BTDT Moms/Nurses: Goodies for delivery staff

ChariZae · July 2015

On my previous BMBs, moms made mention of treats or baked goods that they gave the nurses and hospital staff to thank them for helping with the delivery. I am a fairly decent baker, but I know that there can be hesitations and even some restrictions when it comes to outside food that's not packaged. Wondering if any experienced moms have some past thank you goodies that they can share, or if there are any nurses that have preferences on what they'd like to receive.

Since my due date is close to Halloween, I was thinking some themed treat bags may be cute, but I don't know what to put in them (candy, lotion, gift card?). Looking for some creative input. Thanks!

AmyB421 · July 2015

We ordered pizza from a really good pizza place after my son arrived and had extra pizzas that we took to the nurses. They were really appreciative of that--my son was born at 6 so the pizzas came at shift change so we made the nurses on both shifts happy.

beckles112 · July 2015

First, I just want to add this irrelevant info that it has taken me three solid days to figure out what BTDT stands for. Some one used it the other day and I've been trying to figure it out since. Haha!

Anyway, I'm a FTM but hadn't even thought about taking anything for the staff and nurses! That's a really good idea.

ChariZae · July 2015

@beckles112 it took me a while to figure it out the first time I saw it! I heard about the gifts late with my first. With my first two, due to poor planning on my part, I never did the treats, and I felt bad because the staff was really great. This time I am determined to do something extra because L&D nurses are pretty awesome.

@AmyB421 pizza is a great idea, and can go to so many. I will have to check into the hospital's delivery policy.

leighann1 · July 2015

Food is always appreciated. I would imagine something like $5 gift cards to Starbucks or a nearby coffeeshop would be nice also. May be hard to gauge how many to buy, though.

My husband (a nurse) also says really good pens are useful, but food is at the top of the list. Though he says store-bought foods would be best because some nurses are weird about homemade items.

applesandoranges · July 2015

I made a basket for my room and filled it with hand sanitizer, lotion, pens, Chapstick, kind bars, Lara bars, trail mix, gum, candy, crackers, Starbucks instant mixes, flavored drink mixes, and left it my room for nurses and friends and family. I was in the hospital for a while and wanted to make sure the nurses that took care of me got a treat bc there were so many and shift changes.

alinic916 · July 2015

As a nurse, we are very weary about homemade food and usually don't eat it. Pizza is great, as well as prepackaged sweets or from a local bakery. We get a lot of donuts/cupcakes/peterbrook chocolate. @applesandoranges has good ideas. As far as gift cards though, I feel a lot of nurses would decline because technically we aren't supposed to get "gifts" from patients. Thanks for thinking of your nurses, ladies!!

We all really appreciate when patients and/or families take the time to think about us. We definitely don't expect it, but appreciate it.

midge519 · July 2015

Thank you for posting this! I never thought about doing this but knowing how much family we have an how much in and out and Inconvenience they will be to the nurses I'd love to do something.

FWIW what does BTDT? I've been wracking my brain but have no idea lol.

leighann1 · July 2015

midge519 said:

Thank you for posting this! I never thought about doing this but knowing how much family we have an how much in and out and Inconvenience they will be to the nurses I'd love to do something. FWIW what does BTDT? I've been wracking my brain but have no idea lol.

Been there, done that

Also, good point about the gift cards, @aprosch. Didn't think about that. I really like the idea of the goody basket!

leah665 · July 2015

I'd be careful about gift cards, as the pp said lots of hospitals limit what you can get as a gift from patients and it's usually a monetary value.

However, food is always welcome.

ElleMF728 · July 2015

We did chips, candy bars and those tiny little antibacterial soaps from bath and body works. The nurses and our visitors loved them. DH thought I was so silly last time putting together a gift basket but he changed his tune once we were in the hospital.

He has already started talking about what things we need to plan to have in our basket this time around and how we need to start packing soon.

