Things New Moms Need for Themselves

What are things new moms need for themselves? When people come to a baby shower, or visit a new mom, they often bring gifts for the baby, like diapers or cute clothes. That’s easy! But what can you bring that’s just for mom?

Things new moms need for themselves are thoughtful gifts like:

• Groceries
• Snacks
• Meals
• Babysitting
• Cleaning

Whether you are looking for must haves for new moms after delivery, Christmas gifts for new moms, or thoughtful first Mother’s Day gifts, you are in the right spot. No matter how old the kids are, moms always need the same things: more food, time, and energy! 

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, and if you are concerned about inconveniencing a new mom, or live far away, you can always have them delivered through the mail, or drop them off.

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 Mom Needs Energy: Caffeine

All parents usually need some caffeine. Get whatever you know mom likes, and maybe some for her spouse! Mom may not have time to go out and get coffee, so bring a hot cup of coffee when you visit, or order a box of coffee pods, or tea bags from Amazon, or a pack of soda. 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 twelve ounce cans of soda.  Regardless, if you think mom may be staying away from caffeine, herbal tea (click the link to check out options on Amazon) is a nice treat!

Give the Gift of Food

You have so many options in the food category, ranging from bringing over a home-made dish to sending groceries. Any kind of food is super thoughtful because new moms don’t have much time for grocery shopping, cooking, or even eating sometimes! I was fortunate to have family, friends and neighbors who brought over lasagna, soups, casseroles, and salads for us and made sure there were plenty of leftovers!

Snacks

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! There are so many choices- bake cookies, muffins, or brownies. Cut up fresh fruit or veggies and bring some dip or hummus. 

Personally, I’d recommend some chocolates from the Ethel M Chocolate Company. Keep Mom caffeinated with chocolate covered espresso beans, give the gift that keeps on giving with the chocolate of the month club, or go with the classic box of chocolates! You can even have these amazingly delicious gourmet chocolates shipped directly to Mom’s door!

Or how about something fancy like a cookie bouquet from Cookies by Design? They have a huge variety of fun designs to show Mom you’re thinking of her! Mom will love these one-handed snacks, and there’s something for every price range!

Deliver Mom a Meal!

If you like to cook, think about making a casserole in a dish that mom can keep, like this Pyrex dish from Amazon. That way, she doesn’t have to remember to wash it and give it back to you! Or bring paper plates so there are less dishes. Even if you are visiting when the baby is a few months old, mom will still appreciate a meal.

Or keep it simple and have a pizza delivered, or text mom on your way over and ask her what she’d like from her favorite takeout place. Many folks aren’t sure what to bring, or are concerned about allergies. Mom won’t mind if you check in. “I’m bringing lunch this afternoon, what’s a good takeout restaurant near your place?”   

You can’t go wrong with gift cards. Diapers and formula are expensive (read more about it in my post on 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 by Bringing 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 bringing the things she needs. Of course, you can simply bring groceries when you visit.

Another option is to get 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: When to Start Putting Together a Baby Nursery

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! 

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

Do a Little Cleaning for Mom

When you visit, clean up! Mom may politely say she doesn’t need help. But anyone can load a dishwasher, sweep the floor, tidy up the bathroom, or take out the trash.

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 for even just an hour is an amazing gift!

Offer to keep an eye on the baby while mom takes a shower or a nap! If the baby is only a few weeks old, he will probably just sleep. Easy peasy! Does mom have another kid? Take the older sibling to the park, or the zoo, or just play with them at the house. Mom will appreciate the downtime and the older sibling will enjoy it too fun! 

=Related post: Is the baby’s baptism coming up soon? Check out 15 unique baptism gift ideas here!=

What kind of stuff do new moms need?

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: 8 Thoughtful Care Packages for New Moms=

Check her baby registry

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

Nerdy Books for Mom

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. How about the Harry Potter box set from Amazon? The Witcher, The Expanse Series, and the Dagger and Coin series are some of my favorites that nerdy moms will enjoy. She may appreciate something that’s not baby- related. 

A Tervis tumbler or water bottle will keep Mom hydrated

If mom is breastfeeding, she’ll need to stay hydrated. I love Tervis water bottles! They come in a variety of sizes, and have fun and beautiful designs. They seal so my baby or I don’t spill them, and are dishwasher safe.

Check out these adorable tumblers on Amazon! Adorable Harry Potter tumbler, this one of The Child from The Mandelorian… and if mom isn’t as geeky as I am, they have all kinds of Tervis designs, from sports teams to TV shows, to just plain gorgeous designs.

How about a night light for when Mom’s 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 (click to see it on Amazon) will keep them from tripping in the dark! 

=Related Post: 12 gift ideas for boy moms!=

Gift Mom some fashionable baby-proof jewelry

Mom may not be able to wear long necklaces or dangly earrings with a baby trying to grab them! Let’s spruce up her jewelry box with some stuff she can wear!

I love these stud earrings from Amazon. They are unique and remind me of dragon eggs!

And these little gift bow earrings from Kate Spade on Amazon are adorable!

Or perhaps a choker that’s short enough that it will be out of the baby’s reach? I love this elegant necklace from Swarovski, available on Amazon!

Related post: When to Start Buying Baby Stuff

Pamper Mom with luxury beauty supplies

Do get mom something nice that’s easy to use as part of her daily life,  like 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? 

Or let Mom indulge 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

Combine several gifts into a gift basket

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

Related post: Gifts for a Daughter Having Her First Baby

Do’s and don’ts: Tips for visiting new moms

First, a quick overview of life as a newborn. Eat. Dirty a diaper. Get diaper changed. Sleep. Repeat every 1 to 3 hours, day and night. Now imagine you’re the one caring for this newborn. Things start getting better once a baby is 6 weeks old and sleeping longer, but mom still may be getting up frequently in the middle of the night. 

Now onto the tips! 

• Don’t bring gifts to the hospital. Bring them once the family is home.
• If you want to bring something to the hospital, bring meals or snacks. I loved the trail mix my in laws brought. So much better than asking the nurse to bring me more crackers! 
• Mom may be sleeping or not want visitors if she had a rough night and the house is a mess. Consider dropping off your gift or just having it delivered right to her house from Amazon. 
• If mom is okay with you visiting, plan on staying for no more than an hour. Watch mom for cues that she may want you to leave sooner 
• Do not expect mom to feed you. Eat before you visit, or even better, bring food
• Help yourself. Need a glass of water? Let mom stay sitting down and get it yourself. 
• Wash your hands to keep the baby safe from germs
• If you kiss the baby, kiss them on the top of the head or on the belly or feet. This prevents the spread of germs too.
• Help out with little things. Bring mom a glass of water, take out the trash when you leave, or clear up the dishes from your meal. Think about ways to make your visit as low impact as possible. 
• I recommend not buying plants or flowers. I was so busy with my newborn, I didn’t have time to water them and they died! 

Things New Moms Need for Themselves: Conclusions

Things new moms need: repeat after me. Food. Caffeine. Time. Whether you drop a meal or groceries off and leave, clean the kitchen, watch the baby while mom naps, or take an older sibling out to do stuff, a new mom 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, Christmas, and mom’s birthday too. 

If you’re a mom, what’s the most thoughtful thing someone did for you? What tips can you share for visitors? 

Related posts: Looking for a gift to bring the baby when you visit mom? Buy something from the registry, a cute, nerdy baby outfit, (click here to read my post on cute nerdy baby onesies!) or a hilarious pacifier (like the ones I’ve shared in this post), and you’re set!