Gifts For Clients

[Pambug]

In a previous post Doula Lori (Lorisa) said:

Quote:

My mil has an embroidery business, and she makes bibs for me that have the same thing on it "I My Doula!". I always give a baby gift at the PP visit, so I include one of those bibs.

I was wondering, does anyone else give gifts and what kind of things do you give?

[DL]

Pam,

I don't spend a lot of money on this. I normally buy either one of those (newborn appropriate) stuffed animal type things that say "Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep" or plays a song when you pull the handle. They're about $5 at Wal-Mart, I think. Sometimes I'll throw in a teether if I find a cute, cheap one. The bibs my mil makes are free for me; she just started making these for me, so I'll probably do that instead of buying a teether from now on. I buy the $1 gift bags from Wal-Mart so I don't have to wrap.

I don't think it's necessarily expected for a doula to buy gifts, but it's just something I love to do. I LOVE buying things for babies, so it's something that makes me happy, just as much as it does them!

[tlcdoula]

I used to buy the parents an outfit for the baby and a swaddling blanket. For my really great clients I have given them a copy of the dvd Happiest Baby on the Block along with the soothing sounds cd. Now that I am not taking on private clients and am making way less money for the birth through the hospital I have to rethink what I give and have been thinking about just making the baby a onsie that says "My Doulas Loves Me."

So I am not sure. I am in revamp mode once again LOL

[Babies_Bellies_Boobies]

i havent had any "official" clients as of yet

I haven't had any clients yet, but the doula that attended my births crocheted each of my kids a little bonnet. I thought that was really sweet. We still have them!

[Kim Trower]

Gymboree gives me a bunch of gift certificates for 12 weeks free so I give those out to my clients.

[delilahdr]

I give my CBE clients who stay in touch with me after they have their babies, a few children's books. I have kids in school who bring home the Scholastic Book flyers and they are always having great books for .95 and 1.95, or 4 book set for 5.95, etc. So when I see books that I like for really cheap, I buy a bunch. I just got 20 copies of Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day for .75 each! So I give CBE clients usually 3 books... which is a $4 or less gift but worth way more than that! Sometimes I inscribe it.

If my CBE client was a second or more time mom, I give a book to the big sibling and give a cotton sleeper from Old Navy (if you haunt the sales rack, you can usually find a footy sleeper for $4.99 and everytime I do, I buy it- and then keep a stock so I can take one out when needed for boy/girl and summer/winter.) for the baby.

I include a card suitable for them putting in the baby book if they want to, and several of my business cards.

For doula clients, I do the above PLUS I go to http://www.craft-e-family.com (I think that's the link) and order a commemorative block for them for $14.99 so for each doula client I end up spending about $20 on the gift. Only $5-ish for CBE clients.

But it's important to me, because 1) I like my clients, we get all bonded, and I like giving baby gifts to these gals- I feel like they are friends, and 2) it is a good way to encourage them to stay in touch with me and to refer their friends to me, and 3) Gift giving is fun! So I consider it worth the investment.

[delilahdr]

Quote:

Originally Posted by My2girlsmama Once I get going I'll probably give a simple blanket/outfit and gift certificates/cds from dear friend who runs music/movement classes my kids take (my dd sang on cd that is about to be released!) Open Door Music

That is so fun- I just listened to the Shampoo download song and my 2 year old enjoyed it!!! LOL

[Pambug]

Quote:

I just got 20 copies of Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day for .75 each!

That is one of my all time favorite children's books!

[Kalamazoo Doula]

One of my favorite gifts that I give is that I burn a CD with lullabies and hand stamp the cover. Usually right after the birth I leave the parents to bond alone, so before I leave them, I put their CD in my player that I always bring with me, and leave. The hope is that in the future when they play this disc, they recall that very moment.
This is a very inexpensive gift, and most of them just love it. I have found it to be difficult with some clients. I have had to leave my player at the hospital with one client, because after the birth she wanted to call everyone instead of having some alone time, so I don't do it as much as I used to.
I now write up a birth story, written to the baby. I'm a huge scrapbook-er, so I make the front cover like a scrap page. Everyone has really loved this. I on purposely don't send this for about a month after, so they are really surprised when they get it in the mail and have a walk down memory lane!
I really like doing the hand made, more personal gifts, but not every one either has time or the want to do a 'crafty' gift like this. I know my doula gave my daughter a beautiful out fit, she wanted to get her a outfit because she does not have grand babies yet, and had too much fun looking at all the baby clothes!
I'd love to hear what others are doing!

[loveslabor]

Do you give a gift at your last postpartum appointment? A card, a written birthstory?

Today I gave mom a beautiful handmade (not by me though) card and a 'My doula loves me' shirt for the baby.

Do any of you have anything special you do?

[MothertheMother]

I make handkerchief bonnets (craft business with a friend) and I decided I would give one to my clients after they are settled in after delivery. The poem that goes with makes you wanna cry

I*m just a little hanky
*As square as square can be,
*But with just a stitch or two
*They made a bonnet out of me.

*Wear me home from the hospital,
*Or on your Christening day,
*Then press me carefully
*To be neatly packed away.

*On their wedding days,
*All brides have something old.
*What better than a hanky
*Just for her to hold.

*With a few stitches snipped,
*A wedding hanky will appear
*And will become a treasure
*For you to then hold dear

*And if, by chance, you are a boy
*Some day you, too, will wed.
*So to your bride you can present
*What was once worn upon your head.

***Author Unknown0

[tlcdoula]

For the past six months or so I have been giving my clients a crochet blanket that I make for the baby as well as a foot print kit so that they can always remember what their baby's little foot looks like. I also include a card.

I used to do birth stories and have been thinking about doing that again, but am not sure.

[Stacie]

I do birth stories . Often I will do something additional too, that strikes my fancy, more individual to that family.

[DL]

I write/give birth stories, but I do not count that as a "gift", as it is in my contract as one of the services that I provide. I do place it in the gift bag with the gifts, however. Sometimes they take the form of a timeline, other times they may be a letter to the baby (it all depends on how the birth went & what 'flows' from me the best for that particular labor/birth). I do not tell the parents ahead of time which type of birth story that they will get.

As for gifts, I usually give some type of cute, cuddley, stuffed animal (usually one that plays a lullaby or says the "now I lay me down to sleep" prayer (which one depends on the particular couple & what I think they'd appreciate the most). My mil is in the embroidery business, so she makes me cute bibs that say "I my Doula", so each client gets one of those. I many times include a story book, but I'm thinking about maybe giving one of those hand/foot print kits instead in the future. They only cost about $7 at Wal-Mart, I think; the kit comes in a silver colored heart-shaped tin. All of these things go into a gift bag with a pretty ribbon and little card. (I use gift bags because I HATE wrapping gifts! )