First Pregnant Friend!

NOLAbridealmost

I am so excited!  My best friend (we've been besties since we were 4) is pregnant!  This is the first of any of my friends to have a baby.   I want to do something really nice for her but short of throwing a shower I am not really sure what else to do.  What sorts of gifts and things are the "in the know" people doing for expecting moms these days?  What are the "must have" baby items? 

Nickivegan

First congrats to your friend! I don't know your budget, but I hear good things from those sliding rocking nursing chairs. I don't really know how else to explain what it is... Here's the link http://m.nextag.com/nursing-rocking-chair/zzmzB1z0--search-html

strlzfan11

I know a lot of moms who swear by the books Baby Wise and/or Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child.

If you're looking to spend more $$ than what you normally would for a baby shower, you could purchase one of the big ticket items once she registers (like the bedding, the pack n play, or the stroller & carseat).

If you knit or crochet, you could make the baby a blanket.

I personally like to start the baby's book collection (think Little Golden Books or Dr. Suess).

ETA: You could also treat her to a spa day once she hits the 2nd trimester for a massage.  My sister & her SIL went for pedicures the weekend before my nephew was born and she absolutely loved it

housewifehobbiest

Congratulations to your friend!  How far along is she?

My first preggo friend told me this time last year (she was 6 weeks along).  I didn't get her anything major, because knowing her she would want to research everything and would have a specific idea of what she wanted for the baby.  I did get her a special pillow to accomodate her belly once she started getting bigger, and a prenatal listening monitor.  She really liked that, because its not something she would have invested in herself, but she and her husband liked listening in to her baby's heartbeat and movements before he was born.

Loopyseven

Friends of ours opted to be surprised with the boy/girl thing and her besties went to the house while she was in the hospital after birth and added blue accent pieces/nick-nacks and scattered boy clothes around the nursery so they were surprised when they brought him home.  Otherwise, other than throwing a shower, I haven't heard of anything.

NOLAbridealmost

She's 6 weeks! I am seriously so happy for her. I teared up when she told me. It's still a big secret around our home town. 

I love the idea of a spa day or getting the stroller/car seat (I have 8.5 months to save up!). What is a pack n' play?

AdeleDazeem

I gave my sister's baby (my first neice or nephew) **this hat** and, geez, she gets comments all the time!!  I got a beige one in the size 3-6 months since that would winter for her! 

Also, when the child is born, it is nice to bring over frozen/easy to reheat food because cooking become difficult.

Oh, I also love **this baby towel** (don't get the critter towels - the new material sucks).  If you're crafty at all, you can stitch the child's name or a design on the hood like **this**!

PS - I got a little carried away with the links in this post.  Haha.

EDIT: The parents may have very specific thoughts about a car seat or a stroller so I'd definitely get that with her or after they are registered.  A pack n play is a playpen.

mica178

I usually make a newborn hat for my pregnant friends.  I try to balance the practical stuff (something off their baby registry) with a couple of cute outfits (give various sizes, not just the newborn stuff).  I tend to wait until the couple has the registry up because I don't want to give them the wrong bouncy chair or whatever.

strlzfan11

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_first-pregnant-friend?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:d4e0ac54-aebe-4418-9f59-8a0d303e3c07Post:fda855ca-bfb9-40ba-82de-990fb3a18a99">Re: First Pregnant Friend!</a>:
[QUOTE]She's 6 weeks! I am seriously so happy for her. I teared up when she told me. It's still a big secret around our home town.  I love the idea of a spa day or getting the stroller/car seat (I have 8.5 months to save up!). <strong>What is a pack n' play</strong>?
Posted by NOLAbridealmost[/QUOTE]

Today's version of a play pen, but they usually have a bassinet built in.  A lot of parents use them when the baby first comes home from the hospital so that he/she is easily accessible (not in the other room) for feeding.  It also works well for a crib if you're traveling.

NOLAbridealmost

I love that little hat with the ears, Joy!

AdeleDazeem

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_first-pregnant-friend?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:d4e0ac54-aebe-4418-9f59-8a0d303e3c07Post:0857e85a-03b4-4614-9bcd-806501491e5e">Re: First Pregnant Friend!</a>:
[QUOTE]I love that little hat with the ears, Joy!
Posted by NOLAbridealmost[/QUOTE]

Zomg.. buy it.  You won't regret it.  My neice is freaking adorable in it.

housewifehobbiest

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_first-pregnant-friend?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:d4e0ac54-aebe-4418-9f59-8a0d303e3c07Post:0b3c5147-7907-482c-a29a-0165aeb28ab8">Re: First Pregnant Friend!</a>:
[QUOTE]I love preggo friends, although I don't have many left...most of them are done having their two or three babies.  Every "first baby" gets a copy of The Giving Tree.  It was a tradition of my aunt's and I've carried it on.
Posted by EaglesBride2012[/QUOTE]

I love that tradition!  I bought my friend a complete set of the works of Shel Silverstein for her son for Christmas this year.  He's still one of my favorite author/poets.

