Best Postpartum Gifts For New And Expecting Moms
When selecting amazing gifts for a postpartum mom, focus on items that support her physical healing, emotional well-being, and new role as a mother. With the upcoming holiday season, here’s a gift guide filled with great ideas to make a mama-to-be in your life feel cared for during her postpartum days.
Postpartum Gifts To Support the Healing Process
These gifts address the practical needs of early recovery:
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Pelvic Floor Recovery Tools. A good-quality pelvic floor trainer or consultation with a pelvic floor specialist can aid in retraining pelvic floor muscles to counter urinary incontinence resulting from the birthing process. My Pelvic Therapy offers gift cards for online sessions with a licensed pelvic floor specialist including customized exercises for postpartum recovery of pelvic floor and core strength and tips for safely feeding, lifting, and caring for baby without back strain. The Intimate Rose Kegel Exercise System uses natural biofeedback – if you do not kegal properly, you will feel the weight begin to slip out. Alternatively, the Elvie App-Controlled Women’s Pelvic Floor Trainer allows you to track your progress in real time through the app and helps you build back bladder control through 5 minute workouts. Users typically see results within 4 weeks. I purchased the Elvie App-Controlled Pelvic Floor Trainer after my pregnancy – the app prompts different pelvic floor exercised in a game format, which was honestly kind of fun!
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Nursing Bras and Comfy Robes. Items like a soft nursing bra or a cozy robe make breastfeeding or pumping more comfortable and are great gift ideas for daily use. The Ultimate Nursing Bra by Bumpsuit is not only flattering but also extremely supportive. Adjust it to your needs – it comes with removable pads, adjustable elastic straps, and front clasps. Bumpsuit’s soft brushed cotton jersey Cloud Robe is perfectly lightweight and airy for recovery days lounging at home.
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Pajama Sets. Luxurious loungewear like a comfy robe or matching pajama set can provide relaxation during moments of self-care. I was living in these supersoft Eberjey Pyjamas for the first few weeks postpartum.
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Slippers, or a soft blanket for ultimate comfort. Made with faux fur material minus the clammy and sticky feeling of traditional faux furl, the UnHide Marshmallow Blanket is the perfect cozy blanket to gift a mama-to-be in your life these holidays! It comes in a diverse range of colors and with a velvety interior side – they are also washable – a major bonus in case your baby happens to spit up during a cuddling session. The Project Cloud House Slippers have memory foam padding to reduce stress on feet and a lightweight, water resistant, flexible sole – a functional, cozy and elegant option for hospital and home.
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Water Bottles for Hydration. Hydration is critical during breastfeeding and recovery. Choose stylish, insulated bottles to encourage consistent water intake. The momjug breastfeeding water bottle can hold 50 oz and keeps water cold for 12 hours, features a leak-proof straw, breastfeeding tracker, pacifier clip, and tip-proof silicone base. It is also BPA-free, dishwasher-safe, and made from food-grade materials.
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Under-eye masks to combat sleep deprivation, for example these Little Bean Approved favorites by Grace & Stella ($16 for 24 pairs).
Gifts to Support Mental and Emotional Health
The mental health of a postpartum mom is as important as her physical well-being. Consider these thoughtful gifts:
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White Noise Machines. Help her get the rest she desperately needs by gifting a white noise machine to create a peaceful sleep environment. One of my friends raved about the portable babyshusher to bring with you on the airplane or in the stroller.
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Journals and Self-Care Books. Writing about her experiences can provide a mental health boost. Pair it with a beautifully crafted journal and a book on self-care during the postpartum period. The Promptly Postpartum Journal was developed with certified therapists to support women in navigating the transition of welcoming a baby, and offers prompts, therapy tips, and helpful resources.
Postpartum Nutrition and Snacks
Nourishment is key to recovery and maintaining energy levels during those early days. These great alternative gifts make a big difference:
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Healthy Snacks and Bone Broth. Assemble a postpartum care package with nutrient-dense healthy snacks, homemade bone broth, and her favorite snacks to fuel her energy. FOND also carries a Regenarative Pregnancy & Postpartum Bone Broth Bundle (12 Jars) – an excellent option to incorporate bone broth into your day-to-day when you can’t make any at home.
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Meal Train Services or Gift Certificates. Coordinating a meal train or providing gift certificates for food delivery, such as CookUnity, Easily Reheatable Chef’s Meals, is a good idea to lighten her load during the fourth trimester.
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Lactation Cookies and Breastfeeding Support. If she’s breastfeeding, include lactation cookies or teas that promote breast milk production. It’s a beautiful gift for the first year of motherhood. Expertly crafted by Nurse Wendy, an RN and IBCLC-certified lactation consultant, Boobie milk to the max Superfood Lactation Bars contain 6 superfoods: Moringa, Turmeric, Cinnamon, Shatavari, Flaxseed, and Oats. They are also Gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, soy-free, non-GMO, kosher-certified, and fenugreek-free for those with dietary restrictions.
