1st grandchild

Congratulations!
Best to ask the parents first.

I agree with ilovecheese, as much as you are excited and want to rush out and start buying, please check with parents first.

Congratulations ??

Congratulations from me too.

I agree, check with the parents first as their ideas may differ greatly from yours.
You may find Mumsnet more helpful for recommendations.
Don't stop coming here though ?

Suggest a preliminary shopping trip with prospective parent(s) so that you can be sure you aren't duplicating or treading on toes.
Then consult all the way !!

Congratulations...that is lovely news for you...I agree with other grans,but I understand how excited you are,it is an exciting time for you all

Congratulations!!! Perhaps just open a small savings account - babies get so much now and the little one will want cash at various times.

That is lovely news - but rein yourself in. Nearer the time you could perhaps ask them is there is anything they would like you to get for the baby, as you would like to contribute something. Don't wade in with lots of stuff, as it may not be the same stuff as they had in mind!! - and you need to get off on the right foot. THEY are in charge!!!

Lots of fun to come - enjoy!

We too are expecting (?) Out 1st Grandchild at Christmas annie it is so exciting isn't it.

Spent lots of time thinking about what to buy and like others decided to hold off and just let my DD and SiL make their own choices.

We have offered to put some money towards a pram, as that is a major outlay, and the other GPs are helping with the car seat.

DD and DiL are delighted and already asked us to go window shopping with them.

Mind you I am already knitting !

Ha ha ha !
Thanks for your very “grounded” replies !
I would always run things by them before buying.
Although, we’ll need a 2nd Pram here and this is what I’m looking into .... sorry I didn’t make myself clear, it’s the excitement ?
Teatime, your idea of a savings account is great
Thanks again for taking time to reply ☺️

I didn't rush out to buy things for my first DGC but instead asked DD what she needed, or would like. Then I set about buying things to childproof my house when the baby became a toddler. A stair gate was the most important.
Congratulations, I hope all goes well.

Anniewoz and Maybelle congratulations.
Tomorrow we find out whether our next grandchild, due in November, will be a girl or a boy - I'm so excited.

Agree with definitely ask the parents. Some things are portable and they may want to bring their own.

You might ask if it would be helpful to them for you to purchase a couple of boxes of diapers or something to keep at your home, just in case they run out of diapers while visiting. You can explain that it's not that you think they're incapable of packing enough, you just thought it might be helpful to have a few extra on hand in case of a major blowout or something.

If you're wanting to buy them a baby gift, I would suggest offering to give them money to purchase a large item, such as a crib. This way they can select what they like. Another alternative would be to ask if it would be alright to make something for the baby, if you are crafty. I sew, so I like to make stuffed toys out of socks (I use dental floss instead of sewing thread, so the toy won't come apart), an embroidered birth record, or an embroidered quilt. If it's a quilt or birth record I like to let the parents know and then ask if they have favourite colours or a theme for the nursery, or conversely if there's anything they really DON'T want. (Although the pink embroidered castle quilt is adorable for a girl, some parents don't care for the "pink princess" idea.) That way I can select something they will like.

Re buying the pram:

mother insisted she must have a pram of her own at her house.

Child number three is baking and so far it has only ever been out of the house twice because she “doesn’t want her good buggy spoiled with sick or getting the wheels worn down”

if you buy a second pram, please use it!

You'll be amazed how things have changed since "Our day" Anniewoz but you'll soon get into the swing of it!

Congratulations, how exciting for you all, it will be a wonderful Christmas.

My dgc are frequent visitors and i have always had a few bits here. The things I have found particularly useful are a couple of bottles (and bottle brush), a tin of baby milk, steriliser, a pack of nappies and wipes, travel cot, baby blanket and a change of clothing/babygro. I have only bought cheaper items, they have been perfectly fine for me.
I do actually have my own pushchair. I got it for my first grandchild and it is now being used by number 3. I have a silver cross reflex stroller, I think they are about £200 new but they are suitable for babies from birth up to 3 (and older if you're having a day out). You need something that's not too big so you can store it and easily foldable for getting on public transport etc.
Happy shopping but yes, as previous posters have said, don't buy for the parents without their approval and let them know what you're doing.

You might consider taking a grandparenting course. Obviously, you raised your own children, but sometimes recommendations have updated as we have more research and learn more. The idea of a grandparenting course is to teach grandparents about guidelines that have changed since they had their children.

Just heard that I will be a Gran again ,also due just before Christmas.

What lovely news. Just remember this is not your baby and consult the parents about what gift would be the most welcome.

Uur 9th is due in October and I gave everything away after no 8! A travel cot is all we have left but is a vital piece of kit. A bouncy chair is also a good thing to have at your house.

I found lots of other grans around had stuff we could borrow. For instance, we have stair gates, another friend had a pushchair etc.

I really enjoyed buying baby toys!

Congratulations to all those looking forward to new grand-babies! My advice to new grandparents would be to hold your horses for now. If you want to give a gift of a big item, give the cash and let the new parents have the fun of choosing it. If you really need something at your house, such as a pram, choose it with help from the parents, as they need to be happy with your choice and will know what’s best for their child. Don’t be like me and immediately order a beautiful and expensive gliding crib, destined to be used twice only as the babies always arrived here in their Moses baskets... Happy days ahead for you all!

.

I have a 10 month off DD and I wouldn't bother buying a pram, especially if it's not going to be the main pram. We hardly used the carrycot which came with our travel system, there are loads of great lie flat pushchairs which are so much more convienient for getting in and out of a car. No need to remove the carrycot and takes up way less space in the boot.

The joie brisk travel system is fab. Has a pushchair suitable from birth which lies flat and a car seat which attaches (great with a newborn as no waking baby up to move them over!) which is suitable until around 15 months old. And it's not a bad price!

Kiddicare.com is a great site to use.

Hi everyone
I just wanted to say thanks for your information and knowledgeable replies ☺️
Is there a way to like individual replies other than answering each one ?
Enjoy the sunshine ☀️

You must be so thrilled. I gave my first dgc £500 and told dd and dsil to do what they thought best for baby. They bought dgs cot, chest of drawers with nappy change top and wardrobe. I also bought a large plastic storage tub and filled with baby products such as Sudocream, wet wipes, baby shampoo and bath, baby scissors, hairbrush set, thermometer, muslin squares and other bits and pieces and jumbo pack of nappies in newborn size and size 1. My ex dh bought the pram system with car seat, her in laws opened bank account for baby. we all bought bits of clothing but check because I like babies in white but dd wanted primary colours. We bought very little to keep at our house for when baby comes just nappies and toiletries and I offered to get cot but they bought travel cot. I am having 2nd dgc in Aug and they will get same cast too. I am letting parents decide what to use it for.