What to get as a baby gift for very picky mom.

[pittsburghmom]

Sounds like my sister. I got her a nonrefundable deposit towards a windmill. When she questioned it I explained that as earth friendly as she is I noticed she uses electricity, which here is produced by coal. Obviously she wouldnt want her baby around coal electricity so she needed to step her hippie game up.

OP, sounds like all she needs is ****s and a bowl. No silly gift cards or frowned upon gifts. ****s to breastfeed and the bowl to practice "elimination communication" (a method where you do not diaper the baby, you watch for his/her signals and then have them "potty" in the bowl/toilet) Doesn't get more eco-friendly than that!!

 

[NYCDiane]

OP, sounds like all she needs is ****s and a bowl. No silly gift cards or frowned upon gifts. ****s to breastfeed and the bowl to practice "elimination communication" (a method where you do not diaper the baby, you watch for his/her signals and then have them "potty" in the bowl/toilet) Doesn't get more eco-friendly than that!!

 

[S. C.]

Pink gift card

 

[Caseheidi]

How about so mom pampering? A gift card (I know, but how else can you do this) for a massage/mani-pedi? Some of my friends have loved these when their bodies are sore from pregnancy.

 

[CuteAndFluffy]

Sophie the Giraffe
Wooden toys from Haba or plan toys
Baby legs (legwarmers)
Amber teething necklace (one for her, one for the babe
Muslin blankets
A chewbeads silicone necklace for her

Slings & wraps are hard to pick out...lots of personal preference goes into that decision.

 

[eliza61]

Actually I think nothing. I'm not saying that to be snarky either.

I have a friend who is also "picky" actually she is more OCD but it manifest itself many ways and she absolutely rather not have any gifts. Her shower, we asked folks to make a donation in the amount of the gift to three choices.

We know that what we see as minor irritants she sees as bad gifts. She ends up running around trying to return stuff. So for all her showers (1 wedding and 2 baby) she was slap happy with absolutely no gifts. Now when she does recieve one she is very gracious and I think genuinely grateful but her close friends know she's not going to like it and it will be returned.

If she doesn't have a registry (which she definitely should) then I wouldn't try to figure out an appropriate gift.

Oh and I'll add to the chorus of folks who hate gift cards. I hate 'em

 

[crisi]

We know that what we see as minor irritants she sees as bad gifts. She ends up running around trying to return stuff. So for all her showers (1 wedding and 2 baby) she was slap happy with absolutely no gifts. Now when she does recieve one she is very gracious and I think genuinely grateful but her close friends know she's not going to like it and it will be returned.

I don't return them - I throw them into the goodwill box. So you go off and pick a gift for me that you spent your time and your money on, and I don't want it junking up the house, so it goes to charity. But then I feel guilty because you spent your time and money on it. And I'm under an obligation to return a gift, which means I have to spend my time and money playing the same guessing game. Just make the donation to charity. Or send a note and spend the money on something you want.

Over the years, I've lost patience with it - internally (like your friend, I'm gracious and grateful for the thought, but people who know me well shop from my list - the same collectable Christmas ornament every year from my parents, for instance). My mother in law is a very giving person and a few years ago, I looked around and realized that my house was not decorated with anything I liked - it was decorated with things my mother in law thought I would like - and after twenty years she is JUST starting to figure out my taste. So now she gives me photos of things she thinks I'd like Works well for both of us - it meets her need to say "look, I saw this and thought of you" and my need to say "oh, how lovely" and never have to dust it.

 

[nunzia]

I wish on your friend a princess girly girl, who is all about ribbons and bows and PINK. Seriously just get her a $20-30 food processor and if you are feeling really generous a less than $20 recipe book to make her own baby food, if she does not have these items. Otherwise get her an outfit for the baby in something she will actually put her baby in. If Babies R Us does not have anything, try TJ Maxx, they have some really cute things sometimes. I got 2 really cute outfits and a board book for less than $25 for a friend's shower once. It was less than I usually spend on baby shower gifts, but exactly comparable to what I usually give. Other than that would not sweat over a gift for someone so picky and ungracious.

