ISO gift ideas for new parents with NICU baby

[Anonymous]

Hi - I'm not sure if this is the right board to post on because the parents are both dads, but I'd love to be able to send them a little gift either for them or the baby as they navigate bonding and caring for a brand new baby they just adopted. The baby will likely be in the NICU for several weeks so I'm sure it's going to be a challenge settling into parenthood in a hospital setting for an extended time. I realize they probably don't really need or want anything right now but want them to know I'm thinking of them and celebrating their new baby. Any thoughts are appreciated.

[Anonymous]

If there is a restaurant in the hospital, gift cards to it. When I was at WHC for a week getting induced, for example, we ate a LOT of Panera.

[Anonymous]

Zingermann's gift basket, gift certificate for food near the NICU. Is the baby low-birth weight? People have different feelings about preemie sized clothes, because some babies catch up in growth really fast. Mine was a slow grower and I like getting cute preemie outfits. My aunt got a very cute tiny bunting for when we brought baby home at 5lbs. Anything off their registry would likely be appreciated.

[Anonymous]

100% food gift cards. Uber Eats or GrubHub or whatever is in or close to the hospital. When baby comes home send//give a gift for baby. They’ll be busy coming and going from NICU and the last things they want to deal with our UPS or Amazon boxes waiting for them at home or figuring out (some) meals.

[Anonymous]

Amazon gift cards were very helpful for our baby born a month early. We didn't have any preemie sized diapers or preemie sized clothes, or any of the specific formula that the hospital was using after our child was born. We spent SO MUCH on Amazon that first month or so, and while it seems impersonal, an Amazon gift card would've been very much appreciated by us.

[Anonymous]

Amazon/target gift cards, gift card to their favorite restaurant, do they have pets? Offer to walk/gift card for taking care of the pets. Really, the same you’d do for any new parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Amazon/target gift cards, gift card to their favorite restaurant, do they have pets? Offer to walk/gift card for taking care of the pets. Really, the same you’d do for any new parents.

+1 but I'd just do Target and the food gift cards and pet services. Too many issues with fraudulent products on Amazon.

[Anonymous]

Amazon gift card.

And your continued physical absence.

[Anonymous]

food delivery or amazon gift card

[Anonymous]

Food gift card.

[Anonymous]

If the gift cards feel weird, like if they’re wealthy or if cash gifts just aren’t the thing, you can always do classic children’s books or a nice blanket if there’s no registry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If the gift cards feel weird, like if they’re wealthy or if cash gifts just aren’t the thing, you can always do classic children’s books or a nice blanket if there’s no registry.

Ox Cart Man is my fave and it’s really beautiful and soothing, good for everyone during a stressful time.

[Anonymous]

Give them things to take in to the nurses and staff. NICU parents build a huge relationship with these people. That’s who they’re with. Not bopping out to restaurants. Gift baskets, etc are great. Or sweep through the treat area of a store and fill up some shopping bags.

[Anonymous]

Uber eats or door dash gift card.

[Anonymous]

As a biological mother who is also an adoptive parent of a special needs kid, I think that in this situation you should give a gift for the baby, whether it's a little outfit, or a picture book, or whatever.

When my bio kids came along, I had many months of people celebrating that I was going to be a mother. Lots of time to talk, and to dream, and to kind of settle into the idea that this was coming. Even if my baby had been premie, I would have gotten that message before the baby came.

But with the combination of adoption and disability, there was much less of that. And during that period when my son was in the hospital (a few months in our case) and not in my home, it was really hard to feel like i was his mom, and that this was a wonderful thing and not just a scary thing. I wanted my new kid to come home desperately, but I didn't really feel like his mom.

One of the things that made an enormous difference to me, and that I will always be grateful for, were the people who celebrated. One sister in law immediately asked what size he was, and pestered me with questions about what color his eyes were, and his hair, and what did he like, so she could send me cute clothes. In doing so, she reinforced that this was an exciting thing, and that I was his mom and would have opinions about those things.

I think that if I felt that disconnect, when I was already a mom, and it wasn't covid so my relatives could visit, for first time parents in covid it would be worse, and the fact that not everyone celebrates gay parenting might even make it more so. Given all that, I'd want to send a gift that sent the message that their kid was worth celebrating, similar to what I'd usually give at a shower.