The Best Postpartum Gifts for the New Mom

Shopping for new mom gifts this holiday season? Get her what she really needs to survive the postpartum period with our gift ideas for mom of babies.

Let’s face it. The aftermath of life as a new mom can blindside even the best of us. We spend so much time caring for our pregnant bodies and preparing for birth but rarely do we prepare for the transition to motherhood postpartum.

Usually, any preparation for life as a new mom centers on baby. The baby clothes, the baby gear, the hundreds of diapers and essentials they require those early days.

Of course, many of these things are necessary for baby care, but they don’t take into consideration mommy care or the things a new mom actually needs to survive the physical and mental challenges life after birth can bring her.

So what does a new mom actually need for herself during that fragile time during postpartum recovery?

Below we break down the postpartum essentials for each stage in her recovery period.

Postpartum Mom Gifts: Practical Things She’ll Need and Want

Along any stage of the way, one of the TOP things experienced moms said they wished they personally had post-partum, was simply a NEW MOM CLASS, just like they did for labor/birth to educate and support them during the motherhood struggles.

A newborn sleep prep course, a breastfeeding course, a baby care course, or even just a postpartum 101 course to set expectations are all some of the best gift ideas for new moms.

Another resource she may want to check out during those early days is Postpartum.net online support and resources for moms struggling with Baby Blues, PPD and other mental health issues.

Gift Ideas for New Moms 0-6 Weeks Postpartum

The first six weeks after birth is traditionally what we think of as the postpartum period. It’s a time of critical care for physical recovery, due to the bleeding, soreness and healing a new mom undergoes.

This is the time period where a postpartum essentials list comes in handy. But most new moms won’t know exactly what they’ll need for this recovery period until they are actually in the thick of things, so planning ahead will help her know what to expect.

A postpartum gift basket to help mom survive the first six weeks after birth, can include the following items:

• A postpartum care kit by FridaMom (a popular choice among moms polled)
• Loose-fitting clothing like these maternity leggings, cozy jogger pants (code: BUNDLE50 for 50% off) or soft pajamas and maternity robes
• Fuzzy, warm, non-slip socks
• Easy-access tops, nursing bras, nipple pads, cream or the popular Haakaa for the breastfeeding mom
• A reliable water-bottle to keep her hydrated throughout the day/night
• Healthy homemade meals or a MealTrain (I WISH I had this one)
• One-handed snacks and goodies (this was a TOP pick among moms!)
• A small mom-approved night-light for middle of the night feedings
• Baby record or milestone book for mom to treasure and remember the special moments
• Sound machine to help baby AND mom sleep well
• Extra pain meds to add to her medicine cabinet
• And a postpartum doula to help with mom care and baby care (such an AMAZING option that most moms only consider after the fact!)

Check out suggestions HERE to get more gift ideas for new moms in 0-6 weeks postpartum period.

And you can make things easier, by having a mom-to-be send you her Amazon wish-list. This way you can put together a postpartum care package to include EXACTLY what she wants and needs following her specific type of birth and recovery.

Gift Ideas for New Moms 3-6 Months Postpartum

After about 3 months of navigating postpartum life, both mom and baby may start developing more of a routine, with new struggles emerging.

This is the time period where baby typically sleeps less during the day, but also experiences sleep regressions and cluster feeds. At the same time, mom’s postpartum hair loss peaks, ideals of motherhood may fill her mind and her body confidence may drop. She may even return back to the work force, while still being susceptible to postpartum depression.

All of this contributes to an exhausted mother, both physically and emotionally.

So postpartum gifts should center around ways to help her manage time during the day, find emotional support and take better care of her physical health.

When asked about new mom gift ideas, moms on Instagram had a variety of helpful suggestions listed below:

• Gift cards to Starbucks, Target, Amazon or anywhere the mom can shop for herself
• A good coffee machine to survive the exhaustion
• A mani/pedi or spa-at-home kit including an undereye healing mask
• A basket of snacks to fill her breastfeeding or postpartum hunger
• An easy-to-use baby wrap to help her multi-task at home, cook a meal or keep her sanity with a colicky baby
• A mom support group where she can meet new friends (Peanut is a great app for this!)
• Soft scrunchies, detangling sprays and creams to deal with the hair mess and loss
• Useful new mom books you don’t often hear about like Moms on Call, Shit No One Tells You

Check in with the new mom to see what she is struggling with most and then pick a few items from the above list to create a postpartum gift basket to drop off.

Gift Ideas for Moms 6 Months+ Postpartum

While most people aren’t aware, a mom with a baby 6 months-year is still a mom in the postpartum period, it is just a delayed stage.

During this time most of the initial struggles and concerns like healing and pain management have been resolved, but other issues may linger including pelvic floor issues, baby weight, finding time for personal hobbies, and maintaining a sense of identity outside of motherhood.

Gifts for moms in the 6 month+ period should consider these ongoing needs.

One of the BEST gift ideas for a postpartum mom during this phase is getting some ME TIME for self-care.

So having a babysitter to free up her time is a major help! It can be more of a challenge this season in the middle of a pandemic, but if it’s what she really needs follow the safety cautions like social distancing, mask-wearing and getting tested to make sure you are well enough to provide child-care and provide some time for her own passions.

In addition, gift cards for date night, meals, wine are also super helpful gifts for the overwhelmed mom who just needs a break.

Another nice new mom gift idea is a family photoshoot — unlike the newborn photos, photos taken when baby is a little older and when mom feels more like herself again is a great way to lift her spirits.

And finally, one of the lesser thought of but super helpful gifts a mom in the postpartum time could really use is a specialist to troubleshoot her ongoing concerns. Whether she’s dealing with pelvic floor pains from a vaginal birth, gas and a mommy pooch or just needs a professional to talk to.

A physical therapist, post-natal fitness coach, maternal mental health therapist or mom-to-mom support group can really be the most helpful gift during the delayed postpartum time period.

If (and-only-if) she specifically tells you she is looking for a fitness program for postpartum moms, check out the Postpartum Guides. These downloadable pdf designed by fitness experts walks mamas through what to do just after birth through 8 months postpartum. The guide includes breathing exercises to help the core and pelvic floor heal to diastasis recti safe exercise to help heal and lose the mommy pooch.

Use code: MOMMYSBUN10 to save $10 off the price HERE.

Remember to take into account the new moms birth plan, experience and motherhood style when choosing gift ideas.

However you decide to treat a new mom, a thoughtful gift specifically taking into account her postpartum and self-care needs will be truly appreciated, during what is often a major life transition.

***

The post The Best Postpartum Gifts for the New Mom appeared first on Mommy's Bundle.