When do you need to buy new parents a gift?
Posted by Scrot123@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 26 comments
One of my friends recently had a baby and invited a big group of us to go to the pub for a few drinks this evening to wet the baby's head.
If it were a baby shower, I'd definitely make sure to bring a gift - we weren't invited to the baby shower so we haven't yet bought them anything.
My wife reckons we need to buy them a gift (because we haven't got them anything yet), but I think getting the parents a couple of drinks and saying congratulations will be fine.
We'll probably end up getting them something anyway, but would you?
Appropriate-Two-9538@reddit
I'd take a gift to the first time you meet the baby. Best present we got was a keepsake box full of wet wipes. That kept us going a good while
TheDuraMaters@reddit
A card and a voucher for M&S or Next would be appreciated - even £10 if you’re not that close.
_isolati0n@reddit
I wouldn't take a gift to a drink in the pub. If no baby shower I would take a gift to the house when meeting the baby
gse2026@reddit
Just go to wallmart/asda and buy a multipack of 0-3m babygrows. You can never have too many.
Puzzled-Barnacle-200@reddit
Or better yet, 3-6 months. Loads of people buy the smallest size as a gift, which means the parents need to buy a whole new wardrobe in a couple of months.
Bksudbjdua@reddit
If it's their first child, I'd bring a gift, something small and relatively inexpensive, but something useful.
Nappies, baby grows, just eat voucher
SongsAboutGhosts@reddit
I know it's a lot harder to buy for second (or later) babies, but it does often seem like everyone doesn't give a shit about them comparatively. I'd recommend getting something either way. A book or food voucher would both not break the bank or take up too much room, and if they already have the book then they can sell or regift.
Far-Bug-6985@reddit
Controversial but we got COOK vouchers and didn’t rate the meals!
Amazon or boots vouchers are the best imo!
RFL92@reddit
If you weren't invited to the baby shower, then a small gift is appreciated. I don't have kids myself but we've had 19 babies born in the last few years to friends and have only been invited to two baby showers. The gifts all add up. If I'm not that close I just take a small baby outfit for a tenner. Friends I am close to get much more, like practical help, meals and useful gifts but if I'm not that close it's just some thing small. Get clothes for a few ages up eg don't buy the age they already are!
Gornal-Annie6133@reddit
A card with some money to put in baby’s fund or to help buy something? I never know what people have already got, so a couple of notes usually goes down well.
Just to add, when my Grandson was born, money gifts totalled over £1000, from friends, relatives, so it was put in a savings account for him. He’s now 4 and with birthdays and Xmas, he’s got a few grand now!
DECKTHEBALLZ@reddit
M&S or Waitrose voucher for posh ready meals.
b135702@reddit
I made a big lasagna for my mates who just had a baby bc finding time to cook with a newborn can be tricky, maybe you could just bring them some supplies to help keep them going
elpea_@reddit
One of the best gifts is food. I bought my mate a few COOK frozen meals, saves so much time not having to cook for a couple of days.
MinimumCut140@reddit
New dad here. This is the answer! Taking any mundane life jobs away is just lush. I can sit on my bum holding my little one and order things online, cooking and cleaning is a little more difficult.
InternationalSun2342@reddit
The best gifts for new parents are food vouchers or actual food!
MountainMuffin1980@reddit
A voucher for takeaway food. £50-100 depending on flushness. Those first few days and weeks are difficult to get a good eating schedule in and making it easier and "free" to order in is a great gift.
SuperDinkle406@reddit
Yes, bit it may be a parent gift, like an offer of baby sitting (when old enough) or some chocs.
With my kids we got too many baby grows, we ended up giving never used and used to the charity shops.
Quiet_Ad_9618@reddit
If you’re not sure what to get a voucher I think always goes a long way whether that’s for a delivery for food, or somewhere they can buy something for the baby, or if a voucher for say primark or next etc where they can possibly get next size clothes when they need them as a baby will grow fast. Then you can slip it in a card, doesn’t really make others feel awkward in the same way a gift bag or box does and can go in a handbag or baby bag so won’t get left behind.
bellabanjsk@reddit
I personally would - Cook vouchers are great because the hardest thing is finding time to shop/cook with a newborn, and their ready meals are great.
Cultural_Tank_6947@reddit
If you're planning to give them a gift, wetting the babies head would be an acceptable place to do it.
If you don't want to get them a gift, then your plan with a card is probably fine.
Lanky_Bus_1221@reddit
Never would be my assumption.
isthatnormalpooing@reddit
A gift when you see them after the birth is good. I have done gifts for them/baby in the Christmas immediately before if they were close to the due date. We got my sister in law and her partner a load of "survival" essentials including a generous deliveroo voucher for that day when they need a treat and no one wants to cook.
treeseacar@reddit
Tbh new parents get given so much stuff that unless they have specifically asked for gifts or something from a wish list or registry I wouldn't get them anything. As a parent if you feel the need to take something then a nice card and a gift card for Amazon or deliveroo, with a promise to go round and help tidy up or babysit in future if you're close. But a pint and company is just fine.
BG3restart@reddit
Other than at a baby shower where gifts are expected, normally you'd take a gift when you're invited to meet the baby for the first time.
Mickleborough@reddit
Not you’re going to get them a gift later - challenges lugging something to the pub; leaving it there; remembering to bring it back. Plus may embarrass other friends (unless they bring stuff).
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