Thanks for the suggestions, everyone. They’re all really useful.
I’m not sure how she’d feel with a housecleaning. She’s definitely buying a pump for herself as she has to go back to work afterward and can’t afford Infamil even if she wanted that (that stuff is expensive if you don’t qualify for WIC!) She’ll probably buy her own as she didn’t exactly want to put it on the registry, as her novice husband’s first reaction was"A pump? You’re like a human cow! :eek:" as the realization hit him. The swaddles and books are a really good idea!
She’s going to be an awesome mom. Lots of family and friends are supporting her. I want to, too. I know it’s going to be tough for her since she and her husband are far from rolling in the dough, but make slightly too much to qualify for things like WIC. Not to mention their employer won’t cover the baby on their insurance. The company caps the younger employees at 32 hours a week so they only have to pay for the workers’ insurance so their future baby won’t be covered. Paying for medical, even the $500 private insurance a month, would break them but they still might make too much to qualify for the government insurance. She’s debating whether or not to take even less hours. They could definitely use the money with the future baby coming, but she’s definitely having a dillemma with the insurance. It’s sad to see her so stressed out over it.
That bit about completely machine wash and dry should go for ANY baby garments or blankets. Don’t get anything for Baby that has to have any sort of special care. Mama needs to be able to toss the blanket or whatever into the washer at 3 AM, and not worry about it. Because she’s sleep deprived, dammit, and can barely navigate without dropping Baby.
Maybe I’m a spoil-sport but if the #1 priority is useful (per OP) then I would wait for the registry. Anything you can come up otherwise with could be something that they have already, something promised by a relative as a gift or hand-me-down, or something they’re just not interested in.
Actually that would be another idea, wait until about month 4 or 5 and then ask if anyone is hosting a baby shower.
My standard shower gift, by the way, is a tote bag filled to the brim with all sorts of little baby supplies. You know, the kind of thing that you don’t realize you need until it’s 2:30 am and you really need it now. Infant Tylenol and Benadryl, a nose suction thing, baby nail clippers, diaper rash cream, a package of newborn-sized diapers, baby lotion, saline spray, etc. If they put a diaper bag on their registry, you can get that and then fill it with all this stuff, too.
