When someone you love has a new baby, naturally, you want to shower them with all the things that will make their lives easier.
Table of Contents
Meals are always a top choice, but there are tons of gifts beyond food that can make a huge difference in a new mom’s life. Whether she’s a first-time mom or a mom of many, postpartum recovery is different every time. It’s intense, filled with physical changes, emotions, and often sleep deprivation.
Here’s a list of thoughtful things to buy for a postpartum mom without having to donate one of your favorite casserole dishes to the cause.
RELATED: The Weird Stuff I Carried From Room to Room as a Postpartum Mom
RELATED: What’s Actually on My Nightstand During Postpartum Recovery (& Why It Matters)
RELATED: Postpartum Rage is Real (And No You’re Not a Monster!)
Best Postpartum Gifts for Mom
1. Comfy, Cozy Clothing
Postpartum is such a physically uncomfortable time. Soft, loose clothing is a lifesaver. Look for items like:
- Robes – a lightweight, breathable robe that’s easy to nurse in.
- Nursing-friendly pajamas or loungewear: Clothes that double as sleepwear are awesome. They make you feel like you’re slightly more put together while still being comfy enough to relax around the house in. At least that was my preference when I was newly postpartum!
- High-waisted leggings or joggers: Super soft and stretchy ones to accommodate postpartum bellies are best. I was super insecure postpartum (I know, I know. But my hormones were getting the best of me every time I looked in the mirror. High waisted leggings like these ones made me feel better about my body the first few days/weeks postpartum).
- Cozy socks or slippers: This is the perfect gift if you don’t want to guess your loved one’s size (and risk being wrong).
2. Postpartum Care Essentials
If this is a gift for someone you barely know, I would totally skip this category.
If you’re shopping for one of your best friends that you would easily discuss the most embarrassing parts of postpartum recovery with – a couple of these ideas might fit the bill.
- Nipple cream: For breastfeeding moms, a lanolin-free, natural nipple balm is a lifesaver.
- A Haaka: I wasn’t sure I was going to love this, but in the first days and weeks postpartum, my Haaka was a godsend.
- Cooling gel breast pads: I ended up only needing these for a few days after my last baby, but they made such a HUGE difference. Now they are often used as ice packs for skinned knees.
3. Water Bottle with a Straw
An insulated water bottle that is a cute color is a great gift. There is no one more thirsty than a newly postpartum, breastfeeding mom.
Stanley cups are super popular right now and are a great choice if it’s in your budget!
4. A Journal or Notepad
A beautiful journal with a nice quality pen is a great gift for so many occasions. Postpartum is a uniquely perfect time for a gift like this.
You’re awake and alone at all hours of the night, you’re filled with emotions, and you’re going through one of the biggest life changes anyone can experience.
5. Books
A subscription or gift card (so she can use it to buy a Kindle or Audible subscription) is a great gift for a mom with no free hands.
If there is a parenting book that genuinely changed your life, now is the time to gift it.
I have so many books that I thought I’d never read that have come in so handy as my kids have gotten older.
6. A Comfy Nursing Pillow
I always thought these were a gimmick that I wouldn’t actually use. After using one at a friend’s house, I was a believer.
There are so many styles and brands that make these now. You’re sure to be able to find the perfect one for your loved one.
7. Self-Care Items
The key here is to get her something she wouldn’t buy for herself.
- A luxurious lotion or body butter. Buy one from a local vendor (farmer’s markets and art festivals are GREAT for this!) or splurge on a high-end brand like this one.
- A face mask or under eye patches (be careful to avoid any with retinol if she’s breastfeeding!)
- Dry shampoo: It can be so hard to find time to shower with a tiny baby who needs you constantly. Dry shampoo helped me to feel so much better on the hardest days postpartum.
9. Gourmet Chocolates
Okay, I know I said no food, but hear me out.
I think a nice box of fancy chocolates is worth us bending our rules here a little bit.
Who among us wouldn’t be excited to get a beautiful box of chocolates? Especially to eat alone at night when there’s zero pressure to share!
10. A Cozy Blanket or Throw
Postpartum mamas spend a lot of time snuggled up with their babies – often in the same spot for hours on end.
A super soft throw or weighted blanket is a great gift for a new mom, especially during the cooler months!
11. Birthstone or Initial Necklace
A sweet necklace with the baby’s birthstone or initial is a thoughtful keepsake that any new mom would love.
12. An Electronic Calendar
This is a great gift for a mom of many who has recently added a new baby to the family.
There are a few different brands available now (Skylight, Hearth, etc.) This is perfect for hectic families where mom needs something visible to help her keep track of all that she’s got going on.
When you’re shopping for a postpartum mom, it’s important to remember that it isn’t about spending a lot of money. Anything someone gives you during a huge change in your life feels super thoughtful. When a new baby is born, it’s normal for people to gift baby items, but it’s so important to make mama feel important and recognized, too.
Whether you’re giving her a cozy blanket for those marathon nursing sessions or just a handwritten note, your thoughtfulness during such an important time in her life will mean everything to a postpartum mom. While she’s busy taking care of her baby, it’s a beautiful thing to know someone’s thinking about her too.
Other Posts You May Like:
How I Stay Calm with My Kids (When I’m About to Lose It)
11 Unexpected Ways Becoming a Mom Changed Me (& Probably You Too!)
10 Surprising Things I Learned as a First Time Mom (That No One Warned Me About)
