Gift ideas for a new baby (aka what the hell do I buy?)

Mmmm... unpasturised goodness.

One of the first preggy/baby things I remember Googling was before I was even expecting. In fact, the thought of having a baby hadn't even planted itself in my mind more firmly than a vague idea that I'd be a Mum one day. Many, many days from this time.

A friend was having a baby and because I was still more concerned with shoes and travelling than I was with nappies and strollers, I had absolutely no idea what to give as a welcome to the world! present for a new baby.

I didn't know if my friend was having a boy or a girl, so that limited things a bit. I also had no idea how many zeros clothing should be for a newborn. Some of the things I saw on hangers looked like they were doll's clothes (I now know they were for premature babies) and even the 0000 newborn size looked pretty tiny to me.

So I asked Mum. Her advice was to avoid buying clothes because "everybody else will" but if I did decide to go that route, buy things in a larger size because "they'll get plenty of newborn things".

I didn't feel much more confident so I took to Google for some ideas. I have to say, I didn't find much inspiration or originality there either! But now I've had a baby myself and know a bit more about what is useful and what's not, I think I'm in a pretty good place to offer some suggestions to others who may find themselves in the position I was: childless and with absolutely not the first idea about what to buy.

So here are my suggestions. I've tried to include ideas for a range of budgets. You'll also notice they're not all for the baby - the Mum did a bit of work to get this new person into the world after all!

Awesome new baby gifts

• Baby hand/feet sculptures. These last forever and look pretty beautiful framed and hanging on a bedroom wall, and range in price from about $140. I'd suggest a gift voucher for the new parents to choose what item they want. Some companies also do fingerprint jewellery which I think is totally adorable and is something I wanted for myself to wear around my neck every day when I returned to work. Impressionable Kids is one company in Australia that does these gifts: www.impressionablekids.com.au
• A cleaner. With a newborn constantly demanding attention and the incredible amount of washing that seems to breed in the laundry hamper every single day, cleaning the toilet gets pushed waaaaaaay down the to-do list. I reckon any new (and even not-so-new) Mum would bear hug the person who turned up at their home with sleeves rolled up, mop and bucket in hand.
• A Nespresso coffee machine. And a helluva lot of pods. If new-Mum doesn't already have a coffee machine at home, then this will become their best friend. Most new Mums are sleep deprived. That's no surprise. And a steaming mug of fresh coffee can really pick a person up and make them feel a little more human. And because the window for enjoying hot beverages tends to be limited to when babe is not in arms, that it takes less than a minute to make a cup from a Nespresso pod is a gloriously convenient.
• A cravings hamper. A friend once asked me when I was coming to visit her in the maternity ward if I'd bring her a wheel of camembert. Apparently throughout her pregnancy all she'd wanted to soft cheese so as soon as she had the bub she wanted to pig out. Another friend had avoided ham for the nine months so when her baby was born she sent her husband out to buy one of those massive leg hams you buy for Christmas. For me, it was sushi. My husband was bringing me salmon nigiri every day for a week. So my suggestion is, find out what it is the new Mum has been missing the most during her pregnancy and prepare her a little gift basket full of it! Or else, just whack together a bunch of all the stuff she's not been able to have: salami, brie, haloumi, pate, goat's cheese, wine (although if she's breastfeeding this might be kept in the freezer for another six months), chocolate coated coffee beans (for those wanting extra caffeine). 
• A practical hamper. Let everyone else buy the cutesy things and invest in those things the new parents will actually use. Get a plastic clothes basket and fill it with nappies, wet wipes, nappy bags, Lucas Paw Paw Ointment, baby dummies (glow in the dark to find at night), baby Panadol, Infacol Wind Drops and a baby thermometer (they may not even know they need these yet but trust me, when they realise they do it'll be the middle of the night when no chemists are open and baby is screaming the house down), cloth nappies (not to be used on the bum but for cleaning up spills, as burp rags or even comforters), Lansinoh or Gaia nipple balm (again, she may not know yet she needs this and they're better than Paw Paw Oinment because they don't need to be washed off before breastfeeding.) You could throw in some lovely baby wash: I recommend Sukin, Gaia or Milk brands (none of these are tested on animals and all smell delightful). If she's breastfeeding, you could even through in a box of Elevit, Blackmore's Pregnancy and Breastfeeding capsules or other vitamins. She's probably been taking them throughout the pregnancy anyway but if she breastfeeds for six months the chances are she'll go through another box and those things aren't cheap!
• A sheepskin rug. My little one sleeps on it in his cot and whenever we travel I take it with me to lay in his portacot for something familiar. It can also go on the floor for play. You can also buy lambs wool pram liners - they're great for keeping bub warm in winter and cool when it's hot.  
• A hardcover book. Get something classic that will start the child's library. Like... Blinky Bill, Snugglepot and Cuddlepie, The Wizard of Oz, The Wind In The Willows. You can get a lot of really great books in hardcover just about anywhere these days and it's something they can keep forever and perhaps even hand down to their own kids one day. You can write a personal message in the front cover with the date.
• Gift vouchers. Make them out for a local baby store or even the supermarket. They will be used!  

Less-than-awesome new baby gifts (aka what NOT to give)

• Cutesy outfits with a lot of buttons or ribbons. I was given an adorable Peter Rabbit onesie, which my son wore once because I realised while dressing him it had 13 (yes, 13!) of those snap fasteners. It took too long to get it on him and every time he needed changing! Ribbons are just a pain in the butt.
• Big and bulky toys. They take up too much space and there's always the risk of double-ups. Who needs two bouncers or massive teddy bears?
• Movie tickets. The thought might be a good one: get some time to yourselves as a couple. But the chances of getting out when baby is still breastfeeding are pretty slim and if new-Mum did happen to find herself with a couple of baby-free hours to kill, she's going to sleep. Or at least stay close. Very close. Movie tickets are a better idea for baby's first birthday.
• A manual breast pump. Just don't.