What type of gift do you get a friend who has recently had a baby?

[kris97]

Recently, DH and I have received several birth announcements from college friends we haven't seen in a while, but who were close enough to be invited to our wedding over a year ago. He's not so much into the baby thing yet, so I'm kind of volunteering to handle the baby gift detail (most of the announcements are from his friends). Since this is really the first time I'm facing this type of occasion, I wanted to see what others do or recommend -- when you get an announcement and want to send something, but aren't close enough to call up the parents and see what they want or need, what do you send? Money? A BRU gift certificate? A collection of books or toys? A savings bond? Any ideas would be so appreciated.

Thanks!

[BethIrish]

Personally, I'd check to see if they had a registry at a major store (easy enough to do in the computer age!) If they did, I'd probably send something off of that. If they didn't, or I didn't like what was left on it, I'd probably send some baby/children's books :)

[SiValleySteph]

We've given gift certificates to local restaurants I know they enjoy (for close friends). :)

For less close friends, I've sent a little outfit over when the baby was born.

I figure for the close friends, I've already given the baby a gift (gear/outfit) at the shower, so the present when the baby is born is really for the parents.

I would have really appreciated something for us when our baby was born, but I think we only got baby outfits (all of which were cute and appreciated :p).

[hub1176]

If you're not that close to them any gift will do - an outfit, something small off their registry etc. Depending on the size of the baby "onsies" are great - we got tons of cute little outfits for DD and she couldn't wear any of them because she was so tiny.

[sublime311]

I think it would be great to find THE perfect gift that you ALWAYS give in this type of situation. It could be your little signature gift!

Here are some that I like from Red Envelope (www.redenvelope.com):

Ways to make a baby smile book and bear - $32:
http://images.snapfish.com/3445546723232%7Ffp47%3Dot%3E2334%3D48%3A%3D425%3DX ROQDF%3E23239884233%3B5ot1lsi

Handprint tower (includes 5 tins!) - $35 on sale for $25:
http://images.snapfish.com/3445546723232%7Ffp54%3Dot%3E2334%3D48%3A%3D425%3DX ROQDF%3E23239883%3B%3C798ot1lsi

I guess the gift would also depend on how much you want to spend. I also love the idea of a savings bond or personalized blanket.

[Reenie]

We send checks. Savings bonds sound good, but you need the Social Security Number, and it can feel awkward to ask for it (and they often don't have the number for several weeks)...

[greenbunny]

Instead of savings bonds, you could buy a share of stock, something child-related like Disney. There is a place that offers a certificate to give showing what you bought, I forget the URL, though.

[jimmysgirl424]

Going on the theory that most parents would appreciate something for them, rather than something for baby, I would suggest a gift card for a restaurant or a movie theatre. You know, a "night out" for the new Mom and Dad???

[Chimichanga]

I usually send a cute outfit (in a larger size) and a few onsies. I've been told you can never have enough onsies.

I will also send something specifically for the mom - body lotion, foot rub, etc. Some moms don't have post-partum and some have mild degrees of it. Some have it really bad (not sure if it's "bad").

Also, if the parents have other children - I send along a little something for them too. A small stuffed animal or game - nothing more than a few bucks. I've been told that the older kids love the stuff I send; even though it's so inexpensive - they are "remembered" after the baby comes.

[KrissyCat7]

I always send an outfit or two that will fit the baby in a few months.

[skyblu]

I like to buy a classic book that my son particularly enjoyed. Some examples for us are Make Way for Ducklings (which also works because we're in Boston) and The Velveteen Rabbit. I personalize it by writing something about the couple and a wish for the baby in the inside cover.

[Ole Miss Bride]

I usually give this book:
http://images.amazon.com/images/P/1556708955.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

Everyone I've given it to has raved about it. It really seems like a great book. And you can get it for $15.72 right now on Amazon.com!

-Betsy

[laura]

Generally I send an outfit. As someone else said, if I am close enough to the person, I will likely have gone to the shower, etc and that is a different issue - if not, an outfit or baby blanket is what I send. Sometimes I send something else along, like a book, but that is rare since I am usually shipping whatever it is, so I just order direct online and it's easier to have everything ship from one place (usually Baby Gap).

