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I am going to visit some close friends next weekend who had a baby boy a few months ago. We are all in our later 20's and they are a very international family. She is French, he is Greek, and they live in London. I want to get them some sort of gift, but I'm pretty bad at these things. It doesn't need to be a baby-specific gift, I don't want to just get them some cheezy baby outfit or item that he will soon grow out of, but at the same time, I want to get them something that they can use and truly appreciate. Cost is not such a big factor. Young parents, what is something you would appreciate that no one has really thought to give you? Any creative ideas?
Hmmmm... things that last a long time and are really appreciated, cost not an issue...
Prepaid portrait plans are awesome, the kind where you prepay for a sitting at 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, and 12 months. Those pictures will be treasured forever.
If they haven't already filled up the kid's room with furniture, good sturdy high quality children's furniture last a long time and are very useful.
Monthly delivery type things last a while and are fun, such as a baby book monthly delivery.
Since they are in London, things that help with easy mobility are great - baby carriers (mom or dad can wear baby) and high quality strollers that fit through doorways and into trunks and can be opened and closed with one hand.
Are they musical? You could get them an instrument that the child could eventually learn to play, like child sized guitar or drums, or if you are really willing to splurge, a piano. Piano lessons for children are wonderful for stimulating and growing a healthy brain, but pianos are expensive.
I know you said no clothes, but those things have always been welcome for our kids. And not random fancy one-time use clothes. Like nice everyday clothes.
I have a very specific (though not long term) suggestion: a Winkel Rattle. This thing is ridiculously well designed for babies. It is light and small so that they can use it early on (many rattles require a fair amount of strength to pick up). It has many different angles to grab onto so that a baby learning to pick things up will have an easy time of it and they can learn to grab things with both hands. It won't be useful for a few months, but every time I give it, I hear back after a while about how much the baby loves it. It was my son's favorite toy as a baby and is currently the top rated teether on Amazon with almost 2,500 reviews... It is cheap so you could add it on top of something that is more geared towards the parents.
Location: Stuck on the East Coast, hoping to head West
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I think you should buy an heirloom gift. Yes, it's impractical and that's what makes it so lovely. I suggest a baby rattle (not meant to be used by baby) or perhaps an infant bracelet (again, not to be worn by baby). Perhaps sterling silver?
IPads and pianos for babies? The day they show up on a registry I check is the day I check out altogether. Tiffany makes many items to impress adults, but are highly impractical for children. Porcelain dish sets, sterling baby cups, etc, never get used, they get displayed.
I love the thought of a book-of-the-month club. Does one exist?
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