Perfect gift for a brand new Human who fought through a rough patch?

October 17, 2014 11:56 AM

My very best bestie in the whole wide world just had a baby girl. Hooray! The first week of her little life was Very, Very Scary, but the stubborn little nugget fought her way through and is now home and safe and ready to get on with Life and Growing and Becoming a Someone. I've already made a donation in her name to the amazing children's hospital that saved her life, but I'd like to send a physical gift for the little monkey, too. What should I get?

Since I no longer live in the same city, and won't get to meet her in person for another few weeks, I'd like to send a gift for the Baby (and her Momma) that is adorable, preferably useful (not just trinket-y), and most importantly acknowledges the miracle that is this little Champion's life.
Things that might possibly be relevant:
- I'll have to send the gift from the US to Canada
- this is my bestie's first child
- budget is ~ $50...but willing to splurge a little for the perfect gift
- I have no craft-y skills, so cannot knit/crochet/cook/build/fashion out of wood anything
- pink/princess-y things are a no-go
- geeky/nerdy and/or literary themed gifts are extra awesome

Thanks for your ideas, friends!

posted by Dorinda to Shopping (21 answers total)

I don't have a specific link, but a super soft and fuzzy blanket is the first thing that popped into my mind.
posted by leesh at 11:58 AM on October 17, 2014

Get her a beautiful hardcover copy of one of your favorite childhood books (Pooh or Alice are my go-to), inscribe it with a personal message to her, and ship it. It will be something she'll value for the rest of her life.
posted by anastasiav at 12:01 PM on October 17, 2014 [19 favorites]

I'm assuming the baby is a Libra or a Virgo, but it's also the Chinese year of the horse.
posted by brujita at 12:02 PM on October 17, 2014

A nice charm bracelet, with a charm that means something to her mom or something related to her birth (like a cross if they're religious?). Then either you or her parents can add a charm each year. It's something she'll appreciate later, and her mom will appreciate now.
posted by Safiya at 12:15 PM on October 17, 2014 [3 favorites]

I like this Etsy shop (no personal connection) for little geek babies whose lives have been saved by science.
posted by warriorqueen at 12:29 PM on October 17, 2014 [1 favorite]

You know, life with a newborn just doesn't lend itself towards elegant gifts. Everything gets dirty. I totally understand that you want to give her something really meaningful, though. Here's my best idea, based on what I would have liked when my son was newborn.

3 items:
1. An ultra-soft plush blanket for car/stroller rides in the cold, for cuddling the baby, for playing on the floor, etc.
2. A funny onesie that makes her laugh (laughter is very, very important during this crazy time), like maybe one of those cute infant Star Trek onesies
3. A small but STURDY piece of jewelry, like Safiya suggests, with a single charm (I'm honestly not much for jewelry, but the birth of a child is so important it can feel appropriate to mark the occasion with a physical item - even I would wear such a thing. Before my son was born I think I would have considered such an idea bizarrely sentimental and sappy, but that was before I realized it's honoring the mother and her experience and sacrifices as much as the child.) You absolutely would need to get her something TOUGH if you want her to be able to wear it for more than 3 months! And realistically she probably won't be able to wear even the sturdiest necklace in the older infant through toddler phases. But that's OK :)

If you search for "new mother jewelry" on Etsy you'll see tons of options, not too pricey.

Plus, a card.
posted by Cygnet at 12:31 PM on October 17, 2014 [2 favorites]

How about a swaddle blanket? I gave this to two neighbors who had babies. They say it really worked.
posted by caryatid at 12:36 PM on October 17, 2014

I would get her a nursing necklace. And no, she doesn't have to actually be breastfeeding for it to be helpful! Basically, babies can get very distracted while eating (even from a bottle) and the necklace is interesting enough to keep them occupied. It helps prevent them from fiddling with other stuff (eyes, nose, mouth, etc) of the person feeding them. Take a google and see if there are any fun styles that seem to fit your friend. If you get the right kind, it might be something she could wear for years after the baby has grown and might even be something she can give to the baby if/when SHE has a baby.
posted by jillithd at 12:48 PM on October 17, 2014 [2 favorites]

Both our kids have super sweet Jellycat stuffed animals. Our son, 3.5 now, never goes anywhere without his bunny. It has been a huge source of comfort for him since he was about a year old. I'd send something like that and with luck it will become a permanent part of the kiddo's life.
posted by that's candlepin at 12:59 PM on October 17, 2014

Totally off the wall, but I was cleaning out the basement the other day and I found really cool boxes I had made for each of my kids, all filled with pretty much every possible magazine and newspaper from the day they were born. We were looking at them together and it was just SO COOL.
posted by kinetic at 1:22 PM on October 17, 2014 [4 favorites]

Best answer: * Stuffed toy of some creature that's a total bad-ass - lion, bear, wolf, tiger, etc. - to acknowledge the child's bravery.

