New moms deserve every gift in the world after navigating motherhood for the first time and caring for their little bundle of joy every second of the day.
Perhaps you’re not a new mother yourself. Or, maybe you keep asking yourself, “what’s the perfect gift for her?” After all, she likely has *everything*, but what’s a good gift that she’ll appreciate and adore?
That’s where the New York Post Shopping team comes in. Sure, these options can be suited for your wife, mom, girlfriend or the woman you know in general, but this gift guide is one of our most uniquely curated.
How so? We interviewed dozens of new moms themselves for gifts they had on their wishlist or were thrilled to receive. Rest assured we spoke to a team of pros — so you don’t have to run in circles and try to locate a new mom to reach out to.
Ahead, find the ultimate list of 45 gifts pregnant people actually want. Whether for Christmas, a birthday or even a welcome-home pregnant once the baby comes, here’s the crème de la crème.
According to Kristjana Hillberg, new mom-of-three, a meal delivery kit will make a pregnant woman’s life so much easier. We recommend Blue Apron (a service we reviewed), a top-of-the-line option known for its fresh recipes, diverse array of options and customizable plans — perfect for gifting as the service is based on price and preference.
On the same notion of convenience, “every new mom that’s just returned home from the hospital wants one thing—easy meals,” Andi Henke, mom of three-year-old Emmett and one-year-old Baz, told the New York Post. “Uber and DoorDash gift cards are so helpful during those first few tough days, too.”
The best part? You can select how much you’d like to include on the gift card before checking out on Amazon. Done, and done.
“The last thing you feel like doing when you’re in that newborn haze is cooking,” Jaime Maser Berman, mom of four kids — Bodie (7), Arlo (5), Jones (3) and Daly (1) — told The Post. “Few things beat not having to deal with food shopping and prepping and cleaning up. Trust that the option of order ordering in food is much appreciated by weary new parents.”
“Because every new mom deserves (but rarely gets) time for herself,” per Berman, gift the the Denarii Lavender Spa Gift Basket from 1-800-Baskets. “And also, because your body is so out of whack from what it just went through with labor and delivery/constantly hunching over if you’re nursing/non-stop picking up and carrying your baby/toddler/all of the things.”
Not to mention, Maser believes you deserve a solid hour — or 90 minutes — “to give your body a little TLC.” Even better, this set allows your recipient to take advantage of R&R right from home.
“Named after my daughter, Poppy, the Coconut Pops Poppy is a pajama that features two-way zippers that make changing diapers a breeze,” Courtney Young, founder of the brand and new mom with a mission to make new moms’ lives easier, told The Post. “It has fold over cuffs on the hands and feet, and is made from ultra-cozy, and ultra-stretchable bamboo.”
More, this means that this gift is going to span several months of wear, with each size lasting (and literally stretching) between your typical growth spurts.
“If breastfeeding is a journey you are exploring, the My Brest Friend pillow was a lifesaver,” Monica Toogood, mother of seven-month-old Stevie, said. “It ensures proper position of the baby while also protecting your posture during all breastfeeding sessions.” This option is also a No. 1 Amazon best-seller.
For more options, check out our expert-backed guide to the best breast pumps.
“Buy a white noise machine for mom so she can get some uninterrupted sleep (at least a few hours of it, in between pumping sessions) without having to hear the commotion that’s going on beyond the bedroom,” Yun Yu Quinn, mother of one-year-old Ning, suggests.
Additionally, she also recommends Baby Shusher’s The Sleep Miracle Sound Machine ($35).
“Comfortable loungewear is the one thing I needed the most with my post-baby body,” Victoria Annina, mother to five-month-old Lexi, said. “I had everything for the baby but nothing to accommodate my new body post C-section.”
We recommend Barefoot Dreams’ The Cozy Chic Ultra Light Lounge Pants. Not only are these the comfiest bottoms we’ve ever worn but the elastic band has enough give to accommodate and support your postpartum belly.
“Having your books on the go is great to have to pass the time while waiting on doctor appointments, especially those longer ones, but it’s even better when you’re nursing and want to pass the time,” Jillian Thayer, mother to three-year-old Rylan, notes. “Especially in the wee hours of the morning when you’re not sleeping but don’t want to turn on the TV or scroll on Instagram.”
