Thoughtful Christmas Gifts for New Moms That Aren’t for the Baby

Looking for Christmas gifts for new moms that aren’t for the baby? Buying for the baby is easy. Buy something from the registry, a cute baby outfit, or a pacifier, and you’re set! And as a new mom, I’ll share my ideas. But what Christmas gifts can you buy for new moms that aren’t for the baby?

Christmas gifts for new moms that aren’t for the baby are thoughtful gifts like: 

• Snacks
• Meals
• Babysitting
• Cleaning

Parents of newborns are extremely busy taking care of their new baby and may hardly have time to sleep or shower. The ideas below are practical yet thoughtful!

Some of the links below are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

Every New Parent Needs Caffeine

All parents probably need some form of caffeine. Get whatever you know she likes, and maybe some for her spouse! Mom may not have time to go out and get coffee, so how about a box of coffee pods, coffee beans or grounds, or tea bags from Amazon? Doctors recommend that women have less than 200 mg of caffeine per day while pregnant or breastfeeding. This is about the equivalent of 2 cups of coffee or 3-4 12 ounce cans of soda.  Regardless, if you think mom may be staying away from caffeine, herbal tea from Amazon may be a nice treat!

Want to splurge? Check out this World Tour of Coffee set

Help mom out by bringing food!

Splurge with a snack

You can never go wrong bringing snacks. In fact, mom will probably give you bonus points if she doesn’t need to heat them up and can eat them one handed, while holding the baby in the other hand!

Personally, I’d recommend some chocolates! These chocolate-covered espresso beans from top notch candy maker Ethel M Chocolates will keep Mom awake. Or how about a fancy box with an assortment of different flavors? The chocolate of the month gift will keep Mom in candy all year round!

How about something fancy for the holidays like a snow globe cookie bouquet from Cookies by Design? Their tasty treats look as good as they taste, and you can get next day delivery! Mom will love these one-handed snacks she can enjoy while taking care of the kid!

Cook or buy a meal for mom

If you like to cook, think about making a casserole in a dish that mom can keep, like this Pyrex dish from Amazon. This is a great gift if you are visiting the new mom over the holidays.  

You can’t go wrong with gift cards. Diapers and formula are expensive (related post: read more about the average cost of disposable diapers!), so new parents may not have the money to splurge on food from a restaurant. So find a spot near mom’s home where she won’t have to go far to get some takeout. Or how about a gift card for UberEats or GrubHub, so Mom can have food delivered right to her house whenever she needs it?

Save mom a trip to the store – bring groceries

Yeah groceries sound boring but everyone needs them, and getting a new baby ready and out of the house to go to the grocery store is a ton of work! Save mom a lot of time by getting mom a gift card for a grocery delivery service from a nearby grocery store or Amazon Pantry.  Not sure what sort of groceries to get? Ask! Keep it simple. “I’m stopping at the grocery store on my way to your house, what do you need?” Throw in some snacks, fresh fruit, and consider buying a pack of diapers, toilet paper, paper towels, or other necessities.

Related post: Help her save time with a baby bottle dishwasher!

Give the gift of time

New parents need time. Have you ever heard the saying “sleep when the baby sleeps?” 

New moms barely have time to shower or do laundry. So here are some ideas new moms will love, and some won’t even cost you a dime! 

Do a bit of cleaning during your visit

Want to splurge? Have a cleaning service tidy up for mom. A mom I know has a very generous friend who hired a cleaning company to come while she was still in the hospital, so she came home to a sparkling clean kitchen. 

Babysitting is a huge help for a new mom

How about a gift card for something for mom, like a spa, manicure, or restaurant? Combo this up with an offer to keep an eye on the baby for mom! If the baby is only a few weeks old, he will probably just sleep. Easy peasy!

Stuff that new moms want

I’ve put this category last because I feel that the things new moms need for themselves are really food, energy and time. But there are a few things she may appreciate outside those categories. These items are thoughtful yet practical. Consider gifts that will make mom’s everyday life easier or better. Don’t get gifts that require assembly or lots of time.

=Related post: Ideas to build a gift basket for a new mom!=

Check mom’s baby registry

Did mom register for nursing bras, or post- maternity clothes, or other things for herself? The registry can tell you if there’s anything she’s missing. 

Books that a new mom will love to read

I had a hard time staying awake in the middle of the night feeding my newborn. And I needed something to do besides watch TV. Get mom a book, like Harry Potter, The Expanse Series, or The Witcher (click to check the prices on Amazon). These books are a great way for mom to “escape” into a fantasy or sci-fi world.

She may appreciate something that’s not baby- related. Or how about an audiobook subscription, like Audible (click to view details on gifting an Audible subscription) so she can listen to books while caring for her little one?

=Related post: our collection of gifts just for boy moms!=

A water bottle will help mom stay hydrated

If mom is breastfeeding, she’ll need to stay hydrated. I love this water bottle from Amazon, it holds 32 ounces,  seals completely so it won’t spill when I’m fumbling around for it in the dark, is dishwasher safe, and I love drinking out of a straw! Speaking of which, what about a…

Night lights help mom see when she gets up in the middle of the night

Mom and dad will be up in the middle of the night to feed their baby and change diapers. A nerdy night light, like this Millenium Falcon night light from Amazon, will keep them from tripping in the dark!

Pamper mom with beauty stuff

Do get mom something nice that’s easy to use as part of her daily life,  like some luxury hand lotion or soaps from Amazon. I recommend against makeup or bath supplies since mom may not have time for getting made up or soaking in the tub at the moment. Doctors recommend women avoid baths until at least 6 weeks postpartum. Proceed with caution if you’re considering something like lotion for reducing stretch marks. Will mom appreciate it or not like being reminded of them? 

Help mom relax with a spa day

Get mom a giftcard to a spa to get her hair or nails done while you babysit. She may enjoy the chance to get out of the house without the baby

Make a gift basket

Consider putting together a gift basket with a book, snacks, soap, lotion and a pack of diapers. 

Still undecided?

What about an Amazon Prime membership (click to view Amazon’s instructions on how to gift a membership)? Or getting a new mom a gift card is still a great idea! She can choose whatever she wants to get!

Related post: Gifts for a Daughter Having Her First Baby

Christmas Gifts for New Moms That Aren’t for the Baby: Conclusions

Christmas gifts for new moms that aren’t for the baby: repeat after me. Food. Caffeine. Time. Whether you watch the baby while mom goes out to do something nice for herself, or buy something mom wouldn’t buy herself, she will appreciate it! The great thing is, these tips ideas still work when the baby is older. Keep them in mind for Mother’s Day, visiting a new mom for the first time, and mom’s birthday too. 

Related post: What to get a baby for baptism