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October 2015 Moms
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Etiquette Question: Post birth of baby gifting

rms924rms924 member
in October 2015 Moms
Hi ladies!

I tried googling the answer and searching thebump.com, but nothing popped up. For you etiquette queens (meant in the best possible way!), what is the proper way to celebrate the arrival of baby? My good friend just had her baby. I had attended her shower and bought her gifts off of her registry, but it doesn't seem right not to celebrate the actual arrival of baby. Would flowers suffice? I was also thinking about dropping off a "new parents survival kit"- including coffee, power bars, bottles of water, and maybe a book about sleeping or something? That's a little more leg work but...

Anyway would love everyone's thoughts and ideas! Thanks in advance!  
Me: 34 DH:38
DS: 18 months   <3
Dx DOR AMH .2
<a href="http://www.thebump.com/?utm_source=ticker&utm_medium=HTML&utm_campaign=tickers" title="Pregnancy"><img 
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Re: Etiquette Question: Post birth of baby gifting

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  • millette2015millette2015 member
    I agree with PP, I'd appreciate tangible help and food over flowers.
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  • AmyB421AmyB421 member
    Offer to help or bring food. One of my best friends did a kind of kit for me but packaged it in a storage bin for my son which I thought was really cute! She put my favorite candy and snacks as well as wine
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  • morganabyrdmorganabyrd member
    I don't think this is an etiquette issue, but rather an issue of preference. I think it's wonderful for you to do something special for your friend! I'm planning on setting up a "take them a meal" site for my BFF who is due within 3 weeks. Personally, I would love a goodie basket :)
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  • elmann1elmann1 member
    I would make something that she could reheat and eat all week. We made  a friend a veggie breakfast quiche in a large lasana pan that she could freeze and heat up for several days after she gave birth. 
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  • leighann1leighann1 member
    I always try to bring food! Also, if you're close to her, maybe offer to do some laundry or a quick house cleaning for her. If she has other little ones, maybe offer to take them to the park or on an outing. 
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  • nbpa3027nbpa3027 member
    I agree that the food thing is always helpful. One thing that was great for us was a friend stopped by the grocery store and brought some basics like milk, juice, bread, lunch meat, fruit. Maybe another good idea would be giving them a call before you head over saying something like "I am going to be running to the grocery store before I head over, is there anything you would like me to pick up? Milk, juice?"
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  • vamomtobevamomtobe member
    Definitely food!  Or a card!  I think it's really sweet to send some sort of "yay!" once the baby has arrived.  My husband's coworkers sent us one of those edible arrangements after my son was born, and it was awesome.  Snacked on it like crazy and was able to share it with people stopping by to visit and meet the baby.
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  • christina4436christina4436 member
    I would say anything is nice. I would appreciate flowers if I was still in hospital. May cheer me up. If at home a meal, survival kit, diapers or just help I think would be awesome. Don't think you can go wrong!
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  • dchiapelladchiapella member
    I tend to cook something they can put in the freezer. The less cooking they have to worry about the better. Although depending on the person the best present could always be saying "Hi, I'm here, go take a shower... or nap..."
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  • rue:Drue:D member
    I agree with a survival basket, food, and/or offers to help in any way needed. I don't think there's anything you're "supposed" to do for a new mom - so just ask what she needs!
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  • SarahAnne1101SarahAnne1101 member
    Definitely think it's more of a preference than an etiquette thing. I personally loved if someone came over and just did something little to help. My favorite post baby gift with DD was a friend brought me a latte and muffin and did a load of laundry and unloaded/reloaded my dishwasher. After DS, I was much much sicker, so I needed a bit more help. Friends took DD for an afternoon at the park or a movie. Brought meals, cleaned up around the house. but the best gift with him was when a friend came, brought coffee, and just rocked a very fussy DS while I showered and napped.  
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  • crbpjbcrbpjb member
    I brought a meal, a small pack of diapers, and an outfit (they were team green so it was gender specific). It cost me about $20-$25 and was for a close friend. Seemed perfect to me.
    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
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  • batmom05batmom05 member
    I think it depends on how good of a friend it is. If I'm going to someone's house to visit a new baby, I generally bring a meal that can be easily heated up in the oven.

    When my best friend had her son a few years ago, I sent her an edible arrangement because she lived in another state.

    My husband's best friend and his girlfriend had our goddaughter last year and she was nursing, so I brought a cute little outfit and book for the baby and then a little basket for mom with nursing pads, lanolin, power bars, etc.
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  • Krysta6Krysta6 member
    When I visited my friend in the hospital after the baby came I brought her favorite snacks, comfy socks, chap sticks etc.

    Then when she got home I baked cookies and got them a dominos gift card (I can bake but I'm not a good cook!)
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  • mommamikosmommamikos member
    Something I just remembered as i was at target today... Anything you bring/send to the hospital has to come back with them! So for those of you planning to bring gifts/flowers/etc for mom in the hospital, it might be more convenient if you just wait till they're home.
    Just my two cents!
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  • jham201jham201 member
    I usually do food for the parents (I love to bake!) and something little for the baby (a book, toy, onesie, ect.).  I feel like that celebrates both, plus I like to have something for the little one the first time I meet them.
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  • peterlin83peterlin83 member
    The best thing was my MIL would come over bring me lunch, take the baby and let me nap. I'd wake up to clean dishes and a load of laundry done. It was the best!
    Anniversary BabyFetus Ticker pregnancy ticker
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  • audreyb12audreyb12 member
    I would say a meal! Even if you just had pizza delivered to her house. I'm a practical person so food ranks higher than flowers to me.
    The survival kit is also a good idea :)
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