time, I know lots of mums that have done that.
* My sister gave me a hair dresser voucher so I could get a haircut & feel nice after the birth
My mum made me a nappy cake (out of disposables) and a flower bouquet (made out of clothes). If you feel like being creative these were awesome gifts and meant that we didn't need to buy any nappies for the first month or so and have only had to buy some tights and long sleeved tops for winter. Just google them and there are plenty of tutorials on how to make them.
The other thing was a pedicure voucher which i am planning to use next week, should be fantastic
For me, the best present I have ever received was a gift subscription to the ABA. This was a life saver for me in the early days.
I have my top three:
My 'fertile mind' feeding pillow. good for B/F and formula fed bubs as it means that mum doesnt have to strain her arms etc holding bub while feeding. and as newborns they fit on it totally and can lay really comfy while feeding.
A HUGE box of newborn huggies disposables. we were using cloth but DD was tiny and couldnt really fit at that stage and it was great to use this in the first weeks.
A book called 'baby love' by robin barker. i didnt realise at the time how handy it was for the late night panic moments where you need someone to tell you that it is completely normal to not know what the heck is going on...
they were my three faves and as such now gift them at showers...
The best gift i got was -
a mirror i could attatch to the back of the car seat so i can see DS in the car while he is rear facing
I use it just about every day :)
I would say practical things like a singlet, sock and wrap gift basket.
My aunt told me to ask for nappies, you go through so many so by getting given some it really helps you save some money in the first couple of months.
My baby shower is this weekend and since i have pretty much everything we need i'm hoping we get given some special things for bub. i.e. one of those hand and foot casting kits would be awesome!
I didn't have a shower as such but some of the best gifts we were given were:
* Large stretchy wraps. A godsend when trying to get them off to sleep.
* Gift voucher at a baby store
* Monitor (didn't think we'd use one but I find it really handy for when I'm in the shower or just to hear when he's coming out of one sleep cycle to go in early and try and resettle him into the second one)
* Massage voucher (haven't used it yet but I need to!)
* A personalised towel (I think there's a website where you can order them)
* Body shop (or similar) gift pack - although thats a good gift for when you visit in hospital too. It's always nice to remember mum as well as bub.
Other things we weren't given but have needed and use everyday would be things like cot linen, blankets etc.
The single best gift I recieved was a plaster-cast set to do my big belly. DP and I has a great time plastering me up and now it is in DD's room I love to hold it up to myself and reminisce :)
Was also given some gaia organic wash, its amazing and now we dont use anything else for DD.
Have fun!
It depends, how much do you want to spend??
My best of all time baby shower gift was from Rhys' god parents and they bought us a voucher for Twinkle Toes that do the professional hand and foot castings. The voucher was enough to get two single hand and photo set that we gave to DH's parents (they are divorced!), and a massive one that we have in our bedroom that is both hands and both feet with a photo. I think it was some ridiculous price of $450 or something like that but it is something I wanted done and never would have had the money for it. And we bought an extra one that had a single hand and single foot and photo for Rhys' godparents.
Second best was a voucher for a cleaner that I got from my MIL. Was fantastic considering I had a c/s so once DH went back to work I got the cleaner to come out then. She was fantastic as well!!
Third best was from my mum and it was 2 washing baskets (the good ones that hug your hips) 1 filled with sposies, breast pads, maternity pads, bath wash, bath themometer, baby thermometer, baby panadol, grooming kit, baby bruch and comb set and all the little bits and pieces like that and the other was filled with stuff for me like body wash from the body shop with the matching body butter, body lotion, hand cream, soap bar, vanilla perfume, a new ****y thing for the shower.
I had to go get Rhys' baby book to write it all this out!! Lol.
- I got mine today :) from my friend who co-hosted my shower & wanted to wait & see what I got before she bought anything. I was excited! So wanted one of these.:
The things I really wanted / hoped for were the things that were useful or lovely but a bit extravagant for us. Like the mirror for the car - it was only $40 but not something we would have spent money on at this point.
The other thing I would have loved but didn't ask for (too much $ !) was a cleaner. So depending on how much you want to spend...
I was given a breast feeding pillow, which was a saviour for my arms and back and helped with attachment early on!
I found it was the oddest things that we appreciated - with hindsight!
My SIL gave us a little package called 'Baby Boppers'. It had a DVD in it and two bath books. We didn't think much of it at the time, but we needed to put something on the TV which would entertain or soothe DS when he was about 1 month old (he was watching the TV by then!). We chucked the DVD in, not expecting much - but he loved it and it calmed him down whenever he was upset. We are sooooo sick of watching it, but he still loves it - and he's 14 months old!
The bath books are his all-time favourite bathtime toys. I have to read them EVERY night.. ad nauseam!
Other than this, we did appreciate the nappies, wraps (big muslin ones were the best) and growsuits (bonds ones without feet were the best - although smaller in size).
Let us know what you decide to get!
some good things i got where -
-a 'no touch' thermometer
-the book 'babylove' by Robin Barker
-those stretchy wraps
-a travel grobag
-wooden pram toy and rattles
-a beautiful book with nursery rhymes in it.
an ABA subscription would be a good present, so would a bellybelly membership :)
i wish someone had gotten me a cleaner!
The best present I got was from DF's family. They bought me my Ergo carrier. I love it!
Second best was just all the consumable stuff like nappies, wipes, etc.
When I go to baby showers I always make up a hamper with nappies, wipes, bibs, socks, singlets, baby wash, photo frame and pamper stuff and chocolates for the mum.
I got something I did not know I would need and were SOOOO thankfull for it ... a Hamper filled with Panadol, syringes, vapour drops, colic meds, massage oil (for baby), those dummy that dispence the medicine ... stuff like that
Also the wipes, man, still today I'm happy with wipes as a gift!! :)
Wow ladies, thank you soooo much for all the fantastic ideas! We are happy to spend as much $$ as it takes for something they will really appreciate.
I never even thought of my SIL! You are so right, so many people forget the poor mum! I'll think we'll get something for the baby and something special for mum.
I'm already going to cook weekly for them (off to check out recipie threads for meals that can be frozen and reheated easily) and go around and wash/clean when I can. I don't want to be in the way though so will tread carefully here.
I think I will definately do a hamper of all the essentials (wraps, nappies, wipes etc) many of you mentioned - I suppose you can never have enough of this stuff. Also love the castings - such a gorgeous idea.
Well I have some serious shopping to do. Will let you know what I brought when I have it.
thanks again everyone, you've been so helpful. x
Infinity, I think your SIL is very very lucky to have you :):
Everyone raise their hand who wishes Infinity was their SIL *Peach raises hand* :):
tk's hand raised!
I think it depends - Soooo many women buy for THE baby but Mum sometimes needs something too.
Maternity bras don't come cheap... some of the comfiest ones out are the Hot Milk ones... I'd geta voucher for that. Or a Massage voucher. Booke a date with them in advance to get coffee and cake on your shout... little things that mums can enjoy or look forward to are REAALLY nice to recieve.
Whatever you do do NOT buy soft toys. *pullshairout*
*Nettie raises hand* :lol:
:redface: shucks - thanks ladies :D