Gifts for new parents-their babies?

[MollyMalone]

A small group of us are planning a virtual baby shower in late May for the sons and daughters-in-law of a dear friend (love having a happy reason for hunting for something other than face masks and hand sanitizer!). The two couples are the first of the "kids" in my circle of friends to become parents & they've been reluctant to launch an Amazon wish list or other gift registry. Since we peers of the soon-to-be grandparents are out of the loop re au courant baby-toddler gear, I would love your suggestions for good presents -- and conversely, what items the young parents & newish grandparents here on PS have discovered were not worthwhile expenditures.

We anticipate there will be some group gifts, so higher priced recommendations are as welcome as the baby shower equivalent of "stocking stuffers." And if you have any ideas for little somethings for the upcoming Mother's and Father's Days,that also would be great!

Huge thanks for your assistance ~ Molly

 

[chrono]

Important and expensive: crib, car seat (but maybe not so important these days?), stroller, play pen or some sort of bouncer to give the new parents a breather

Important and inexpensive: diapers, onesies, wipes, burp clothes, baby toys
(Buy 3 months and 6 months sizes too because babies grow like weeds).

 

[Queenie60]

Our Nephew and wife requested a baby food maker, a bassinet a small seat that has a tray of toys for play, and a sling that they can carry the baby on their body. Good luck, there's loads of gizmos out there for babies. And to mention, a very nice diaper bag.

 

[jaysonsmom]

A couple of things that I really thought were useful (even 17 years after my first baby) are baby wipe warmer and magic bullet.

The baby wipe warmer was especially great for my son because sometimes a cold baby wipe would trigger a shiver that sent by baby peeing straight up into the air during a diaper change.

My magic bullet (from my dh) for mother's day soon after my son was born was awesome for making shakes (for moms trying to lose baby weight) and pureeing food for my baby once he started eating solid food.

A lot of people don't have this on their registry but I get these for them anyway because they were especially useful for me.

 

[Asscherhalo_lover]

Can you tell us more about them? Living space, are they active? Do they have a car/what kind? Lifestyle goes a long way towards what should work for them.

 

[YadaYadaYada]

All babies are different of course but the Momaroo was a lifesaver with my son. Also it's great to have smaller practical items like the carriage cover for the shopping cart, Bundle Me for the car seat during the colder months, Boppy which is handy for breast and formula feeding.

 

[qubitasaurus]

Definitely a baby carry system like this

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Fussy babies will not be put down. I had the mamaroo 4.0 and all the other knickknacks, and oh my god she just would not go down out of someone's arms for the first couple of months. Not into the expensive crib, the 1.5 k stroller or the electronic rocking thingamabob, or the baby play space (i.e. baby mat) or anything else. Eventually I had to go back to work (maternity leave is only 8 wks here) and I ended up paying someone $20 per hour just to physically hold her all day long.

Anyway need a good expensive baby carry system which is compatible with a new born insert. Plus also need the new born insert. Otherwise it could be dangerous, and/or hurt mummy's/daddy's back.

For slightly older babies have really liked these (they're very good at making them get into bed)

Collections

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Otherwise if you have the resources the pram is the most expensive item, and the one which you could probably do the most good buying (as long as she was involved in the selection process).

Edit -- I also feel it might be worthwhile saying my baby rejected a lot of things we bought (baby bottles and teets were just summarily rejected, certain clothes were too hard to unclip to change her nappy at night, her newborn skin reacted adversely to various baby washes/shampoos, baby bath was not a hit unless we had a sling in it to support her as she hated baths and wreathed around too much. I give up on the number of things we bought and then tossed within a week. So I feel uncertain about buying new parents bulk staples.)

 

[PintoBean]

I emailed you a suggestion

 

[Queenie60]

I emailed you a suggestion

@PintoBean - hope you're doing well.

 

[Asscherhalo_lover]

All babies are different of course but the Momaroo was a lifesaver with my son. Also it's great to have smaller practical items like the carriage cover for the shopping cart, Bundle Me for the car seat during the colder months, Boppy which is handy for breast and formula feeding.

I didn't use ANY of those It really is different person to person and baby to baby.

