Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with gift and baby

Is a wristlet a bad gift for a new mom?

smirkyfodder — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 06:27:58 -0800

Is a wristlet a bad gift for a new mom? I'd like to get my two sisters-in-law matching, fancy wristlets for Christmas. I'm fairly certain my younger sister-in-law will like it but my older sister-in-law just had a baby this week and I'm not sure if it's going to come across as totally ridiculous.

Not having had any babies myself, I've been going back and forth in my brain between:

A. She has a baby. She is going to carry around a ton of stuff and none of it fits in a wristlet. It's silly of you to think a new mom would have any use for a wristlet and you will appear thoughtless.

and

B. She has a big diaper bag to lug around, maybe a wristlet would be a nice thing to have as well so she can easily find her keys and cards quickly. She deserves something sweet and fancy and totally unrelated to the baby because all she's been getting lately is baby stuff.

So, what do you think? I appreciate your thoughts. Thank you!

So many adorable tiny humans!

snowysoul — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 15:42:04 -0800

What should I knit or crochet as gifts for friends and family who are having babies? I have a couple friends who are having babies, yay! I would like to knit or crochet a couple things for then but having no tiny humans yet, I'm not sure what would be useful or really appreciated. There's a mixture of boys and girls, summer and winter babies ranging in age from 0 - 18 months so far. I'm an beginner-intermediate knitter and an intermediate crocheter.

Can you help me brainstorm some ideas of what I should be thinking about? Ideas so far are blankets, hats, booties. I made a baby blanket for my last friend who had a baby and she loved it. Unusual ideas are welcome, we live in Canada so warm is also good!

Stuff new parents want.

mittenbex — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 17:12:42 -0800

What's the best thing I can send to brand spanking new parents? I have a few friends who live out of town who will be having babies this winter. I'm not close enough to be able to offer 'hey anytime you need anything, let me know.' because -- I'm hours and hours away.

I'd love to send them a basket or something of stuff that will be for THEM as parents (in addition stuff for the baby).

Like a new parents gift card.

What can I put in it that will be awesomely helpful, needed, wanted, etc.

No more gifts please!

no bueno — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 17:28:07 -0800

Would it be acceptable if we ask people to deposit money into an account for our son's education instead of giving gifts? So we have a 7 week old and already we're accumulating too much junk. Most of the gifts are things that we're probably not going to use. Would it be weird if we ask people for money for a college fund for him or something of the sort instead of giving gifts? Best way to set this up?

Best gift ever for a 9 month old baby girl

ohyouknow — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 13:39:28 -0800

My dear friend has a 9 month old daughter (who is just the most gorgeous vivacious little person I've ever seen) and as I'm pregnant with my first child who is also a little girl, we are inheriting an enormous amount of stuff from them. I would like to buy her 9 month old daughter a really fabulous gift as a thank you. Any ideas?

Apparently when you hit your early 30s everyone you know gets pregnant at the same time?

charmedimsure — Wed, 16 May 2012 00:57:47 -0800

I want to give a standard starter library of awesome children's picture books as baby shower gifts for my close friends who are first time mothers. What should I include? I read a lot of young adult literature to keep up with my middle school students, but I haven't read picture books since I was of the age to read them myself and have no idea where to start, here.

Bonus points for books that hold up to many re-reads, obviously, and it would make sense to limit this to books that work for kids who are 0-5. Thanks in advance for your genius ideas!

Babies Galore!

Liesl — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 08:38:54 -0800

What kind of thoughtful yet not-time-expensive gift can I make my sister for her new baby? My older sister just announced she is having a baby in October! Awesome! I am having a baby (my second) in October too! Awesome!

What kind of gift do you suggest I can give her? We are a homemade kind of family rather than a purchased item type. For example, she and my mom collaborated on a baby quilt for my first, and my other sister needlepointed a birth announcement. I knit, sew, embroider and am generally handy with fabric, so it would probably be something along those lines.

But I want to be realistic about what I'm actually going to get done over the summer, given that I already have an active toddler and little space to spread out, and another one on the way. I already owe this sister a pair of socks from about two years ago that I haven't gotten to. And I still owe my sister-in-law a baby present, and the kid is two months already. Not to mention the residual guilt over the fact that I haven't knitted any clothing for my existing kid yet, just toys.

Do you have a go-to knitting pattern that doesn't take too much time? It is possible to make multiple of that item without getting bored to death? Are there other craft domains that I haven't thought of?

Gifts for Orthodox Jewish baby?

horsemuth — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 18:25:55 -0800

Gifts for Orthodox Jewish baby? My next door neighbors are Orthodox Jews. They recently had a baby (girl, third child) and our family is looking to get them a little something. They gave us a nice gift of some clothes when our twins were born, and we would like to reciprocate, but I want to give something appropriate and respectful. The father is a Rabbi and he would generally be my go-to guy for any questions of this nature, but since it pertains to his family, that is not an option.