Plus, you can step up the gift a notch and pre-load it with her favorite books — or books you know she’ll love — so she doesn’t have to use brain space to research what to download. ” I spent a lot of time breastfeeding & on the couch or bed the first few months,” Hillberg adds, also recommending the gift of books. “I loved having a book close by to indulge myself in while holding sleeping baby.”
For more options, check out our guide to the best e-readers.
According to Adriana Green —mother of five-year-old Arlo and 9-month-old Dahlia, and founder of Esteli — the haakaa Manual Breast Pump is “a lifesaver for long car trips or when you’re in places where you are engorged and baby is not around or not hungry.” Additionally, it’s a No.1 Amazon best-seller with nearly 94,000 rave reviews.
“This multi-use balm is real magic that is useful from the moment you leave the hospital as a great swap for petrolatum based products (think baby bums) and for after baths to lock in moisture,” Pam Cholankeril, mother of two boys — seven-year-old Dhruv and four-year-old Veer — told The Post.
More, this is a product that grows with the kids and can be used even on mommy for sore and cracked skin.
According to Hillberg, “cozy girl items like slippers” are what a new momma will appreciate. The solution? L.L.Bean’s Daybreak Scuffs Slippers are a well-made pair that’s especially perfect for anyone who loves florals. Its super-soft fleece lining is a nice touch, too.
Hillberg also recommends a “cozy sweater” for pregnant women — especially one that’s both bump- and post-bump friendly. The Petal & Pup Kahlani Button Front Knit Sweater has a slightly oversized look, button-detailing appeal and allover comfy charm we can’t help but advise you to buy.
For more options, check out our guides to the best sweaters and cashmere sweaters.
“Something luxury like Sakara is such a no-fuss treat,” Henke recommends. Its classic catalog of wellness-first cleanses, meal plans, snacks and more is ideal for anyone who wants to eat healthier or restart their diet postpartum.
“A box — or two — of diapers (preferably bought via Amazon, so if the parents don’t like the diaper brand you selected, they can return/exchange for their preferred diaper brand), makes a great gift,” Berman recommends. “With babies — especially newborns — you go through so. many. diapers. Like, more diapers than you can ever imagine. And the money spent on that adds up!”
Additionally, a few of Maser’s friends gifted herwith boxes of diapers for her son, Daly, and she was “so appreciative of the practicality,” she notes.
“The Doona was on the top of my registry as a must-have product,” Young notes. “Once Poppy was born, I knew we made the right choice with this car seat. It converts to a stroller with a click of a button, so you don’t have to take up valuable trunk space with a separate stroller piece.”
It also fits on airplanes, in Ubers, and small spaces at restaurants. “You’re a new mom, but you are still on the go, and this is the car seat to do it with,” she highlights.
This gift guide is so practical, we’re even getting down to snacks. “I had a friend give me a care package of various snacks but the Mariani fruit chips and dried apricots gave me so much energy and I felt good consuming the entire package in one sitting because…it’s FRUIT!” Toogood said.
Not to mention, this less-than-$15 grab makes a perfect just-because gift for the pregnant woman you know.
“If you had a vaginal birth, you will be walking around in ice packs and pads, so glamorous!” Quinn said. “If moms don’t have one already, get them a donut cushion because I promise they’ll be single at an angle for days.” This pick from ComfiLife is a No. 1 Amazon best-seller with more than 95,000 spectacular reviews.
And in that same vein, since you’ll probably look like you’re in diapers, any pair of loose joggers you can find, bring that over too! “They must be soft because your skin is just odd after being in the hospital and all the drugs pumped into you,” she adds, honestly.
Thayer recommends “an incredible robe,” and that’s exactly why we recommend the Lilac+London Print Satin Wrap Robe.
“When you have the baby, you’re house-bound for the first few weeks and covered in breastmilk, spit-up and all of the bodily fluids that come with newborn life, so it’s nice to walk by a mirror and feel like you’re on your game, if only just a little bit,” she notes.
“These are great for an environmentally friendly way to deal with leaks, which you inevitably will experience as your body adjusts to a new baby,” Green shares.
She recommends the KeaBabies Reusable Nursing Pads (14-Pack), a bundle with nearly 5,000 reviews from at-home mommas. More, they’re made of natural bamboo.
“I never found a diaper bag that I loved and we cycle through many,” Cholankeril reflects. “I recently received this and have used it as a travel bag but would have loved to have had this as a diaper bag/ bookbag when my kids were small.”
Additionally, Cholankeril also loves that it’s a black-owned brand.
