12 gifts any new mom would love

Now that we have a baby I wanted to share some gift ideas for new moms! It’s so fun to shop for baby clothes, and items from the registry, but sometimes mom just needs a little gift too! As a recent new mom I’ve found it so important to take some time to myself.. which isn’t always easy to do! For me, any new mamas in my life will always receive a gift for their baby, and themselves!

Below are some ideas of gifts that any new mom would LOVE to receive after she has a baby, because being a mom is literally the BEST thing in the word and new moms deserve to be celebrated!

#1 Meal Deliveries

I put this one first because it is hands down the most helpful thing you can do for new parents. Make sure you check with the parents first to see what days work for them!

Cooking is the last thing any new parents wants to do and honestly just figuring out what we wanted to eat those first several weeks was a task all in itself. Anytime between 2-8 weeks is a great time to arrange meals for new parents. It wasn’t until about 8 weeks that I started feeling like myself again and started planning meals, and regularly cooking! Make sure they have a few meals spread out over the first several weeks and not just all at first! Even just sending a gift card for favor or another meal delivery app would be an amazing gift. We had more help the first 1-2 weeks and he slept more at that time than he did 4 weeks in. It was particularly hard for us to cook around the 4 week mark when Nathan started to become super colicky so having meals sent/using gift cards around that time was a godsend!

You could even set up a meal train with several friends, coworkers and family members to make sure the parents have meals delivered a couple times a week for several weeks! mealtrain.com is great because it arranges it all for you! A few of my coworkers dropped off meals and my husband and I both agree that meals are the BEST gift you could give.

#2 A coffee cup that keeps your coffee warm

After a few times of making my morning coffee and having it get cold because #momlife, I ordered this simple coffee mug from amazon and I’ve never had a cold cup of coffee since.

#3 A comfy, lightweight robe

I literally wore a robe on most days for the first 4-5 weeks after we came home. I had a 2 different robes I would switch between because…spit up. My mom and husband would joke, hey she has a different robe on today! Robes are just the easiest item of clothing to wear after a baby. This robe was my favorite because its lightweight. I have a barefoot dreams robe which I love, but it was WAY to heavy and hot for those postpartum sweats.

#4 A comfy PJ set or Postpartum wear!

A comfy pajama set is a great idea too! Mom could also bring this to the hospital, make sure its button up and shorts! Like the robe, you don’t want to wear something too heavy or hot. Below are the ones I have (I was gifted one during pregnancy too!) One is from nordstrom and one from amazon, I honestly can’t tell a difference.

Even if mom already has a pj set, you really can’t have too many of these and having a new “outfit” to wear is great. I was constantly switching between my 2 robes and my pj sets. I would have felt like a new woman with new pjs that I hadn’t worn yet, haha. It’s the little things.

I’m also OBSESSED with Blanqi girls postpartum shape wear. I have the 2 leggings below and they are like butter. They help shape my postparum body and are seriously SO comfortable. I also love their postpartum biker shorts shown a couple photos up!!

#5 Spa items for a bath

One of my sweet coworkers brought a gift like this for me to our baby shower and I thought it was the sweetest thing ever. She had bath salts, body scrub, essential oils, a diffuser, bubble bath, and a bottle of wine. The last thing you’re thinking about after you have a baby is yourself. So having a little gift like this given to you is a great way to take sometime to yourself and is so thoughtful. Keep in mind, she probably won’t be able to use this for at least 6 weeks after the baby, so gifting this before she has the baby would be a great idea!

#6 Gift card to get a massage or mani/pedi

A massage or a mani/pedi is a great way for a new mom to have some me time that only takes about an hour. My first pedicure after I had Nathan was magical. Don’t ask if she wants to go with you, just gift her the gift card, and let her have sometime to herself. If she wants company- she’ll ask! Sometimes being alone for an hour is just what a new mom needs.

