With no sleep, constant feedings and diaper changes, a new mom needs (and deserves!) some extra loving. Give her a gift that takes care of her, since she will be so focused on taking care of her baby. Here are just a few fail-proof gift ideas for the mother of a new baby.
Dry Shampoo • Lactation Cookies • Pillow Massager • Candle • Unspillable Glass • Caffeine
Cozy Slippers ∙∙∙ Slippers will likely be the only footwear she wears in those early days at home with a new baby. Give her some cozy slippers to keep her feet warm. She’ll love the look of UGG Ansley Moccasin and UGG Cable Slippers. For a special treat, give her slippers that can be heated and cooled to comfort aching feet: Herbal Concepts Hot/Cold Comfort Booties or Sonoma Lavender Dot Spa Booties.
Soft Throw Blanket ∙∙∙ New moms spend a lot of time curled up on the couch feeding their baby or catching a snooze while baby naps. She’ll love wrapping herself in a soft throw blanket.
Teething Necklace ∙∙∙ Fashionable jewelry that is safe for baby to chew, is always appreciated by mom and baby!
S’well Bottle ∙∙∙ Staying hydrated is very important for a postpartum mom, especially if she is breastfeeding! Help her cold water stay cold in this stylish, vacuum insulated, stainless steel bottle.
Drybar Detox Dry Shampoo ∙∙∙ Washing her hair may not be on the top of a new mom’s priority list. Dry shampoo will absorb oil and have her hair looking clean in between washes.
Lactation Cookies ∙∙∙ A new breastfeeding mom is hungry all the time! Lactation cookies are a wonderful gift because they satisfy mom’s sweet tooth and they help boost her breast milk supply. As an added bonus, she has an excuse not to share them with anyone else if they are labeled “lactation cookies”! Buy mom these pre-made cookies, or make your own lactation cookies for her! Homemade always tastes best! On that note, a new parent always appreciates any prepared food!
Shiatsu Pillow Massager ∙∙∙ An at-home back, neck and shoulder massage whenever you want?! Every mom’s dream! I got this when I was pregnant and used it a lot! I even brought it to use in the hospital while in labor with my third child!
Rewined Candle ∙∙∙ A luxurious candle is always a good gift! This one is even better because it smells like wine or champagne.
Insulated Wine Glass ∙∙∙ An unspillable and unbreakable wine glass is almost a necessity for a new mom spending lots of time laying on the couch. It will continue to be useful as her baby becomes a toddler and will spill or break anything within reach. This vacuum insulated, stainless steel, stemless wine glass will keep her morning tea hot and her evening Sauvignon Blanc chilled.
Starbucks gift card ∙∙∙ Caffeine is a new mom’s best friend. She will appreciate a gift card to Starbucks or a local coffee shop that she can walk to with her baby!
Light Reading
A new mom doesn’t have the brain capacity for heavy reading right now, so consider giving her light reading that can make her feel somewhat adult-ish when she isn’t tending to her baby. Here are some good reads postpartum that will either make her chuckle, give her some insight, or help her feel less alone in this parenthood thing!
Food!
I didn’t realize how helpful it was to feed friends until I had my own babies. To my friends who had kids before me: I cannot apologize enough for how unhelpful I was in those early days when you were bone-deep exhausted with bleeding nipples and hadn’t showered in days. If you are local, drop off food to help out the new mom! It’s one less thing she has to think about! Easy breakfasts are especially appreciated if she has older kids. A new mom is too exhausted to think about what to make her kids for breakfast in the morning! If you aren’t local, you can always have a treat delivered or send a gift card to a delivery food services (depending on where she lives: Postmates, Door Dash, Uber Eats, Grubhub).
Breastfeeding
If the new mom will be breastfeeding, you could put together a basket of goodies that will be helpful for her to have on-hand when nursing her newborn.
Check In
Even in the most perfect circumstances, a new mom is likely overwhelmed, exhausted beyond belief, and going through significant emotional, physical and hormonal changes. She’s experiencing a huge shift in her identity (and that continues to shift with each additional baby). With each of my kids, I’ve come to appreciate my “mom friends” even more because they were so supportive. In addition to knowing what my family needs (food!), so many made an effort in their busy days to check in on me. At times, that was the lifeline I needed. Having been through it, you realize that even if a new mom says she is “fine”, she may not be. She may need some prodding to open up about her struggles during this transition. It helped to have friends truly care, understand, and most importantly, listen without judgment. Yet again I’ve found myself apologizing to my friends who had babies before me: I am sorry that I didn’t know you may be struggling!
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