One gift I could gladly have lived without was too much company.
I still remember a close family member sitting in my living room for the 3rd time in a week, telling me I really should get some rest and sleep while the baby slept. I was far too well mannered to mention that I would have been doing exactly that at that moment, except that I had company.
I was completely clueless when I had my first child. Didn’t know enough about having a baby to know what I needed.
One amazing gift I received was a baby seat. I had thought about a car seat, a crib, a high chair and a stroller, but it never occurred to me that I might need to put the baby down in something other than those receptacles.
FYI my first HATED the car seat, the crib, the high chair and the stroller, but was okay with the baby seat, which is where she often slept. Luckily the crib, the high chair and the stroller were just fine with my second child, and were in like-new condition.
My married kid and spouse had a baby registry. I kidded that among their friends it was kind of like a Christmas Club. They all about the same age and most of them started having kids in their very late 20s and early to mid 30s. So, each couple shelled out money for a gift from a registry and then a year or two or three later, the same couples they gave baby gifts to return the favor or vice versa. (It was funny because one couple chose to give them EXACTLY the same gift they had given them! ) They also shared ideas of what was a waste and what was surprisingly useful. The registry for my oldest grandchild was largely copied from those of two others in their social circle who had their first kids 2-3 months earlier and who gave feedback as to which things were useful/not useful.
BTW, their friends have co-ed showers, usually with kids invited. This was more common with those who were among the last to have their first child.
The only seat S would tolerate as a baby was something like this, very simple:
He would sit in it on a table or the floor and do a kind of ride’em cowboy thing with one arm to make himself bounce.
Other than that, he had to be carried at all times. Or he would howl.
ETA: just realized that the link seems to be to a doll chair! Apparently it is too simple for today’s market. ;))
Hanna Anderson gift card (with a pilot cap and maybe a cardigan depending on season)
Two giraffe teethers (they get easily lost and moldy inside so need to be replaced.
If it was my DIL I would offer to buy one of the following: crib, fancy stroller, nice diaper bag, nursery bedding. I would ask her what she wanted and give an amount you are willing to spend. If you are able to shop with her, make a day of it.
When I had my first my mom got me a British style pram in Notre Dame colors because I was a student living on campus when I had my first…used that around campus for two years. When I had my last she got me a hot pink Stokke stroller. Both were over the top but well loved and very appreciated. Many great memories walking those babies.
Congratulations!!
@Consolation We had a bouncy chair like that, too. Very handy for my kid who never wanted to sleep as an infant and who also wanted to be held a lot. I could put the baby in that seat and bounce it with my foot while reading when I needed a little break. Also good for putting the never sleeping newborn in front of the shower door so I could try to squeeze in a shower. 
They still sell them.
We had a very simple seat that S could be strapped into when he was an infant and laced on the counter while I was doing chores of preparing a meal. It was similar to a car seat but much lighter. As long as he could watch and was talked to from time to time, he was fine. He was a very alert baby that didn’t sleep much.
My sister swears by the infant swing and bouncy chair. Neither of our kids had any interest in them nor the carrier that you wore on your back. For our kids, it was the soft front carrier or the stroller once they were too heavy.
@Consolation Yes, that’s a chair for Baby Stella, which is an adorable first doll for toddlers. We have a similar seat for actual babies and they’re very useful when you need to change baby’s position, put them down for a break, take a shower as doschicos mentioned, etc. My grandson loved his swing for about three months, often sleeping in it but after that wasn’t thrilled with it and so, it was packed up and put away. Those things take up a lot of space! My other grandchildren never liked the swing.
@My5Kiddos has a winner with
I had forgottn how handy a cardigan was with changes in temperature from day to night.
Hanna Andersson clothes last forever. My niece just called to ask if I want the toddler snowsuit back that I lent her and she used for her three children. It is still in great condition after 25 years. Their sizing is a little different and you get more wear during growth spurts.
My three favorite baby gifts that I received:
1 - Anything in the 12-18-month range (clothes, diapers, sippy cups, toys, etc.) It seems that everyone wants to give you something to use NOW and you end up with lots of duplicates for newborn only to reach an age when all of a sudden you have nothing. NOTE: For some reason, my firstborn hit this size for about two years, so for us, seasonal wasn’t an issue.
2 - An umbrella stroller. I didn’t think I would need this - I had the 3-in-1 system after all - but it was a godsend when the baby was old enough and I was tired of lugging that huge stroller around.
3 - A bassinet. Again, I didn’t think I would need this. It was purchased by my mother and she refused to let me return it. Mama really did know best. It could come apart from its stand, so hubs and I would put the baby in the bassinet on the bed between us. It made it easy to tend to her in the night, and we weren’t worried about rolling on top of her.
Both of my daughters have been to baby showers where it was requested that each guest bring a package of diapers along with their gift. In one case if you brought a pack of diapers your name went into a bowl to win a prize.
My go to gift is books. I haven’t yet hit the situation where it is someone close who I would buy something more expensive.
Two thumbs up for the bassinet suggestion.
Many of the suggestions are good and necessary for infants, but they quickly outgrow the bouncy seats and swings when they are big enough to roll or weigh too much. Because I had a preemie she used the stuff for a year, but my tubbo nephew (same age) was done with everything at about 4 months. My twin nephews had Moses baskets. Cute, but expensive and they used them for about 2 months so not practical.
So much stuff can be borrowed or regifted only slightly used.
I was really obsessed with getting everything and having it all be matching. I really wish I had saved all the money when it came time for college!
LOL–I just found out about 3 weeks ago that my D’s bassinet (almost 30 years old) gifted by my mom is STILL making the rounds in our extended work and friend group! And it already is being claimed for the next baby in line! Truly appears to be the gift that keeps on giving…
I was initially surprised but on second thought they get so light use that it’s probably in as nearly good shape as it was so long ago. Sure was convenient! (Hopefully they got new bedding!)
“A full time nanny. Ha ha.”
Never needed a nanny. Needed a full time cook and bottle washer!
The registries make more sense when you recognize how big and extravagant baby showers can be now. My nieces had these huge affairs with a hundred people invited, catering, booze, themes, elaborate cakes. With that many people, many of whom don’t really know you enough to pick a useful gift, a registry can be a relief.
The one bonus with registries is that if you make one, many places will give you a 10-15 percent discount on your list after your event. Some people make a registry they never share just for the discount.
"One gift I could gladly have lived without was too much company.
I still remember a close family member sitting in my living room for the 3rd time in a week, telling me I really should get some rest and sleep while the baby slept. I was far too well mannered to mention that I would have been doing exactly that at that moment, except that I had company."
Guess it depends on the company. Or I’m not well mannered. My mom did that for me…I could go collapse knowing she’d either take care of the situation should it arise or wake me up. Sleep at last!
“The one bonus with registries is that if you make one, many places will give you a 10-15 percent discount on your list after your event. Some people make a registry they never share just for the discount.”
Elaborate. Never heard of this.
Are you related to the Kardashians, LOL? Honestly, in what circles/regions is this the norm? I must be even more out of touch than I thought.
@gouf78 Target gives you 15% off anything that’s left on your registry
https://www.target.com/gift-registry/baby-registry