what is the most useful present I can get my brother and sister-in-law when their baby is born? Most people get clothes, but I want to get them something special. budget.
close relatives have asked us what we need so maybe you could ask your brother? we've given people ideas based on their budgets, and at least we know who's getting what so hopefully no duplicates
Personally, if you want to be useful, doing some stuff around the house, taking baby for a walk so mam and dad can have a nap, taking round some meals etc would be really useful.
I've said this before but....the very best present I recieved after having my first, was a fridge full of food, delivered and put away for me by my lovely mum! She got some basics (toilet paper, cat food, washing up liquid, coffee, etc) and some nice easy to prepare meals. So much better than flowers, babygrows or money (everyone else sent that kind of thing!)
make up a set of 'time vouchers ' of say 1 hour each maybe 10 of them that mean they can call on you for baby stting or other activities...it might be they would like you to do a couple of hours housework for them, or spend an hour shopping, or just being around so the new mum can grab an hours sleep
as a relatively new mum the best presents I got were sheets, nappies wipes, bibs and vests etc. A time capsule for little one, a holiday voucher for me and partner so maybe a meal voucher for the parents. I also liked the blanket we got with little ones name and dob
You can never have too many vests and babygros. Lots of people got my daughter fancy wee dresses, and they were lovely. But she never got the wear out of them - she'd maybe wear it once then there wasn't the opportunity again before she grew out of it. They go through vests and babygros at an astonishing rate of knots though, so the more you have on hand before you have to wash them all, the better.
When little Tiggs was born my close relatives gave me money which I used to get him Premium Bonds. When I went on maternity my colleages got me a bath, a towel, a bouncer and some toiletries.
We bought from an antique fair an oak blanket box, my H cleaned it waxed it, I lined it with scented paper and filled it to the brim with nappies. This was for my niece, she still has the blanket box as a shoe box and its a nice piece of furniture in the hall.