Waiting for a grandchild to arrive

The real difficulty at this stage is not to spend too much!  Even though you know that many of the gifts the new bub receives won’t get used much and eventually gets stored in the garage or sold on ebay, it’s quite fun to wander through baby stores – there are so many beautiful products to choose from you are unlikely to be able to resist the odd purchase or five.

If you are looking to buy or create something practical but different in preparation for the new arrival – how about?

• A set of singlets from sizes 0000 to 2 (may be 3 of each)
• Bonds Wondersuits and coveralls
• Leggings
• Beanie
• Sleeping bags (wondrous new invention, wish they were around when my children were little)
• A change table
• Bamboo nappies (they are a bit pricey up front but cheap in the long run and better for the environment)
• Start knitting a blanket for those not-so-well days home from school or kindergarten
• Find a beautiful frame for one of the many photos taken – and a digital frame or brag book for yourself to really show off your amazing grandchildren!
• Put together a basket of sample bath time baby products

The big day arrives – you are a grandmother!

Depending on your relationship with the new mother and father, you might have been actually in the delivery room at the arrival of the next generation – or in the waiting room or recipient of the first phone call, or the second, or perhaps you got a text or saw it on Facebook.  Regardless the news is fantastic.  If you like the name they have chosen it’s even better.  If you don’t like the name (and sometimes you won’t – why the weird spellings and use of surnames, let alone the names that might as well say ‘bully me’ in the school playground?)

No matter the circumstances you instantly love your new grandchild (whether the first or part of an expanding brood) – and inexplicably want to spend money!  Pause, take a deep breath and consider the best use of your dollars for the benefit of your grandchild.

Note from an experience grandmother – it is really easy to get excited and spend heaps of time and money on the first grandchild it gets a little less with each subsequent birth (and they will notice if you aren’t careful).

Special things grandmother can to do to celebrate a new grandchild

Starting with what to send or take to the hospital.

There is a serious amount of variety in the new born baby gift market – from the classic flower arrangements (Interflora link) to baby baskets, novel use of baby nappies, bibs, etc and personalised products.  To save you searching for some we have listed a selection of these below.

Sending gifts internationally? Try

www.petals.com
www.interflora.com.au

Classic Baby Gifts

Remember these from when your kids were born?  – they are still great gifts

• baby photo frame
• birth spoon (with date, time and weight engraved)
• set of silver coins from Australia Royal Mint for their birth year
• framed copy of the front page of the newspaper on the day (or the whole newspaper)
• money box
• a framed family tree showing at least the last three generations
• personalised stamps from Australia Post
• make an album of first baby photos using on line photobooks such as www.clickonprint.com.au 

Competing for the title of World’s Best Grandmother

You might not be the only grandmother turning up with gifts for the new arrival. Not only is there likely to be competition for the best present from the other Parent’s Parent but their might be indulgent aunts and uncles and other assorted well-wishers. Want to start early on earning the title ‘World’s Best Grandmother’? Send or take something for the proud new mum and dad is a good move and shows you remember just how emotional the experience of the birth can be – some ideas:

• Chocolates – you can’t go wrong!
• A bottle of champagne and 2 crystal champagne glasses
• A mini football (of whatever code the dad is into)
• A baby sized football jersey (again, of whatever code the dad is into)
• A pretty dressing gown for mum (for those midnight feeds and ‘I didn’t get around to getting dressed” days)
• A set of DVDs of their favourite TV series (for those midnight feeds – in 30 years night time TV has not improved)
• A night light for the baby’s room

Nana Lizzie’s note: many hospitals discharge new mums after only a day so watch that your gift will arrive before they go home or just send it to home.

Add a some creativity with a personalised greeting card from Moon Pig

Support for new parents

Once bub and mum are home consider organising:

• • A nappy service (bamboo and hemp nappies are the latest thing in recyclables)
  • A housekeeper for the first month
  • Home delivery of groceries
  • Babysitting – you know you want to! (encourage the new mum and dad go to a movie or a coffee while you baby sit – even if they are comfortable with the idea they are unlikely to want to be away for longer than2-3 hours initially, after that you will be lucky if they come home!)
  • Providing some pre-cooked meals (by you or others) and stocking the freezer and pantry
  • A bigger item but providing a comfortable padded rocking chair might just win you lots of brownie points in no time – dad’s will love you too!
  • A photography session for the new family (don’t assume you will be asked to appear in the photo)
  • Or if new bubs is not sleeping buy the acclaimed book “Save our Sleep”.  If the parents have a sense of humor try “Go the F%$K to Sleep”  – for parents NOT children.

If new mum is struggling there are a number of organisations who can assist, for example Beyond Blue

The Cost of Having Babies and Raising Children

Many couples now put off having children till they ‘can afford it’.  The right time for children is not about money but your capacity to enjoy the process – it takes at least 18 years!  Having a baby is just the start – a it doesn’t last very long.  So that pretty cradle and cute new baby clothes might not be the best use of your money.  Consider borrowing equipment and taking that offer of used baby clothes (get over it, they are new or hardly worn and the baby will never know!).

Check out this page at Mom Loves Best for a comprehensive list of expenses to consider for the first year and beyong.  There are also help savings tips.  The costs are in USD so you might need to adjust for your own region, e.g. in some countries the healthcare costs might be free or the prices of equipment considerably higher than the US experience.

Here is another great site for understanding the true costs of raising children (USA data).  The Simple Dollar  Something many don’t consider – and they should! There is lots of great information, particularly for young people considering having children but who have yet to set any financial goals.  A baby grows into a child, then a teenager, then to young adults – each with a different drain on parents funds.  However, read in the context of what a child brings to your life – love, laughter, memories and more.

For something a little different for new babies – try these on-line stores

Chi Bebe – home of the Slumber Pod baby bean bag

Brightbots Bright – a nice change from pastels (with links to Max & Tilly and Eco Boo)

Bambino Brands – membership site with sales quality brands at affordable prices

Babies Favourite Things – handmade and boutique brands