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When a close friend has a baby, you want to support them in any way possible. Even if you’ve never had kids of your own, you can still imagine just how exhausting and overwhelming it must be. But if you’ve never had kids of your own, you might be a bit unsure about the best way to help. If we’re unsure, we tend to react by avoiding. You might tell yourself that what your friend truly needs is space. And it’s true, she does, but then again, you can give her space and also be there for her when she needs you. Here are 7 ways to do exactly that.   1) BE PRESENT BUT CONSIDERATERule Number 1: never stop by unannounced! To be fair, these days most of us will text a warning of our arrival. But remember, your new mum friend won’t be checking her phone very often. If you do plan to stop by, ask well in advance if that will be okay. Also, don’t linger on your visit. It’s best to go with a purpose in mind, like dropping off an essential or helping with a task (see below). Once you’re done, you’re out the door! 2) ALWAYS BRING FOODIf you’re heading over to her place, bring food along every time. There’s no such thing as too many home-cooked meal deliveries for sleep-deprived mummies and daddies! Bring something freezer-friendly that can be reheated as needed if you can’t or don’t have time to cook, no problem. Stop by their favourite takeaway or bring some nutritious snacks for breakfast and lunch. 3) DO ALL THE RUNNING AROUNDAsk your friend if she has any errands that need running. If there’s a letter that needs posting or a prescription that needs picking up, that’s a job with your name on it. If it’s something she needs to do in person, offer her a lift. When you do your weekly shop, pick up extra toilet paper to drop off at her place. 4) HELP AROUND THE HOUSESee that huge pile of laundry next to her washing machine? You can make it magically disappear. Those crumbs on the carpet? They’re no match for your vacuum skills! Let everyone else send her flowers and chocolates. You can be the one who’s there on the battlefield, getting the hard work done and giving her the gift of time. 5) REQUEST 1-ON-1 TIME WITH BABYSome new mums aren’t okay with this, which is perfectly normal. Don’t be offended if they don’t want to leave you alone with their newborn – it’s just that protective maternal instinct kicking in. For some new mums, however, a little break to nap, shower or just breathe is an absolute godsend. Offer to hold Baby for a little while and give her a chance to feel human again. 6) LOOK OUT FOR BABY’S BIG SIBLINGIf this is your friend’s second child, she’s still dealing with a completely new experience: taking care of more than one kid at a time. If the older sibling is still very young, it’s especially hard. The last thing any parent wants is for an older child to feel neglected. You can help with that! Bring gifts just for Big Bro or Sis, or take them out for the afternoon to make them feel special and give Mum a break. 7) PLAY IT COOL WITH ADVICEEven if you’ve had children yourself, what works for you might not work for someone else. Chances are, your new mum friend has read all the books and received loads of advice from midwives and mothers-in-law. She won’t need to hear it from her friends, too, so don’t offer your advice unless she specifically asks for it. Instead, be her outlet to vent and support her with hugs and sympathy.   Welcome your friend’s new baby to the world! Discover personalised gifts Mum and Baby will love at My 1st Years.

6 Ways to Make Baby’s 1st Birthday Special The first year is an emotional roller-coaster for new parents, and it all culminates in Baby’s 1st birthday. Wondering how to celebrate? If you believe Instagram or Pinterest, the only way to do it is with a perfectly planned, colour-coordinated extravaganza. Believe us when we say it’s not worth the stress. If you try too hard to make Baby’s 1st birthday perfect, neither you nor your little one will end up having a good time. And that’s what it’s all about, right? Taking a moment to enjoy your amazing achievement. So instead, here are 6 simple ways to make Baby’s 1st birthday meaningful and unique.  1) GET THE PHOTOS DONE RIGHT Don’t rely on your phone camera for this one! Book a studio session with a professional photographer who’s known for working with wee ones. Get a proper family portrait done and while you’re at it, why not have a cake smash session? Giving Baby a fun activity for their shoot helps them to relax and makes for truly adorable candid snaps. 2) GIVE BABY A NEW FIRST EXPERIENCE When Baby is just a year old, there are still so many things you haven’t had a chance to do together. Maybe Baby has never seen the sea, or perhaps you guys have never been to the zoo. Pick a place that you loved when you were young and take Baby to experience it for the first time. You’ll relive your precious memories through a fresh new set of eyes.   3) WRITE A LETTER TO BABY You have so much you want to say to Baby, but they’re too young yet to understand the fullness of your love. Put it all into a letter which they can open when they’re older, perhaps when they’re 10 or 18 years old. To make it extra special, pop a photo into the envelope that Baby will never have seen before. In fact, why not start a new tradition and write a letter every year? 4) PLANT A TREE Make a living memory with Baby. Head to the garden centre and pick out a tree together (whichever one Baby seems to smile at the most!). Bring Baby’s new tree friend home and find them a permanent spot in the garden. The tree will grow tall and strong alongside Baby, sheltering your little one while they play. Take a photo of them together each year to compare how much they’ve grown.    5) GO OUT FOR DINNER (WITHOUT BABY!) Let’s face it, Baby’s not even going to remember their 1st Birthday. This milestone is not just for your child but also for you, you amazing person. You’ve done something wonderful and incredibly tough – you deserve a reward! And now that Baby is older, you can start doing things without them every once in a while. So go on, book that fancy dinner and get all dressed up. You’ve earned it and then some.   6) KEEP THE PARTY SIMPLE Parties aren’t essential for 1-year-old Babies. And like we said at the start, they can be stressful! But sometimes you can’t resist throwing one anyway. Don’t get in over your head, though. Keep the celebrations simple and don’t go overboard with fancy food or fussy decorations. How about a potluck or a back garden barbecue? The less you stress, the happier Baby will be and the more time you’ll have to party together!   Are you looking for Baby’s 1st birthday present? Explore our range of beautifully-made, personalised baby gifts, from customised clothes and shoes to toys and accessories.