Opposite, who keep themselves to themselves most of the time amongst all the nearish neighbours (we are rural), mentioned whilst sharing burglar-in-nearby-area alerts, that they are expecting their first baby in a couple of momths.
Not sure what the etiquette is as regards a card or gift once sprog arrives.
Thinking a verbal congratulations as and when I see them (rare) once I know sprog has arrived safely, might be all that’s needed. Moreover, thinking more would be intrusive.
My gut feeling is this would be the approach of the other neighbours I know better, too (though won’t trek up there just to ask them and may not bump into them before opposite’s sprog arrives).
Or is there a tradition of sending cards here. Feeling a gift would be definitely over the top.
Don’t usually do cards, do usually give something. You wait for a faire-part normally then get it a hat or some socks or some token thing. If they don’t do a faire-part wait until you see it then hat/socks/token (eg bib or the like).
If you’re handy with knitting needles or a crochet hook that’s really good, you can do bootees that look like ladybirds, or whatever.
I shall have to put my thinking cap on as difficult to get stuff here.
In UK I’d probably have got away with some alcohol (for Mum, not baby) tied up with a pink ribbon.
If only Mothercare shop was still around I could have got some 6-9 month babygros in UK last week. I’ll always remember a mother telling me people only gave things like babygros sized for the first few months, but few people gave anything for later when the child would be a bit older, and fiiling a washing machine daily with many changes per day of the same clothing things but bigger.
Frankly, if you and neighbours hardly ever see one another… and certainly don’t socialise…
verbal congratulations once the baby has safely arrived sounds ideal to me.
Loads of baby shops/supermarkets who do baby stuff about, have had that experience now for the past four years plus - Orchestra, ADBB, Gémo, Carrefour, LeClerc, Intermarché,Super U. Cards flowed down here from everyone who knows the parents plus lots of different gifts from stuff for older years to babygrows. Whatever you buy, it will be appreciated I can tell you as baby stuff is so expensive.
I agree, If you hardly ever see them and aren’t close, I would think that perfect. If it requires a knock on the door because meetings are so rare, perhaps a small posie for the mother at the same time.
If you just want a token thing then socks or those knitted slipper things fit the brief: don’t gather dust, useful, cosy if it’s going to be born in a couple of months, not usually a clash of taste, take up no room. Or you can get useful inoffensive little triangular cotton bibs for dribbling for when it is a bit older. I was given lots of picture frames, v kind, but tastes vary and honestly socks are great and they are always losing them.
Picking up this thread on a bored evening reminded me of the birth of my first nephew.
Asked my (childless) girl friend for advice and she suggested an antique silver cigarette box that one day my nephew would be able to put something in. At the time I was very grateful for her suggestion and found a cedar lined silver Deco cigarette box, which in due course presented to my brother’s Basque partner. She looked slightly surprised (an English custom?) then assumed it was for her and stuffed it in her bag…
! I have them on furoshiki 
) “baby grow”. They’ll love it.