The 10 Best Gifts For New Moms
Special Honors
Alison & Ivy Mom Birthstone Necklace This sterling silver statement piece makes a great Mother’s Day or birthday gift for any mom whose family is complete. It features a swirling script, with a flourish at the bottom that can hold up to five birthstone gems. It’s rhodium plated to protect from tarnish with daily wear and tear, and is available in finishes of gold, rose gold, or sterling silver. thingsremembered.com
Tender Hearts Character Charm Key Ring Moms will love having their key ring turned into a playful expression of love for the members of her family. There’s room for up to six charms that feature a boy, a girl, a dog, or a cat -- and additional charms can be ordered down the line as new members are added to the family. Each comes engraved with the family member’s first initial. The metal key ring features a hinged clasp and a heart charm. personalcreations.com
Editor's Notes
April 17, 2020:
A new mom can only get so many onesies or newborn-sized outfits, so be sure to select a gift that will stand out, whether it’s at her baby shower or after her little one has entered the world. Mothers of tiny infants can use so many things, from pampering items to practical things like a stylish, yet functional diaper bag. That’s why we tried to include a wide variety of gift ideas on our list, so you can hand-pick one you think the mom in your life can use the most.
The Skip Hop Diaper Bag Backpack replaces another diaper bag on our list today, and this one comes in a stylish, neutral color and is large enough that she won’t need to change bags frequently, depending on the occasion. It’s got two side bottles for pockets and a large main pocket for storing all of the essentials. The attractive tassel gives it a touch of elegance, and the flap includes a magnetic closure to keep it everything contained.
Another practical present she might just get daily use out of is the NüRoo Nursing Scarf, which makes it easier to breastfeed when she’s on the go or has visitors. It’s available in several colors, so feel free to buy several that she can use interchangeably. It’s got snaps on either end for customized coverage, and can be worn just as easily as a wrap or a shrug.
Joining the Up & Raise Premium custom photo frame as a nostalgic gift she’ll love to display for years is the Willow Tree Tenderness, which will add a calming touch to any mantle or bookshelf. This resin figurine depicts a woman and child sharing a tender moment. It’s hand-painted and comes in an attractive gift box ready to be wrapped.
For those who could use a little irreverent humor to help get through those endless sleepless nights, Go the F**k to Sleep might be in order. Very different from all of the detailed how-to books for new parents, its purpose is to help you keep your sanity as you wait for your little one to get their days and nights straight.
Our selection features some pampering products as well. The Bella B 3-Piece Set comes in an attractive gift box and consists of products to soothe and moisturize the skin, including areas with stretch marks. They're made in the United States and include a soak sitz bath treatment. Ora's Amazing Natural Box comes with ointments for both baby and mom, two lip balms, an organic herbal tea designed to balance hormones, and a stainless steel tea ball for easy steeping.
For The Woman Who Has Everything
In one sense, once that baby is in her arms, she’ll have everything she’ll ever need, her purpose on this earth crystallized in the form of a tiny human.
It’s hard to imagine a more profound experience than becoming a parent, and given the nine months that mothers spend nurturing their creation from within, their experience is no doubt incredibly deep. In the days and weeks following the arrival of a child, it’s understandable for a new mother to experience a whole host of emotions, from elation to depression, but more often than not it’s the joy of parenthood that washes over her.
If there’s a new mother in your life, and you want to get her a gift either to commemorate the occasion or to just treat her to something special, it can be hard to know where to start. The last few months of a pregnancy can be so consuming as expecting parents prepare to welcome their new charge to the world, especially if it’s their first, that they themselves might not even know what they’d want to be given if you asked them.
In one sense, once that baby is in her arms, she’ll have everything she’ll ever need, her purpose on this earth crystallized in the form of a tiny human. But the reality is that she doesn’t stop being a person or a woman after the birth, she just has the title mother added to the rest of her superpowers. So, what do you get the woman who has everything, but who still deserves a little something?
There’s a good chance that the pregnancy caused some changes in the size and shape of the mother. Many women add a healthy amount of baby weight during pregnancy, much of which can recede afterwards, but this is so much a matter of genetics that the wardrobe the new mom relied on nine months ago might not have much to offer any longer. That’s why clothing items are such a good choice, especially considering the fact that many of her recent purchases were sized to fit a woman with a bowling ball hanging on her midsection.
To help her take care of her body after what is a physically traumatic experience, there are a lot of products available for skin care, muscle relaxation, and general well-being. You may find nice gift sets or baskets that can transform her bathroom into a temporary spa, or that contain products designed to help reduce the appearance of stretch marks and return some of that glow to her face.
The Baby Can Also Benefit
When you set out to buy a gift for a new mother, it’s important that you don’t fall into the trap of buying something that’s actually for the child. Sure, something like that would be appreciated, but not only are such gifts intended for baby showers before the arrival of the child, she’s also likely to need a reminder that she’s more than just her child's mother — she’s a woman with wants, needs, and style to boot. Still, a gift for mom that can also help her with the child they way that simple clothing might not could be greatly appreciated.
Sure, it’s kind of like giving her the gift of more laundry to do, but if she’s particularly environmentally conscious, something like this could be greatly appreciated.
More often than not, these gifts might have a little quirkiness to them, like a humorous book that she can read to her little one before they’re conscious enough to understand some of the funnier adult language therein. Along those same lines, if there’s anything nostalgic that she had when she was a baby, but that she no longer possesses, that might be a big winner.
Of course, if you missed the baby shower, and you want to add a little something to your new mom gift pack that is specifically for the baby, there are some great options for you out there. For example, you could invest in some reusable diapers for the mother. Sure, it’s kind of like giving her the gift of more laundry to do, but if she’s particularly environmentally conscious, something like this could be greatly appreciated.
Some of the more expensive baby necessities are always welcome, as well, provided you’re willing to drop the coin on them. A good stroller can be a hefty expense that you can take off a new mother’s plate, though you could always keep it a little simpler and grab a few of those chic wraps for carrying the baby around.
Just make sure, if you do go the baby-centric route, that you also get the new mom a little something just for herself.
The Ultimate Mom’s Gift: Time
One of the most important things you could ever give a new mother is, unfortunately not on our list, and that is the gift of time. For the first few weeks and even months, it’ll be impossible to separate the mother from her new child. She’s want to spend every waking and sleeping moment with her little bundle, and that’s totally understandable. At a certain point, however, the experience is going to take a physical and emotional toll on her, and she’s going to need some time to recuperate and rejuvenate.
The only danger here is that she might see all the things around the house she hasn’t had time to do and put herself to work.
If you can offer to take the little one off her hands, even for a few hours, she might greatly appreciate that time in a calm, quiet house. The only danger here is that she might see all the things around the house she hasn’t had time to do and put herself to work. Mothers are industrious like that. It might be smarter, then, to pick a time when she and her significant other can get out of the house together.
An even better move might be to arrange for someone else to take charge of the child for a time, while you take the mother out for some much needed her time. That might be something as simple as a nice brunch out on the town, a trip to her favorite stores, or an evening at the movies.
Whatever you choose to do for the new mom, make sure you offer it in conjunction with a nice gift from our list. She’s committed to her little one right now, so she might turn down your offer of time at first, but a little present is something she’ll definitely keep.