DH and I have several friends having babies in the near future. I would like to start making some gift baskets for them of the things which were god sends for me when bubs was tiny or even for just before they were born. I have thought of a few things, but what was your best gift? Preferably small things that aren't too expensive and preferably natural stuff.
I have thought of-
reusable nipple heating/cooling pads
rescue remedy
moo goo products
large muslin wraps
cloth breast pads
natural pawpaw ointment
I used all the Lansinoh I was given. That stuff is awesome!
Also, I got a natural nappy rash cream from an eco store - can't remember the name of it but it was great. Probably that's what you're talking about with moo goo though
Hand cream/moisturiser for mum/dad - my hands were so cracked from washing them a hundred times a day.
Other small pamper items for mum are things like body wash or bath bombs etc.
Small things for the baby like singlets, socks, beanie, mittens.
All the other things I can think of are bigger/more expensive (like slings etc).
Mum did this for me, had things in it like baby nail clippers, medicine dropper, bibs, booties, mittens, beanies (she's a knitter, lol). It was awesome.
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bottle of gripe water (around $10)
that funny little thing you put up baby's nose and pump it, to suck the snot out of their nose - prolly at chemists - so useful when baby has a snotty nose
Nature Babycare babywipes - pack for around $5 in supermarket
Gaia bamboo babywipes - same
only two supermarket brands that don't have the chemical nasties in them.
tube of Simmons paw paw salve for nappy bag
tub of same for home
(in some health food shops and online) yellow and white packaging. avoid the red packaged one, that's Lucas, it's petroleum based paw paw salve.
pamphlets, magnets from ABA, so the new mum has the number for the free helpline (to put on fridge etc)
ABA calendar
ABA subscription (year membership plus subs to their bimonthly magazine called ESSENCE)
funky cloth breastpads, maybe check out Mazalicious or other brands on theclothpadshop site. (australian wahms).
homemade vouchers
"this voucher entitles the new mum to ................................(insert thoughtful things that would help a new mum out).
info on online shopping printed out for supermarkets, any fresh produce places near new mum, that do home delivery, in case she needs it
list of private lactation consultants in the new mum's area (in case she needs them and does't know where to start looking).
do you sew? buy a one metre square piece of muslin at spotlight, hem it, that's a baby wrap for swaddling. often the baby wraps in the shops, are so tiny, not useful for very long.
the agoo site has "2pack bamboo baby sox" on sale right now, 60% off. (only $5 i think). i suppose that would only be a bargain if you were buying other things, cos the flat postage is $10. They have bamboo baby clothes on sale too. Wish i had a need for it myself, sigh.
half a metre of microfleece (buy it from Nappies Covered, Tiny Toosh, Fairy Fabrics etc), very light to post, - cut it up into 30cm x 12cm strips - for a whole bunch of nappy liners.
cloth baby bibs (not white, no velcro), i mean the nice WAHM ones that do up with studs, are padded, so absorbent, made from quilter's cotton, so look good even after a gazillion washes.
zippered laundry washbags - for washing breastpads (so you don't lose the pairs), tiny socks (so you don't lose the pairs). the lingerie shop ones don't stand up to the washing frequency, i found the ones in big w (packs of 4) last a whole lot longer. the zip is the crucial bit.
teething gel or Weleda teething powder
safe teething toys
Gaia baby powder (in supermarket) it's made of cornstarch. (another thing under $10).
stash of facewashers/flannels to use as cloth wipes, e.g cotton velour ones stay soft for longer.
The itti bitti mcn site has great velour ones too (poo wiping size). Nurture Nappies used to stock Swaddlebee cotton velour wipes too (wee wipe size).
hand sanitiser (great for nappy bag when you're out and changing baby). I found one that is NOT alcohol based, called HANDS FIRST. you look up their website, punch in your postcode, and it tells you their nearest stockist. The majority of hand sanitisers sold in pharmacies and supermarkets, are all 55 - 60% alcohol. Really dries out the mum's hands and could harm the baby, if baby licks the hands, of someone who has just applied it.
it's a bit like making a hospy bounty bag - except with USEFUL things in it, ha ha.
One of the best things I reckon is a thing of tea, coffee, sugar, biscuits and UHT milk.
Then they don't have to worry about if they have the right things in the house to offer their many visitors a cuppa!!
I say skip the wraps .. DD has that many blankets/wraps cause thats what EVERYONE brought I find I only use ones that my grandmother has made cause they have a really special meaning to them .. So in replacement why not make a tag blanket? Thats something I never thought of for DD but she LOVES tags!!!
Also a thermometer or something body wash like for mum someone brought me that for my baby shower and you know what I used it in hospital and I didn't have to worry about sending DH to get me something pretty smelling
Lansinoh, coffee, chocolate, nailclippers, lip balm, and a hand made magnet or something they can stick on the fridge with handy numbers - nurse on call, the ABA hotline, the 24hr MCHN number, etc
Gaia products, you can get the little travel sizes.
Brauer - teeth remedy, stomach calm, children's calm - once again I think they come in smaller sizes too
Lovely hand wash for Mum as you know how many times you are washing your hands and a good hand cream
Bibs
Baby Brush and comb set
Baby photo frame to put that first pic in
Oooh I want you to be my friend! What a lovely thoughtful pressie!
I was hungry all the time (esp in hospital where the food wasn't very sufficient!). So muesli bars etc and things that you can keep in your handbag for when you're desperate, or beside the bed for those late night feeds.
Small things for a pregnancy/baby gift basket
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or something body wash like for mum someone brought me that for my baby shower and you know what I used it in hospital and I didn't have to worry about sending DH to get me something pretty smelling 
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