ChariZae · July 2015

thanks for the great feedback, ladies! For those who have done baskets, is that something you left in your room or at their station? Did you leave a note so they knew they could take, or did you just let them know as they walked in?

kellyjean85 · July 2015

Do you recommend a basket for L&D and also post delivery nurses? How many nurses are typically in L&D? I'm a BTDT mom but totally forgot all of this (and it was only two years ago). Thank you!!

midge519 · July 2015

leighann1 said:

midge519 said:

Thank you for posting this! I never thought about doing this but knowing how much family we have an how much in and out and Inconvenience they will be to the nurses I'd love to do something. FWIW what does BTDT? I've been wracking my brain but have no idea lol.

Been there, done that

Also, good point about the gift cards, @aprosch. Didn't think about that. I really like the idea of the goody basket!

Oh duh! I feel like an idiot lol

amandagrider · July 2015

When did you all give the basket?

spud1318 · July 2015

As a nurse, coffee..coffee...coffee!

Some patients will bring in those large boxes of coffee from Tim Hortons or whatever is close.

We're usually a little leary of anything home made..so anything pre-packaged is always appreciated

carlymarie021 · July 2015

That is a nice idea. I would be hesitant on doing it in case I didn't like my experience with the nurses I had. I guess you could have your family or SO bring it in for u.. I was a nursing assistant for 5 years and we loved getting goodies ... Made us feel good and well appreciated. We loved chocolates. Or individually wrapped candy so we can throw it in our pockets ;;)

VallieS86 · July 2015

Wow. Great idea. I would have never thought of that. Hubby might have. He thinks of things like that. When we bought our house we brought cupcakes to the credit union for all the staff because everyone was so helpful during the process. Just mentioned this to him and apparently he's already been thinking about it. And I thought I was thoughtful.

applesandoranges · July 2015

I left the basket in our room with a big note on it that made it clear it was a treat for nurses, friends, and family.

tuinstrab · July 2015

I remember making a basket of goodies but for the life of me I can't remember what I put in it. I know it wasn't home made food bc as a teacher I am a bit afraid of home made food from students so I figured nurses are no different. I like the pizza idea...or maybe have bagels and cream cheese delivered if its morning hours.

Krysta6 · July 2015

I was thinking there is a Dunkin donuts down the street that I could send a family member to.

Do you guys do this once you are in recovery or also have it out while you are in the labor room?

applesandoranges · July 2015

pic of our basket

shantyrae · July 2015

spud1318 said:
As a nurse, coffee..coffee...coffee!

Some patients will bring in those large boxes of coffee from Tim Hortons or whatever is close.

We're usually a little leary of anything home made..so anything pre-packaged is always appreciated

I like the coffee idea! I'm thinking we will pick up a several 4-packs of Starbucks coffees and lattes (the glass ones available at the store) and do the whole "Thanks a latte!" Theme.

FrozenMommy · July 2015

WOW! It honestly didn't occur to me with my first to give a gift to my labor nurse. She spent the night with me, and left at shift change just after baby was born, and I was out the next day with number 1. The nurses that took care of me after my C section, we brought cupcakes. Honestly being trapped in a hospital room, I wasn't really thinking about gifts for my nurses, I was thinking about my baby in nicu and getting the hell out of there.

tuinstrab · August 2015

Just curious how you gave out your gifts. Last time I brought a basket of packaged gifts and they put it in the nurses station so I had no clue if people took any or if it was even enough. I was thinking of this time having a gift for my delivery nurse (I only had 1) and my post delivery nurses. I just dont want to have to think about offering a gift every time a new nurse came in. What have you done in the past? Any thoughts would be appreciated!

KinseyAndDaylan · August 2015

I'm thinking since my due date is Oct. 1 and when I think of fall I think Halloween, I'm gonna get some doctors/ food handlers gloves (whatever I can find) and some zipties and fill them with candy and just put them in a trick or treat bucket and stick a note on it

dchiapella · August 2015

I'm a FTM but still can't believe I haven't even thought about this! I LOVE it!!!! There's a 24/7 Dunkin' Donuts around the corner from the hospital so I'll probably have hubby run out for a few boxes of coffee for the staff for delivery since babies are unpredictable but tend to come in the dead of night I feel like, lol. I also LOVE the gift basket idea and would like to put one or two together of post-delivery/ infant care staff! LOVE this thread!

Want a personalized experience?

BTDT Moms/Nurses: Goodies for delivery staff

Re: BTDT Moms/Nurses: Goodies for delivery staff

Choose Another Board

Search Boards