Forget the baby registry: Here are 11 things to get new moms
Introduction
A baby registry is a great way to help new parents stock up on things they’ll need for their little one. Everything from baby gear (cribs and car seats) to daily essentials (diapers, onesies and more).
We focus so much on what’s needed for new babies before their due date, that we forget a mom is being born too.
Moms don’t just go through a major physical recovery after birth. They also experience matrascence, a process of physiological and emotional changes. Raising a newborn really is a marathon, so giving moms the gift of extra care and support to ease their transition can be even more impactful.
For example, get gifts that promote the basics– eat well, hydrate, get plenty of sleep, and reduce stress.
Labor and delivery is an intense, physical event, so the human body needs nourishment and rest to heal properly and quickly. Good nutrition is especially crucial for breastfeeding moms, who burn an extra 500-700 calories a day.
Here are 11 of my favorite gifts for new moms:
Gifts to promote a healthy diet & hydration
Water bottle: The Owala is my go-to. It’s a good looking bottle, easy to carry, and clear making it easy to monitor how much you’re drinking throughout the day. Hydration is key, especially for nursing moms as breastmilk is composed of 90% water.
Meals (home-cooked): Make mom a nourishing meal that she can easily reheat when she wants (bonus points if it’s freezer friendly). Or include others and organize a meal train to take the burden of planning and executing weeks of meals off her list.
Meals (store-bought and subscription kits): Send her a gift card to her favorite restaurant, local salad shop, or meal subscription kits. I like kits with healthy and sustainable ingredients like Daily Harvest or Hello Fresh. Or make it super easy with a Door Dash gift card to have meals delivered straight to her door.
Gifts to promote exercise and self care
Postnatal fitness classes: If your new mom enjoys exercising, give her passes to her favorite local gym studio. There are even classes specifically designed for expecting and new moms—like mommy and me yoga, baby-wearing workouts, and postnatal pilates. You can usually find these at community centers, yoga studios, and YMCAs. I also love the Peloton app, which offers a variety of on-demand, pre- and postnatal workouts that you can take at home, anytime. Even a 15 minute workout makes a difference. I recommend their yoga, meditation, strength, and cycling classes with Anna Greenberg, Jess Sims, Robin Arzon and Cody Rigsby.
Giving mom ‘me time’: Give mom the gift of time back to herself—to catch up on sleep or do something that brings her joy. Schedule a day and time to help watch the baby (or the older sibling). Take an item off of her to do list, like dishes, vacuuming, or laundry. This will help bring her back to the newborn haze more refreshed and recharged energy.
A gratitude journal: Studies show that cultivating gratitude can improve sleep, mental health, and immunity. The 5 minute journal is a great tool. Starting and ending the day with this quick exercise helped me focus on the things that matter, especially during those rough days.
Books to empower mom: Becoming a mom is hard. There are 6 books I’d gift to all new moms. To let them know they are not alone in their struggles and empower them to build strength, resilience, and skills to become the mom they want to be. Pick up Real Self-Care by Pooja Lakshim to give mom the tools for finding a self care solution that’s sustainable.
Books for baby: Baby board books work too. There are so many good ones that celebrate compassion, gratitude, resilience, and courage. Some of my favorites are Be Brave Little One: An Inspiring Book About Courage, ABCs of Kindness, and 123s of Thankfulness. Reading these books daily to my daughter reminded me to model these skills for her.
Gifts to help fund direct postpartum support
Support for caregiving skills: There are so many caregiving skills new moms have to learn–from sleeping, infant feeding, to introducing solids. Luckily, there are professionals, experts, and even tech apps that can support this journey. This includes doulas, lactation specialists, pelvic floor therapists, night nurses, nutritionists, who can help new moms build valuable skills quickly through expert support and coaching. It takes a village to raise a new mom. Consider giving a new mom a Visa gift card, cash, or check to help fund support services.
Emotional and mental health support: Accessing mental health services was the best thing I could have done postpartum. Joining a support group with other new moms, couples counseling, and working with a life coach empowered me to become the mother I wanted to be. 1 in 5 new moms experiencing symptoms of postpartum depression and anxiety. You can help fund mental health resources depending on the new mom’s situation and needs. Postpartum Support International is a great, free resource to help find the right type of support.
Gifts to help baby (and mom) sleep
Baby gear: A well-rested baby means a well-rested mother. While every baby is different and there’s no one item that will guarantee a sleeping baby, there are a few items that helped us. We loved the Snoo smart bassinet and Dok-A-Tot baby lounger for day-time naps. We also leaned heavily on the Ergo baby carrier, Mam pacifiers, and the Hatch white noise machine for soothing a fussy baby. Surprisingly, the item that soothed our fussy baby in minutes was bouncing on an exercise ball.
A mom with a strong immune system, who is well rested, and has the means to take care of her own mental health and wellbeing is the best gift you could give a newborn. These are some simple ways we can help to raise healthy moms.
The best gift for babies is a healthy mother
A mom with a strong immune system, who is well rested, and has the means to take care of her own mental health and wellbeing is the best gift you could give a newborn. These are some simple ways we can help to raise healthy moms.
