Sisters unite. Help me think of the perfect non-new gift for my sister-in-law’s new baby. She’s due in about a week. My compact month starts in about a week and I don’t want to go in cheating.
A few things to know about my sister-in-law:
- Her name is also Heather
- She hates used stuff
- She lives cross-country in DC
- This will be her second daughter, g-d willing
- and she’s Orthodox Jewish
What’s a good gift? Help please!!
ps I don’t think she reads this site, so go ahead and give me some ideas. 
I gave my used Boppy as a gift just this week. I washed it and stuff first, but that thing is durable! Of course, that only works if you are done having kids and already own a Boppy. LOL!
I have given my bumbo before. Also swaddlers. These items were lifesavers or me. The bumbo was recalled I think, only because people were puuting it on a table with their children in it and being attentive. I loved it tho.
hmm.. are you crafty? I always have a stash of yarn or fabric to whip up something “new” Burpcloths are easy to make and embelish. Or you can repaint/decorate an old picture frame.
this is hard because its not a first child.. see what she needs and see if you have it to pass on..but off the top of my head:
have the kids decorate onesies for the new baby (sentimental and also can clean out your closet of too small clothes)…fill a waterbottle (camelbak makes a great one since it has a bite straw and you dont have to tilt the bottle to drink wonderful in labor!) with pacifiers or mesh food baggie things- use this time to clean out the ‘baby’ items you no longer need…wrap diapers in your old/clean spitup free receiving blankets (fits compact since diapers are essential!!!)…have the kids make art for the nursery -frame it in cardboard painted a nice color… if you know the name (or wait until you do) have the religious background written out nicely for framing (my sister gave me the first bible passage featuring my son’s name to frame, she color copied it out of a fancy illuminated manuscript type book- i’m not even religious and it floored me)
Perhaps you could get Whitney to make some of her recycled t-shirt hats or pants or other cute stuff… and barter with her in some way!
Is a fancy fruit basket cheating? While I enjoyed all the baked goods people brought me after Lucas was born, one of my favorite post-birth gifts was a fancy fruit basket from http://www.manhattanfruitier.com (maybe you can ask them to just send the fruit, sans basket?)
Or you can bake her some of those tasty oatmeal choco chip cookies you’ve been raving about, but never seem to bring into the office.
Does she use cloth diapers? If so, you could make her a wool cover. They are easy to knit or to sew made with an old wool sweater that’s felted…
You send her a box picture frame to put the keepsakes in from the baby and hang in the baby’s room. I make one for each child, and they turn out so cute.
You could also do an information page about the day the baby was born and frame it to send (after the bayb is born.) Things about that day, year, what the baby’s name means, about the family, etc… Print it on cute paper.
Pay for someone to come in a clean her house for a week? Or send her a gift certificate for a facial?
I always like a “new” outfit for the baby even though they have hand-me-downs… Hope this helps.
Grocery delivery is always nice — if you’re looking for “non-stuff” kind of stuff. Or maid service?
But if she doesn’t like used stuff… that’s a tough one.