 

[YadaYadaYada]

@Asscherhalo_lover, yes and I bet that there are even better new things out now since my son is almost 6!

I will say both my kids loved the exersaucer and my oldest the Jumperoo but I know they say to limit the time babies spend in them.

 

[MollyMalone]

I've been slammed by work & battling vertigo, so this is a belated, but no less heartfelt, THANK YOU to @chrono , @Queenie60 , @jaysonsmom , @StephanieLynn , @PintoBean , @qubitasaurus for all your suggestions and thoughts!

Your posts made me smile as I recalled some of the things my son loved when he was a little tyke (e.g., his gleeful laugh as he bounced in his Johnny-Jump-Up) and great to hear recommendations for newer products & ones that simply hadn't occurred to me. My friends & I truly appreciate your cornucopia of ideas & have already acted on a number of them.

@Asscherhalo_lover , your query about their lifestyle prompted me to do a GoogleMaps virtual walk around the neighborhood of each couple's New England suburban home (which I've not yet seen for myself). Turns out both couples live within a mile or so radius of a shady playground, one or more parks, and their respective town's "downtown." And there are sidewalks, albeit not always in great condition, all along those routes. So we're thinking sturdy strollers and maybe bassinets will be the "big ticket" items proposed to invitees as group gifts. Hopefully, if the couples have strong preferences about make-model, they won't continue to be reticent about making those known.

Again, huge thanks!
Gratefully ~ Molly

P.S. What I decided to get them for Mother's Day, crib shoes from Little Pitterpat in Montana, because you're never too young imo to start a shoe wardrobe

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[Asscherhalo_lover]

@MollyMalone I can't highly recommend the City Mini GT stroller enough. It works with many infant carseats (just needs the right adapter) and has been perfect for sidewalks, subways, and even off roading (we've taken it apple picking and farm tripping plenty). It's not terribly expensive and is available at many retailers.

 

[MollyMalone]

Oh thanks, @Asscherhalo_lover -- I was about to ask what people thought of the car seat-stroller combos!

Infant car seats were still enough of a novelty when my son was born (1985) that I started carrying a copy of the FAA regulations authorizing their use on airplanes. Because on his initial flight at the age of 3 months, the flight attendants were adamant that the car seat had to be put into the baggage hold (I'd paid for the extra ticket for him* *) & on the return flight, they grudgingly allowed me to install the car seat but insisted I had to hold him in my arms for take-off and landing So needless to say, the car seat-strollers were not yet on the market.

** Back then, all the US carriers let you buy a seat for a child under the age of 12 for half-price, which I was happy to pay to eliminate keeping him on my lap.

 

[Asscherhalo_lover]

Oh thanks, @Asscherhalo_lover -- I was about to ask what people thought of the car seat-stroller combos!

Infant car seats were still enough of a novelty when my son was born (1985) that I started carrying a copy of the FAA regulations authorizing their use on airplanes. Because on his initial flight at the age of 3 months, the flight attendants were adamant that the car seat had to be put into the baggage hold (I'd paid for the extra ticket for him* *) & on the return flight, they grudgingly allowed me to install the car seat but insisted I had to hold him in my arms for take-off and landing So needless to say, the car-seat strollers were not yet on the market.

** Back then, all the US carriers let you buy a seat for a child under the age of 12 for half-price, which I was happy to pay to eliminate keeping him on my lap.

Infant carseat stroller combos are pretty much a standard now. I don't know anyone who would buy a stroller that WOULDN'T accept an infant car seat, it's just that convenient when the babies are small. But that's also why it's become so important to know what people are using. They are not all compatible.

 

[kmarla]

We’re raising our little granddaughter right now. She’s six months old and apart from items already mentioned, a floortime/tummy time activity centre is highly recommended. She also loves her exersaucer as well as the jolly jumper. We bought the jolly jumper model that is attached to a portable stand so we can move it room to room and don’t need a doorway to attach it too. She loves little dangly toys that can attach to car seats, activity centres etc. Ones that play music are her favourite. Coupons/gift certificates for things like diapers, wipes, formula etc are very handy. Hope this helps.

 

[MollyMalone]

@kmarla: "Hope this helps."

It does -- thank you!