Something to bring to new mom and baby?

[pigletto]

Hi all. I am about to be an Auntie
I hosted a shower for my sister in law last month and bought her the highchair she wanted. However, I am looking for something to bring to the hospital when baby arrives or a gift that says "Welcome!".
I would like it to be special because we are the only Auntie and Uncle and this is the first cousin for my children. Mom and Dad really really don't need anything as they purchased many items on their own and had two baby showers. So .. needless to say I am stumped and coming here for ideas!
Thank you in advance for any input

 

[disneymarie]

The one thing I had bought for me years ago for third child was something just for me, a night gown. soft sockies with the aloe in them, a nice cd to play while feeding baby during the night. Personalized baby pillow with the date, weight, length on it.

A letter from the president. I can't remember where I had received my dd's from. There was a website that you could request one.
Cut the anouncement out of the newspaper add the newborn photo, a photo of the home, Create a birth announcement and then frame it.

A real nice baby frame, maybe even a Disney frame.

If you do not crochet and would like something homemade, a quilt, afghan, sweater set I know my gf use to sell on Etsy.com

OMG, I remember the pee pee tents we got for dear grandson.

Really nice burb clothes, tons of them and tons of wash clothes. Remember how many we wet through and how they wore out.

Look at Disney Store online and see what they may have unique.

My kids still have teddy bears from grandparents and Aunts. One is 36 years old. My younger dd has a hand me down boo boo kitty that is 45 years old.

 

[NotUrsula]

A supply of strong caffeine for Dad, so that he doesn't poop out and fall asleep when it's his turn to walk the floor at night.

(Seriously, I actually give this, in the form of a bag of strong coffee beans and a bottle of No_Doz. I do usually throw in something fun for Mom, too, though -- gift cards for food delivery services and a "gift certificate" from me for a day or evening's babysitting for later on.)

If she's nursing and this is a first baby, a Boppy or My Brest Friend pillow to make it easier on her back until baby gets the hang of it. (I prefer the MBF, as it has a strap to hold it in position and a pocket for cell phones and/or binkies.

Oh, one other thing, something that's useful from day one: flat cloth diapers. Very few people think to buy them these days, but they are wonderful as burp cloths and for mopping up after baby spills, very absorbent yet not bulky. I used them for all kinds of purposes, and in the first week or two I kept a clean one pretty much permanently tucked under the strap of my nursing camisole.

 

[ah1126]

We didn't find out the sex of our baby before she was born, so all my gifts were pink!

Something personalized would be nice! We had people bring us food in the hospital and after we got home. I will keep thinking...

 

[carebee21]

I agree with the nightgown (maybe nursing nightgown?) and soft socks or slippers.

Honestly, if they've had two baby showers and knew the sex of the baby, they probably truely do have everything they need for the baby. So maybe something that would be helpful to them as they navigate through their first weeks of parenting, such as gift cards to a local take-out restaurant, neighborhood coffee shop, etc.

To this day, I couldn't tell you who brought me what to the hospital, but I can tell you my mom brought me a nursing night gown and did our grocery shopping the first two weeks and my mother in law came over every two to three days and did the laundry. I had had a c-section and those were so helpful, loving and greatly, greatly appreciated!!!!

 

[Redheaded Sunshine]

If you're looking for a gift for mom, take her for a pedicure. It will feel good for her to be able to pamper herself (she's worked hard!) and it will give dad a little one on one time with baby. She might not be able to do this for a couple weeks, but a great gift.

As for baby, is there a toy maybe that was really special to your SIL when she was younger (or BIL)? My strawberry shortcake rag doll was my absolute favorite when I was a little girl and my mother found one on Ebay in mint condition. It was really sweet and special to me and now to my DD.

 

[ldrprn]

How about a diaper wreath that she can hang on her hospital room door. They are very easy to make. Be sure to use at least size 2 diapers here is a link for directions
http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Diaper-Wreath
These are really cute, and if you tie everything on you can use everything

 

[cajunbaby1]

Love the day spa idea. What about giving them a nite of babysitting when the baby is old enough? Give them a chance to go to dinner and a show. Just a fe hours alone would be lovely to them.

