Gifts for new moms in the hospital?

victoria98 · December 2015

My best friend just had her baby today! I don't know a lot of the details but I'll learn once I get there a couple hours from now but I'm really not sure what to bring her! I'd say food but she's not really like a food loving person. I'm thinking definitely flowers and a couple balloons you know the basic stuff but what else ?? Any stm's that have been through this lmk what your ideal gift would've been! (Btw I know ppl are probably getting a gifts for the baby rn and she feels left out very very easy so I want this gift to be for her!)

LAC84 · December 2015

I have two good friends who had babies last year and before I visited them I asked if there was anything I could bring them. One wanted chips and the other wanted a banana. I took them what they requested and they were very happy.

magzor · December 2015

My go-to gift for a new mom is a necklace with the new baby's initial on it (if they shared the name before he/she was born), but I order those way ahead of time. I've only been to visit a brand new baby twice, and each time the mom wanted a hoagie.

holly142 · December 2015

Definitely ask if she wants food brought to her! I advise not bringing any other gifts. There is already too much stuff to bring home. Unless she is staying a long time in the hospital, I think flowers would be a pain to to pack up. I had about 20 people visit me in the hospital and no one brought me gifts there, except 2 people brought food and my husband have me a necklace. Instead, bring a gift once settled in at home.

mckcak23 · December 2015

For my friend I decorated her house for when she got home, granted I have a key to her house so it was easy. I also got her a necklace with the initial and birthstone for when she went back to work and was struggling.

matryoshkadoll · December 2015

A good quality chocolate bar or two.

Croscrew · December 2015

Drop a meal in her freezer for later. It will mean more than you know. Also, she is going to need a lot of easy snacks when she gets home, so maybe a homecoming basket with grab and go snacks?

juliagulia38 · December 2015

I would also ask her what she wants. She might want a soda or some food. I also agree with a basket full of snacks. She's going to up at night and constantly with the baby. She'll get hungry. All my hospital had for snacks were graham crackers.

You could also ask her what she's craving and cook her a meal or two once she gets home. I would wait to bring gifts for the baby until she's home. You could also make a little kit with some chap stick, lotion, candy, her favorite drink, tucks, pads (if she had a vaginal delivery) maybe a word search or crossword puzzle, a magazine.

BettyRu · December 2015

Flowers, balloons and baby toys are very hard to bring home from the hospital.

jenkeale · December 2015

I agree with everyone on here. You don't want to give them more to take home, but ask if she has any cravings, even non foodies need to eat. Especially the exhausted, new mamas. But what is really helpful and appreciated is having meals and snacks for when you get home so you can focus on the baby and resting. I also like the care basket idea with little essentials and maybe a calming candle or whatever little things she likes.

mandyjulie · December 2015

victoria98 said:
(Btw I know ppl are probably getting a gifts for the baby rn and she feels left out very very easy so I want this gift to be for her!)

You got a lot of ideas here and I think you caring about the gift is very sweet.

But have to side eye this part -- she may feel left out... because of HER baby?? Because of people giving HER gifts to use for her baby? I mean any baby gifts are really parent gifts. And if she feels "left out" every time people give her baby gifts or more attention it's gonna be a real long 18+ year/lifetime.

Anewman1985 · December 2015

Offer to cook after she gets home. This is invaluable

kepsmom · December 2015

Ask her if there is something she cut out during pregnancy. I didn't eat Subway my entire pregnancy and a friend brought me my most favorite footlong with all the correct toppings and my most favorite gingerbread treat from a local restaurant. It was pure bliss!! We even have pictures of me eating it in ecstasy. Food is perfect!

MDmomma1217 · December 2015

To be honest, I personally don't bring gifts to the hospital and I"ve brought something the first time I visit the new mom at home. There is just too much stuff to worry about getting home, and depending on the room, not a lot of space for flowers. I was so hungry the day after my daughter was born, and the cafeteria was really slow bringing my food, I would have loved if someone brought me food (although DH eventually went out and brought back pizza!).

TattoosandLace · December 2015

Whoever brings me a Club LuLu from Jimmy John's post delivery will be my BFF.

