Postpartum Gifts for New Moms

Have a friend/sister/co-worker who just had a baby? Awesome!! Skip the “spa gift basket” or stuff for the baby. Get her a postpartum gift of items she will actually use!

Disclaimer: Postpartum moms are running on very little sleep and might not know what day it is. Give them a pass if they forget to respond to you or acknowledge your kindness.

If you want to send a gift but want to send something she actually might need, here’s a list of actual items I bought (ok mostly on Amazon) and loved during my fourth trimester / postpartum phase or have gifted to others.

Food Gifts

Whether you’re visiting in person or sending food, helping a postpartum mom have one less meal to worry about is amazing. Not desserts, chocolate or <insert fatty food here>. Like, REAL food.

• Are you visiting in person? Bring food with you. It doesn’t have to be complicated– pick up ready to go food from the grocery store (a chicken, fruit salad, pasta, chili).
• Freshly meals. Think single-size, fresh (not frozen), all-natural ingredients, ready-made meals. These meals are DELICIOUS, microwavable and ready in less than 5 minutes. Perfect for when it’s just mom and baby at home. I started using these for lunch while on maternity leave and continued ordering even after going back to work. Read my Freshly meals review »
• Fruit bouquet, like from Edible Arrangements. Who doesn’t appreciate fruit that’s already cut up?
• Spoonful of Comfort gift box. I’ve recently sent this to a friend and she said it was delicious. I haven’t tried it myself though.
• Snack basket of food she can eat with one hand. Aloha protein bars, baby carrots, crackers, peanut butter sandwiches, almonds, grapes, etc.
• Packets of Oats Overnight. A tasty, easy preparation, high protein meal option.

Personal Care Gifts

Help mom remember to take care of herself so she can take care of her little one.

• Barefoot Dreams Circle Cardigan. This is more of a luxurious treat, but this cardigan is SO SOFT. So comfortable. So cozy. It has pockets! It’s pretty. And it’s so so soft. Can you tell I love it? I have three….
• A new pillow. My prenatal massage masseuse recommended this Snuggle-Pedic pillow; it’s amazing and adjustable! Any little sleep new moms get, make sure it’s good sleep!
• Cute, functional hair ties. Hair ties permanently live on my wrist in the post-partum phase. The invisibobble hair rings didn’t put a dent in my hair like regular hair bands do, which helps with selfies.
• Chapstick. I don’t know why my lips are always so chapped postpartum, but I plant a Burt’s Bees chapstick in every room.
• Waterbottle that you can open with one hand. Mom needs to stay hydrated (especially if she’s breastfeeding), but she’ll only have one hand free so it has to be easy to open and close. Bonus points if it is dishwasher safe.
• Sleep mask. An adjustable sleep mask to help her sleep at any time of the day.
• Wireless headphones. My parents were awesome and bought me some Apple AirPods with a wireless charging case. Suddenly, I could listen to audiobooks or listen to music while nursing. I could make dinner and listen to the news or talk to a friend on the phone. I still use my AirPods daily. Great gift if you can swing the cost.
• Watch the baby so mom can go shower, read a book, sleep, or just stare at the wall uninterrupted until baby needs her.
• If she has an older kid, offer to take them for ice cream or shoot, even to the backyard to kick a ball around!

The “Let’s Be Honest” Gifts

Some of these might be just if you’re a close friend because otherwise it might get a little weird, but these gifts recognize that you know what she’s going through. Maybe these could be gifts a postpartum mom buys for herself 😉

• Electric Shaver. Let’s be real– moms barely have time to shower, but they might be able to get half a leg shaved at a time and it would still make her feel accomplished for the day.
• Miss Mouth’s Messy Eater Stain Treater. For all those “accidents” that will soon be on her clothes or baby’s clothes.
• Perineal Spray. I know, I know. Weird right? Well, a friend got this for me and I was weirded out then used it and totally felt thankful to have such a good friend.
• The Honey Pot Postpartum Pads. 100% natural but also contains mint, lavender and aloe. You can read the details, so let’s leave it at that it makes a difference.
• Go to her house and do her dishes, laundry, mow the lawn, babysit her other kids.
• Let her talk/whine/cry, etc. Don’t offer advice. Don’t tell her your own stories (unless she asks). Just let her get out whatever is on her mind and then tell her she’s doing a great job. Even if you have nothing to base it on, just say it.

Breastfeeding Gifts

Is she breastfeeding? New moms especially will appreciate your support with her breastfeeding journey. And, since she probably isn’t drinking wine yet (alcohol gets into breastmilk), here are some suggested staples.

• Haakaa Breast Pump. It’s not REALLY a pump. But hands down, THIS IS THE BEST POSTPARTUM PURCHASE I MADE. There are many different “generations” of the haakaa, but just trust me, she’ll use this.
• Nipple Butter. Hopefully she already has some nipple butter or nipple cream, but if not, get this to her STAT!
• Nursing tanktops. Bodies change with each pregnancy so I found I needed new ones. I bought a few different kinds but these specific tops were my favorite. Comfortable, supportive and easy to nurse or sleep in.
• Mother’s Milk Lactation Chews. Tasty and help promote healthy lactation. I literally have had one of these a day for about 15 months.
• Milkmaid Tea. Similar to the lactation chews, the tea also supports breastmilk production. And it’s caffeine-free!

I know everyone is different, but include a gift receipt and they can return at their own discretion!

Also, do you have a pet? Be kind– don’t compare taking care of your dog to her baby. It’s not the same. It. Is. Not. The Same. For her sanity, just don’t do it. 🙂

Do you have any gifts you received postpartum or that you love to gift other new moms? I’d love to hear it! Comment below!