Postpartum Gift Ideas
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When a baby is born, there is always joy and excitement in the air! Friends and family can’t wait to shower the new baby with gifts and attention. But, what about the new mother? Sometimes we forget that mothers are going through major adjustments after childbirth too. When I was about 3 days postpartum with my second child, I was approached by an elderly woman before one of my baby’s appointments. She asked how old my baby was, and when I said 3 days old, she immediately looked up at me and asked, “How are you doing?” I was surprised and brought to tears by the thoughtfulness of this stranger. (Not to mention I was a bit hormonal; I cried a lot postpartum.) I told her I was doing ok, but what she didn’t know is that she made my day. Gifts to moms when they are postpartum don’t need to be big, but the thought and care towards a new mother during this time can mean a world of a difference in their postpartum journey. Here are a few simple gift ideas for a friend or family member that is newly postpartum, to let them know that you are thinking of them and support them in their postpartum journey.
Hand Cream
When my first child was born, I washed a lot of bottles. It was a lot more bottle washing than I anticipated because I was pumping, and by about 1 and a half months out, I was exclusively bottle feeding. Mine and my husband's hands were beyond dry and starting to crack. Having a good hand cream was essential at that time. One of my favorite hand creams of all time is the Khiel’s Since 1851 Ultimate Strength Hand Salve. It moisturizes skin with minimal greasy residue and it definitely saved my skin!
Food
The ultimate gift you can bring to a friend who is postpartum is food! Any kind of food is appreciated, whether it is a snack, a food delivery gift card, fast food, freshly cooked food, or freezer meals. You’ll get extra friend points if you thoughtfully bring food that your newly postpartum friend was craving, but could not eat during pregnancy, such as sushi or hot dogs. Eating is such an important part of healing and with a newborn, a lot of moms find that there isn’t enough time between all the feedings, diaper changes, and dishes to whip up a nutritious meal. I received this snack gift box from amazon from a friend after my second child was born and I thought it was the sweetest gift and exactly what I needed at that time. I was fortunate enough to be able to nurse my daughter for about a year, so having these healthy snacks available when I was up breastfeeding was the best!
Coffee
Yes, postpartum moms need to drink water, but when you are running on such little sleep, sometimes you need some caffeine to get you through the day. The gift of coffee (or tea) is amazing! I was always brewing a pot of drip coffee, but sometimes it is a fun treat to have a fancy cup of joe from a coffee stand or Starbucks. You can even go further and buy a good quality coffee tumbler for your postpartum friends because we all know that moms always end up having to reheat their coffee a million times before getting to drink it. One of my favorite insulated tumblers that I like to use at home to keep my hot drinks hot is from Hydroflask.
Shower Steamers
This is one of those extra gifts that isn’t exactly necessary, but I have to be honest, they’re nice. I received some shower steamers from a coworker before going on my first maternity leave and I did not know I was going to like them so much! Postpartum can feel very unglamorous at times, and something as simple as a shower steamer can help turn a simple shower into a short, luxurious spa experience. Here are some shower steamers I found on amazon that received great reviews and would be a nice gift!
A Short Visit
Though you’re never actually alone after having a baby, oddly enough, postpartum can still feel lonely at times. My son was born at the beginning of the Covid pandemic, so I think the whole world missed each other during that time. I was so torn between wanting to keep my baby safe and also feeling like I was missing out on introducing my baby to all of my loved ones. At that time, I loved short FaceTime calls from friends and chatting about anything and everything! However, I do want to emphasize the word “short” because even though I really loved virtual visits from friends, I was also running on no sleep. Physically, I think I could only really handle shorter baby introductions and life chats, and I don’t think that is too far off from other mothers’ experiences. So to recap, visit your postpartum friends (with food), but keep it short!
Take a Picture with Mom
This gift is one of the best gifts you can give a postpartum mom and it doesn’t cost a penny. I loved taking pictures of my babies by themselves or with other people. But, like other moms, I usually fail to include myself in some of those pictures, hence the “proof of mom” picture trends. It’s ok to take a picture with the baby, but try to remember to take a group picture with mom too. She will appreciate being a part of those memories!
Many postpartum moms do not expect a gift, but would be so appreciative if given one. You don’t always need a grand gesture to let a new mom know that they are loved and supported during this period of adjustment. Small gifts can still lift the spirits of a mom during the tough parts of their postpartum journey. Hopefully this short list of gifts will give you an idea of a simple, yet thoughtful gift for a friend who is newly postpartum!
