New moms (and dads) are inundated with gifts as their due date approaches, but I remember distinctly which gifts I appreciated the most. I recently partnered with/received compensation from Babywise.Life to write about just this – gifts for new mom that she’ll appreciate. Perfect for those of you who are doing a little baby shower shopping.
I remember going to our local baby store. The one everyone registers at. We were handed the “gun” to scan items we thought we might need as new parents to a baby girl.
They let us loose in a store which had everything you could possibly imagine.
Overwhelming.
And I thought registering for our wedding took a long time. Oh no. That was just the warm-up.
The thing is, you don’t really have a clue what you need or would want at this point. I mean, there are the obvious things like a crib and crib sheets, and the practical things like diapers, but I’m talking about the things you’d appreciate most or would make your life much easier.
Here are a few gifts for new mom that she might not have thought about registering for.
Gifts for New Moms
Baby Tracker for Newborns – this is the one gift I might put above all others. This journal provides one place where parents can jot down everything. You might not realize, but it’s vital for your sanity. For example, I didn’t realize when I started breastfeeding that I would have to note which side I last nursed on. The journal makes it easy to note it and quickly reference later.
Other things you jot down – sleeping times, and diaper changes (this is crucial in those first few weeks, especially when you need to make sure they are getting enough food if you are nursing). Each page in the journal provides a 24-hour look at your baby’s day. It makes it clear if there’s a problem (when sometimes you can’t remember).
Best of all, when your kids are all grown up, you have a little booklet of their first year. Notes you made about the first time he smiled at you. The Baby Tracker was next to the couch when I nursed every single day. I spent that time making notes of things that I honestly might not have ever written down otherwise.
Comfortable Maternity or Nursing Pajamas– Truth be told, I lived in my pajamas for a long time. There’s nothing like comfy clothes after having a baby. I had one comfortable pair of nursing pajamas, with blue and white stripes. They were so convenient for nursing, that I wish I had had more sets.
High Quality Nasal Aspirator – You might remember me talking about the time my newborn daughter turned blue while we were at the hospital. It was a nasal aspirator that I grabbed right beside me to help clear her passages as she choked. One of the scariest moments of my life. After that, I always made sure to have one or two nearby at the house or in my diaper bag.
Children’s Books – I know that most moms don’t even think about books because their kiddos won’t be reading, much less holding a book, for a long while. But moms will start reading to their little ones earlier than they might expect. Plus, books can be expensive, so the earlier one can start building their library, the better.
Children’s books are my go-to baby shower gift along with something practical.
Babywise Books – The Babywise books were a huge help to us as parents, especially during those first few months. They were a great resource for us as we wondered how to get newborn to sleep through the night. They have books for every stage (including those toddler and potty-training stages)!
Handprint and Footprint Memory Kit – it was only after my daughter started school that I realized I never memorialized her handprint. I’m kicking myself over it too. New parents will want to remember those little fingers and toes forever, so a kit like this one is a great gift!
TIP: Take 2 pieces of scrapbook paper to the hospital with you and as the nurse takes your baby’s footprint, ask for 2 extras. Use these in your baby book or frame them!
Visit Babywise.life for more essential product ideas for mom.
That tip is a great one – I never would have thought about taking extra paper for footprints! My go-to gift is diapers (usually in about a size 3) or clothes is a 12 – 18 month size since everyone else buys the cute tiny clothes!
Great idea! I always loved having sizes that were bigger and ready for us to grow into!