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    9 Thoughtful And Useful Gifts For Your Pregnant Friend

    Friends' babies = all the fun of buying cute tiny things, none of the actual responsibility.

    Ailbhe Malone
    by Ailbhe Malone

    BuzzFeed Staff

    Hi! Quite a few of my friends are starting to have babies and I am STOKED to buy them things. Friends' babies = all the fun of buying cute tiny things, none of the actual responsibility.

    But I want to buy gifts that my friends will actually use and enjoy – things that will make their life a little easier, but also things that will be an actual treat. So I thought I'd share some of my more successful purchases below, as well as some truly cute stuff I've found online.

    We hope you love the products we recommend! Just so you know, BuzzFeed may collect a share of sales from the links on this page.

    1. A touch and feel book that young babies can enjoy.

    amazon.co.uk

    I love to give these books as a gift. They're board books that have loads of textures on each page (ie fluffy for rabit, scaly for snake) and are perfect for young babies. There's loads of options, and they start at £3.99.

    2. A meal delivery service voucher, or a home-cooked meal.

    Ailbhe Malone/BuzzFeed

    My go-to when friends have babies is to drop over a home-made shepherd's pie for their freezer (or similar dish). My friend and colleague Elizabeth goes one further, and offers to come and cook them Sunday lunch in their own home. If you don't live close enough to do this, or don't rate your cooking skills, then a meal kit voucher is a good alternative. I've tried a couple of these recipe boxes, and I think Gousto is the best all-rounder. You can also get your first and second box half price via this link.

    3. Some soft cotton pyjamas for wearing in – and out of – bed.

    marksandspencer.com

    Check the label to make sure they're machine washable, and if your friend is breast-feeding, then a pair with a button-up shirt is a good idea.

    This pair from Marks and Spencer ticks all the boxes, comes in sizes 6-22 and will stand up to lots of washing (£30). If your friend isn't the kind to wear pyjamas, then this robe from Etsy is cute and well-priced.

    4. A teething necklace that is stylish enough to wear every day.

    notonthehighstreet.com

    I've bought a couple of these (this specific one) for friends – it's a soft, chewable necklace that is super baby-friendly. The idea is that you wear it while nursing or baby-wearing, and the baby can grab and play with the silicone baubles. It's also got a break-away safety clasp, so there's no danger of it pulling too tight on the neck.

    Final bonus! You can freeze the necklace so that the cool silicone will provide relief to babies who are teething.

    Get it at Not on the High Street, £11.99

    5. A load of muslins and a burp cloth because you can never have enough.

    etsy.com

    I think these burp cloths are so cute (3 for £18) and you could add in some cheap muslins (Mothercare sell on Amazon). I'm also really into these cute bibs.

    6. A piece of jewellery with their child's birthstone.

    etsy.com

    I own this necklace (the gold chain version) and every time I wear it someone asks where I bought it!

    Designed by Abiza Jewelry. Get it on Etsy, £26

    Here's a whole range of birthstone jewellery: 27 Beautiful Pieces of Jewelry for Every Birthstone

    7. A nifty waterfall rinser that will make a big splash at bath time.

    amazon.co.uk

    This cute whale helps to keep water and suds out of the baby's face – making bath time a dream. You could also throw in some bath crayons too – £2.49 on Amazon.

    Get it on Amazon, £8

    8. A soothing massage, delivered to their door.

    9. A "new mum" box – either shop bought or home- made.

    notanotherbill.com

    I think this "New Mum" box from Not Another Bill is the loveliest gift – for £90 (I know it's £££ but maybe you want to splash the cash?) you get: "Truffle’, the adorable Danish piglet, a pair of soft muslins from 'Baby Mori' and and a soothing ultra-comforting REN rescue mask, and a 'Perh' quilted blanket."

    However, if you'd rather, you could make your own box, featuring your friend's favourite scents, candles and so on.

    What are your go-to gifts for your new parent friends? Let me know in the comments!