6 lovely gifts for a baby shower

No, don’t panic, I’ve no big news. This is an old photo of me when I was pregnant with my first child. Anyhow, it’s spring and everyone seems to be pregnant, my young colleagues and all their girlfriends are suddenly having their first child. And then the question pops up of what’s the perfect gift?

From my own experience I can tell you that big mistakes are sometimes made. Therefore after various requests, here’s what to give and what not to give to a friend who has just given birth.

flowers

Flowers are an issue. My beloved seriously considered putting ‘please give wine instead of flowers’ on the birth announcement of our second and third children. I managed to prevent this but it remains a fact that no matter how beautiful the bouquets were, it was a lot of work. They must be put in a vase, the stems trimmed (there’s really no time for this because as soon as I move away from the cradle my little lamb squeaks) and later after a second attempt they unfortunately end up in the bin. I also had a huge shortage of vases and putting lots of bouquets together just don’t look so beautiful no matter how magnificent the flowers might be.

If you still really want to give flowers order them pre-trimmed and in a vase. This way you’re making things much easier for the new mum. Or even better have them delivered a month after someone gives birth. That’s what my friend M. did, brilliant!

You’ll immortalize yourself if you give a friend a vase and a good pair of shears just before she gives birth. She’ll sure need them over the weeks to come. Or, during your visit, check up on the flowers; refresh the water and toss the limp and faded ones. Perhaps it sounds a little pathetic but new mom’s really don’t have time for such things.

Baby shoes

I do understand that mini Tod’s, Nikes and All Stars are irresistible to give, but the truth is, they’ll never be worn. As you perhaps know, babies simply don’t walk in their first year, so the mother will not be putting them on her child. OK, they do look cute there on the chest of drawers but you’ll make her happier with shoes in the size children after the age of one.

one-liners

I was working as a deputy editor at Beau Monde when I was pregnant with my oldest daughter. My colleagues (all mothers) were so delighted that I was pregnant that occasionally I called in the help of John (chief editor). “Johnny, forget I’m pregnant. Tell me a story about drinking sessions or something interesting, anything,” I would sneakily mail him. I also gave John very clear instructions as to what absolutely must not be given for my baby shower. I could do without it altogether but I couldn’t spoil my colleagues’ pleasure. No pacifiers with texts (unless they said Dior or Juicy Couture), no T-shirts with ‘I love my daddy’ and absolutely nothing with an outspoken colour or design. Soft pinks or creams and nothing else.

buy something for mom

You’re overloaded with presents when you’ve just given birth and that’s really, really, really moving. I found myself crying reading each card. Seriously. But how wonderful to find there’s a gift amongst them for the mother as well. Or for the father for that matter. My boss gave me Pour petits et maman from Bvlgari, a perfume for both. Just perfect. Or mat be Burberry Baby, another wonderful fragrance for mother and child. A scented candle or a face mask are wonderful gifts (not that you’ve time to use it, but it’s really the thought. That counts).

it doesn’t have to be expensive

The loveliest gifts are custom-made ones. From Mart Visser I received a hand-written note accompanying a tiny T-shirt displaying ‘My first Mart Visser’, and from Vogue a gorgeous romper suit from Petit Bateau with the Vogue logo printed on it. My sister-in-law bought tiny soaps letters of my daughter’s name (packed tightly together in plastic so it spelled out her name in soap). For the birth of my third daughter, named Igoné, I received a top that the ballerina Igone de Jongh had worn while performing.

another treat

Another treat. After giving birth everyone seems to be knocking at your door. In contrary the last few weeks of your maternity leave can be quite lonely. I remember Jet’s mother coming by a few days before I gave birth. This was such a pleasure a real treat. I had plenty of time and the visit was the perfect break in my tedious period of waiting and countdown.

photo credit: Nick van Ormondt