What do babies really want for Christmas.

Alison — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 11:49:17 -0800

My 10 month old daughter is at the age where she will be more interested in ripping up wrapping paper than the gifts she will get this Christmas. So, in that spirit, what baby-safe things can I set up for her that she'll really want on the 25th, messes be damned? It's my daughter's first Christmas, so I'd like to spend it doing things she really enjoys. What she really loves right now is to shred and crumple paper, to chew on small cardboard boxes, and to eat whatever I am eating.

I might give her a pot to bang on or fill the living room with mylar balloons (she likes to punch and kick them; the ribbons will be out of reach or removed, though). I also have a roll of unbleached paper for her to destroy (and then recycle). She will be supervised the whole day, of course, but we'd like to keep it baby safe as much as possible.

In addition, we'll be taking her to the neighborhood indoor pool for a swim and possibly for visit with a friend's wiener dog. She loves cuddling and petting that dog so, so much.

So what else can we do for her that she'll enjoy? She has a habit of trying to chew on everything, so that complicates keeping it safe.

Here's that Snuggie You've Been Wanting...

Bella Sebastian — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 20:10:38 -0800

Best friends just had a baby--should I bring a gift to the hospital? We're part of "the chosen few" that have been invited to see them and the baby in the hospital. We are so, so happy for them and their new daughter, and I was thinking of bringing flowers to the hospital as a little gift. But then I thought--maybe they're drowning in flowers. Maybe new parents hate getting flowers. Is there something else I should bring instead?

Note: we've already gotten them an actual baby gift at her shower. Her mom is in town for a few weeks to help with laundry/meals/etc, and after that I'm planning on bringing meals by and stopping by to help with housework. I'm really just wondering about a little fun token or gift to bring while she's still in the hospital. She has an ipad and lots of magazines so I know she's pretty set for entertainment.

Anything you new moms would have appreciated having while you recuperated at the hospital?

How do you paint leather?

FunkyHelix — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 07:42:20 -0800

I'm turning a small vintage samsonite leather suitcase into a baby travel kit that will stay in my sister's truck. I know how to get the lingering smells out, and how to replace the liner. I also figured out how to clean leather. But what type of paint is best to use on leather? I want to add some decorative elements with a baby theme to the outside and I'm not sure if acrylics are okay.

I am a horrible person: New Baby Edition

Anonymous — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 12:58:19 -0800

I flaked out on a friend's new-baby acknowledgment... for two months! Exactly how much of a transgression is this, and what (if anything) can I do to mitigate the damage? The friend in question is a grad-school buddy with whom I was once medium-close, and with whom I've since been in touch on a once-a-year-phonecall basis. I was totally excited when she let me know about her pregnancy, and had this cool idea for a neat handmade baby-name gift I was going to send... and then, what with the baby arriving in the middle of a super-busy work period, and various unexpected problems with materials and design, I guess I let the perfect become the enemy of the good, as they say. I've certainly been thinking fondly of her the whole time, cooing over all the baby pictures online, and working steadfastly on finishing the wretched gift (which should have taken all of four hours, were it not for my own ADHD-having, overbooked, super-disorganized ways)-- but as matters stand it's still sitting half-completed in the middle of my workbench, and I woke up in a cold sweat last night with the realization that it had been TWO WHOLE MONTHS with nary a word from me of any sort about the baby.

At this point, the guilt and avoidance is getting to be a problem in its own right, so here's my question: just how bad is this? And what's to be done at this point? The friend in question has had some exposure in the past to my general problems with lateness in responding, so I doubt she's surprised, but still... eesh. Have I crossed some sort of deadline where it's no longer possible to send the ordinary congratulations? Should I-- can I-- do anything extra to make up for the lateness? Can this semi-friendship be saved?

what should i buy for my sister and her baby?

sabh — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 12:50:58 -0800

gift ideas for new mom + baby? my sister is about to have a baby! yay!
this will be the first baby of the family, and my sister and i are are very, very, very close.
aside from all of the free babysitting i will provide, i want to buy something special for baby. any ideas? (preferably something physical and not starting a college fund sort of gift.)
i would also like to get something nice for my sister. and her freezer is already stocked!

so, suggestions?

Pretty, personalized DIY baby gifts?

Bardolph — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 10:04:26 -0800

Please recommend small, pretty gift ideas (preferably personalized!) that I can hand-make as new-baby, birthday or Christmas presents for small children. A bunch of my friends and relations have had kids over the past few years, and it looks like there'll be lots more on the way. I try to be good about either buying from the registry or sending giftcards, but I often find myself wishing I could also include something small, handmade and relatively personalized (preferably with a name-- hey, who doesn't like their name?), to add a bit of specialness to the present. I'm not talking anything large-scale, just a pretty little ornament or keepsake of some sort that says, you know, MAEDYLLYN on it, or otherwise shows a little bit of particularity to that person/family, and that goes beyond just writing a name in permanent marker on a plastic figurine.