LOL..my nephew and his wife were very much into no Princess..such a sterotype image, etc....and of course..the little girl INSISTS on frilly girly Princess and Disney and make believe and fariytales! I really like the idea of a basket of lovely children's books or baby food making equipment. My DD did the cloth diaper thing and it is nothing like in my day where you slapped on a diaper, pinned it up and on went the plastic pants..very confusing now with all the choices and inserts etc. Still..has become a very cool cottage industry and my DD bought from several SAHM and got involved in some exchanges etc.

 

[DizMe]

I don't think this is that hard. Who cares if she's picky? Just go with one of the wonderful suggestions given here. If she's truly your friend, then it would be snarky IMO to decide she's too picky to deserve a gift for her baby. New moms are sometimes dealing with a lot of hormone intensity, so give her the benefit of the doubt, know that she doesn't like pink or gift cards but does like environmentally friendly stuff and get something that fits the bill.

I am a knitter so I usually make something. I love to get a wonderful, eco-friendly yarn and make a nice sweater set or keepsake blanket. A baby quilt is another favorite of mine and occasionally I will embroider something cute. For a shower gift, I like to make little leggings and matching hat. You can usually find hand-made gifts like that at knitting shops etc if you don't have the time or know-how to do it yourself. I do love the idea of books, pampering for the mom, meals out, and so on.

 

[Jex]

Sophie the Giraffe
Wooden toys from Haba or plan toys
Baby legs (legwarmers)
Amber teething necklace (one for her, one for the babe
Muslin blankets
A chewbeads silicone necklace for her

Slings & wraps are hard to pick out...lots of personal preference goes into that decision.

I recall my wife getting our daughter a Sophie, I asked her why she was buying her dogtoys. She didn't like it but my wiener dog did.

 

[Maddie2]

* Eco-friendly tub toys (greentoys.com)
* Books
* Gift cards to a local restaurant that delivers, or a catering company she could order from.

When we had our first child, a co-worker gave us 4 frozen meat loaves. DH brought them home from work (DH and I worked at the same place) and at first, I thought it was a bit strange. However, I quickly changed my mind and grew to SO appreciate it! Great to have a home-cooked item in the freezer to pull out and eat when the last thing you want to do is cook!

 

[ceecee]

I'd give her a pink gift card. Seriously, people like that don't deserve gifts! Be grateful for what you get!!

I agree! Who doesn't like a gift card? Ask if she's registered somewhere and it not tell her she needs to be since she is so picky!

 

[MrsDrewsky]

Earth Mama Angel Baby has great organic products. They have some nice postpartum bundles. After BFing for the first few weeks I wanted to kiss the person that got me their BFing butter.

 

[secretpantssam]

Buy her some baby stuff from the thrift store. I think she'll appreciate the recycling factor of it! Also you can find some really great hardly used stuff at the thrift store, which makes shopping more fun to me!

 

[mrsklamc]

How about so mom pampering?

Sounds like she's been pampered enough to last her whole life.

 

[NHTikiBeckie]

Sounds like she's been pampered enough to last her whole life.

 

[bethy195]

Why don't you just ask her what she wants and avoid the hassle for both of you? Have her give you a list of things she needs/wants and pick something off the list. Easy peasy, and you both get what you want out of the deal with no guessing or hard feelings. Surprises are overrated when you are dealing with an overly picky person.

 

[luvmy3]

As her friend I wouldn't not get her something because she is picky and doesn't like GCs or the color pink. I'd ask her specifically what she would like and get her that. If she doesn't give any ideas, I'd give her cash, can't get any greener than that

 

[verleniahall]

I would give her a note that says its an IOU for a pre or post baby mani/pedi and going out for lunch.

 

[Iheartfall]

Sounds like she's been pampered enough to last her whole life.

This. Wow, you just knew it!!