35+ Self-Care Gifts for New Moms (That Aren’t for the Baby)

The best gifts for new moms will help her take care of herself physically, mentally, and emotionally. Whether it is food, services, entertainment, comfort items, or an encouraging note, I promise your care and concern will mean the world to her.

Welcoming a baby into the world is an experience unlike any other. My postpartum days were truly the hardest season of my life to-date (thanks to postpartum anxiety) and I learned more deeply than ever two important lessons:

1. You cannot care for anyone else if you’re not taken care of yourself.
2. You NEED the support of others to help you do that.

I am profoundly grateful for the tangible and intangible support that I received as a new mom, and it has made me committed to supporting other new moms in those early emotional, hormonal, sleepless, learning-curve days of postpartum life.

Fortunately, it seems like you’re here for the same reason 🙂

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The Best Gifts for New Moms (that aren’t for the baby)

This guide is focused exclusively on meaningful gifts to help your new mom friend feel a little less stressed and a little more herself during the postpartum craziness and life with a newborn.

As you sort through these ideas, most of the products will seem SO small, and of course they won’t take away the difficulties of those early weeks – but I’m telling you, all these postpartum self-care gifts made me feel more comfortable, a little extra special, and surrounded with tangible reminders of how many people were helping me through this time!

This is the best-case scenario with postpartum gifts for new moms!

Help her Meet her Physical needs.

When you are focused entirely on meeting the needs of a dependent newborn, it is easy to forget your own needs of food and water. This only leaves moms feeling more exhausted and worn down. This makes things that make day-to-day life easier the best self-care gifts for new moms!

1. Doctors and family members will be telling her to chug water all the time, so treat her to a new water bottle. (These bottles will forever & always be the main reason I drink enough water)
2. Bring a home-cooked meal by choosing one of these recipes! If you’re long-distance or can’t find time to cook, delivery is a wonderful option as well.
3. Being up at all hours means moms are often STARVING with no time or mental energy to put together a good snack. Make it easy with pre-portioned, handy snacks for her to grab. (My go-to’s are pretzels, and Naked Juices)
4. Whether your friend needs a warm drink or a much-needed caffeine boost, pick up some coffee or tea. If you’re looking for a deluxe gift consider picking up a Nespresso machine, which makes brewing perfect coffee so, so easy.

Create a Comfortable Environment.

I feel like I am always reaching for hair ties, headbands, lip balm. Having plenty on hand, especially if they are nicer versions than I would normally buy myself, is so helpful!

I also received a cozy blanket, robe, and socks. These are all self-care gifts for new moms that will make late-night feedings so much more comfortable! 

While bath bombs are great if your friend enjoys baths, I found that relaxing body washes and lotions were more practical and made quick showers feel like “me-time”. Consider supporting a small brand like Nature is Health, which offers adorable gift boxes, perfect for new moms.

I was also given essential oils to diffuse. Not only are they relaxing, they also help moms make the most of those short sleep windows! A diffuser makes a great add-on if she doesn’t have one already!

Specific gifts for breastfeeding moms

There are a few more physical/comfort gifts for new moms after birth who are breastfeeding that can be helpful:

• BUTTON. UP. PAJAMAS – I had a friend buy me the exact pair that (unbeknownst to her) was in my Target cart because I realized I desperately needed nursing-friendly sleep clothes. 
• Even if you’re doing it “right”, breastfeeding can be rough those first few weeks. These soothing pads, hot/cold therapy packs, and nipple cream can make a world of difference.

Of course, all of these items can be given individually with an encouraging note or put together as a gift basket, “survival kit”, or care package.

Make Household Responsibilities Easy & Convenient

• Amazon gift card or Prime Subscription – 90% of my purchases come from Amazon so that I don’t have to leave the house with a small baby. The e-mail gift cards come with really cute animations, and you can make it better with free 2-day shipping with a Prime subscription. That came in handy that first week when I realized all the things I hadn’t thought to buy! (Note: while you can’t directly gift an Amazon Prime membership anymore, you can use Amazon gift cards to pay for them!)
• Grocery delivery – Have groceries delivered from Amazon Fresh, Walmart, or other participating stores. This is such a great way to save moms the time, hassle, and mental energy of grocery shopping!
• Home Cleaning Service – I know many moms who have received a certificate for a deep-cleaning or several weekly cleans during the early months, and it was a huge relief!

Give her an Outlet for Entertainment & Mental Stimulation

I watched an obnoxious amount of TV during those slow nursing sessions! Especially if your friend is a first-time mom and doesn’t have other kids running around, consider gifting her a Netflix, Hulu, or Prime Video subscription.

I also listened to a lot of podcasts & audiobooks when I felt I had the mental capacity. Whether it’s comedy, parenting, or a personal interest, this can be an amazing way to get outside of the “baby brain” and find some balance. You can easily purchase an Audible subscription as a gift here – available in 1, 3, 6 and 12-month options.

Provide a Helping Hand

Combining some of the ideas above, and adding some other personal ways to lend a hand to new parents, I made these free printable coupons!

While most people won’t go out of their way to “redeem” them, these cards open the door for different ways you can make yourself available to them. They include:

1. Bringing dinner
2. Buying groceries or running errands
3. Cleaning their house
4. Taking a “night shift” so they can sleep
5. Taking a “day shift” so they can shower, work out, nap, whatever!
6. Entertaining sibling(s) for an afternoon
7. Walking their dog(s)
8. Being on call for general adult interaction & conversations
9. Babysitting (down the road, of course!)

The sets are available in blue, grey, or pink.

FREE, No email required.

Important: You will need to unzip or extract the files before using the individual JPGs.

Provide Encouragement and Kind Words

In addition to gifts and acts of service, words of affirmation are HUGE. You can incorporate this into your gift in a variety of ways:

• I love the idea of including an encouraging framed print – something like “The best memories are made at home” or one of my favorites, “Children are not a distraction from more important work. They are the most important work.” 
• I have some simple, free motivational prints here!
• And of course, nothing beats a sincere note from the heart. Consider characteristics you know about your friend/family member that will make them a wonderful parent and be sure to let them know they are doing a good job!

Hopefully these new mom gift ideas are able to inspire you!

By: Brennan Brown

See all the gift guides:

• Your Guide to Meaningful Gifts Without The Stress (+ free planners)
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• 8 Mix-&-Match Engagement Gift Ideas (that Aren’t Bridal Magazines!)
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• Best Gifts on Amazon for any personality/interest
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• 40+ Perfect Gifts for Stay at Home Moms in 2024
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