Gift suggestions for a first-time mom in a small apartment

[Pilsy]

One of my best friends and her husband were ambivalent about having children for years and somewhat recently decided they really want a child. She's expecting this summer! I plan on offering to throw her a shower, and regardless, I will of course buy a gift when the baby arrives; however, I really want to send something now, too.

I'm stuck between frivolity and practicality, because I'm really excited and want to celebrate her/them/the baby, but she and I typically exchange consumables only, and I'm running out of unique ideas. I'll list what we've done in recent years, which I'm trying to avoid repeating. I'd love to find something that coordinates with a funny card (from Etsy?) but nothing has struck me as being just right, and I don't want to waste weeks trying to find just the right thing; better to settle for something reasonably kind and thoughtful and just get it out the door.

Beyond that, her birthday is coming up in another month, so I need a second idea for that. 

These are the things we've done within the past few years, which I'd like to avoid repeating. What are some other fun ideas I'm not thinking of? 

• Flowers
• GC for manicure
• Scented candles
• Chocolates
• Gourmet popcorn
• Gourmet coffee
• Mlikbar cake and cookies

[majesty318]

Subscription to coffee or wine or makeup monthly box
Pregnancy pillow if she doesn't have one
GC for prenatal massage

[expectantsteelerfan]

The belly book to document her pregnancy?

[IrishBelle]

If you stick to consumables to avoid buying stuff for each other, what about planning something fun together. Fancy dinner or somewhere have been wanting to go? Side by side mani/pedis?

[Pilsy]

Jan 19, 2023 12:51:07 GMT -5 IrishBelle said:

If you stick to consumables to avoid buying stuff for each other, what about planning something fun together. Fancy dinner or somewhere have been wanting to go? Side by side mani/pedis?

She's in NYC, and I'm just outside Boston, so I rarely see her in person. That said, I do love this idea and might have to work out a visit.  

[brooklyn]

Aww, how exciting for her! I had my first nyc baby while we were living in a studio apartment. 💗

My go to gifts are bagels and donuts off Goldbelly but that doesn’t work when she already has access to the best bagels 😂

[sonrisa]

Something that takes care of her. Pregnancy massage?

[huskymom]

Nice maternity leggings
Big tumbler (Stanley?)
Snack subscription

[rhian]

Gift card for prenatal yoga classes, if she's into yoga?

[daisyduck]

A small, high quality stuffed animal. I got a couple of these for myself early in my pregnancy and really enjoyed them. I had them in the baby's room before it was practical to start getting other things and setting up the nursery.

Jellycat is a good brand if you like this idea.

[Pilsy]

These are great - thank you!

sonrisa, I think a massage gift card would be great. Does anyone have a rec near Union Square or Murray Hill?

[shauni27]

for sure the prenatal massage.

[pierogigirl]

Bun in the oven card and cinnamon buns

Also agree with pp, Jellycats are the best. My kids have a bunch, and I have several for myself

PLG tote if you think that's her style for diaper bag, or just a bag. Maybe get a changing pad insert for it

[livinitup]

A body pillow. It might be an early gift for a summer due date but it really saved me in late pregnancy and worth every bit of extra room on the bed.

Otherwise, someone sent us chicken soup in the mail (from a company) as a gift and it was the best ever. I’ll try to find the company. I suppose in NYC you can just arrange delivery for any great meal, even from Boston. I guess you’d just have to make sure she is home and not cooking !

[mpm]

Jan 19, 2023 13:39:34 GMT -5 daisyduck said:

A small, high quality stuffed animal. I got a couple of these for myself early in my pregnancy and really enjoyed them. I had them in the baby's room before it was practical to start getting other things and setting up the nursery.

Jellycat is a good brand if you like this idea.

Love this and ditto the Jellycat rec. You can also personalize them if you want to do this later after she picks out a name.

I’m surprised by so many body pillow recommendations for someone living in a small space. I never needed a special pillow during either pregnancy and definitely wouldn’t have wanted anything so big in my home. Wait and let her decide if she actually needs something like that!

[rhian]

I'd recommend against things like stuffed animals or pregnancy pillows unless you're certain she wants them, because they take up a lot of space. As someone who had a baby in an apartment, I was really deliberate in selecting pregnancy/baby gear - everything needed to be really worth the space it took up. I declined the offer from my SIL to get me a pregnancy pillow (I didn't want to figure out how to store the thing post-pregnancy, and I did fine propping myself up with pillows/blankets we already owned), and I hated all of the stuffed animals my MIL sent because they were so bulky and not useful as toys for quite awhile (baby is 11 months now and still not really interested in them).

[k3am]

Jan 19, 2023 12:56:05 GMT -5 Pilsy said:

Jan 19, 2023 12:51:07 GMT -5 IrishBelle said:

If you stick to consumables to avoid buying stuff for each other, what about planning something fun together. Fancy dinner or somewhere have been wanting to go? Side by side mani/pedis?

She's in NYC, and I'm just outside Boston, so I rarely see her in person. That said, I do love this idea and might have to work out a visit.  

