h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Grannydom is looming, and a friend of my D-i-L's has organised a baby shower. I've got a couple of ideas for presents. I was hoping to be able to think of something original that only someone who has had babies herself would think of to give, as the uninitiated won't have thought of it. But things have changed so much with regard to babycare that I'm not sure Granny wisdom will be much use nowadays.

My usual present for babies is books, because no one thinks to give a new-born a book, but it's never too early and before you know it they're ready to face the concept of stories and books. And they're just such fun to look at.

There are some really sweet ragbooks on Amazon (I do not have time to go shopping). I'll probably plump for one of those. Unless I (or the united parents of hootoo) can think of something more original....

Personally I'd give mama to be something like a get out of babycare for a day gift..like a day at a spa.

Yes I know it's a baby shower but baby and mother would both benefit from having a calm pampered mother who has had some time off.

That's a very popular present around here at the moment. Even our office boy was given one for his birthday last week. I have a little summer dress (was free with something, but I ticked her size rather than mine when filling in the order form), which will enable breast-feeding, but is nice and feminine with it. And a couple of sleeveless vest thingies for the baby.

I'm sure they'll be getting loads of support from us once the baby is here, so I don't really need to get much more in the way of "little" presents.

However, I'm sure there are things that I found useful when the kids were babies, which I adapted from everyday life in an unusual way, but 30 years on, I can't remember what they were. What I am trying hard NOT to give is Advice.

Despite my questions in this thread:

19585?thread=7213657 From Post 62

Baby items that might be suitable as gifts that I really liked/ found useful:

The big money item I appreciated my parents getting for us was a car seat. The other quite pricy thing I rated was a sling. But you'd need to know which one your dil favours, and if she favours one at all. Our Vip is an expert on slings, if you wanted some advice.

Oh, and for a less pricy, but also fun and cute thing for a newborn there are play mats/ floor gyms. Like this: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bright-Starts-Spots-Stripes-Safari/dp/B0051POJQA/ref=sr_1_1?s=baby&ie=UTF8&qid=1403337128&sr=1-1

Actually, having looked at the price of those, gosh, also quite pricy. But the babies do love 'em. And more than one is never bad if someone else has the same idea.

But the soft board books are good too. Those and rattly toy type things are what I tend to give.

Oooh, and pram toys. Not necessarily for prams, but they clip on and dangle and the babies can bat at them. or crinkle them.

You've got things like this: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lamaze-Captain-Calamari-Octopus-Pirate/dp/B002VWZU7S/ref=sr_1_14?s=baby&ie=UTF8&qid=1403337649&sr=1-14&keywords=pram+toys

Or ore elaborate things like this: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fisher-Price-Deluxe-Stroller-Activity-Centre/dp/B00F2MQFNC/ref=sr_1_13?s=baby&ie=UTF8&qid=1403337761&sr=1-13&keywords=pram+toys

Hours and hours of fun.

Somebody gave us a fabric sling thing that converts any ordinary dining chair into a safe place for baby to sit (so, obvs, can't use it until baby is old enough to sit). We didn't use it very often - possibly only half a dozen times for each baby - and it's not something I would have thought of buying for myself for that reason. BUT it folded up to practically the size of a tissue and for *that* reason I carried everywhere for years and produced it with the air of a conjurer.

Baby books are a good idea I think, especially if you get some of the well-loved favourites (eg The Very Hungry Caterpillar and others mentioned in the recent Top 10 books thread). I read to mine from about 6 months and I'm sure that's because I already had the books.

Mol

http://www.johnlewis.com/john-lewis-baby-bath-support/p619603

Admittedly hopeless in a shower but babies I know swear by them. There are are other versions, but you want the type with the mini-seat at the shallow end.

Actually, a nice set of kids classics of some kind might be nice as a shower present. My old place of work gave me a box set of Beatrix Potter as my baby present, and at the time I wondered about it, but I have read them over and over to the kids, and they are great, and as Mol said, it's because they were there.

Sorry, feeling nostalgic. June's the kids' birthday month.

Whoops - the baby's here - before the shower! Hurried phone call from DiL this morning supine in the back of the car, as her waters had broken. Three hours later, son calls and announces it's all over, he's just popped out to the car to get something.

Anyway, that bath seat looks great. I have told them that no bath equipment is necessary, the best way to bathe the baby is to get in the bath yourself and lay him/her on your tummy to wash him. Worked for me. But - I've told them not to take any advice, not even mine, so I'll suggest that seat thing. Actually, it also looks as though it would do in the shower, too.

And the octopus may well go in my Amazon basket, Sol.

3 hours between waters breaking and birth sounds like a dream. Oh -- and congratulations.



PS: I had communications with the babies I know about the bath thing. They indicated that they love baths with mummy (they are best) but sometimes they just want to have a quick wash to get off spilt milk after a vomit or messy lunch. They also love it if daddy can give them a wash and tickle when he gets home. Then the seat comes into its own.

every baby my friends or family have gets The Very Hungry Caterpillar - if they're German they get it in English and vice versa.

We have just about all his books, they are fantastic. And excellent for learning diffeent languages.

congrats, btw