After your marriage perhaps mummy hood is the only other occasion when friends, family and close relatives make it a point to gift something.
In fact, some baby counselors even advice to-be parents not to hoard on too many things for the baby as parents end up receiving many things as gifts anyway too.
However, unlike in the West, the concept of a baby gift registry is considered impolite in India. As a result, the onus is often on the gift giver to decide and find something that may be suitable for the baby and the family.
While this tradition sometimes springs interesting surprises where someone thoughtfully gets something for your baby you yourself wouldn’t have thought about. At other times, the intention can boomerang as its possible that the family does not require the gift you fondly bought for the baby. Gifting therefore always remains a slightly precarious decision for both parties.
We got some real life mums to share with us the best, worst and well, sometimes downright hilarious gifts they received as new mothers.
Anshika Arora, 28, Homemaker: When my daughter was born my in-laws brought a pram for her. While it is a great practical gift but well, we had already bought a pram months ago. I really wished they asked us before investing so much money. Since my in-laws are particularly touchy, I couldn’t even tell them that we have one pram in the store already, forget about hinting if we could exchange it.
Deepshikha Kapoor, 32, Teacher: One of my closest friends got me some of the absolute essentials one needs in the initial few days just the day after I arrived home after a difficult C-section. She got me some linen vests for the baby, some burping cloths, and some homemade cloth diapers. I was touched because her gifts were not conventional, who-got-what sort of presents but something she must have brought keeping my immediate needs in mind.
She got me some linen vests for the baby, some burping cloths, and some homemade cloth diapers. I was touched because her gifts were not conventional, who-got-what sort of presents but something she must have brought keeping my immediate needs in mind.
Sonakshi Sahni, 29, Feng Shui expert: My husband’s elder sister arrived with a bag full of baby bags, which were actually her kids’ hand- me-downs. I understand that kids grow fast and often cousins and siblings end up using each other’s clothes.
I honestly would have been okay with it until she made it a point to tell each and every relative that she got my newborn a years’ supply of clothes and we won't have to buy anything. I only wished she would have also said that none of those clothes were new!
Sheena Sharma, 28, Teacher: My husband is a British and I am an Indian but post marriage we have been living in India. When I got pregnant my husband’s entire family in London would always ask us if we were having a girl or a boy. We had a tough time explaining them that here in India we keep the gender a secret and are not told of it before the baby is born.
My in-laws were so confused on what to buy that when they arrived in India all they had got for the baby were socks and vests in multiple pairs. My mother-in-law very cutely told me that they are so used to buying gender specific baby items back in UK that they ended up picking socks. I think it was very funny and we all had a good laugh over it.
Things to keep in mind before buying a baby gift
Here are a few tips that may help you next time you are going to buy a baby gift for someone:
- Budget: A baby requires a whole gamut of things that can cost across a wide range. In case it is your first time baby shopping, there’s every chance that the choices will bamboozle you. So its better to think of a budget that you have and look for items in that price tag.
- Big buys: In case you are going to buy a big item such as a pram, stroller, baby cot or a car seat you must ask the parents in case they have already brought these things or a family member is gifting these. You don’t want your gift you spent big money on to be duplicated.
- Sizing: We all know how fast the kids overgrow clothes and practically, for this reason, we often end up taking bigger sizes for baby clothes. While it is helpful for if you are taking multiple items of clothing it's better to take one or two in the current size in order to avoid a situation where the new parents have plenty for future and few for the present.
Also Read: 20 gifts your children will never forget
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