New mom gift ideas?

brookelynpaisley · September 2011

Hey ladies, lurking from 3T/TTGP. My friend is due in with her first in 3 weeks, though she's been contracting frequently over the last few days so possibly sooner. Anyway, though I know we've been showering the baby with gifts, I was wondering if there was something special I could send her for her comfort. Anything you can think of that would have made/did make those first couple weeks of mommyhood easier?

Thanks!

ShaunMcBoof · September 2011

I dont think this is what you have in mind, but by far the most helpful thing has been food and prepared dinners. My MIL and SIL have gone to the grocery store for us a couple times and brought over prepared dinners and just stuck them in the freezer. They never expected to eat with us, just wanted to make sure we ate. Maybe you can send a gift card for food places that deliver, or a care package with nonperishable, like good soups, pasta and munchy things you can eat with one hand.

brookelynpaisley · September 2011

ShaunMcBoof:
I dont think this is what you have in mind, but by far the most helpful thing has been food and prepared dinners. My MIL and SIL have gone to the grocery store for us a couple times and brought over prepared dinners and just stuck them in the freezer. They never expected to eat with us, just wanted to make sure we ate. Maybe you can send a gift card for food places that deliver, or a care package with nonperishable, like good soups, pasta and munchy things you can eat with one hand.

Good idea. I should have added that she's in IL, and I'm in AZ. I will look and see if I can find a place that delivers. Or maybe even a gift card for take-out?

BlinkingLight1 · September 2011

That is so sweet of you! Honestly, help her. Take her food. Be company for her (if she wants company that is, some new moms just want to be alone... I did not).

ETA: Just saw you're in another state. Sending food works too.

brookelynpaisley · September 2011

BlinkingLight1:

That is so sweet of you! Honestly, help her. Take her food. Be company for her (if she wants company that is, some new moms just want to be alone... I did not).

Totally wish I could. I'd do dishes and laundry and chat all she needed if she were close enough. Hopefully I'll be able to get out there soon to meet my little "niece"

Firefly9 · September 2011

Aside from people bringing us food, one of the best gifts I received as a gift certificate for 8 hours of postpartum care from a doula. She offered many different services--breastfeeding support, infant care support, baby soothing and wearing techniques, a massage, postpartum mood disorder recognition, and she'd also help out by doing some light cleaning, watching other kids, doing grocery shopping, etc. I didn't feel comfortable with someone else cleaning my house, so had her watch DS for me while I cleaned. Another time, I ran errands. I also talked to her about breastfeeding, DS's dairy sensitivity, baby wearing, and definitely enjoyed the massage.

Do you know if there are any services like that available in her area? It'd depend on how much you want to spend on her, of course. I believe this cost $80 for 8 hours.

brookelynpaisley · September 2011

MrsMcB926:

Aside from people bringing us food, one of the best gifts I received as a gift certificate for 8 hours of postpartum care from a doula. She offered many different services--breastfeeding support, infant care support, baby soothing and wearing techniques, a massage, postpartum mood disorder recognition, and she'd also help out by doing some light cleaning, watching other kids, doing grocery shopping, etc. I didn't feel comfortable with someone else cleaning my house, so had her watch DS for me while I cleaned. Another time, I ran errands. I also talked to her about breastfeeding, DS's dairy sensitivity, baby wearing, and definitely enjoyed the massage.

Do you know if there are any services like that available in her area? It'd depend on how much you want to spend on her, of course. I believe this cost $80 for 8 hours.

I could look into that, for sure. I'm not sure what her birth plan is and if she'd be open to a doula, but I'd imagine that any help would be welcome.

Jelliebean1982 · September 2011

Someone gave me a GC to Old Navy. It felt really nice to be able to go out and buy some transition clothes. Sure, I could still wear my maternity clothes but shopping in the regular women's section feels soooo good.

crkreativekids · September 2011

A friend of mine put together a "get better" basket. She put dermaplast, bottom spray, nipple cream, hot/cold packs, boob tubes, wet wipes with witch hazel in it, pads, and some snacky food. It was so nice to have all this stuff for my recovery, as a FTM I had no idea what to expect or what I would need recovery wise. This is something I plan on doing for all future mommy friends.

SarahRae812 · September 2011

crkreativekids:
A friend of mine put together a "get better" basket. She put dermaplast, bottom spray, nipple cream, hot/cold packs, boob tubes, wet wipes with witch hazel in it, pads, and some snacky food. It was so nice to have all this stuff for my recovery, as a FTM I had no idea what to expect or what I would need recovery wise. This is something I plan on doing for all future mommy friends.

This sounds great! A friend did something similar for me, but it was just trial sizes of body products that I could keep by the couch (since I rarely left it). You could throw in some nice hand or foot lotion, maybe a manicure kit.

The Old Navy GC is a good idea too especially if your friend is planning to BF. Old Navy has decent nursing tops, so she could get some as well as transition clothes. Just make sure she knows that the GC is for her & not LO.

You could also see if there's a cleaning service in the area that will let you purchase a single cleaning or small package for her. That was easily the best investment DH & I made. It felt so nice to have a professionally cleaned house!

brookelynpaisley · September 2011

Thank you all so much for the wonderful ideas! I really appreciate it!

And congrats on your little ones - they're all beautiful

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