Top 10 Gifts New Moms Want (but don't know it yet)

Have a mom in your life that you want to shower with love? Well, this is a list of the things that I have found to make motherhood just a little bit easier. This is a list of goodies just for mom that she doesn't even know she needs yet! 

1. Slip on slippers- 

Photo credit: www.OldNavy.com

This may seem a little strange, but with my first baby I had boot slippers that were awesome and warm but required two hands to put on and that's just not realistic at 3am in the dark when you're holding a crying infant. This time around I bought myself some cute (and stylish as slippers can be) moccasin slippers from Old Navy. It's been a game-changer for those middle of the night feedings. Now, I have had two winter babies so slippers were an essential, so be mindful of the time of year that the mom you're gifting is going to give birth. If She's having summer babies you will probably opt to give her house shoes that are not as warm. 

2. Postpartum Care Kit- 

Before my second baby was born I created several "stations" around the house that contained items i knew I was going to need. The first kit was a postpartum kit that I kept in the bathroom. Having a baby does a number on your body and trying to take care of baby is hard enough, but add on top of that caring for yourself, it can be overwhelming. This kit contains all of the things that I used after having my babies, most of which I didn't know I would need until it was absolutely necessary. This kit will save Dad a trip to the store!
- Comfy and cute Pajamas: My wonderful sister-in-law brought me a cute track suit and tank tops to the hospital after I gave birth to my first. It was such a thoughtful gift!
-Bathroom essential : Dermoplast (trust me, this stuff is amazing), maxi pads, tucks, and stool softener
-Hair Ties
-Body Wash & Loofah
-Water Bottle
- Robe: This is great for the hospital! I bought a dark colored cotton robe before Judah was born and wore it at the hospital with both babies. It is perfect for staying warm and also convenient for nursing.
-Encouraging Cards: To personalize this gift, write mom some sweet words of encouragement on notecards.

3. Nursing kit

Nursing a newborn is no easy task. It's physically and emotionally draining, so a nursing kit is a perfect gift for mom.
-Nursing tank tops: I love the ones at Target (and it is best to go up a size, since the "girls" will be bigger).
-Water Bottle: Be sure to buy a water bottle that you can drink out of with one hand, not one that the lid has to be unscrewed. This will help mom get the water that she needs and save her the trouble setting baby down to open it (and keep the toddler from spilling it all over the floor).
- Nursing pads
-Nursing Cover
-Snacks: I keep a drawer of snacks beside my chair in the nursery (hidden from the toddler). When you're nursing you need extra calories so this stockpile will come in handy! Try to keep the snacks high in protein and low in sugar.
-Lanolin & Cold Packs
-Burp Cloths
-Encouraging Cards

4. Freezer meals

Photo Credit: moneysavingmom.com

Freezer meals are a great gift for mom! She still needs to feed herself and her family, along with the new baby! My favorite freezer meal is Greek Chicken Bake. My mom made it for me before Evie was born and I've eaten it a ton! It is essentially chicken breast baked in olive oil and Greek seasoning and then individual breasts are placed in freezer bags. It's perfect to put over salad or just eat alone. I am so tired most days that I want to just eat whatever junk in the fridge first, so having an already cooked meal makes life so much easier! (Make sure to follow freezer meal safety guidelines and to clearly mark the outside of the meal with what is inside and how to prepare it.)

5. Wet bags 

Photo Credit: www.applecheeks.com

Mom life is messy and chaotic! Anything you can give mom to help organize some of that disaster will be much appreciated! Wetbags are perfect for containing the mess! These bags are made with PUL (polyurethane laminate), it is a water repelling fabric that can be easily wiped clean or thrown in the washer and dryer. My favorite cloth diaper brand, Applecheeks, makes the absolute cutest wetbags and they come in three different sizes (mini zips[pictured], size 1 sac, and size 2 sac). You can order these bags from most natural parenting stores that sell Applecheeks. I keep my bathroom kit inside a wetbag and my entire diaper bag is organized using these!

6. Target gift card 

Who doesn't love a trip to Target?! I like to take little mommy-cations at Target (sans toddler). It's wonderful to just walk around with a cup of coffee and breath. 

7. Restaurant gift card 

Mom and dad are going to need to go on dates after baby, and what better way to show them some love, but paying for their meal?! Josh and I recently went on our first post-baby date and it was so much easier going, knowing that our meal was paid for!

8. Netflix subscription 

Those middle of the night nursing sessions are so much easier when you have something to look forward to! I have loved watching my favorite shows on Netflix in the middle of the night, it makes me not feel so alone and takes my mind off the lack of sleep. A gift card is a great way to shower mom with love and maybe even a list of your favorite shows. 

9. Massage gift card

My sweet husband got me gift card for a massage at Christmas and it made me cry (in a good way). Moms spend so much time wrestling toddlers, carrying laundry baskets, and holding baby that it takes a serious toll on their body. Treat mom to a massage, it will seriously rock her world.

10. Photography gift card 

Babies are stinking cute and who doesn't want beautiful pictures of their little ones?! A gift card for a photography session is such a wonderful gift for a new mom. If you are handy with a camera you could also offer to do a newborn session yourself! I took this picture of Evie with my phone and I know it would have been a lot better quality with a nice camera!  

I hope this list inspires you to give the mom in your life something thoughtful and useful. And remember, the best gift you can give is that of support and encouragement. We will take that over gift cards any day! 

Love to you and the moms in your life, 

Emily