According to Hillberg, gifting a Stanley (or, a “huge cup for liquids”) is key.
“Especially when you’re breastfeeding, it can be hard to stay/keep hydrated, so having a nice cup with me was a staple everywhere I went,” she notes.
“I could not believe within a week of having a baby how exhausted my eyes looked,” Henke said. “A very thoughtful friend sent me these from Clé de Peau Beauté, and I would immediately feel a little brighter and more awake after wearing them.”
What’s more, Henke always gifts these to friends and throw in Lumify Eye Drops ($22) to really help new moms look awake.
“Books to add to the babies library make a great gift,” Berman said. “Even better if there are books outside the usual suspects. You will get no less than five copies of ‘Goodnight Moon,’ ‘Guess How Much I Love You?‘ and ‘Chicka Chicka Boom Boom.’”
One of the best gifts she ever received was an assortment of books from a former clients of hers who were also parents. “They put together a mini library for one of my boys, featuring their children’s favorite books from when they were little,” she remembers.
“This came highly recommended to me when I was building out my registry, and now I tell all of my friends to get one too,” Young shares. “For the 12:00 a.m., 2:00 a.m., and 4:00 a.m. feeds, to the mid-afternoon bottle, this made life so much easier.”
Specifically, this essential makes a bottle to your baby’s preferred temperature, all at the push of a button. “There’s no powder all over the counter for you to clean up and no bottle warmers involved; you just push a button and go. It makes a perfectly measured bottle in seconds.”
For more options, check out our expert-backed guide to the best baby formula.
For the cool mom, Toogood recommends a non-traditional diaper bag (that she knew she could repurpose into an everyday bag eventually), like the July Everyday Backpack.
“The space and smart pockets give me plenty of room for the diapers, toys, wipes, my water bottle and more,” she highlights. The standard pack is $145 and you can even add personalization for $50 more.
For more options, check out our guide to the best women’s backpacks.
Cute nursing clothing is a must-have, according to Thayer. “I had no idea how hard it would be to find options where I was able to breastfeed quickly while on the go,” she said. “That meant wearing shirts or dresses that gave my babe easy access to the boobs.”
She told The Post how much she lived in these Target nursing tanks and also jumpsuits like the Old Navy Maternity PowerChill Sleeveless Racerback Bodysuit ($50).
“Any sort of cute dress that’s nursing-friendly would be a real win, or a henley like this one from Alo (always my fave) that you can easily pull down,” she adds.
“I used to treat myself to a blowout a few times a month when I was pregnant, and I kept the love going after giving birth so I could feel good about my hair — even if it took a while for the rest of me to feel better,” Cholankeril shares. In short, the pregnant momma-to-be will appreciate a Drybar gift certificate, which you can order directly from Drybar’s website.
Not only do we love Drybar blowouts but we love its products a good deal, like its The Double Shot Blow-Dryer Brush ($155) and Southern Belle Volume-Boosting Mousse ($29).
According to Hillberg, “something that can be tied to the birth such as a piece of jewelry” is a good idea. That’s why we recommend the Brook & York Mackenzie Birthstone Initial Pendant — a dainty fine jewelry item with impressive, beautiful personalization. Oh, and it’s less than $100.
Hillberg also recommends a fresh perfume or fragrance to remind your recipient of this special time. What better pick than the Ariana Grande Cloud Eau de Parfum — an option that looks like a cloud-themed baby nursery (and, smells fresh and clean, like a baby’s bum). Not to mention, it’s one of our favorites.
“While recovering from birth, it’s nearly impossible to wear anything but big cozy sweatpants and big T-shirts, but these SKIMS pajamas made me feel just a tiny bit put-together,” Henke said. Even better, they’re indulgent to the touch and come in an array of dreamy neutrals.
“I love myself a personalized book from Wonderbly (and often gift those to new moms myself),” Berman said. “You can customize the book with the child’s name, birth date, dedication, etc.; Wonderbly lets you customize the character’s hair and skin tone options, which is pretty cool.”
Pro tip: be sure to confirm the baby details before you personalize to ensure you use the nickname, if they’re going by that.
“Poppy was little, 6 lbs., 2 oz. little,” Young said. “Having a changing pad that doubles as a scale let me know she was gaining enough weight without having to worry in between doctor’s appointments.”
Bonus points: it’s “incredibly easy to wipe down and clean,” Young adds, “which means no extra laundry from cloth changing covers.”
