My lovelies, one of the questions readers most often ask is what to give friends who just had a baby. So, I'd like to share eight gifts for new parents. These ideas aren't wacky or offbeat, but they
are gifts that parents will adore. (And I'd love to hear your thoughts, too!) Here goes...
Gifts you can mail:
1. A cuddly robe. As a new parent, when you get up (multiple times) in the middle of the night, or at the crack of dawn, it's wonderful to have a cozy robe to wrap around yourself. Alex has
this navy-and-green one, I have
this one, and this
striped one is adorable.
2. Massages. Alex and I went for a couples massage (at a cheap walk-in massage place near our house) three weeks after Toby was born. It was honestly the best massage of my life; I still remember how incredibly good it felt. You're so sleepy and your muscles are sore, and it was just wonderful. I remember half falling asleep, which felt dreamy and peaceful. (TMI:
My boobs leaked milk on the massage table. After we left, the massage therapist must have been like,
What the...? :)
3. Your favorite children's book. New babies are
soooooo sleepy, and, to an (impatient) new mama, any sort of playful interaction can seem like a thousand years away. So, I loved one evening when a friend came over with his favorite children's books. It made me so excited for the years ahead with Toby! (Growing up, I loved
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs,
Roald Dahl and
Amelia Bedelia, and here are
Toby's favorites.)
4. Chocolate-covered strawberries! It sounds kind of random, but
chocolate-covered strawberries make a surprisingly wonderful new-mom gift. When Toby was born, my friend
Lina sent me a dozen, and I just about died and went to heaven. They were rich and decadent, but also fresh and healthy. She told me they were her favorite gift when she was a new mom, and once I mentioned them in conversation to other new moms, they would all pipe up. ("Euphoric," said
Abbey. "The best," said
Megan. "Perfect," said
Samantha.)
5. An adorable outfit. We had stocked up with cheap
basic onesies for Toby, so when friends would bring over
adorable outfits for him (that we wouldn't have splurged on ourselves), we were over the moon! I especially love
Winter Water Factory.
6. Baby notepads. Many new moms (myself included) find it helpful to record when your baby eats and naps and all of those sweet things, so you can keep track of your emerging schedule. A
personalized notepad with her baby's adorable photo would be an endearing
and useful gift for a new mama.
Gifts to give in person:7. Cooking. Food of any kind. When Toby was a newborn, Alex and I were so, so grateful when friends would come over with soups, fresh salads, sandwiches, homemade cookies...It felt delicious and nourishing. (A handy tip: If your friend is
breastfeeding, leave out garlic and raw onions, since those ingredients can make newborn babies fussy.)
8. Cleaning up the house. I literally teared up when a friend came over and, without asking, went into the kitchen and did all our dishes. It's so wonderful for people to help around the house when you're a new parent! You just never get to those things. If a friend came over and swept the kitchen floor, did a load of laundry, changed the bedsheets, replaced the toilet paper, and did the dishes, it would be such a joy and gift to the overwhelmed new parents.
A final tip: The gift of no pressure. When Toby was brand new, my good friend in California wrote a lovely congratulatory email to me, and at the end, she said, "Don't respond, go and be with your baby." And it felt SO good to know that I didn't have to do anything but read her lovely words and then turn off the computer. So, consider, at the end of any emails or with gifts that you send, including the words, "No need to respond" or "Don't write a thank-you note. Congratulations again!"
What would you recommend as a gift for friends with new babies? New moms and dads, what gifts do you remember really adoring? I would love to hear your thoughts!P.S. A
beautiful ring for mamas.
P.P.S. Speaking of books, the fantastic non-profit
Milk + Bookies provides books to underprivileged children. Read more
here.
(Top photo of
Jora; dishes photo by
Liv Dueck)
My darlings, have you ever tried galaxy nails? They're brainy, nerdy, cool and playful all at the same time--yet still elegant enough to wear to work. I keep spotting them on pretty girls around our neighborhood, and it makes me smile. So, here's how to get the look...
(My friend Caroline modeled, since she has prettier nails than I do! Her rings are from her collection Brvtvs. Photos by the wonderful Jamie Beck for Cup of Jo)
