Mummy Says…Don’t Buy Another Bib & Hat Set!

‘It’s my baby’s present time AGAIN! Have *you* got her a present Mummy?’ - Lillie

When you get to a certain age, you start thinking about having kids. And so does everyone around you. And the more that babies are born the more difficult it is to pick presents for the newborn, especially a) the newborn of someone you don’t really know and b) the newborn of someone you really do give a flying fig about. So here are Mummy’s top tips for new baby pressies…

Freya Baby Keepsake Boxes
from £19 www.freyadesign.co.uk
Cute little handmade boxes which baby can keep forever these are a more fun and less well worn take on the good old moneybox (Lil has three). If your new parent friends are anything like me they’ll want to save every last thing related to their bundle of joy - hospital tags, hair, cards, socks - and these solid real wood boxes come in a timeless design which means that they’ll look great in the nursery and beyond…

Bob & Roberta Smith Blocks
£44 www.tate.org.uk
When I recently took a day off from Mum-ing to explore the Tate with my lovely friend Serena (non-mummy friend who appreciates Charlie and Lola as much as Lillie does) we spent almost as much time and more money in the gift shop. New arrival Zach got a super-cool onesie, Lillie got a mini London playset and Ted became the proud owner of a beautiful Charley Harper ABC book and the superbly confusing Bob & Co by Delphine Durand. These fabulous blocks aren’t intended specifically for kids but I reckon something which Mummy and Daddy will be as happy to play with as baby is worth it.

Grobag Baby Sleep Bag
around £20 www.bumpto3.com
It’s amazing to any long term Mummy that new parents haven’t even heard of Grobags. Much more practical than sheets with the added bonus of making your kids look like cute caterpillars, Grobags come in lovely designs for boys and girls as well as plenty of in between colours. Prices being anywhere between £20-£30 mean that to have enough to rotate costs a pretty penny - hence they make a welcome gift.

The Best Friends’ Guide To Surviving The First Year of Motherhood
£5.98 www.amazon.co.uk
When I had Lillie one of my best school friends, Viv, sent a package containing not only a Grobag (see above) but Lush goodies for me and even a couple of little spirit bottles for Mike. Ever since observing this genius move I’ve complemented baby gifts with something for Mummy, after all it’s she who does the hard work. If you neglected to give your mate a copy of The Best Friends’ Guide to Pregnancy (the best book on pregnancy by far), give her Vicki Iovine’s follow up. So true to life and makes you laugh, even when your stitches are still burning.

A Personal Wine Cellar
£unlimited! www.wine2laydown.com
Wine may sound like an unlikely gift for a newborn but with Wine2LayDown you can begin a lifetime’s collection of vino for the little one. Ok, so they can’t enjoy it now but boy, when their 18th comes around they’ll have a good night. Bottles or cases can be chosen based on when they will be best opened and the prices range from just £5 to almost £100. The wine is then alloted to bubs, others can add to it later and it can be taken out and glugged when the time is right.

mummy x