* super-cuddly blanket for comfort.

* A copy of any of these books: Oh The Places You'll Go, or Blueberry Girl or Instructions.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 1:43 PM on October 17, 2014 [3 favorites]

Although as a newborn and toddler I received many gifts from others, the only ones I have kept over the years and over many moves have been special edition coins and coin sets, including a $100 gold coin from the year of my birth (now worth around $1,000 if I chose to sell it - which I never will). Although gold may be out of your budget, you can find lovely silver coins in the year of the baby's birth for $20 or possibly $50. If you are in Canada the Royal Canadian Mint has a wide range of options (various themes, pricing etc.) on their website.

I think it would make a nice gift as it would be likely to grow more valuable over the years, would be a thoughtful present relevant to their birth year, and could become a family heirloom.
posted by partly squamous and partly rugose at 1:48 PM on October 17, 2014

I would absolutely go with onesies that will make mom laugh. From your description, I'm not sure where to point you, but I like a lot of the ones at Threadless, myself. I'm sure you can find more geeky ones if there is a particular geekdom she slants towards.

They are useful, will make her laugh, and will be super cute for pictures to share with friends/family.
posted by freezer cake at 3:47 PM on October 17, 2014

Best answer: I love the quote from Midsummer Night's Dream "and though she be but little, she is fierce" in this situation. There are lots of t-shirts (such as this) and other stuff with it - here is an etsy search for the phrase with prints, shirts, engraved jewellery etc.
posted by goo at 4:01 PM on October 17, 2014 [4 favorites]

I know some people who planted a tree (I think it was a maple sapling) for the birth of their baby. The idea is that it grows along with the child. If they have a yard, that might be a possibility.
posted by Violet Hour at 4:51 PM on October 17, 2014

Best answer: The classic books would have so worked for me - as a twist, a board book for now, a little book for a child and a YA book (hardbacks - from your own shelves would be fine) with dated inscriptions on a bookplate or the fly leaf saying how much you look forward to her reading these as she grows up, as your favourites now to share with her, sort of symbolizing that she will have a long life ahead of her and anticipating sharing that with her.
posted by viggorlijah at 6:54 PM on October 17, 2014

When both my children were born, I bought them beautiful handmade patchwork quits from Etsy with the idea that they might become heirlooms. I also bought my little girl a beautiful Waldorf (handmade, stuffed) rag doll custom made with her eye and hair colour that she will hopefully keep forever. She's 16 months now and was pushing it around in a pram today so it is already well loved. Keep an eye out on Etsy.
posted by Jubey at 1:34 AM on October 18, 2014

A sturdy stuffed animal that has no small parts that can be pulled off. It could end up being the child's lifetime companion (I still have a couple of my stuffed animals from infancy in a box somewhere).
posted by Jacqueline at 3:28 AM on October 18, 2014

This isn't for a newborn, but I really think you should bookmark the site for Uncle Goose blocks and buy her some for a later birthday. They have literary themes, scientific themes, presidents, and just awesome design. Delights every parent and child I've given them to.
posted by leitmotif at 8:02 AM on October 18, 2014 [2 favorites]

Response by poster: Thanks for the great suggestions, everyone!
I'm going to make a mash-up of a bunch of your responses and send a hardcover copy of Neil Gaiman's lovely "Blueberry Girl" with an inscription inside the cover, a jelly at lion, and this perfect bracelet (which I'll suggest that Mom wear/hold on to until Baby grows into it.

Budget? Who said anything about a budget?? ;)
posted by Dorinda at 2:14 PM on October 18, 2014 [1 favorite]

We literally got 20 blankets (all lovely! but that's a lot of blankets) when my daughter was born.

I'd send the nosefrida. One miserable midnight, that mom will bless your name.
posted by mmmbacon at 9:24 AM on October 19, 2014