I don’t have kids (unless you count my cat, in which case I have one big fluffy baby!) but a lot of my friends are new moms, or currently pregnant for the first time. I love being an Auntie to all the little babies, but I really struggle with knowing what to gift my new mom friends.
Clothes? Diapers? A night babysitting? Toys? HALP!
So, instead of guessing, I asked my friend who just had a baby what she recommends people should gift new or expecting mothers. Fear not thee gifting season ahead!
10 Best Gifts For New Moms (According To A New Mother!)
Big shout out to my friend Caitlin who let me pick her brain on gifts her mums *actually* want! I helped decorate her baby shower this spring and she gave birth to her adorable little son this summer, so she’s still in the thick of things and made a great source to tap for gift ideas!
Light Up Diaper Caddy
“We don’t have a changing table or anything so have something portable that’s easy to stock with all the diaper essentials has been clutch.”– Caitlin
Portable Changing Station
Caitlin loves this portable changing station because she lives in a studio apartment and they don’t have room for a changing table. “Having an easy to clean diaper changing mat has been super important (especially with a boy when he pees mid diaper change, this way our bed hasn’t gotten wet hahaha)” – Caitlin
Aden + Anais Swaddle Blanket
These swaddle blankets are muslin, super soft, super versatile, and there’s tons of cute patterns to fit any mom’s sense of style! There’s even a Harry Potter blanket that I wish came in adult sizes!
Maternity Long Sleeve Tee
Old Navy has so many cute and affordable maternity clothes! From trendy dresses to comfy tops, your expecting friend will love anything from here. Plus, the have tabs like “maternity start kit” to help shop differents stages of pregnancy!
Printed Body Suit For Baby
Or, if your friend already gave birth, gift her a few of Old Navy’s cute baby clothes! They have all sorts of styles and sometimes run as low as $5 a pop. Heck ya!
WubbaNub Pacifiers
Caitlin loves these because the stuffed animal helps the pacifier from flying away when the baby spits it out. “It’s also one of the first things he can grab and it’s so cute” she says. (I have seen it in person, it is very very cute!!)
Grubhub Gift Card
Or any food delivery gift card! When you have a newborn, you’re basically trapped inside and sleep-deprived. Having a gift card to order a hot meal you didn’t have to cook after being awake for 24 hours is a blessing.
Happy Mama Organics Nipple Cream
Skip nipple cream with lanolin and instead opt for something organic and natural. Your friend (and her nipples!) will thank you later!
Organic Bamboo Nursing Pads
Apparently when you are nursing your boobs leak, like ALL the time. Caitlin loves these bamboo nursing pads because they are washable and reusable. Gift your new mom a pack or two of these, she’ll love you for it!
And of course, when in doubt, just offer help. New parents need assistance in all sorts of ways and little gestures can go a long way in making the transition easier! Here’s some ideas:
- Offer to do the dishes or clean their apartment
- Take their dogs on walks for them!
- Come over & cook dinner
- Or bring over pre-made meals that can be frozen and cooked later!
- Go grocery shopping for them
- Do their laundry
- Offer to babysit for an evening so they can have some alone time together.
- Baby bath essentials since babys get hella dirty!
I’m going to have to refer to this post again next time someone has a baby. As someone who isn’t a parent, it’s super easy to get confused about what makes a good gift. There’s so many things on this list I just wouldn’t have ever thought of (like nipple pads!) that are easy to give and will make a huge difference to new moms.
I hope this helps you think of the perfect gift for the new mom in your life! Got any ideas to add? Leave a comment below with your suggestion so everyone can see!
