Best Gifts for New Moms | Feathers and Stripes

When you need a great gift for a new mom or a pregnant friend, it’s hard to know exactly what to get. Do you bring a practical gift like clothes for the baby? A thoughtful gift like flowers for her? What if it’s her birthday and she just happens to be a new mom? And what do you get for Mother’s Day for a new mom or a pregnant mama? Since I’ve been a “new mom” three times now, I’m sharing some ideas for new mom gifts – and what you should avoid. Let’s help you find the perfect gift!

Best Gifts for A New Mom or Pregnant Mama

If you’re looking for mom gifts, here’s a short list of some of the best!

one: comfortable leggings

a pair of the comfiest leggings (I love these so much that I own 3 pairs and I wrote them their own dedicated leggings blog post!) and the robe/sweater that everyone wants once they feel it

two: cozy blanket

a cozy throw for TV binging (as soon as the little ones are asleep), especially if she has a newborn and will be spending time at home relaxing postpartum! The UGG blankets are so cozy and plush!

three: Google Home

Google Home, which will allow her to do things hands-free (like turn on a soothing playlist or add something to her shopping list)

four: cross-body bag

a chic cross-body bag (because the diaper bag is probably her everyday bag) or an everyday belt bag

five: fitness tracker

a fitness tracker to track all those steps she’s taking in the middle of the night 😉 if she doesn’t have an Apple Watch already

six: water bottle

a pretty water bottle (or coffee bottle!), or the latest craze- the Stanley Adventure Quencher (The viral cup is the 40 oz but I actually prefer the 30 oz size)

seven: cozy slippers

cozy slippers especially in the winter months

eight: luxe pajamas

nice pajamas for those long afternoons when people might drop by (especially if she has a newborn baby!)

nine: skincare

a nice skincare set (my go-to skincare brand)

ten: iRobot Braava Jet

By far my favorite home gadgets that help me keep the house clean during the week are my self-emptying iRobot, Braava Jet (it mops! You can read my full review of the Braava Jet here), and Tineco wet/dry vacuum. If she has a dog, these are even better because they help keep the dirt and fur off the floors.

Affordable new mom gifts

Beauty goodies to make her feel pretty: this 5-minute face mask in a bottle, a pretty lip stain, a really great mascara – or something else from her favorite luxurious beauty list

An ornament kit for taking a handprint impression of her new baby (a unique gift that she’ll appreciate! I loved making these with all three of my babies)

A basket of snacks! It’s wild how you can forget to eat as a new mom because you have so many other things going on. Anything with protein that you can grab on the go is nice to have.

Other gifts for new moms…

Something off her baby registry that she really wanted- maybe not the most fun gift but there’s a reason registries exist!
A homecooked meal or snacks she can grab
An offer to watch the baby so she can take a shower/mindlessly scroll through Instagram/online shop/read a book
A gift card for a spa service or manicure/pedicure
Take a day off from work (clear the day ahead of time with the new mom) and spend the day with her and her baby. Meet up for lunch, wander downtown… It can get lonely being on maternity leave during the week, especially when your partner goes back to work. Having plans (and don’t forget to be flexible if she’s running late!) can be really wonderful
A good night’s rest (one of the best gift ideas if you ask me!)

Gifts for a pregnant woman or expectant mothers

A sentimental gift like a pregnancy journal or memory book, especially if she’s in her first trimester or second trimester
A gift card for a prenatal massage
A pregnancy gift basket with important things she will need, like a water bottle and lip balm for her hospital bag, self-care products like body lotion and belly butter or vitamin E to prevent stretch marks, organic cotton onesies for the baby, compression socks if she travels, bath salts, and cozy maternity clothes
Maternity robe or pregnancy pillow if she’s a family member or close friend
If she’s experiencing morning sickness, lollipops or sour candy are a great idea to add into a baby gift

Gifts you should avoid for new parents

To be totally honest, anything that is extra work should be avoided as a gift. If you want to bring a large platter of food, for example, it’s helpful if you put everything into smaller packs to freeze. Bringing flowers? Put them in a vase (or do it once you get to the house). Don’t bring a gift that means the new mom will have more to do.