Diapers

A delivery of a good takeout meal via Uber Eats or Takeout Taxi or whatever.

We recently had our second girl and they are 4 years apart. Best gifts were gift cards to Amazon, Target, and Postmates/Door Dash. I said that I didn't want any clothes since we were reusing everything from #1, but a friend gave us a really nice quality zip-up long-sleeve onesie/pajama (Angel Dear brand) that I loved. It was super cute and was nice to have something a little bit new for #2. I would also never spend that much on clothes for my own kid, so it felt indulgent to have something for her that wasn't Carters/OldNavy/etc.

My go-to has been an Instacart gift card or an Amazon gift card. Practical wins the day IMO.

For my 2nd I bought myself a $40 battery powered snot sucker. My first practically never got sick, but my 2nd has had a constant runny nose thanks to the germs his sister brings home. Love that thing! So much better than the ones you have to use your mouth to suck.

The best thing I got for baby #2 was zutano booties. My kids are 5 years apart, and they either didn’t exist or I didn’t know about them for baby #1. But they are awesome and stay on.

Otherwise I was not amused to get any additional blankets for baby #2. There were so many from baby #1 and I don’t care about a personalized baby sized blanket they can only use for a couple years, then I feel guilty getting rid of because it is personalized. We got 15 blankets for the first kid and another 8 for the second.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:personalized lovie

Please no!!! I received 13 lovies from friend for my second's birth last year. 13! So far he hasn't liked or used a single one.

I liked towels, matching sibling outfits, and consumables like diapers, wipes.

Something I really wanted was a thick blanket that's personalized. I received dozens of tiny baby blankets, but nothing for when the baby is 12 months+ and needs a blanket in the crib. My 3 year old is still in a crib so it's something that would get a lot of use.

... SO PLEASE DON'T BUY A PERSONALIZED BLANKET BUT ALSO THE ONLY THING THIS PERSON WANTS IS A PERSONALIZED BLANKET OK GOT IT

A lovie is not a personalized blanket. A lovie is a little stuffed animal on a blanket and the kids can't even play with it when they're older like a regular stuffed animal. I mean I would have liked a big, thick, crib blanket. They're smaller than a twin, but larger than a swaddle blanket. And then as the baby grows it's a throw blanket on the end of their bed.

I got at least five crib blankets/crib quilts for baby #1.

I've been gifted and given a monogrammed lands end tote bag with the kid's name or initial on it. I use it for daycare and then random stuff over the years.

They probably don't NEED clothes, but if it's opposite seasons, a gift card to a favorite clothing store might be appreciated. Some hand me downs may be worn out and it is kind of fun to pick out new stuff as the need arises.

Anonymous wrote:Gifts I loved for girls 1 & 2:

Gift card for Mabel's Labels. We still use these personalized name stickers on water bottles, food containers, clothes (kids now 5 & 7).

Embroidered diaper cover (with baby's initials). Great for summer girls. We wore these over onesies when they needed a hot weather outfit and under dresses.

Meal delivery. Hubby's work gifted us a week of meals from a nearby Italian restaurant. AWESOME.

I would have loved some Mabel’s labels or a gift card for some! Also second the meal delivery or some freezer meals.

Mani/pedi for mom.

Gifts I loved for girls 1 & 2:

Gift card for Mabel's Labels. We still use these personalized name stickers on water bottles, food containers, clothes (kids now 5 & 7).

Embroidered diaper cover (with baby's initials). Great for summer girls. We wore these over onesies when they needed a hot weather outfit and under dresses.

Meal delivery. Hubby's work gifted us a week of meals from a nearby Italian restaurant. AWESOME.

Honestly, the two best gifts I received when #2 was born were food for me! One was a fruit arrangement, the other was a basket of gourmet chocolates. They made it SO easy to grab a snack when I was busy and/or only had one hand free. Sure, all of the loveys and personalized blankets and such were cute but I didn't *need* them, and now that my kids are a tween and a teen it's actually a pain to have to store them on the off chance that someday, one of the kids actually wants that stuff.

I'm pregnant with a second and also have extremely limited space. I will be pretty annoyed if I get a bunch of personalized loveys, blankets, whatnot. People who do this THINK they're being special or unique (myself included, before I had kids) but they'll likely get more than one and they can't be returned or re-gifted or even happily donated and then you're just stuck with them in your limited space. I've been really clear with family that we prefer non-monogrammed things because we simply don't have the space for each kid to have his/her own chair, step stool, thermos, towel, etc.

Boring as it is, get them something practical/consumable, something that is perhaps an upgrade or newer version of what they already have from their first kid, or something experiential, like a family membership to something or meal delivery, etc.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Friends have very limited space. Had a second girl - don’t need clothes etc. Any great ideas for a second baby gift?

"A night of babysitting" is the worst damn gift. I had like 12 people "gift" me that

It's SUCH a cop out.

There's no way to follow through on it. It's just a way to not give a gift.

A gift card for a nanny service or a restaurant is one thing, but I'm talking like just cards that said "Call me, i'll babysit - happy baby- this is your gift xoxo".... bullshit. And no mom wants to ask for help. It's lame. And a cop out. And I know so many people who say this.

YESSS And I'm supposed to write a thank you note for that? I had people also say they were painting a picture of my baby when it's born. 3 years later and I've never received a picture. That person even presented it at my shower and everyone ooh and ahhed over it. Another gave me a coupon book of chores they'd do when my baby is born (never happened either) Awful gifts.

Yes, exactly. A "night of babysitting" is a gift for a cheapo or a person who forgot the gift because they know you'll never use it. Those people also inevitably either live 200 miles away OR are people you would not trust to watch your kid.

A blanket embroidered with her name - if they are short on space it can become her nap blanket at daycare / preschool. A hooded bath towel with her name on it. One of those books personalized with her name in the story.

I have 2 boys and it’s nice for the younger one to have things that are just his.