New Mom Gifts: Practical Gifts and Unique Gifts for New Moms! Review

Think about it. What were the things that you needed, desired, or wished for as a new mom?  Or if you haven't been a new mom what are those things your friends and family members wished for whenever they spoke with you. 

For me, each time I was blessed with coming home with a new baby I wished for ten things. Yes, the same ten things.  With these perfect gifts you can make a new mom feel special and grant her wishes while she is getting to know her new bundle of joy. 

1.  Food was a very big deal. I was starving constantly.  Having a baby takes a lot of energy and if a new mom you know adds nursing to the schedule she will always be hungry.  Meals alone are not enough and snacks are necessary. The first perfect gift for new moms is baskets of fresh fruit and healthy snacks. Harry and David Gift Baskets have a variety of fresh fruit, organic, seasonal, and healthy snack baskets available. Each basket is a piece of art with small special touches.  If you don't want to wait for a "special delivery" stop by Kroger's, Wal-Mart, Target or other grocery stores and create one yourself. It's a great excuse to stop by and drop it off as well as to take a peek at the newborn baby.

2. More food:  Cooking was difficult, standing at the stove, worrying about the newborn in the next room and later more people absolutely starving the minute they walk in the door. Not to mention the difficulty of meal and menu planning and grocery shopping.  Make the new mom in your life (and her family) happy with gift cards to various local restaurants, both fast food and casual dining.  Chili's  is one of my favorites, you can pull the menu up online, call in the order and they even have a special pick up area for carry out orders.  But you can use just about anything, Subway, Burger King, or Ruby Tuesday.  Short on cash?  Don't worry about it, fill a crock pot or baking dish with a favorite meal like chili or lasagna and drop it off at the house. You can also use several delivery services like Takeout Taxi or get gift cards from those restaurants that deliver, either local ones or pizza joints.

3. Sleep:  I couldn't get enough sleep. During the last few weeks of pregnancy expectant moms can't get comfortable and then upcoming coming home from the hospital they are keeping a close vigil on the newborn baby.  Offer to come over and take just one feeding, this will allow mom to sleep for almost 4 straight hours.  If you aren't available or if there are older children in the family try hiring a neighborhood babysitter and gifting her to your friend or family member.  This is especially useful if there are older siblings in the home, as usually the baby would sleep but everyone else would need something.

4. Photo package gift for whole family:  It can be hard to get the siblings in the family involved with a newborn and sometimes they feel left out.  Purchase a photography certificate from a local photographer or even Wal-Mart, JC Penny or Sears.  After the baby is older the whole family gets together for a little time away from the house to have their picture taken together.  If it's a first child, then mom and dad plus other family members get their first professional portrait of the baby.

5. Everyday baby supplies:  There is so much needed for the arrival of a newborn baby. New moms will appreciate anyone who saves them or their significant others trips to the store for everyday items such as diapers, formula, and wipes.  Drugstore.com and Walgreens.com  allows you to purchase formula, diapers and wipes on line and have them shipped. You can also purchase directly from most name brand sites such as Pampers, Enfamil, Similac or Good Start.

6. Housekeeping:  A new mom is so tired.  Her resources of energy and free time are at an all time low.  Housekeeping is the last things she has time for but the house must be cared for. There are lots of people stopping by; other people in the household and the dishes, especially bottles don't stop getting dirty.  Purchase a weekly cleaner for your new mom.  I have found the best ones to be someone local that a friend or neighbor is already using.  For an average house it's about $35.00 and they do a great job.  Use the resources available to you and check out all the people you know.  Worried about privacy, people around the baby etc., get the new moms two best friends or family members together and knock  out the work in just a couple of hours.  Two pairs of hands are better than one and a lot less expensive.

7. Laundry:  Keeping up with laundry is almost as fun as keeping up with the house. Now new moms have all the blankets, clothing, sometimes even cloth diapers, sheets - I am getting tired just thinking about it. Then the husband still needs his shirt ironed for work (I lived in sweats for 6 weeks) and the whole family can't just buy new wardrobes.  Offer to take a load to the local cleaners.  They will wash, dry and fold all in just a couple of hours for a very reasonable price.  Still worried about privacy (or your budget), offer to take them yourself, grab several washing machines, dryers and a $10.00 stack of quarters and do it yourself.  Your friend or family member will be beyond grateful and you will have spent very little money.

8 Massage at home:  There are lots of aches and pains that accompany child birth.  Find a licensed massage therapist in your community who makes house calls. Purchase 30 minutes for about $40.00.  Your new mother will feel like a new woman after some of those kinks are worked out of her back and shoulders, not only from giving birth but from all the new positions her body must achieve while caring for a newborn baby.

9 Sling/Carrier:  With my fourth child, I still had a toddler and pre teen at home as well as a business to run.  I could not live without my carrier.  I tried out several and found some that are favorites, but these really vary according to your personal style and body.  Maya Slings  are very popular and provide newborn babies with the support they need as well as allowing moms to use them as the baby grows.  The Baby Bjorn Carrier took some time getting used to, but I also enjoyed it, particularly at home. Out and about it was more difficult to get off and on as well as place the child in it after the car seat.  Both gives moms and babies plenty of closeness and cuddle time, are excellent for nursing, moms can be hands free while baby is resting but close by so that we know they are safe and secure.  This is an absolute must have for parents with siblings, as there are so many things to do at once.  They are not just for moms, but great for dads too!

10 Your love and support: Being a new mom is hard, even if you are experienced.  The love, support, and encouragement of my friends and family were invaluable to me.  Things as small as an electronic greeting card from Bluemountain.com or 123greetings.com to books of encouragement or humor were appreciated.  For ideas visit Amazon.com or you may like What to Expect When Baby Comes Home, to read to young siblings; Bringing Home Baby: Parent Tested Tips or She's Had a Baby and I am Having a Meltdown (humor for moms and dads).

My Viewpoint: Each and every one of these ideas and gift suggestions will be appreciated by the new mother and if you use them there is no wrong choice. Each of them shows thoughtfulness, kindness, caring and creativity. One note of caution: check with mom to see what diapers, wipes or formula she prefers before purchasing and having a delivery made.  New moms can get a little scary about our personal preferences especially when they come to our newborn baby.