It’s hard to be totally prepared for the impact that childbirth, and the first few weeks of postpartum newborn care, can have on the birthing parent’s body, mind, and emotions. It’s a time of incredible joy and celebration, but also one of healing, sleepless nights, steep learning curves, and a ton of overwhelm. Now, more than ever, new parents need support from their partners, family, and community.
But what are the best postpartum gifts to give the new mom or new parent in your life? We’ve compiled a list of ideas that provide that much needed support and care. Some of them are tangible gifts to send, others are acts of care that cost nothing but mean a lot, and all of them are designed to help make an overwhelming time feel a little more restful.
Give the Gift of Convenience
When everything is exhausting and new, things that make life easier become incredibly valuable. Support new parents by gifting items that help keep things organized, in reach, and easy.
A few of our favorites:
A well-made, giant water bottle. Nursing parents need to drink a whole lot of water. A large, cute water bottle (with a straw for easy hands-full sipping!) means less need to get up for refills, and more likelihood they will actually drink the (seriously ambitions) amount they need!
A nursery-saving dresser. We may be partial, but a good dresser with easy-to-open, soft-close drawers with enough space for all of baby’s essentials is a godsend in those first sleepy weeks. Everything in one place within reach of a diaper change can mean the difference between a midnight mess and a sweet lullaby session. For extra convenience, add a changing tray to any of our dadada Baby dressers!
A meal. It’s a classic for a reason! Make sure to check in about dietary restrictions, and also make sure new parents aren’t already overflowing with casseroles before you bring over a home cooked meal for them to enjoy. If you’re too busy to cook, offer to DoorDash over their favorite take out!
Give the Gift of Comfort
Postpartum bodies are sore, squashy, leaky, and unfamiliar, which can add to feelings of stress and disconnection during the first few weeks of newborn care. Gifts that pamper and soothe are a wonderful way to honor new parents and help them practice self-care.
A few of our favorites:
A luxurious robe. Robes make nursing easy, and in a beautiful, comfortable fabric, they can make everything feel a little more put together and lovely. Make sure the robe you choose is machine washable, weather appropriate, and soft to the touch.
A postpartum care kit. Postpartum care kits are available from a wide variety of retailers, and often include balms, soaks, bath salts, tinctures, and lotions to help with healing, ease soreness, and aid sleep, lactation, and stress relief.
A great smelling candle, new perfume, or beautiful piece of jewelry. Sometimes, the best gift is something that simply makes her feel like herself. Give a new mom something that’s simply hers - something beautiful, a little unnecessary, and exciting to receive.
Give the Gift of Clean
You know what no one wants to worry about when there’s a new baby to take care of? Chores. Lighten the load on new parents by gifting services that take some of the basic, everyday burden off of them so they can focus on their new little love.
A few of our favorites:
A carwash. Let’s face it: their car is probably going to be a mess of stray cheerios, spilled milk, and kid gear for years to come. Help them enjoy the last pre-toddler moments of chaos-free driving by taking their car out for a detailed wash.
A house-cleaning service. Once baby is a month or so old, offer to have a professional team come and clean house for them! It’s a great way to reset after those early weeks of spit up and no time to shower, and the fresh start of a hassle-free clean house will feel fantastic.
A laundry service. Professionally cleaned and folded baby clothes are pretty delightful. Help tackle loads of laundry by providing a laundry service for a day. All new parents will have to do is tuck clean pieces back into drawers!
Every new family is different, so whatever gift you give, remember that communication is key, and try not to have many expectations for how they’ll respond. This is a time of life when thank you cards are often sent late, texts are missed, and best intentions sometimes turn into naps. Make sure that a hefty dose of grace comes along with any gift you give - after all, we’ve all been there, and we all want parents to have the most magic, celebratory postpartum recovery possible.