Can anybody suggest any ideas? Instructions would be preferable, but simple images or item descriptions are also cool. Ideally, these would be < $15 apiece and take no more than two hours per item to make (or more for a single large, time-consuming batch plus subsequent quick individual personalization).

Assume that I'm competent in basic craft skills (knitting/ crochet/ scrapbooking/ beading/ macrame/ machine-and hand-sewing/etc.), am generally a quick study at new techniques, can kind of do calligraphy, but am NOT good at drawing or painting images. Thanks!

Tell me your baby essentials!

theantikitty — Sun, 02 Jan 2011 06:21:29 -0800

I'd like to buy a baby shower gift for a couple of soon-to-be parents who are really, sincerely strapped for cash. Please help me (a non-parent) come up with a list of absolute baby essentials that they can use during the first year or so. I'm throwing a baby shower. Yay! I'm going in with a friend to help pay for the costs of food, drink, etc at the restaurant, but I also want to get them a separate gift. Because of the other costs, I only have about $50-$75 to spend on this shower gift.

The expectant parents are both really lovely people, and they're also getting by on very little right now. She's in graduate school, and he's adjuncting at a nearby college. Rather than getting them a fancy or decorative gift, I prefer to spend the money I have on items that they will sincerely need during the first year. I'm sure they will get plenty of clothes, and my budget isn't enough to afford a large ticket item. So, are there a bunch of small things that you needed as a new parent that I could collect into a gift basket? The every day stuff, stuff that most people probably won't buy for a shower? I'd like to be as useful to them as possible. Thanks for any advice you might have!

Baby gift that screams METAL!!!

backseatpilot — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 10:15:43 -0800

We're in search of a metal (that would be "METAL!!!!" and not, you know, made of metal) baby gift. Our neighbors are going to be having a baby any day now and we'd like to get them a small something for the newborn. They are both very "metal" - heavily tattooed, big into Halloween, that sort of thing. They are also overly educated intellectuals and outdoorsy folks.

What would be a good baby item for the newly-born metalhead? Skull-and-crossbones blanket? Slayer onesie? Any ideas? I know next to nothing about the music or the lifestyle.

X-MAS gift of meal delivery for new parents?

wannaknow — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 01:28:13 -0800

x-mas gift idea for parents of toddler, who are having twins next month: "relaxing night in". Gift card for meal delivery service (anyone know a yummier version of omaha steaks?), some great new movie on dvd, CDs of soothing sounds for the babies (white noise, womb sounds, ocean sounds, etc). Trying to keep it under $150. I've heard omaha steaks are gross, so I'm looking for an alternative. Unless I should scrap the whole thing and get them...? they live in a socal suburb, I live too far to babysit. I don't want to get them a gift basket or other food that would be delivered now. I'd rather give them the option of having food delivered once the babies arrive and they're way too exhausted to cook.

How to get front pages of newspapers from around the world?

Twinedog — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 07:20:34 -0800

How to get newspapers from all over the world. Hi so my friend and his wife appear to finally be going into labor with their first child. This is related to my earlier post.

I got them a baby book but I also want to get newspapers, well mostly front pages from newspapers across the U.S. and the world for the birth date. How does one actually get physical newspapers from across the world?

Baby shower gift ideas for a man in the office?

Anonymous — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 05:56:31 -0800

Baby shower gift ideas for a man in the office? One of my co-workers and his wife are expecting a baby in a couple of months and my boss has put me in charge of taking up a collection from the team and buying a gift in honor of the occasion. I am happy to do this, but since I don't have any kids and don't know him intimately, I have no idea what to buy.

If you're a guy, what's the best gift someone has ever given you? If you're not, what did your husband/partner find especially useful? I expect the budget will be around $75?

Other facts: he and his wife already have one child about ten years old, so this is not their first. We do not know whether the new one will be a boy or girl.

The Second Time Around

Leezie — Thu, 13 May 2010 17:36:52 -0800

What can I get my friend as a present for her second baby? I don't want to get the usual baby stuff, but something special and yet useful. Give me your best suggestions! Baby is a girl.

What to get a friend who just had a premature baby?

hal_c_on — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 00:56:48 -0800

What can I do/get for a couple that just had a premature baby? Its horribly morbid to discuss weight or age in this case. The child is in stable condition, and thats when the parents were told to go rest at home.

I'm nowhere close to them. But I can access anything on the web, and can even send stuff from the south pacific.

I'm at the age where my marrying friends are starting to have babies. When this happens I get them presents because it is a pretty momentous occasion in their lives.

