When your friend (sister, daughter, cousin…) is expecting, it’s easy to get caught up in what the baby needs, but what about mom? New moms–whether it’s their first or fourth baby—are often forgotten in the excitement of a cooing new bundle. Not anymore!
This list will, of course, have some things for a new baby, but really, it was curated (by moms, for moms!) to help gift-giving friends think outside the diaper box. This Mother's Day, tell the new mom in your life you appreciate the struggle by grabbing one of these great gifts.
We’ve got your registry must-haves covered — an easy-to-clean changing table, a crib mattress that baby will “sleep” on for well over a year, easy-to-maneuver stroller, and anything that will help baby sleep—and now we have more than 60 items that will help mom feel loved, supported, and pampered so matter how many hours of sleep she’s getting, and regardless of whether she’s showered in a few days. (Psst, please let her shower.)
New moms don’t ask for much (but maybe they should!), not even for Mother's Day. All they want is a decent sleep, a warm meal, a few minutes of me-time, and maybe something that helps her feel, well, like her again. So, with that said, read on for some of our favorite picks that will make life a little easier for your favorite new mom.
Looking for a Mother's Day gift? Check out our guides to the best Mother's Day gifts, last-minute Mother's Day gifts, and Mother's Day gifts for Grandma.
1For Quick Cleanup
Be still my organization-loving heart. This changing pad has a wipes holder, diaper holder, and a toy and cream holder, and the pad itself is oversized and easy to clean. You can throw it in a diaper bag, under a wagon, or just use the strap and wear it as a fanny pack. It's the all-in-one you never knew you needed.
2For Easy Bonding
“My baby boy was pretty much naked, in a diaper, for the first month of life — all so that I could get his skin on me whenever he was feeding, napping, or hanging out. And I couldn’t have done it any easier without the help of his top,” says our executive director Christine Anderson.
Moms will appreciate that they can simply loosen the ties and pop their little one inside when they need a snuggle or a nap — or tie it around themselves more tightly when someone else is holding the baby or when they are down for a nap.
3No More Mom Coffee
Do parents ever get to drink an entire cup of hot coffee, or do they just keep microwaving the same cup until it no longer resembles the original beverage?
Prevent that particular tragedy with the Misby mug warmer. It keeps your mug toasty warm for a few hours and then automatically shuts off for safety. It has a lid, spoon, mug, and conduction heat pad all included.
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4For a Chill Moment or a Shower
BabyBjörn aims to please. Their Bouncer Bliss is an ideal seat for newborns due to its ability to lay at a slight incline — so tiny babies who can’t hold their head up just yet can be appropriately supported at the neck and head.
We keep ours in the bathroom, which keeps baby entertained while we shower, apply a face mask, or get ready for work.
5For the Mama Who Needs to Relax
A sound machine is clutch for helping babies (and let’s be honest, toddlers, and even young kids, and heck, some adults!) sleep. Fun fact: the whooshing noise reminds newborns of their time on the inside, and it’s soothing. The Yogasleep Hushh Portable White Noise Sound Machine is compact and portable, but it doesn’t skimp on sound options or quality. We use this at home and on the go.
6For Soft Skin Without the Hassle
The postpartum period is wild on your skin. One thing many of us suffered from is dry skin. (Thanks, hormones! ) What's hard to do is find time for self care. This shower oil takes away a step. It's both a cleanser and an oil, and it leaves your skin silky and smelling great.
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7For On-The-Go Bottle Warming
For the babies who must have their milk warmed and you’re not home, the Tommee Tippee Bottle Warmer is a lifesaver. Simply fill the insulated thermos with hot water, and when it’s time to warm the bottle, unlock the leakproof cap, and pour into the oversized cup that comes with the warmer. Drop your bottle in and voila!
As your kids age out of bottles, we love to fill the Tommee Tippee warmer with hot chocolate for sledding and Christmas tree lightings.
8A Gift That Soothes Soreness
We're not assuming anyone is breastfeeding, but for parents who are, this is a lifesaver.
