6 Best Gifts for New Moms

by Meghan

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Your friend or relative just had a baby.  You want to go visit, but don’t want to intrude.  You want to help, but maybe you aren’t sure how.  You want to bring a gift for the new baby and/or mom, but you aren’t quite sure what to bring.  You could ask, but new moms are often overwhelmed by the first weeks of parenting, while also wanting to maintain a brave face to the outside world and are hesitant to ask for help or even be honest about what they really need.  So, having now lived through three newborn phases myself and visited countless friends living through their newborn phases, I have compiled a list of the 6 best gifts for new moms.

Best Gifts for New Moms


6 Best Gifts for New Moms

Having now endured the early weeks with a newborn twice myself, I have brainstormed a list of gifts both that I received and LOVED, and those I wish I would have.

Check the baby registry

Most (if not all) first time moms will register and have a baby shower.  However, that doesn’t mean by the time the baby comes they have received everything from it.  Also, many baby items require regular replenishment – diapers, wipes, Diaper Genie refills, milk storage bags, breast pads – and those things add up quickly.  You can check the registry both for any remaining items they wanted but didn’t receive, as well as to find out their brand preferences for the replenishable items, and show up with a case in hand when you visit.  Not sure where they registered?  Check RegistryFinder.com – they partner with major retailers, including Babies R Us, Buy Buy Baby, and diapers.com.  All you have to do is enter your friend’s name, and it will pull up a registry, if there is one still out there.

Diapers

Babies might as well eat diapers.  And for those who haven’t purchased diapers recently, they run $40-50 per case, or about $0.25 per diaper.  Diapers and all their associated supplies (wipes, Genie refills, diaper ointment) can run upwards of $100+ a month per child.  So unless your friend is cloth diapering (which we also highly recommend!), no parent will ever turn away a case of diapers.  Check their registry to see what brand, variety they favor, and buy a size ahead of where you think their baby might be.

And if you really just want to be helpful and not impose on their time with a visit, go for a Ding Dong Diaper Ditch!  But maybe skip actually ringing the doorbell – hell hath no fury like a sleep-deprived mama who’s baby gets woken up by the doorbell!

Ding Dong Diaper Ditch

Ding Dong Diaper Ditch, Photo credit http://www.andtwinsmake5.com

 

Burp Cloths and Bibs

I don’t know about y’all, but with every baby, I got literally dozens of receiving blankets – and other than my favorite aden + anais muslin swaddle blankets, which were actually big enough for a proper swaddle, I didn’t use or even open nearly all of them.  What I really needed early on was more burp cloths, and then, a few months later, bibs.

One of my favorite baby gifts I ever received came from one of my husband’s co-workers – I fully credit his wife for the selection, and it is now one of my go-to baby gifts for friends.  These are custom burp cloths from Silly Pickles.  They are completely customizable, from name or monogram, to color and accent decorations.  I got so many compliments on these, and the absorbency of the traditional cloth diaper base made them my first choice burp cloth whenever they were clean.

Burp Cloths

Custom Cloth Diaper Burp Cloths, Photo credit http://www.sillypickleskids.com

My other favorite which actually does double duty as a burp cloth AND a bib…aden + anais Classic Burpy Bib.  These were awesome for bottle feeding – the bib goes all the way around, covering their shoulders, so it never misses a spit up in any direction.  And when you are done, you can unsnap it and throw it over your shoulder to use as the burp cloth.

 A Hot Meal

I was never more grateful for anything, than visitors who came with a meal… and the best were those that came in disposable dishes, complete with salad, dessert and maybe even a bottle of wine!  As a sleep-deprived, breast feeding mama, I was constantly ravenous, with no time to go to the store, let alone cook a decent meal.  I was so appreciative of the lunches my girlfriends brought when they visited, and the dinners friends and neighbors brought by.

If you want to really help your friend out, organize a MealTrain.  It’s a FREE website that allows the meals’ recipient to input their food preferences, frequency of delivery, and other necessary details. Then, the link to their calendar can be shared via email and social media – anyone who wants to bring a meal can sign up for a date.  The family never ends up with wasted food, or an overstocked freezer, but receives regular, homecooked meals from all their friends.

Your Time

I never realized how few hours there were in a day until I had kids – and even being awake for more of them than ever, I still never got everything done… errands collect, days pass without a shower, the fridge sits empty.  Rather than arriving with material gifts, the gift of your time can be a godsend to a new mother.  If she has an older child, offer to take them out or for a play date with your child for a few hours.  If you are coming to visit, ask if there is anything you can pick up for her – lunch, diapers, milk and eggs at the grocery store, or if you’re a really amazing friend – jumbo size super absorbent pads that she just ran out of and her husband won’t have a clue which ones are right.  Or show up, and offer to sit with the baby for half an hour while she showers.  A long, hot uninterrupted shower, even with a toddler and a preschooler now, still feels like a trip to a day spa!


All of these gifts were of such incredible value to me in those first few weeks home with new babies.  The stuffed animals and cutesy outfits are cute, but the 6 gifts above are the best gifts a new mom will never ask for, but desperately needs.

What was your favorite new baby gift?  What gift did everyone bring you in duplicates that you didn’t actually need or use?  For more baby recommendations, check out my Favorite Things series and How We Survived 2 Under Two.  You can also find all of these and our favorites from around the web on my What to Expect board on Pinterest.

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6 comments

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6 comments

Tricia December 14, 2015 - 1:00 pm

These are great suggestions. You are truly blessed to have friends who love you practically. My mom and childhood friend think I expect too much. Lest you agree with them, let me describe what I received when I had my daughter – one meal from a neighbor I’d never met and one meal when I was on bed rest for 10 weeks before having her. No one gave me a baby shower. I did receive a few gifts. My mom and sister did spend a weekend with me while on bed rest. My point in sharing is not for pity. It’s really just to say, I’m amazed when I hear stories like these as I’ve never been the recipient. I am a giver so I’ve enjoyed blessing others. And I’ve learned that Jesus is my BFF and his grace is sufficient for me. p.s. Yes, I an active at church, volunteer and am in a small group.

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PGPBMeghan December 14, 2015 - 1:35 pm

It’s so hard to not have a support system, and I am truly blessed to have great friends, especially since I live so far from my family. Keep giving from the heart, without the expectation to receive in return, and you will often be pleasantly surprised.

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Ann December 14, 2015 - 7:45 pm

Hi Tricia, I totally hear you! I’m also amazed to hear wonderful stories about how mums have been so blessed by their family friends and community. I mostly missed out on that when I had my first too. I found it very hard to go through such a difficult stage in life with limited support. If anything, my experience has made me realise how even the smallest acts of kindness can have such a huge impact. How amazing you are for being a giver and enjoy blessing others, I hope you know there are people out there who appreciate it more than they might ever be able to tell!

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Pam September 30, 2015 - 11:24 am

This is spot-on! I love the idea of a half-hour babysit while you shower-the new mom is usually puts herself at the bottom of the list of everything she needs to do. I even resorted once to putting the baby in a bouncer just outside the open door and played peek-a-boo through the curtain between rinsing whenever he’d start to fuss.
Some freezer meals are heaven-sent as well, so you have a stash for those days you just can’t get up the energy to do more.

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PGPBMeghan September 30, 2015 - 1:39 pm

Thanks, Pam! A hot shower and a change of clothes feels like heaven in those first weeks post baby – especially if you even get to dry your hair! I’m one day overdue now – and with #3, I’m looking forward to the hospital stay as a bit of vacation! 🙂

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