We have a domestic dilema, it is not a big deal..Our new neighbors moved in few months ago, into our house that is pretty much only rented by foreigners. There are no noise rules, no laundry, toilet and shower rules, etc..It's a bliss. These new neighbors are Swiss (I think they do not have a family here in Swiss Romandie) and do not ever talk to anybody here, I have seen them only once. They quietly get in and out without being seen. I would not question that, their business. We do hang a lot with other neighbors, chat and know eachother quite well.

They just brought a new baby home and we would like to get a cake for them and a Felicitations card (just say hi at the door and tell them if they need anything we can help), since we so remember how it was when our kid was born and we knew noone and our neighbors were nice to us here.

Now, is this done here? I don't want to embarrass them. I did bake cakes for our neighbors here before, playgroups, etc...but we do not know these neighbors at all. It is something we do back home, community is way tighter though, so I do not know what the norm is here.

Our neighbours got us a gift after we got back from hospital. It was a nice body in a 6 month size that I could use later. I don't know about a cake though. They were foreigners - the Swiss neighbours did nothing, most of them having no idea that I had a baby and just moaned about not cutting my hedges.

Musicchick I think it's a lovely idea and would do it even if it's not the norm here.

I decided years ago that there were things I'd always do no matter what the norm was here, as long as it didn't hurt anyone and get me in trouble with the law.

Go for it MC My favorite is"Sacher torte" Remeber

I think that it's a lovely thing to do, especially if they don't know anyone. Most Swiss people I know think of gestures like that as very nice, not embarrassing. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I have discussed this on numerous occassions with other Swiss, but it's not that they don't want to talk to you, and I'm not sure what it is - whether it's shyness or stubborness - but once you offer the olive branch they just change (in most cases, anyway) and become very friendly. I'm sure you've already experienced all this, and I'm probably telling you something you already know, but I don't think that there's any harm in making a nice gesture, afterall, what's the worst that can happen? They might throw the cake in the bin and continue to be unfriendly - no losses there (except a good cake )

I fully agree, if you like to do it just do it!
After all, you have nothing to lose but everything to gain.

We ourselves come from a very social country (India).
When we moved into our new house, we went about inviting everyone to come over for a small evening snack. A couple of the neighbours (really old swiss people) did get p***sed off that we came by so late in the evening (8:30 p.m.) and shut the door on us!
Most of them were delighted by the whole thing though, and later even told us, that nobody had ever done that before, and they were very happy that we had!

I think you should do it..

Think it is a really lovely idea. I would appreciate it!

I'd just do it and I'd be inclined to say "this is a nice thing we do in my home country, to congratulate you and welcome your new baby"....

Thanks, everyone, I am so glad we went...We got some wee clothes size 62 so the babe can wear it for a while and a card and we mustered up some guts, haha, and rang the door. They were so cute, all high on their new baby, and were glad to share a bit of that glee with us. Today we found a beautiful thank you photo in our mailbox. I have a feeling the parents were afraid of their baby disturbing anyone in the house, it was nice to tell them not to worry about it.

Cannut, I was going to bake Sacher, of course, my fav torte. But then I thought not everybody is keen on cakes, postpartum mom might not eat it at all, haha. Here is my family recipe, so good and traditional, not a bit of chemical in it:

Stir in together softened 140gr of butter, 110gr of icing sugar, 4 egg yolks and melted (liquidized) 170gr of chocolate. Add - bit by bit - whipped 3 egg whites and 70gr of flour (I add a drop of rum flavor or vanila). Bake 40mins in 180celsius oven. Melt butter and chocolate 1:1 (100gr and 100gr) and spread on top as icing. Before I put icing on, I also cut the cake when cooled horizontally and spread some good jam, strawberry or currant.

Good for you ,well done but now I have to go in the kitchen and backe a cacke

Just make sure it does not turn into Kake since it is so easy to burn..It's so worth the little effort it takes.

What a nice gesture. Kindness has no nationality or language, and surely this couple will not forget your thoughtful touch.