It’s always an exciting time when someone you know and love is expecting a baby. If you’re anything like me, you’re always finding excuses to stop in the baby section of the store when you’re shopping just to poke around and hunt for gift-worthy items. Usually, I wind up picking up potential gifts only to put them down and wonder whether the mom-to-be would even want it in the first place.
When we think of baby gifts, we tend to think of gifts for the baby, but what about gifts for mom? You can never go wrong with a thoughtful, out-of-the-box gift that’s all about self-care. Below, you’ll find our favorite gifts that encourage relaxation and comfort that any mom-to-be will love receiving.
A Weighted Blanket
Give a mom-to-be a weighted blanket and it just might become her favorite tool. These blankets use Deep Touch Therapy (DPT) — which is essentially “baby swaddling,” but for adults — to calm anxiety, reduce stress, fight against insomnia, and ultimately give both a pregnant mom and her baby a deeper sleep. The weighted feature of these blankets works as both mental and physical therapy, relaxing users’ mind, body, and soul.
A Bathtub Tray
When you’re carrying pregnancy weight around, there are few things more relaxing than feeling buoyant. That’s where a good bath comes in! For added relaxation, give a new mom a bathtub tray with space to add aromatherapy candles, a book stand, and a cup holder for warm tea. After a half hour of soaking and reading a good book, she’ll feel like you brought the spa to her.
A Nursing Basket
Nursing isn’t always an easy adjustment for moms, and a good gift from a good friend can help her get through it. A new baby eats 10+ times a day, so that means a new mom is feeding 10+ times a day. To make sure she has all the essentials she needs (and some things she doesn’t need, for fun), bring out your inner DIY queen and fill a cute basket with snacks, a water bottle with a convenient carrying handle, gum, nipple cream, a baby log and pen to record feeding times, an entertaining book, pacifiers and of course, burp cloths.
A “Mommy Survival” Kit
This is another opportunity to get creative! The beauty of a Mommy Survival Kit is that it can be customized to the mom-to-be and all her needs and interests. Include an assortment of items that are fun and necessary—think chocolate, nail polish, lip balm, mints, an Uber Eats gift card, dry shampoo, deodorant wipes, a hairbrush, and hair ties. Throw it all into a tote bag, add a box of relaxing tea bags and a bottle of wine and she’ll be singing your praises for weeks to come!
Babysitting Gift Cards
You’d better believe a new mom will LOVE this gift! Purchase a few Visa gift cards for future babysitting needs, or buy a set of cute coupons and offer to babysit yourself. Time is really precious for a new mom, and this gift will give her some much-needed rest… or at least a few hours to read a good book and catch up on her favorite reality shows.
Foot Spa
Carrying extra weight can take a toll on your feet—I dare you to find a pregnant woman who refuses a foot massage. When she’s looking to elevate her pampering, a foot spa truly cannot be beat. Soaking her feet in the warm, bubbly water will give the mom-to-be in your life the relief she’s been waiting for. Plus, since it’s portable, she can relax anywhere she’s comfortable.
Full Body Maternity Pillow
Sure, you’ve heard of a dock-a-tot, but what about something for moms-to-be? This full body maternity pillow is basically a “dock-a-mom” that allows an expecting mom to get ultra-comfortable. It’s the ultimate support for just about any position, whether she needs to elevate her legs, support her belly, or relieve back pain.
A maternity photo shoot is a gift that will truly last a lifetime.
Maternity Photo Shoot
A maternity photo shoot is a beautiful way to document pregnancy, but they can get expensive. Not to mention, they may not be high on the priority list for an expecting couple, even if they do have the means to do it. Find local photographers who specialize in maternity photography and offer to handle all the planning and associated costs so the couple can show up and enjoy the moment.
Find the Perfect Gift
Finding a gift for a new mom can be hard, but it doesn’t have to be! Check out what our baby experts have to say about shopping for moms on our GiveIt Blog, and find your mom-to-be’s baby registry on RegistryFinder.com.