#7 A gift card to her favorite clothing store, so she can feel good in her new body

One thing I didn’t prepare myself for was needing to buy new clothes. None of my jeans fit me anymore and dresses are too tight. I didn’t even think about needing to get new clothes before starting back at work! A gift card is a great gift- make sure it’s to a place where she buy clothes for herself, like nordstrom’s, target or another clothing store she likes. All my amazon gift cards went straight to baby haha.

#8 Offer help

Offering help by specifically asking what she needs is the best thing you can give for free.

Simply saying “do you have any dishes I can do?”, or “can I throw in a load of laundry for you?” is so helpful. If you’re coming over to visit the new baby, thats great but DO NOT make the visit only about the baby. While yes, the new mom loves her new baby, and loves that everyone loves him or her…she is most likely feeling super overwhelmed by her new lifestyle and is in the process of a HUGE adjustment. She will definitely take you up on ANY offer to help, even if she’s not the type of person to ask for help

The last thing she wants to do is have company over that she needs to entertain. Even offering to bring over coffee on your way or asking if there is anything you can bring over for lunch or from the grocery store is super thoughtful.

#9 The Taking Cara Babies Online Class

This class was so helpful for us and would be a great gift for any expecting or new parents! A great way to give this gift so the new mom doesn’t feel offended in her parenting skills, would be saying something like, “I’ve heard great things/took this online class, and wanted to gift it to you. I’m sure you’re doing great being a new mom, but thought this would be helpful for any stress that may come your way!”

#10 Anything that says “mama” or “mom”

I love these bracelets with Nathans name on them! It’s a great reminder of the incredible journey you just went through and it makes you so proud to wear that first item that says MAMA. Here are some of my favorites

#11 A cleaning service

Coming home to clean smelling house is the best feeling. As new parents you want to spend all the time with your newborn that you can, it goes by so fast. You’re also exhausted and still recovering from birth. Hiring someone to clean for you is the best. My mom and sister cleaned our whole house before we got home form the hospital and again before they left after we had Nathan and it was so great.

#12 Text her, a lot.

The last gift you can give a new mom is just being there! Its hard to get out with a newborn. especially during Covid! She may be feeling isolated, or lonely. Phone calls can be hard, but texting is great! And you can always say, “call me if you ever have time to chat or want to talk to someone other than the baby!” Sometimes she might not be able to respond right away but trust me, she definitely appreciates the check ins.

Continuing to check in for the first few months is especially thoughtful. Most new moms are alone with just their baby and husband for days and weeks at a time, for the first several months. I had Nathan during Covid- so it was literally just us 3 all. the time. I’m sooo thankful for this special time with them but it’s also important to have outside communication and feel like other people care about you and how you’re doing.

You can say things like:

“how are YOU doing?”
“do you feel like taking about your birth story?”
”is there anything you want to talk about?”
”you look great”
(most likely her husband is the only one who has said this & she probably doesn’t believe him)
”how’s this week going? is there anything you need?”
”has the baby done anything special/extra cute this week?”
”what you just went through is incredible”
“I’m thinking of you & here if you need to talk!”

DO NOT say things like:

“are you breastfeeding?”
(sometimes this can be a really emotional subject)

“you guys look exhausted!”

”are you so in love?”
(sometimes this can be emotional too, because some moms take some time to really bond with their baby. This question can make her feel guilty, or sad. Of course they love them. But having someone assume you’re just SO in love and bonding can be a touchy subject.)

”when do you go back to work or are you hiring a nanny or doing daycare?”
(Literally the last thing a new mom wants to talk about right after birth)

”will you have another baby?”
Thinking about having another baby right after birth was literally the last thing on my mind. Fast forward 8 weeks later and I’m all about another baby. But the thought of going through all of that again right after having a baby is NOT something you want to talk about or think about.

And this one goes for motherhood/pregnancy in general- “oh, you think this is hard just wait until ____”

I hope all of these gift ideas helped. Comment below with any other suggestions!