Present for my first grandchild?

Oh for the days when the news of an impending birth just meant a trip to Mothercare and job done!
As far as bears - Jellycat do a range of bears/ animals that are lovely and soft and squidgy and suitable from birth.
There is always Harrods for their dated bears with the year embroidered on the foot.
Otherwise, wait and see what is given by others and then fill in the gaps!

I always thought ,if you can afford it of course, set up a bank account and put the money there for the baby. Even if its not needed now it will come in useful in the future. Babies nowadays get plenty of " things" but money for the future won't go amiss.

I think one of the most useful things my daughter had was (and I think it is called?) Angel Care Bath cradle?? Baby can lie back safely in the bath. Enjoy!

One of my grandsons had a Peter Rabbit. It got so grubby that he ended up with 3 so they could be washed. It was a shock when he realised there was more than one. He is now 9 and still gets a new version every year. Other grandson favoured red pandas and youngest is collecting hungry caterpillars.

Apologies if this has been mentioned in previous posts. My family have always found bouncy chairs invaluable. In the months before a baby can sit up they can be laid in these chairs and see what is going on around them. I have cooked many a meal standing on one leg and gently tapping the chair with the other to keep a baby entertained. As you have found, prams, pushchairs, buggies are very expensive. When my youngest GD was on her way I went with my daughter to a baby shop to look for a double buggy. When I mentioned how expensive, just north of £1,000, was for a buggy, the assistant looked at me and told me it was a travel system. Good excuse to bump up the price, I suppose. Enjoy your new grandchild. If I had known how delightful grandchildren are, I would have had them first. Good luck with it all.

A collectable teddy - Steif etc. Boxed set of Beatrix Potter books and set up a junior ISA which you (and others) can contribute to each month. My father did that for his DGC and my DD founded her gap year trip to Aus when she was 18. I am doing same for my DGD for when they are 18

All of our grandchildren received a Steiff teddy, it started when we were in Germany and bought one for the first, after that it's become a habit!

If they drive a car seat would be good.Congratulations you have a lot of fun to look forward too.

It depends if you are buying a present for the baby in which case, as already suggested, a 'proper' collectable teddy bear and/or savings would be good.
Or are you thinking of a general present for the parents to make their lives easier? In that case the baby monitor mentioned by other posters is an excellent idea.

I’d buy a silver cup or pewter tankard and have it engraved. Something they can keep and will have when they are grown up. My mother buys her great grandchildren books when they are born and for each birthday. Hard bound copies of classics. They each have quite a colllection now sitting on shelves in their bedrooms. They treasure them and will always have them long after their great grandmother isn’t around.

Calendargirl

Although teddies are lovely, so many babies are inundated with cuddly toys, which often end up in the local charity shop eventually.

Money to go in a savings account or premium bonds would be very useful.

I was going to put in about premium bonds as they don't lose their value and the child can cash them in when they're older if they want to. You can arrange for any wins to be used to buy more bonds and grandparents are allowed to buy them again for their grandchildren (there was a period when it was the parents only who could buy them but that's changed now.)
And you could still buy a bear or something for the child to have.
How about those wooden child seats for children to eat from which can be altered to suit the child as it grows (can't recall the name of the brand, maybe from Scandinavia?)

I bought my grandson a ‘jellycat’ bunny, he has two ‘friends’ and this is one of them. He used to take it everywhere with him but he is beginning to leave his bunny and Peter in his room more during the day now. I also gave his parents some money to be used to purchase things they needed.
My daughter is now expecting her second baby - I’m not sure what to do this time round, I’m thinking about reusable nappies which is the intention of the parents this time round.

Open a savings account for the child or ask if the parents are starting one. Pay in a regular small sum via direct debit.

Not too many soft toys! If you must, make sure they are washable!

Although teddies are lovely, so many babies are inundated with cuddly toys, which often end up in the local charity shop eventually.

Money to go in a savings account or premium bonds would be very useful.

Hi I am new to this lovely site! I am a besotted Nan with 4 grand-children - 3 girls and 1 boy. Two of the girls are currently applying to Uni, my grand-son is almost 15 and my babba (I'm not a baby I'm a big girl Nan!!!) will be a teenager this year. I have bought so very many things for them over the years however...I think a keepsake is always wonderful for a grand-child. All 4 of mine have a sterling silver coronet with sparkly coloured Swarovski gems with their names engraved on. They are hung on their Christmas trees every year. Money for their savings accounts also very important. As much emotional and practical assistance you can give the parents probably the best gift of all however! Taking baby out for long walks so Mum can rest and when appropriate, having baby overnight so Mum & Dad can have some time for themselves. Congratulations!

Please don't invest in reusable nappies without doing some research. Babies come in different sizes and shapes and not all brands suit all babies.

It was possible last year to have a sort-of selection pack to see which fitted. I think "The Nappy Lady" sold them but probably wasn't the only company to do so. If they aren't for you, after a few weeks you can return them.

Reusable nappies are the in thing now. They are available with a patterned outer and are quite lovely. An expensive outlay but saves money in the long run.

Callistemon I can remember a similar sleepover ?

My daughter asked for a lovely, luxurious leather changing bag, which was about £100 if I remember rightly. ExH paid for their car seat (I bought one for my own car when I started looking after DGS regularly).

He loved the little muslin squares edged with satin ribbon, we got them from Amazon. They were his sleepytime comforters and he always took one to nursery, even when he was 3 he liked to know there was one in his backpack although he seldom needed it by then.

For the latest Gdc I bought a sheepskin (special for babies) from Celtic Sheepskin, because they have hard wood floors and she was born in January.

Yes, baby monitor. One of the ones that has a movement sensor, and a camera as well as audio. The movement sensor goes off if the baby stops breathing.

Next 2 Me crib for their bedroom so they can co sleep without harm to the baby.

Also, what about commissioning (or knitting yourself if you knit) a baby shawl? Find out the colour scheme first!

Grannynannywanny

My grandchildren all loved these cuddly comforters when they were babies. They snuggled with them at bedtime. If they become very attached to them, as my 4 did, they need at least 2 to allow for one being in the wash. They are very easily machine washable. There are lots of brands and varieties. If you google baby comforters you’ll see them.

Oh, Snugs!
The trauma one night when DGD was having a sleepover and Snugs didn't come.
(There were at least 3 of them).
Luckily a knitted fairy brought some comfort and peace was restored.

Congratulations! Do they have a car carrier/seat?

Does the mum intend to breastfeed?
If so, one of the baby beds that come right against the parent's bed is a great help. Personally I'd talk to them about what they need later. If it's a first baby they really won't know.

Congratulations.

A high chair that converts to a chair that can be used by the child sitting at the table. If they haven't already bought a car seat, they will need one from a very early stage.