MoonlightSilver

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_first-pregnant-friend?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:d4e0ac54-aebe-4418-9f59-8a0d303e3c07Post:9e96525c-8446-4795-a2e2-c7f370426a88">Re: First Pregnant Friend!</a>:
[QUOTE]I<strong> know a lot of moms who swear by the books Baby Wise</strong> and/or Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child. If you're looking to spend more $$ than what you normally would for a baby shower, you could purchase one of the big ticket items once she registers (like the bedding, the pack n play, or the stroller & carseat). If you knit or crochet, you could make the baby a blanket. I personally like to start the baby's book collection (think Little Golden Books or Dr. Suess). ETA: You could also treat her to a spa day once she hits the 2nd trimester for a massage.  My sister & her SIL went for pedicures the weekend before my nephew was born and she absolutely loved it
Posted by strlzfan11[/QUOTE]

<div>I hope that isn't the "On Becoming BabyWise" by Gary Ezzo- the practices in this book have been linked to dehydration and failure to thrive in newborns. It basically goes against all medical advice for newborns. There's more information here: <a href="http://www.drmomma.org/2009/12/babywise-linked-to-babies-dehydration.html">http://www.drmomma.org/2009/12/babywise-linked-to-babies-dehydration.html</a></div>

Queen Jane

Ditto PP, babywise is an extremely controversial book, I would stay away from that one. A boppy pillow was definitely a must have, a big ol body pillow for the mom to be would be amazing as well. A foot bath or foot scrub would also be really nice, I wish someone would have got me one! Edit for overuse of the word amazing.

Queen Jane

Oh, one pregnancy book that I swear by is "The girlfriends guide to pregnancy". It prepared me for the less pleasant aspects of pregnancy and childbirth which other books fail to mention. It was invaluable. http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/141652472X

Soon2BeMrsTing

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_first-pregnant-friend?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:d4e0ac54-aebe-4418-9f59-8a0d303e3c07Post:a9178a62-80df-4466-b9ca-22201a0e8ae3">Re: First Pregnant Friend!</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: First Pregnant Friend! : I hope that isn't the "On Becoming BabyWise" by Gary Ezzo- the practices in this book have been linked to dehydration and failure to thrive in newborns. It basically goes against all medical advice for newborns. There's more information here:  <a href="http://www.drmomma.org/2009/12/babywise-linked-to-babies-dehydration.html" rel='nofollow'>http://www.drmomma.org/2009/12/babywise-linked-to-babies-dehydration.html</a>
Posted by MoonlightSilver[/QUOTE]

I'm glad someone said this!  The book is definitely controversial.  The authors are now estranged from their grown children.  OBBW was quite popular for a time, and maybe still is in some circles. but I wouldn't recommend it, having done a little personal research.

I've never heard of a fetal heart monitor for home use, but that' something I would love to receive!

levanlaere

I got my friend a prenatal massage and she loved it. If you do go with that your friend will have to wait until she is out of her first trimester.

Best wishes!

twinkles2003

So exciting for you and your friend!  If you'd like to do something now a certificate for a prenatal massage would be wonderful.  She could use it whenever she feels she needs it.  If she's into yoga there are prenatal yoga classes where she could meet other expecting mommies. 

So much of what a mom needs is based on lifestyle and preferences.  As the first of your friends to be pregnant this mom will be the guinea pig.  You'll benefit so much from the knowledge she shares about what does and doesn't work for her and more specifically why.  Even if something doesn't work for her it could be perfect for you.

As for specific things for the nursery, that's really personal and needs to be picked out by her and her husband.  The idea for a glider is nice but she may have a particular style she wants and she needs to sit in them and get what's best for her.  She's going to spend a lot of time in it!  They range from a couple hundred dollars to a couple thousand, it just depends on the family's plan for the nursery and future chair use.

Depending on how much you want to spend for her shower the stroller could be a possiblility but she'd certainly need to pick it out.  It's something people use all of the time for years and it needs to meet their needs.  People who live in cities like New York or Chicago, where they don't use cars very often but have to take the stroller up steps, have very different needs than the suburban mom who is taking the stroller in and out of the car constantly.  They can be pricy.  Ours was over $1200 but it's the only one we'll ever need and it's so easy and practical for our lives.  The best advice we got from friends was to do your research and spend the money to get it right because you'll curse every other stroller and end up spending more overall for multiple strollers.