 

[bigmama67]

You've gotten some great ideas for mom especially. One gift we always give for new babies is the CD GLOBALULLABIES by Freyda Epstein. It's available on Amazon and it's just lovely! Check it out. You can listen to samples there or even buy the MP3 version to download if you like.

I also like the Sleep Sheep but not everyone likes white noise. My DD is in love with it! I think it comes in 2 sizes. Cloud B also makes nightlights that look like they cast a star pattern on the wall and ceiling. DS has the Twilight Turtle and DD has the Ladybug.

 

[powellrj]

What about filling her freezer with Dream Dinners or something along that line so they don't have to worry about meals? I know I had a friend bring over some casseroles and it was my favorite gift!

 

[busy mom]

I second the suggestion for g certs for local take out restaurants. I remember those days, and cooking was very low on the "to do" list! What a relief to be able to send hubby out to grab a nice cooked meal...

 

[wlake]

The gift I remember most was a bag of chocolate chip cookies my sister brought to the hospital for me. I don't think any of them made it home!

I would seriously second or third the ideas of some meals for the freezer, laundry help, or house cleaning help. If this is the first baby, they're going to be overwhelmed. Sometimes you need less stuff and more help, but you don't even know what to ask for.

Also, it seems like there's a lot of stuff to haul home from the hospital. Seriously, you go with a small bag, and you come home bags of stuff from the hospital and gifts and flowers, not to mention the baby! So, if you do want to bring gifts, it can be helpful to bring them to the house when the baby first gets home.

 

[amy-momofthree]

I love the nightgown idea! And for baby, what about a taggie-like blankie?? Sleep sheep is also a good idea.

 

[nunzia]

I also love to bring the new Mom a special treat for herself..I also saw recently, on a local BB, a gift certificate you could get from a photographer to do a newborn pictures sitting..really adorable picute ideas..Anne Gedde-esque without the creepiness factor.
My DD is pregnant and am thinking of getting her one.

 

[FINFAN]

my sister got me a flower arrangement that came in a mug saying "it's a boy" with little blue footprints on it. I happen to be drinking my coffee out of it right now 16 1/2 years later! She also made a birthday cake for well, the day of his birth ( that was a hit with my DD who was almost 4) I also used a basket a lot when my first was born, I had a C-section and took a little while to be able to do stairs so I would bring the cordless phone, pen paper, whatever I needed with me in that so it was nearby. I would have loved gift card to McD's, Taco Bell etc. especially for DH! I remember my hunger to eat was not at the normallunch/dinner times a lot, and DH would run to get something from the drive-thru since I had already eaten or wasn't hungry yet. I remember my hormones were wacky for a few weeks after my 1st..so maybe a DVD or CD of a stand up comic ( non-baby themed) or something along those lines, in case the blues step in? lastly...whatever pictures you take, develop them and put them in a small album...and one in a frame to display at home right away!

 

[tinksgirl]

I have had 3 grandchildren born in the last 17 months, while visiting the hospital i have brought the coming home outfit, a birthday cake(because it is a birthday!!!,flowers, a cute thing that you hang on the hospital room door (sold at the hospital gift shop) ballons and purchased the hospital pics for the new parents...

 

[lukenick1]

A Diaper Cake!

 

[matdrew]

personalized items. many adorable unique things on etsy.com. just search personalized baby etc.

 

[pigletto]

You guys are the BEST!! So many great ideas! I truly appreciate it. I'm going to go through them all and I will let you know what I end up doing

 

[Kellydelly]

I would not take anything to the hospital except maybe some carryout food or a snack of her choosing. People don't realize that the more stuff visitors bring, the more stuff the parents have to cart home when the mom and baby are discharged. Take a gift to the house, not the hospital!