What To Buy A Colleague Going On Maternity Leave: Best UK Gift Ideas

Maternity send-offs usually go the same way: someone starts a collection on Thursday, £60 appears by Monday, and nobody knows what to buy with it.

Here's what works, sorted by what's in the envelope, and the bits that get quietly regifted.

Under £20 (a small team)

• A big card everyone in the office signs. It's the bit she keeps, so buy a decent one and pass it round before the last day, not on it.
• A pack of baby milestone cards. Light, cheap, photographs well, and she'll use them every month for a year - it's the rare small gift that keeps turning up.
• A good candle and a bar of proper chocolate, for the first week of being at home all day.
• A pin badge or a small print for the nursery wall.
• A voucher for a local coffee shop she can walk to with a pram.

£20 to £50 (a normal whip-round)

• A meal-delivery or supermarket voucher. Unromantic, and the single most appreciated thing new parents get.
• A hand and footprint kit, which becomes the keepsake the grandparents fight over.
• A nice blanket or a muslin set in a colour that isn't hospital-grey.
• A hamper the team builds themselves - snacks, tea, hand cream, a magazine, milestone cards.
• A photo book voucher for the first year.

£50 and up (a whole department)

• A cleaner for a few hours, booked for a fortnight after the due date.
• A pram-friendly changing bag, if you can find out the colour she likes.
• A baby monitor or white noise machine, checked against her list first.
• A newborn photography session near her home.
• A massage or spa voucher with a long expiry date - she will not be using it in month one.

What to skip

• Newborn-size clothes. Everyone buys those; almost nobody buys 6-9 months.
• Anything scented and strong, for a nose that's suddenly very sensitive.
• Flowers on the last day. She's carrying a laptop, a cake and a card home.
• Toys for a baby who isn't born yet.
• Books about sleep training, unless she asked.

What to write in the card

• Wishing you every happiness - the office will be a lot duller without you.
• Enjoy every minute, and don't think about this place once.
• Congratulations! Your desk will be exactly as you left it. Probably.
• So happy for you both. Come and show the baby off whenever you fancy.
• Good luck with the new job - the hours are worse and the boss is shorter.
• We'll miss you. Sending love to you and the little one.

Shop congratulations cards

How to write it so it lands

• Get the card signed a week early, in a quiet envelope, not on the day.
• Ask her partner or a close work friend before buying anything specific.
• One good gift beats five small ones she has to carry to the car.

Where to shop next

• How to make a DIY baby hamper
• Unique baby shower gift ideas
• DIY baby milestone photos at home
• How to document your baby's first year
• Newborn baby gift ideas
• What to write in a new baby card
• Shop new baby cards
• Shop congratulations cards
• Planning the party? Birthday party ideas
• How to make a balloon arch
• Photo booth prop ideas
• Good luck cards
• Pin badges
• All guides

Frequently asked questions

What do you buy a colleague going on maternity leave?

A signed card, plus something practical from the whip-round: a supermarket or meal voucher, a hamper the team builds, a hand and footprint kit, or milestone cards she'll use every month of the first year.

How much should you give for a maternity leave collection?

£5 to £10 per person is normal in most UK workplaces, and £3 is perfectly fine. Keep the amount private so nobody feels awkward.

What should you not buy for maternity leave?

Newborn clothes, strong perfume, toys for an unborn baby and anything bulky she has to carry home on the last day.

What do you write in a maternity leave card?

Keep it warm and short: congratulate her, say you'll miss her, and tell her not to think about work. Avoid anything about how tired she'll be.

Do you sell baby milestone cards?

No. We design and print greeting cards, enamel pin badges, prints and party decorations, all posted from the UK. Milestone card packs and anything else mentioned here are outside recommendations, not things we stock.