What to give the First-Time Mum in your life (or what to heavily hint at to your mates if you’re pregnant right now!)Flowers are lovely, don’t get me wrong. Flowers are cheery and smell nice and might even over-power the weirdly sweet peanut-pooey smell that newborns produce, but when you are a first-time parent, flowers aren’t at the top of your list. So if you’re wondering what to send someone you know who’s just welcomed their first gorgeous offspring into the world, maybe don’t head straight to Interflora but take a look at my suggestions below. I can say for certain that these things would have lifted my spirits after a broken night’s sleep and milky sick down my cleavage...
- A Cook voucher, or a supermarket delivery of easy-to-eat groceries. The food you dream of as a new parent is food you can stand at the fridge and stuff straight into your mouth, or something that just needs unwrapping and bunging in the oven for 20 minutes. So do the knackered mums and dads out there a favour and see them sorted with wholesome ready-made lasagnes and pizzas and curries for the next few weeks. For extra bonus points, you could make one yourself and take it over!
- Giant muslins. Muslins are the thin cottony squares of material that help you spot a parent from a mile off - they become glued to your shoulder like a military badge of honour, ready to catch any sicky burps. But if you buy a pack of extra big ones, they can have so many more excellent uses too. They are the Swiss Army life of the baby world! Yes, they can clean things up, but they can also be great swaddles for a warm day, be draped over a pram for a bit of shade and even function as a peek-a-boo prop for moments of grisly boredom. And if you’re breastfeeding, they can give you some much-needed privacy if you’re out and about. Choose some fresh, graphic prints in a range of colours - your parent mates have probably had enough of teddies and rainbows by now.