At some point, you're going to get a clogged duct or have issues with letdown, or your chest is just uncomfortable. These warming massagers help with all of that, providing gentle heat and massage to sore tissues, helping with flow, production, and irritation.
9Best Baby Towel
There is nothing quite as sweet as a freshly bathed baby wrapped in a soft towel — and Copper Pearl makes the cutest of them all. New moms will love the variety of modern and chic patterns, while baby will love how soft and warm the fabric is against their delicate skin.
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10A Memorable Gift for a Memorable Time
"This was one of the best gifts I've ever received," says senior editor Cat Bowen, who received this book featuring her own children from her sister. It's a fully customizable photo book with premium paper, lay-flat pages, and of course, pictures of baby, siblings, and parents.
11For Silent Steps
Embrace your new title with these cozy, comfy Mama Bear slippers, perfect for middle-of-the-night pacing and rocking.
The plush interior are hugs for your feet, and the hard soles are non-slip, and will protect the slippers for those quick dashes outside for the mail and food delivery.
The best part? They come in Papa Bear and Baby Bear designs, too.
12For All Those New Pics
If there's one thing universal about new moms, it's the fact that every one of us takes tons of pictures.
But how many of those pics actually get printed? With this cordless instant photo printer, it's as easy as hitting a button on your phone to print a perfect (or perfectly ridiculous) picture. And yes, it's compatible with both Android and iPhone.
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13Best Footwear
Oh Zutano, how you've made the need for socks completely obsolete. New moms will be ecstatic to find these chic little booties legitimately cannot be kicked off. Cold toes, no more!
Without mom friends to pass on the word about Zutano's booties, we would have been putting our poor little ones in regular baby socks, all while losing a sock a day (and our sanity).
14So She Won't Cry Over Spilt Milk
You waste a ton of milk into your breast pads. On days when a new mom is dealing with some oversupply or just in general, these comfortable in-bra milk collectors won't let a drop of milk go wasted.
They take a bit of getting used to but they are incredibly useful, especially for moms who work outside the home.
15The Gift of Convenience
This is one of the most helpful gifts that you can get for any new mom, and a great last-minute Mother's Day gift. Any parent, really. The gift of not having to worry about how they feed themselves. I promise — it’s not a cop-out. It’s thoughtful and loving, and if they order from the right place, delicious.
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16For a Sweet Gift
Oh Levain, you brilliant company. If you want to delight the new mom in your life, why not give her a selection of what we think are some of the best (giant) cookies in the world, delicious coffee, and a tiny, adorable baby onesie?
17For a Luxe Night's Sleep
New moms spend a lot of time in bed, so why not make that the most luxurious place in the whole house? Brooklinen luxe sateen sheets are some of the best that we've ever tried, and they come in fantastic colors. They're also some of the easiest to launder!
18For a Quick Exit
When Mom just wants to head out quick with or without baby, having a cute belt bag is the way to go. It's big enough for a wallet, a few diapers, and a wipes packet. It's even got a place for their phone. It's a hot commodity, and we think it will be a huge hit this Mother's Day.
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19For a Stylish Parent
This leather backpack diaper bag is what dreams are made of. Stylish, chic, and practical, the New Caroline bag from Lily Jade has tons of pockets for your diaper bag essentials: Diapers (duh), wipes, changing pad, bottles, lotion, sanitizer, a wallet, sunglasses, and phone. Plus it has exterior zip pockets for extras. Yes, this diaper bag is pricey (it's 100 percent leather and extremely well-made), but it doubles as a work tote, thanks to the straps that can be tucked into the bag. As the brand says, "From babies to business" in seconds.
For a more affordable, trusted diaper bag, we love the Skip Hop Forma backpack with mesh packing cubes.
20Best Swaddle
The Halo sleepsack infant and baby swaddles couldn’t be easier to secure. Pop baby in the sack, zip, fold over one side flap, and Velcro the other flap secure. You can even pull tighter with a quick adjustment that doesn’t require you to start the whole swaddle process over.
We love that they zip from the top and bottom, so middle-of-the-night diaper changes can be done without removing the swaddle — meaning the little one gets clean while staying toasty and sleepy.
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