[Oilucy]

A gf of mine is having her second daughter in a few weeks time.
My original thought was to buy her a $50 gift voucher from a local boutique baby shop that sells everything including linen, clothes, decor, carseats, feeding accessories, toys - you name it and its all really good quality stuff. Its my favourite store actually and I loved being able to shop there after my own DD was born with a gift voucher, especially as I was on maternity leave and funds were tight - it was nice to splurge out. I suspect she will be in a similar financial position. But is a gift voucher a little thoughtless and boring?
I also grabbed her some Huggies nappies that were on special at Woolies and then wondered whether instead of the voucher I should give her a decent sized basket of useful consumables - ie nappies, wipes plus some Moo Goo baby products like baby bath, shampoo, powder etc. Things that she will go through and will save her money buying. No dummies or bottles. Perhaps a little Kate Finn rattle, face washer and bath towel along with the consumables. But is this boring?
I didnt want to buy clothes given she already has loads of girls clothes from her firstborn and also as the two girls will be born roughly one week apart (plus 4 years) so will share the same season baby clothing too.
If someone gave you a gift would you prefer a good quality basket of nice baby consumables or a packet of nappies and a gift voucher?

[imamumto3]

I like things I can use, so bath washes etc would be a great gift. I like the idea of moo goo too. my kids have very sensitive skin and j & j's products, that everyone tends to give we're just wasted. I still have them sitting here from 7 1/2 years ago!

[Dabri]

Honestly...

Unless you knew for certain that she was using disposable rather than cloth nappies, and unless you knew for certain the types of brands she was likely to use for consumables, I'd stick with the gift voucher.

We got given a lot of consumables with DD, ranging from very cheap brands to quite expensive brands. The majority of these we never used because we use cloth nappies and didn't use that much shampoo, baby wash etc.

[Chelara]

I'd probably prefer clothes that you chose yourself I think. (Maybe just me though ). I wouldnt want the consumables or nappies as I will buy those myself but I wouldn't splurge too much on clothes iykwim. A voucher is nice but I got kind of sick of dragging dh baby shopping (I can't drive).

This post has been edited by Chelara: 14/01/2013, 08:35 PM

[Fossy]

I think both your ideas sound great, I recently gave a friend a gift of consumable items, although I didn't buy any washes etc as I never used them on my kids and ended up with a cupboard full.

I had spew rags, linosoh, baby panadol and nurofen, bonjella, sudocream, sofie the giraffe and a few other little things, I put it all in a nappy bucket.

I'd be super happy with a gift voucher too though

[fifi-trixibelle]

I probably wouldn't give the nappies or consumables unless you know what her plans are.

What about a voucher for something for the mum and a couple of outfits or the rattle and towels for the baby?

[SplashingRainbow...]

I'm not a fan of consumables (love the nappy idea though)

My son is 2 and we are only part way thru our second bottle of baby wash/shampoo (it's a combined product). Didnt use powder. Only use one specific brand of wipes as most irritate his skin.... You get the drift.


What about:
- a special teddy that will be just the baby's (rather than hand me down toys ) or
- a good quality zipped up wrap (I think a lot of these were "newish" when I had my son a couple of years ago so she may not have any)
- vouchers for a company who home deliver meals or fresh groceries
- photo frames for just the baby's photos

If you'd like her to be able to choose the voucher sounds great.

[bikingbubs]

the best thing i was given for #2 was a photo album! already had all the baby stuff and something i would have taken a million years to get around to getting myself!

[Jillian_10]

Something somebody mentioned once which I think is a great idea - gettin nice new basic clothes for the 6month plus age - between solids and commando crawling my 9 month old son is currently trashing his day-to-day clothes. They are going to make pretty sorry, stained hand me downs.

[BlueEyedBeauties]

A massage for her
Everyone gives for the baby.. So do something special for her