One of my favorite gifts was dinner the first night home.
I think it was with my older daughter: a friend told us not to make or order anything; she had dinner covered and it would be arriving at around 6. Promptly at 6, she pulled up with a pizza, a bottle of diet Coke, and a box of Chips Ahoy.
One less thing to consider when I was exhausted and busy with a newborn (and a toddler.)
Maybe they’re not particularly exotic or costly - but my go-to gifts are dinner for the new parents and a bunch of classic children’s books.
My favorite children’s book is Rosemary Wells’s “Voyage to the Bunny Planet” - it’s obscure enough that most new parents have not heard of it but so wonderful that my daughter still has her copy.
Most new parents I know will want to choose the big items themselves. I would never buy a stroller or a carseat, or nursery furnishings, without being given direction from the parents. It’s fine to be ‘laid back’ but there are so many things that new parents will need, and be thankful for, that it’s probably a good idea to suggest that they take a trip to buybuyBaby and just have a look around.
Depending on your budget, there are so many options for gifts. A good diaper bag/backpack is always a necessity. This is a nice one.
Monitor:
Mini-tub: you could pair this with baby washcloths, a cute wrap towel and baby bath products.
Noise machine:
Aden and Anais products are lovely. I highly recommend them.
https://www.buybuybaby.com/store/s/aden-and-anais?ta=typeahead&ml=v2
Glider:
Diaper genie:
Pack n Play (maybe for grandma’s house!):
And, of course, clothing. Don’t buy too many newborn size things prior to the birth. Having had three of my girls arrive at over 9 lbs, as well as one of my grandchildren, they’ll be out of them within a week or two.
One lovely personalized baby gift that I’ve suggested here before, and which a couple of CC grandmas have purchased is a beautiful blanket made to order with the baby’s name stitched in. I have bought several from her through the years and they are lovely.
I found these baby outfits for my cousins baby shower. One hadn’t anyone thought of this before? Magnetic fasteners for baby clothes. Super cute designs and great fabric as well-https://magneticme.com/
This is a bit overpriced for what it is (but you can find coupons on line for 20% off) but my S and DIL loved the lalabu shirts for carrying an infant https://shop.lalabu.com/collections/all The dad shirt was a big hit. He could “wear” her with only one hand needed to support her head when needed. DIL bought the mom version but it was too small for her and she didn’t bother to return/exchange (she gave it to a friend). The shirt is like a kangaroo pouch, so thats what they did for halloween (found hats that looked like kangaroo heads) which left hands free for food/drink. Plus it gives special dad/baby contact and the newborn gets a good olfactory connection with dad.
For your son and DIL I would ask them to pick out a big item (like a stroller) and pay for it.
I would never pick a stroller, baby seat, crib, or any big/major item for new parents, I would let the parents pick it out and pay for it. On the other hand, I know new parents wouldn’t necessary think of a travel stroller. When my kids were young, I went through multiple strollers until I found 2 that worked for me. Living in NYC it was important for me to be able to open and close a stroller with one hand. Back then Maclaren made the most sturdy and travel friendly. When the time comes, it is one thing I would invest in for my daughter(s).
As far as gifts, I never liked people buying clothes for my babies. A lot of them never made it out of the box. They were either hard to put on a baby, wrong color, wrong material, wrong size…I think clothing is a very personal thing, unless you really know the parents I would stay away from it.
@basil1 just fyi, DIL mentioned that the magnet outfits were inconvenient. She too thought it would be cool but she hasn’t found them to be helpful. I forget why- I’ll ask.
Usually, I give Uncle Goose nursery rhyme blocks: https://unclegoose.com/product/nursery-rhyme-blocks/
They seem to be a hit for several years.
You can also buy a smaller set for less, if you want to spend less.
In addition to whatever book or clothing I pick out, I give a fire extinguisher.
The book “Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child” by Dr Marc Weissbluth. Babies don’t come with directions, and this will answer all the questions about “when will he sleep thru the night??” or “why does she fall asleep two hours after she gets up, JUST when it is impossible for ME to fall back to sleep?”
My go-to baby gift has been a cotton receiving blanket from Berea Weavers. A less expensive alternative is a cotton baby outfit for the 18mos+ age, often from Hanna Andersen. If you get “separates” from Andersen they are very flexible in terms of size due to their design.
@scout59 , Still have the bunny planet books in their little box. Love them! I was just thinking about First Tomato this morning, actually.
A carload of newborn diapers. I would have loved that gift.
A digital (ear) thermometer hasn’t been mentioned–with extra cap covers.
@consolation - I love the little box AND all of the Bunny Planet books. I tear up just thinking of them.
Last thing I was specifically asked for very recently was receiving blankets of a decent size. I made several (super easy). Everything commercially made was WAY too small to be really useful (believe me I looked!)
An umbrella stroller is wonderful. No need to lug the cadillac around when a VW bug will do.
A friend made me bibs from dishtowels and they were more than great–covered the baby, soft, absorbent and just toss in wash.
I did appreciate some clothing in older sizes.
My go-to gift is a humidifier. They come in a variety of styles. One niece’s registry had one shaped like an elephant; a different niece chose one that was rather sleek and minimalist. May not seem useful for a summer baby, but will come in handy on some cold, croupy night in the future.
Penelope Leach was my hero. “Your Baby and Child”
My aunt gave a version of this to us when our oldest was born. You obviously can’t use it until the baby can sit up, but we kept it in the car and carried it into restaurants. I’ve started giving it to my friends who are becoming grandparents - easier than keeping a full sized high chair at Grandma’s house!
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Chicco-Caddy-Hook-On-Chair-Red/10972959
Larger size clothes are always welcome but may present an issue with season and size. One of my Ds found that when her baby would have fit into several of the larger outfits she received, it was the wrong season and so they never were used. She passed them on to her sister who eventually used them but it’s something to consider, depending what month the baby is born and even then it’s not always easy to predict what size the baby will be in the future.
I agree with Hanna Andersen clothing. It’s very well made and will likely be passed down several times, and still look brand new!
The most useful strollers early on are the ones that are a base for the carseat, so you don’t need to be transferring the baby multiple times when you go out. Umbrella strollers shouldn’t be used until the baby, ideally, is able to sit unassisted.