But what about here? What can I get them that will help them out?

They have no shortage of money, or family, or basic baby supplies that should be stocked up on before that baby comes home.

Unfortunately, the little girl will be at the hospital for a few more months.

ANY suggestions would be helpful. Thanks, mefites.

Merry Christmas, Baby

bunji — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 13:48:07 -0800

New nephew! Yay! But what to get him for Christmas? He's the first baby in the family, so this first-time auntie and uncle are clueless as to what would be great presents for a six-month-old. Please, experienced givers-of-baby-gifts, share your wisdom!

- Have any gifts to your baby been especially big hits?

- Is there anything that you parents WISH someone had given them?

-Has anyone received anything when they were a baby, whether sentimental or practical, that they especially appreciate today?

-Or does anyone simply have a really good idea?

(I saw this earlier thread, but it's almost five years old, so new things might be all the rage and babyland these days.) The world's cutest little nephew thanks you in advance!

My nephew just turned one. What should I buy him that's cool and costs ~$150?

carpyful — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 09:39:11 -0800

My nephew just turned 1. I only have $150 but I want to get him something cool that he'll appreciate in the future. My nephew who lives in a different state just turned 1. I want to start being the super cool uncle early and get him a gift that is unique and something that he won't necessarily just throw out once he grows out of it.

I've seen this post, which had some really great ideas. However, they all seem a bit beyond my (small) budget and a lot of the ideas that people shot out I want to save for later years (namely the Port and the museum membership suggestions).

Ideally, I'm looking for a gift that he'll be able to hold on to for a few years. Maybe something he'll want to bring to a show-and-tell or something that will be much more appreciated post high school graduation?

I kind of like the idea of a framed stock, but I can't really think of a cool company to "invest" in. I was also thinking of registering [his name].com -- because I'm geeky like that -- but it's already taken.

So, mefites, can you help me think of a unique gift that can be appreciated in the future and that costs ~$150?

Can a baby get a little LOVE (onesie)?

killerinsideme — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 15:25:28 -0800

Baby-product-that-surely-exists filter: A couple friends have just had babies, and a couple more friends are about to do the same thing. I live in Philadelphia; they live all over the country. Therefore, I'm trying to find a onesie or something similar with "LOVE " on the front, a la the Robert Indiana sculpture in Love Park (I know there are many other LOVE sculptures, but I still feel like it says Philly and I know it says love, which has got to be good). My Google-fu is sucking today - help!

Thank you too much!

Bardolph — Tue, 26 May 2009 18:42:38 -0800

A friend made a really sweet, but kind of awkwardly generous, gesture. How to respond gracefully, while still giving her an out? (Just as a preface, I have a hangup about receiving gifts and favors-- particularly big ones. They make me feel miserable and guilty, as though it's my fault that the person went to all this expense/trouble, and I get freaked out thinking about just how grateful I'll have to be to make it up to them. So if this seems kind of like a retarded overthinking of what should be a relatively straightforward social situation-- well, guilty as charged.)

So I had a baby last month, and various friends were excited and supportive, including the church choir where I sing. About two weeks after the birth, someone I know from choir approached me and said she'd like to throw a party for the choir at her house in the baby's honor. This was a pretty overwhelmingly generous offer, as the group is large (~25 people), and the woman in question doesn't even know me all that well (we've hung out a bit in the context of other church groups, but never one-on-one, and no conversations beyond small-talk). She's not a wealthy retired socialite or anything, either-- we're talking a super-busy shift-working mom of two, so throwing a party for a huge group of people would likely be a big deal for her in terms of the investment of time and money.

At the time, I thanked her profusely, and probably a bit anxiously, and she closed by asking me to let her know some dates that'd work. Four weeks later, I still haven't been able to bring myself to contact her, largely because I've been unable to figure out answers to the following:

How can I give her a list of dates without sounding weird and presumptuous (like, "Ahem...the following are some good dates for you to schedule my party")?
On the off chance that she might since have rethought her initial impulse, is there any way to avoid Abilening by politely giving her an out? I'm especially concerned about this given that lots of people have already met the baby (brought her to rehearsal a couple times) so a debut party at this point might seem a little anti-climactic.
If the party does happen, is it appropriate for me to offer to pay for anything and/or help with prep, or would that be rude?
Said party won't end up devolving into some kind of shower, will it? Because the choir already got us a group gift, and OMG uncomfortable.
Although we haven't broken the news to anyone here yet, we're actually planning on moving out of the area in a few months. Does our secret lame-duck status change matters at all?
And lastly, regardless of whether this happens, what might be some nice ways to let her know how much I appreciate the really sweet thought?

What's that you say? Why yes, I am kind of a social idiot. Advice from anyone versed in intermediate-level-and-above interpersonal interaction would be much appreciated!!