What Items (Small) Could You Never Have Enough of When You Had a Newborn?

Updated on April 20, 2013
S.A. asks from Chicago, IL
20 answers

My daughter's teacher's wife just had her second baby. I'm trying to think of something clever and useful to give them for a gift. I'm sure they have a ton of cute outfits. They already have all of the gear because it's their second and the oldest is only 18 mos old. I was thinking of getting a bunch of baby toiletries like size 1 or 2 diapers, wipes, Desitin, onesies, socks...

What toiletries or newborn/infant items could you never seem to have enough of?

TIA

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Featured Answers

R.R.

answers from Los Angeles on

Gift cards to buy what was needed. I knew best what I needed as the need arose.

And I won't buy something just to buy something as a gift. If the mom requests something in particular on her registry or in person when I ask I'll buy that or go in on it with someone, if not I'll give a gift card at a store I know she shops at so she can pick up things as she needs them.

1 mom found this helpful

S.K.

answers from Denver on

hmm small huh. My boobs I guess. hahahah sorry its friday and Im so mentally done for the week. I really loved the aveeno body wash and the aveeno lavendar lotion. once I started using those I couldnt use the other stuff because my babes smelled heavenly.

1 mom found this helpful

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J.T.

answers from Dallas on

i had several diaper changing "stations" throughout our house - i kept a waterproof pad, diapers, hand sanitizer, diaper rash ointment, tube of vaseline, wipes, q-tips, nasal aspirator, lanolin, burp cloth, etc. in a basket at each place.

3 moms found this helpful
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M.O.

answers from New York on

Wipes!

I still think they're one of the most useful inventions of all time.

2 moms found this helpful
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L.P.

answers from Los Angeles on

Portable wipes bundled with diapers, just grab and go. I still buy the to-go size wipes to put in each car, each room, each purse... A stack of those babies and I'm happy.

1 mom found this helpful
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K.B.

answers from San Francisco on

Aside from diapers and wipes, we had cloth diapers to use as burp clothes. We passed on the fancy burp cloths and went for the basic white diaper cloths. There were two different kinds. One was the thicker, pre-fold (?) ones. The others were some thin mesh ones, that I cannot believe would be really effective as a diaper, but was very useful for covering up my boys privates when we changed them. If they peed in the process of the diaper change, the cloth absorbed most of it.

Also the waterproof lap pads were helpful for the changing table. We put them on top of the changing table cover in the most likely place to catch leakage. Then if we did have an accident on the changing table, we just had to replace the lap pad and not the whole changing table mattress cover.

Oxyclean baby stain removal was also useful, but the spray bottles sometimes leak if they get bounce around in your car, so try to keep them upright after purchase.

1 mom found this helpful
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J.G.

answers from Chicago on

No onesies or socks.

Diapers and burp clothes.

1 mom found this helpful

E.N.

answers from Knoxville on

The little med stuff that you forgot you needed until you needed it. Mylicon Drops, Teething tablets, tylenol, motrin.
My girls will be 5 in less than two months and we still use baby wipes! They wipe spaghetti sauce or chocolate off of faces, wipe bottoms that have 'the runs', wipe hands before eating when away from home/eating in the car, etc.

1 mom found this helpful
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❤.M.

answers from Los Angeles on

I like what one poster said: "Make them some food.". Make a casserole
for the parents!

I loved & needed an abundance of:
-wipes
-diapers
-burp cloths
-bottles & nipples in "slow flow, medium flow then flast flow" to supplement breast feeding or for when someone else is to feed the baby.
-an extra pacifier or two in case they use them.
-definitely baby rash ointment
-infant tylenol for when the baby is older & starting to teethe
-baby monitor (ok not small but I loved mine!)
-a basket full of things (a baby thermometer, pacifier, nipples, plastic
bottles, burp cloths in a basket wrapped in cellophane)
-those stretchy blankets to swaddle!
-sm pack of baby spoons for when they start to feed baby food
-cute painted letters spelling out the baby's name. Loved this!
-baby towel (soft, fuzzy, no hood though....they weren't helpful)

An certificate to offer to come help mom & give her break.

A basket for mom: a magazine, sm box of chocolates, a jar of Jelly Bellies labeled "Headache Reliever", warm fuzzy socks for mom, small
frame for sonogram, #1 dad shirt for dad, sm silver charm that says "mom", eye mask for when she needs to sleep during the day, hand held massager (doesn't have to be the vibrating kind) so someone can get the knots out of her back while she's holding the baby.

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C.B.

answers from Orlando on

Wipes, burp cloths, water proof pads, D batteries (for the swing and vibrating bouncy seat), laundry soap.

For mom - tylenol, maxi pads, disposable breast pads if nursing.

Personally I'd stay away from diapers and butt paste. My 2 kids each required their own brands. My son wore pampers but they we the wrong shape for my daughter. My son also used A&D ointment but it was completely ineffective for my girl.

E.B.

answers from Seattle on

Gift Card!

With a note that could state..''We figured alot of the ''Newborn'' items probably have been covered(or you could also fill a gift bag with smaller sized bottles of the Desitin, wipes etc) and then like a $25 gift card so she can buy baby clothes for when baby is a bit bigger.

I wish more people would have bought bigger baby stuff. All three of my kids never wore much more than once, I was given so much little clothes.

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H.M.

answers from Dallas on

Boudreaux's Butt-Paste it is the best thing invented for rashes, sores or anything that is irritated. And it has a funny name. It is the one thing I give to every new mom!!!! Other items are wipes and diapers cause you can't ever get enough of those.

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V.T.

answers from Washington DC on

When I had my first I hated getting diapers. When I had my twins, diapers were my favorite gift. One of my favorite items was and still is a diaper caddy. I have used it everyday for over 4 years. It hold diapers, wipes, butt cream, etc. My nursery was on the second floor, so I could have the diaper caddy with my on the main floor or basement so I wouldn't have to go upstairs all the time to change diapers. I also loved having a second diaper pail. One in the nursery, one in the main level. I would get a diaper caddy and everything you need to go in it. Mine is from Babies R Us and is the JJ Cole caddy. It's finally falling apart after 4 years and heavy use and I'm going to get another one I love it so much.

BTW, Aquaphor is awesome and always seems to be forgotten.

K.I.

answers from Los Angeles on

I was a sucker for the really good thick burp rags! As well as a nice soft and comfy blanket!!

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C.N.

answers from Baton Rouge on

Diaper pins - they were constantly getting dull.

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M.O.

answers from Chicago on

Make them some food

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M.P.

answers from Raleigh on

I second the cloth diapers as burp cloths and bibs.Usually, these things wear out with the first kid and you have to throw them away. Also, diapers and more diapers!

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K.P.

answers from Seattle on

For me, it was cloth diapers that were used as burping rags. Could not get enough. Bought a big package of regular white ones at local store. And the same for onsies, my son would often need rechanging, so I would just put him in a clean one, and it was so much easier!

Also, my son went through bottles of gas drops it was a must have. Along with rash cream too.

One thing we used was a humidifier. My son was often stuffy and this helped.

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M.M.

answers from Dallas on

Its not a toiletry, but I never ran out of onesies. I kept them everywhere - car, diaper bag, purse etc. As much as babies spit up, throw up, and pee & poop - I always needed a quick change of clothes!

M.J.

answers from Milwaukee on

Aquaphor!
Infant tylenol
Tiny baby washcloths for face washes
Wipes
A special lovey

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