'Arrival' Gift for Baby

Well, personally, I have given "arrival gifts," although I didn't specifically call them by any name... but I only do it for people I'm close to...

For instance, if a close relative has a baby, someone that I'd visit at the hospital, or at home very shortly after the birth, I'd most likely take a gift. But I would not feel the least bit compelled to do it for those people that I'm not particularly close to... And I don't do it as part of some perceived obligation, I've just always liked taking a gift for the new mom or baby, sometimes both! (if I really like them... LOL)

I've always thought it was "good form" to bring the baby a little something the first time you meet the baby.

If that is a custom then man i feel left out!! lol
Totally kidding. I've never really heard of an "arrival gift"
But i do know several people that would bring food over to the new mothers house so she wouldn't have to worry about cooking.

I haven't heard of that term but I've heard of getting Mom a gift sometimes called a "Push Gift"... usually something you might do for VERY close friends or family.. or a gift from husband to wife. If I go visit baby in the hospital I will bring something, especially if it's a second or third child and they didn't have a formal baby shower. I usually bring a gift for Mom and a gift for baby, if there is a younger brother or sister (depending how close I am to the family) I might even get something as a "Big Brother/Sister" gift.

I certainly don't think it's rude not to give a gift after baby is born - especially if you already gave them a shower gift. I'm a firm believer that gifts should be given out of impulse and love... not obligation. I'm sure if you felt there was something they NEEDED that you were able to provide - you would have.

I have never heard it called an arrival gift but I always take a gift to both the shower and then after the baby is born a little something either to the hospital or to her home after she is hoome and settled back in with the new baby. usually if there is an older brother or sister I bring a little something for that one too (usually a new book about me and my baby brother/sister type thing. but it is not a given that you would do it.

Maybe that is customary in Japan, however not here in the U.S.A., you haven't slighted anyone.

The shower and baby related gifting traditions seem a little blurry. I have one child and I am expecting my second. We did not do a shower for the first, but two friends of mine wanted to do a shower for this one, so we are. With my first, we did not find out the gender (nor are we in this case), and after the baby was born a couple people brought over little things like some girly onsies to mix in with all of the gender neutral things we had for the baby. I did not expect this, nor did I expect a shower. I frequently have taken gifts to the older children when I visit a new mom, because I think they start feeling left out that every one wants to see the baby. But I tend to keep it simple (my last friend who had a baby I took fresh cookies for the 3 older kids - the mother was really appreciative that I was including them in the event).

However, on the other end of the spectrum I have know women who planned their own baby shower, and I know many women who have had multiple showers for the same baby.

I am all for gift-giving and celebrating a new life. I think that each child deserves a bit of celebration, so I am not agianst showers for subsequent children. However, I think moderation is key. A gift for baby either at the shower or the time of birth is plenty, and for many of my close friends, I like to make a meal for the family as well at the time of birth. When I was a new mom with a deployed husband, the gift of company was the one I valued most :) I think it all comes down to doing something to support and celebrate a new life and that comes in many forms - not just "stuff."

I never heard of it being customary, but I've always given arrival gifts. Honestly, I don't think any new moms expect arrival gifts.

Never heard of an arrival gift, but then we don't do them in Canada. Maybe people do them here? We also don't do showers for second, third, etc., children in Canada, but they seem pretty common here in the U.S., so maybe I am missing something, too!

I did this for my sister and sister-in-law, but nobody else. I had two friends that were a part of a group shower (8-10 pregnant moms) that I then later gave them each a present, but it's what I would have given them if they'd had individual showers. The only people I received "arrival" gifts from were my sister, mom and mother in law. Tell her to cross it off her list! Obligatory gifts aren't necessary. If she wants to give a little something, go for it, otherwise no need.

I don't think gifts should ever be 'expected'. I have had lots of wonderful friends and family give gifts to me but I have never expected them to come bearing a gift. In addition, when I give gifts, I give them because I want to not because one is expected.

I usually buy a gift for the baby when they are born.. and a bottle of wine for mom and dad...

I agree with Lucy L that one gift either a shower gift or arrival gift is enough. I didn't have a shower with my second child, but people sent gifts after the arrival of the baby.
Sending a gift or acknowledgment is thoughtful. It's not about getting lots of stuff.

I have never heard of an arrival gift and certainly didn't expect anything like that from friends or family when I had my daughter 4 years ago.

It was never ON my list. Neither do I do birthday, Christmas or other gifts and cards dictated by the industry on specific dates. I give what I want when I feel inspired to, any day of the year and mostly not material goods.

You can find my advice columns on similar industry driven commercial gift giving. I never fall for this plot. It is only a money making benefit for the industry. My Mothering magazine expert answer on Birthday Parties relates to this subject in a new way:
http://mothering.com/birthday-parties

Go here for four articles on this theme.
http://mothering.com/search/node/Birthday%2C%20%22naomi%2...
Warmly, N. Aldort

the amount of gifting in US culture has grown over my lifetime, but i would not say a second baby 'arrival' gift is expected or standard. for close friends, i have brought a small item to the hospital or their house when i have come to meet the baby but certainly not for everyone who's shower i have been to.

showers (as someone mentioned below) are increasing, both in the number people are having (i know someone who had four for the same baby, and i have been invited to two different showers for the same person). people sometimes have a shower for every baby they have and sometimes invite everyone they know.

in the (increasingly rare) case of a friend who doesnt have a shower, i do bring a gift after the baby is born. mostly b/c i want to :)

one shower before the baby was born (with a lot of yellow b/c the sex wasn't known) and bringing a "hot dish" for the mom and dad when you came to visit the baby used to be the friendly thing to do back in my mom's day. :) I do not think you sould feel remiss for not bringing another gift, altho for a close friend in the future it would be a nice gesture.

I think the shower gifts are considered the arrival gifts here in the States. My daughter gave her baby brother an arrival gift, but that was so she would work on bonding with him and she got one from him at the same time.

Do they have baby showers in Japan? The arrival gift might be along the same idea.

We do give arrival gifts to our immediate family. We bring them to the hospital though. I have also been know to send an arrival gift to a friend if I missed the baby shower or wasn't invited to it (for whatever reason). I never really thought of it as an "arrival" gift in a formal sense, but yeah we do that.