For people I am closer to, I do more. I have done things like send meals from www.alazing.com, GC for netflix (if they don't already have it), or take over food if they are in my area. Another thing if they are in your area is to pick up take-out menus & get them GCs to a couple of different take-out places - though that obviously depends on your budget. Another variation is a GC for a "Waiters on Wheels" type of service that covers several different take-out places, though that may not be available in all areas. I've sent cookies from www.bluechipcookie.com on some occasions, as well.

I guess I'm all over the place. :)

ETA: I forgot, when my MOH had a baby, I sent her this:

http://images.redenvelope.com/is/image/production/FD4_139417_W?nanos=770&qlt=75,0&resMode=sharp&op_usm=0.5,1.0,0.0,0&wid=250&hei=250

It was a big hit.

[JLRenheos]

For a close friend of mine, I made a gift basket up with 2 keepsake papers in it -our local paper and the USA Today from the day that their son was born. A gift card value for $60 (Picture People) to have the baby's picture or 1st family picture taken, bottle of champagne (to celebrate later), stuffed animal, baby teether, M & M stuffed animal toys & several bags of M & M's. Of course, the basket too! The basket turned out great & she cried when I gave it to her. Their baby's room was finished in primary colors of the M & M's theme. It's one of the cutest baby's rooms that I have Ever seen.

[Quartercentury]

For a close friend whose baby was born in December, I sent soft flannel button fron PJs. She said that they were the best gift she got - everyone else sent cute stuff for the baby, and she was so pleased to have something cozy for herself.

[Aletheia]

Onesies, onesies, onesies. They aren't as cute as other little outfits, but new moms may not be ready for Mt. St. Dirty Baby Clothes. Rather than spend lots of time doing laundry, let her open a new package.

I've thought that a gift certificate to a digital film processing place would be a good idea, too, and easy to send.

But I would check Amazon.com to see if they are registered first.

[Ohana]

The best gifts we got included food! If you live close to your friends, dropping off a simple dinner would be greatly appreciated, I'm sure. If you don't live close to your friends, you can always send A La Zing (http://www.alazing.com) . If they live near a large grocery store chain, you can send a roast chicken, garlic bread, bagged salad and some dessert, along with a couple of snack items.

Other good choices would be classic children's books, GC's to Blockbuster or local restaurants, or a larger outfit.

We had an absolute overload of newborn outfits, onesies, and blankets. DD never wore a lot of the clothes/onesies, which still makes me a bit sad.

Also, although the movie ticket idea is a good one, a lot of new parents may not be ready/able to leave their baby for a night out. We don't live near any family, so finding a babysitter when DD was tiny was not in the cards for us. Just my 2 cents.

[SiValleySteph]

Yeah, movie tickets might be hard for a while. (We've seen 2 movies since DS was born 10 months ago!)

Restaurant GCs I like because you can get take out if you're not up to taking the baby out, or if you're like us, you will take your baby to the restaurant (starting at 4 days old and at least 1x a week since). :p

I like that Photographing Your Baby book idea! I might need to stock up on some of those. Too late for us to get use out of it! :)

[Renrel]

A outfit is usually easiest, definate in a size to come rather than for right now, and pay attention to the time of year the child is likely to fit into it.

A toy or book for later in the year is also nice. Something basic, like the plastic rings that stack on a pole coming out of a stand, or soft blocks, or a toddler safe car.

A silver rattle is classic but make sure it is light enough for the baby not to hit himself in the head with.

Gift certificates to a babystore are always appreciated. If they have everything they need now they can use it later or just get diapers and such. No clutter in the house waiting for the child to grow into the toy.

A photo album personalized with the child name.

[Lizzie Beth]

The gifts I give changed drastically after I entered mommy-dom...

Anything off the registry, or a giftcard to the store where they are registered is always terrific. Sometimes I pick up the less glamourous items, like fitted sheets, hangers, bottle brush, etc. that are hard to put into a sweet little package - they're not cuddly, but mom and dad still need 'em.

In that vein, now I give a bag of all different sizes of batteries (for those swings/bouncy chairs/mobiles, etc. that they decide to put together one night and have no batteries for).

I also sometimes give a bag w/ all the baby medicine essentials - baby tylenol, mylicon (for tummy trouble), little noses saline spray, (for stuffed up noses having a hard time breathing and breastfeeding or taking a bottle while trying to breathe through the stuffed nose) baby motrin (for use after the baby is 6 mos. and teething) and Hyland's teething tablets (CVS sells them, for teething pain).

I love being the gift giver that gives something that the parents need in a pinch! But I would have never thought to give any of these things until I needed them in a pinch!!