Comfort and Practicality for Everyday Use
Sometimes, the little things make the biggest impact. Here are great product ideas for convenience and comfort:
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Diaper Bags and Baby Registry Favorites. A stylish, functional diaper bag or an item from her baby registry is always appreciated. Opt for designs with ample storage and durability. This diaper bag from Rubalino is loved by moms and comes with a foldable changing pad.
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Dry Shampoo for Busy Days. During early motherhood, long showers might be a luxury. A dry shampoo is an easy gift that keeps her feeling fresh. For product recommendations, you can check out our latest blog post on pregnancy-safe dry shampoo.
Personalized Postpartum Postpartum Gift Baskets: For Recovery and Relaxation
A postpartum gift basket allows you to combine multiple items for a new mother in one one-stop shop. Here are great gift ideas to curate a customized package of postpartum essentials for recovery and relaxation.
Create a thoughtful and practical gift basket by filling a cute diaper caddy with postpartum essentials. This adorable setup doubles as a handy organizer that a new mom can use throughout the newborn stage.
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Sitz bath salts, like the postpartum favorite from Lansinoh, are excellent for soothing soreness and promoting healing.
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Cooling pads for postpartum healing. During my hospital stay after giving birth, I used up all the cooling pads from the Frida Postpartum Recovery Essentials Kit (another great gift!). I even ordered more while still at the hospital to continue my recovery at home. Based on my doula’s advice, these are better than the ones provided by the hospital.
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Breastfeeding support items, like the Frida Mom Breastfeeding Essentials Kit or the popular Boppy Nursing Pillow, are great for providing extra comfort during nursing and lounging. I personally used the Boppy Pillow all the time, and it was a lifesaver!
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Postpartum vitamins, like Ritual’s lactation-supporting formula, are an excellent choice to promote milk production and overall postpartum health.
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Essential oils, paired with a diffuser, create a calming environment, making them a thoughtful postpartum gift. A sleep essential oil blend containing clary sage can be especially beneficial. While its use during pregnancy carries some uncertainty—our pregnancy-safe ingredient checker flags it as a low-risk ingredient—clary sage is widely recognized for supporting postpartum recovery by aiding hormonal balance and mood regulation. It makes a nice gesture for tired new moms.
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Aromatherapy Shower Steamers for optimal relaxation.
Unique Postpartum Gifts for New Moms
If you’re looking for something different, consider these amazing gifts that balance practicality and thoughtfulness:
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Personalized Keepsakes make heartfelt and meaningful postpartum gifts. Customized jewelry, such as a handmade necklace featuring the baby’s initials can create cherished memories for the new mom.
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Yoga or Pilates for Postpartum Recovery. Sure, a yoga or Pilates class designed for postpartum recovery sounds amazing—but let’s be real, when does a new mom find time between diaper changes and not sleeping? Maybe a gift card for an online class she can attempt during nap time is more realistic.
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Postpartum doula. Instead of virtual parenting classes or breastfeeding consultations, consider booking a session with a postpartum doula, who can provide invaluable support for new mamas as they navigate feeding schedules, newborn care, and the early motherhood transition. They’re like having a wise best friend who actually knows what they’re doing—and won’t judge the mountain of laundry in the corner.
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Infant CPR or First Aid Classes. Not glamorous, but a practical and empowering gift that could bring her peace of mind in those early months. Plus, it’s something the whole family can benefit from!
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Help with the Everyday. Sometimes the next best thing to a full night’s sleep is extra help: Hire a cleaning service or provide a gift card for household assistance. Another idea is to offer childcare vouchers or babysitting for a second child or older siblings.
What Makes a Postpartum Gift Truly Special?
The most meaningful gifts stem from understanding the postpartum mom’s needs and offering her practical solutions or moments of rest. Founder of Sunflower Motherhood, Andrea Madril, recommends focusing on three key areas:
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Support for Recovery. Gifts that aid in the healing process or provide tools for self-care.
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Encouragement and Comfort. Items that offer emotional uplift and physical comfort during postpartum days.
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Help with Adjustments. Services or products that ease the transition into motherhood, helping her feel confident in her new role.
Conclusion
Choosing the perfect postpartum gift for a new mom doesn’t have to be complicated. From healthy snacks and cozy blankets to postpartum care packages, there’s a good chance you’ll find something meaningful for every new mother in this guide. Remember, even the little things can make a huge impact during the postpartum period. While the focus is on mom, adding a gift for the baby like a small toy or outfit can be a nice gesture to round out the package.
For more great gift ideas and tips for supporting new moms, visit Little Bean’s blog—a one-stop shop for research-based recommendations for mamas-to-be.
