Today’s mom will probably just pull up Spotify or Pandora and click on a lullaby list. Have to admit, that’s what I would do! CD players in the house or bedroom probably rare!
A baby quilt from ■■■■■■■■
I didn’t drink wine when I was pregnant, but I’m pretty sure I drank moderately while breastfeeding. A lot of current research seems to indicate the best way to prevent allergies in kids is to expose them early and often.
I’ve purchased 12 month outfits at Costco–they can returned at any Costco. Could also include a gift card for CPK or other restaurant, especially one that has takeout.
I know the grandma was happy I gave her a gift, designated for baby’s ed fund. Got her to start thinking about it and contributing to it.
Guess I’m in the minority also that doesn’t care for the keepsake gifts from casual acquaintances. Perhaps we are really the majority? Over the course of 3 births, I probably was given 10 silver picture frames. Never used, kept in boxes, and available at a cheap price to any of you that want them!
Raising my hands too. No keepsake gifts, not a fan of personalized things with names, dates, etc.
Tastes definitely are different. Which is why if you don’t know the person well, you don’t want to get too “specialized” a gift.
I love gifts from Costco, since they are so easy for the recipient to return and get something they prefer with no hassles and no receipt. When in doubt, that’s my go-to type of gift. Generic gift cards for takeout like CPK are also easy and appreciated–many new moms are too tired to cook and CPK has pizza, pasta and salads.
I got one really cute keepsake thing from my sister in law. It was a ceramic trivet with a cartoony baby and my baby’s name, weight, and birthday. But I could never put a hot casserole dish on that little cartoon baby.
Interesting that so many are against personalized gifts. I get what you’re saying – everyone’s taste is different. The only personalized gifts I’m considering are a blanket – which I imagine is no different than getting a non-personalized pink blanket, they can put it into their stack of blankets or not – or a picture frame or book (i.e. child’s name in the story). My only reasoning re a picture frame is that everyone likes having pictures of their kid around, but most people don’t own frames – esp these days with everything being digital. They could use it at home or the office or heck even gift it to the grandparents with a pic of the kid in the frame; and I’ve never been in a home where all the frames match each other, so you don’t have to worry about décor/color scheme etc.
I wouldn’t give something like engraved silver rattles or cups or something bc that I think is really about taste – not everyone likes those kinds of old school keepsakes – and frankly my peers (including this couple) are living city lives in 1-2 bedroom apartments, so they may just be annoyed with having to store that kind of thing. If those gifts come from the couple’s own grandparents, fine, they’ll store it because they know it means a lot to the child’s great grandma; but from a work friend, I could see the irritation. And I wouldn’t just put her name on anything like a trivet bc I’m not even sure what the utility is there.
I get what everyone is saying to keep the gift in line with the relationship – a few outfits are enough unless it’s a super close friend. I may go down that road bc it’s easy, but I just think that new parents get so much stuff esp for a first child, that another casual friend with another outfit – it’s like “whatever – maybe it’ll get worn or not.”
ONE outfit would be fine. A few would be too much.
Count me as another who dislikes most personalized stuff. A friend made a set of cloth baby blocks spelling out my S’s name: those, I love.
I’m still rooting for a nice cotton blanket. 
My kids are in their 20s and the one gift that has stood the test of time and STILL gets used occasionally is a kid’s melamine divided plate and bowl set. After 28 years, my D still eats yogurt with the little spoon. Here is an example:
http://www.mackenzie-childs.com/shop.axd/ProductDetails?edp_no=21771&refid=gb&gclid=CMaajaLjycQCFZOBaQod83UAgA#.VRXzhfnF_Yg
You can google “melamine children’s dinnerware” for lots more.
@musicmom1215 - One of my kids does the same. Just reorganized my entire kitchen but had to leave the kiddy plates and bowls in the bottom drawer that they been in for 15 years where the kids could reach them when they were little. Still used when child comes home and would be so disappointed if I got rid of them. It’s a touchpoint, I guess.
We have a stainless Mickey Mouse spoon, sort of like https://www.■■■■■■■■/listing/226552023/mickey-mouse-spoon-by-walt-disney-prod?ref=related-0. (Ours is a bit cuter, but same idea.) It is very useful even now, for narrow jars, appetizers, capers, etc.
we recieved clothing to " grow into".
However, it was packed away and was mostly forgotten about.
Given that the family is not liable to need anything, I would just send a card or a small gift, after you recieve the birth announcement.
I would leave the buying of things for those who are close enough to know what the parents want & need.
Anything monogrammed with the baby’s name or initials. When I had my first child they were absolutely my favorite gifts.
Well, one thing it is hard to have too many of is bibs. (For me, preferably the soft terrycloth variety.)
A set of baby rubber tipped spoons is a great gift - for the mom. Can’t have too many of those! When the kid begins to experiment with solid food and realizes that dropping the spoon on the floor is fun… running to the kitchen every minute to wash the spoon might be a good exercise, but it gets old quickly.
I am a big fan of books and there were many good suggestions here already. You can never go wrong with classic children’s books or personal favorites. Counting books and ABC books are always appreciated. You can always send a stuffed animal or a beginning puzzle (Melissa and Doug brand are especially good) for when the baby is older as well as some baby toys like the rings that stack or the cups that stack…soft toys including soft blocks are always good. I have given picture frames and received many when my children were born. I did also receive (and also still use) sesame street china and a set of colorful plate/cup and bowl. There are also many fine gift as well as practical items from The Land of Nod. If she as you say is registered on Pottery Barn Kids then you can see what was requested and what the parents style might be as well as nursery color scheme.
I generally send personalized gifts for those that I am close to. If there isn’t a registry I might put together a book with an outfit from Baby Gap.