This is my favorite idea too. I love wine and a friend found a great wine bar that had a HUGE selection of alcohol removed wine, so I got to spend an evening with one of my besties, enjoying a couple glasses of "wine" and feeling like normal and less like an incubator. 

[sent]

Someone sent me Baked By Melissa Cupcakes for my birthday one year. Definitely something I would not have purchased on my own once I no longer lived near their shops.

Another idea can be a photo frame with a photo already in it. I've always appreciated when people give me those because it's hard for me to be cohesive enough to keep framed photos updated by myself.

[heygrey]

We lived in a tiny apartment when DS was born and our friends were so kind and generous with their gifts, but I returned/sold/donated so much because we did not have the space for stuff. I really didn't like keepsake type stuff because I felt more guilty about not wanting to keep it.

If you know of a cute baby shop near her, a gift card would be thoughtful and then she could pick own item(s).
A giftcard for a dinner out with her husband.
If it's in your budget, a night away before the baby is born.
l love the idea of prenatal yoga or a massage.

ETA: I feel like wanderingback will have the best advice here between small apartment with a baby and NYC. 

[formerlyak]

Jan 19, 2023 15:45:47 GMT -5 livinitup said:

A body pillow. It might be an early gift for a summer due date but it really saved me in late pregnancy and worth every bit of extra room on the bed.

Otherwise, someone sent us chicken soup in the mail (from a company) as a gift and it was the best ever. I’ll try to find the company. I suppose in NYC you can just arrange delivery for any great meal, even from Boston. I guess you’d just have to make sure she is home and not cooking !

Was it Spoonful of Comfort? We got a box from them when my brother died and it was really nice.

Also, if she’s in NYC, can you send a deli platter after the baby comes? I brought a deli platter to a friend after she had her baby and she said it was her favorite baby gift. It’s so hard to cook and eat some days after you first get home. She loved being able to quickly put a sandwich together and then sit there and eat it with one hand while she nursed the baby.

[brooklyn]

Jan 19, 2023 13:45:48 GMT -5 Pilsy said:

These are great - thank you!

sonrisa, I think a massage gift card would be great. Does anyone have a rec near Union Square or Murray Hill?

That’s basically my old neighborhood, let me think and I’ll get back to you!

[Pilsy]

brooklyn, ooh, thank you!!

[Jalapeñomel]

I lived in a tiny apartment in the Bronx with my first, and GC for grocery delivery would've been the most helpful.

[Pilsy]

Jan 20, 2023 9:16:32 GMT -5 brooklyn said:

Jan 19, 2023 13:45:48 GMT -5 Pilsy said:

These are great - thank you!

sonrisa , I think a massage gift card would be great. Does anyone have a rec near Union Square or Murray Hill?

That’s basically my old neighborhood, let me think and I’ll get back to you!

Hi! I'm returning to my search for a gift. Any chance you're familiar with this place? vitabymichele.com  The massage therapist is apparently a doula, too. 

The reviews and location are great, but I wish I could check it out in person. Is it weird to send my friend to an independent place like this instead of a big operation that's better known? ETA: There is a Massage Envy 17 minutes from my friend's home. 

[wanderingback]

Jan 25, 2023 23:27:37 GMT -5 Pilsy said:

Jan 20, 2023 9:16:32 GMT -5 brooklyn said:

That’s basically my old neighborhood, let me think and I’ll get back to you!

Hi! I'm returning to my search for a gift. Any chance you're familiar with this place? vitabymichele.com  The massage therapist is apparently a doula, too. 

The reviews and location are great, but I wish I could check it out in person. Is it weird to send my friend to an independent place like this instead of a big operation that's better known? ETA: There is a Massage Envy 17 minutes from my friend's home. 

Just now seeing this post that I was tagged.
I would certainly def get her a gift for herself and not her baby.
I don’t know why, but I didn’t think I’d find a massage enjoyable during pregnancy so I never went, but I think that’s a good idea in general. If someone gifted it to me i’d certainly use it or save it till after pregnancy. I actually have a massage scheduled for next week. Also a pedicure, I loved pedicures during pregnancy.

Can you ask her husband a restaurant they enjoy? Then, get a gift card so they can have a nice meal out together before the baby arrives.

As far as the massage place goes, I’ve never heard of that place however I’ve never been to a chain place for a massage so no it is not weird at all to get her a gift card to a small business. I actually prefer that. Or you could again ask her husband where she would go.

If you know she likes to do her nails or get her nails done I’d suggest stuff to do manicures and pedicures at home. I still am doing "self-care" stuff outside of the home, but I bought a foldable soaking tub with massager for my feet and some cuticle oil and a new nail polish color that I’ve been enjoying while on leave since I can’t get a manicure or pedicure every week.

Hope that helps!

[Pilsy]

Thanks, wanderingback! I don't know why I questioned the small business in this case; I guess I was picturing my friend lying on a table in a stranger's apartment. lol

I'm emailing her H to make sure she'll be into it, and then I'll line it up. Thanks again!!