After I had DD, I would have LOVED if someone offered to bring me food. I was always so incredibly hungry during our hospital stay.

nkob · December 2015

All I wanted was fruit! You have no appetite and get thirsty after, or at least I did. People would bring dessert type stuff and I just wanted plain old sliced up fruit! Ask what she needs!!

ach298 · December 2015

Bring her food and snacks after they get home from the hospital.

MamaOlive · December 2015

When my sister had her baby this year I asked for a list. She wanted food, Chapstick, lanolin, and a nursing tank. She didn't pack a tank and was having trouble nursing with so many visitors.

I remember just wanting all the food. All of it.

soberkfell · December 2015

The flowers and balloons are wonderful gestures and nice to look at during your hospital stay, but they become a bit of a hassle to take home. My brother called me before coming up to visit and asked what flavor fro yo I wanted - it's my favorite, and I didn't eat any soft serve during my entire first pregnancy. I think that hands-down was my favorite "gift" the entire hospital stay. In addition to PPs' recommendation to bring a snack basket or some frozen meals to your friend's house (which I was fortunate enough to receive and was SO thankful for), I'd also suggest offering to come over to watch the baby and give her a break. My mom would come over and watch DS so I could take a shower and/or lay down... that was MUCH appreciated.

MrsRo731 · December 2015

Croscrew said:

Drop a meal in her freezer for later. It will mean more than you know. Also, she is going to need a lot of easy snacks when she gets home, so maybe a homecoming basket with grab and go snacks?

^wss.

stillcozy · December 2015

Mmm fro yo!!

DobbysSock · December 2015

One of my favourite gifts was actually a fruit basket. I would never have thought of it but it was so great to have fresh fruit for an easy to grab snack when I was tired and recovering and trying to get breastfeeding going.

I think it was one of those edible arrangements ones, that are cut up to look like a bouquet, which was even better because the melons and pineapples were already cut up. I think there were some whole strawberries, apples, oranges and grapes in there but the bigger fruit was all ready to eat which was awesome.

stillcozy · December 2015

I will be requesting chocolate and Diet Coke haha

betheliz · December 2015

i agree with pp about not bringing anything unrequested to the hospital, but after she gets home, I recommend a gift card to a pizza delivery place and/or if she's breastfeeding, a basket full of all the stuff you need for mangled boobs: lanolin, nipple balm, protective shells, soothing gel pads, nursing bras/tanks, and my favorite, heating/cooling pads. They're the sort of things that she might not know she needs until she needs them right away. I really struggled with bf and it would have been so nice to have these things on hand.

I also emphatically second the suggestion of offering to watch the baby for a little bit, even just long enough for her to shower would be so wonderful. Or, offer to do a load of laundry or dishes.

SparkySunshine · December 2015

I'm the odd one out here I guess, but I bought a beautiful bouquet for my sister when she had her second. She loved it (and if she hadn't she would have said so!) I bought a super cute miniature red wagon that held the card and she saved it in her box of keepsakes for that baby.

MsBeachNJ · December 2015

I guess I'm in the minority with @SparkySunshine too... my entire extended family has always shown up to each birth in the family and brought flowers, balloons, and gifts for the baby (lots of clothes etc.). This goes for the women who have been Moms before too... so its not like they're doing this but they don't know what its like to be on the receiving end... we have a big family and lots of helping hands so no one was left with trying to cram stuff into the car without help... I find it hard to believe anyone would be displeased with showering of gifts/treats in the hospital to celebrate the babies arrival... but to each his own!

m8881 · December 2015

With my boys I got flowers and plants. A couple friends sent food once I was home. I worked and my company sent a huge bouquet to my home. I loved all the flowers.

stillcozy · December 2015

Does anyone else feel like plant gifts is like giving a chore? Maybe just me but I'll have a newborn and no sleep last thing I need is to try and keep a plant alive I already struggle with that!

mandyjulie · December 2015

@Lindsayleigh1989 Yep. I got a plant from a boss well before DD was born and I couldn't manage to care about it even then. Now, absolutely not

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