“I cannot tell you how many cups of coffee went to waste in the early days — because I’d either forget about it or always have my hands full with baby — but the Ember mug solved all my problems by keeping my coffee warm all day (or night),” Toogood said.
Not to mention, it’s one of the best mugs we rounded up.
“I wanted to shower and wash my hair the moment I got home,” Quinn said. “Hospital showers aren’t the same. I wanted the familiar scent of my products so a set of her favorite shower products. For me it was Jack Black Turbo Wash — I had a strong scent aversion when I was pregnant and the Rosemary and Eucalyptus was one of the few scents that didn’t send me running to the bathroom.”
Additionally, the arnica in the product helps relax the body, per Quinn.
“Just like the robe, it feels good to have something cute and cozy on when you’re lounging around the house,” Thayer shares. “You can do Cozy Earth pajamas which I love because of the bamboo, or these Target sets that are more affordable.”
Oh, and we can’t rave about Cozy Earth enough; our loved ones are absolutely and positively hooked as well.
” I stole a lot of the underwear from the hospital and I wore them for longer than I’d like to admit,” Cholankeril shares. “I was happy to see these and think they’d be such a cute and useful gift.”
Even better, they make for a practical less-than-$20 gift for the pregnant momma you know.
If she’s not nursing, wine is a great gift!
“It’s nice to get a bottle of nice wine and some $50 hydrating cream,” Hillberg recommends. Out of all the wine delivery services to choose from, we recommend Firstleaf — a personal favorite that has a trio up for grabs. Oh, and she’ll totally appreciate the gift of wine after nine months of going alcohol-free.
“The L.L.Bean Boat and Tote is, hands down, the best diaper and travel bag for new moms,” Henke awards.”I always send a custom one to my friends after they’ve given birth with their baby’s initials.”
Not to mention, it can double as a work tote after maternity leave.
According to Berman, buying toys for when the child is nine months to a year old is a good idea. “Everyone – and I mean everyone — gifts clothes for 0-3 months or 3-6 months stage, and that goes by in a flash, or they wear it two or three times and outgrow it.”
What you really need are items for when the kid is a little bit older — “and you can’t go wrong with Melissa & Doug playtime toys, IMHO,” she adds. “Functional, educational, not ugly; they’re classics that last and last.”
“This has come in handy time after time from the newborn stage to present,” Young said, recommending the Yogasleep Hushh for Baby Portable Sound Machine. “It’s easy enough to pack for travel, or to throw in the diaper bag for days on the go.”
When Young was in the newborn stage, she’d place it in the bassinet on our large stroller for walks around the block. “Now, I bring it and put it in the pocket or stroller organizer for days when a stroller nap may have to suffice,” she comments.
Toogood recommends any of the Babylist Try-It Kits. “These came in so handy because I quickly learned that my baby wouldn’t like certain pacifiers or bottles, all because Babylist has these kits that allow you to sample a few baby items at a time — so you aren’t investing time (and money) into essential baby items that your little one might not like,” she adds.
We recommend the Babylist Swaddle Box Try-It Kit (because you’re going to use a lot of them in the bassinet and later, in the crib. The brand also has a Teether Box ($35) and Bottle Box ($33), among others.
For Moms and moms to be deserve to be treated, “this is the best gift ever,” according to Cholankeril.
“Whenever I’m stumped on what to get someone, I show up to a Jo Malone store,” she notes. And, its stunning packaging and even more stunning box is reason enough to add it to your cart.
“The Colugo Baby Carrier comes in the best colors and feels like an upbeat addition to any postpartum outfit,” Henke notes. Even better? Its storage options and minimalist nature add to its must-have charm.
“If feeling generous and/or splitting a gift with friends to gift a new parent, this Babybjorn Travel Crib is *the best*,” Berman notes. “It’s lightweight and essentially foolproof to set up and break down.”
More, she used to have a hand-me-down travel crib that was so cumbersome and heavy, and she haven’t looked back since she sprung for this one from Babybjorn. “It has served us well, again and again,” she adds. Not to mention, it’s one of the best travel cribs we rounded up.
“We like to travel; Poppy had five passport stamps before her first birthday — and this tub was there for every one of them,” Young said, recommending the SAMMART model. “It takes up minimal suitcase space, which is a huge plus when traveling with a baby.”
Plus, she says it’s the perfect size for hotel counter space too, which we all know can be minimal.
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