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When you’re a new mom, everything can feel overwhelming — from late-night feedings to the seemingly never-ending dirty diapers and your own physical recovery. I should know: I have two small kids, and while it definitely gets easier, those first few weeks with a newborn are still pretty rough. That’s why I’ve included gifts for both the baby and the new parent on this list.
As Sadie Stein, a writer, Strategist contributor, and mom, puts it, people are quick to give new mothers baby items, but “going forward, I’d be more inclined to get things for the mothers, because you’ll get so much baby stuff.” Plus, she says, since the “baby-industrial complex” is so vast, there’s a “specialized product for anything you’ve thought of and have not thought of,” and it can be easy for new parents to become further overwhelmed by well-intentioned but unnecessary baby gifts (which is why Stein says that, despite her philosophical aversion to it, she “broke down” and made a baby registry on Amazon).
I surveyed new and seasoned mothers (with inclusions from yours truly) about the stuff they actually want — and swear helps make the transition into motherhood a little smoother — including lots of things for her and a few things for baby that, in turn, will make mom’s life easier. Below, you’ll find our 47 best gifts for new moms, according to new moms, from beauty products to breastfeeding support.
Gifts $25 and under
Level up their jade-rolling game with this face de-puffer that involves ice. Sonya Li Casino, a senior vice-president in public relations and mom of two, first eyed it on the Instagram of Because I’m Addicted blogger Geri Hirsch: “I bought one for myself and like three other people I know. It’s very, very addicting and makes me feel so refreshed.”
These soothing nursing pillows can be warmed up or frozen and act like a hot or cold compress for sensitive, engorged breasts. Doree Shafrir, author of Thanks for Waiting: The Joy (and Weirdness) of Being a Late Bloomer, swears by them: “I got clogged my entire seven-month breastfeeding journey and was always sore,” she says. These gave her breasts sweet relief.
A traditional receiving blanket like this supersoft muslin one from Loulou Lollipop can be used a million ways in addition to as a swaddle, including as a nursing shawl, car-seat cover, and burp cloth. The New York–themed print is especially sweet.
New moms are told to constantly stay hydrated. This motivational water bottle that leadership speaker Jovian Zayne recommends turns chugging water into a game. “I wanted something that would keep me accountable; before the baby, I used to set alarms to remind me to drink water, but I’m not trying to do that anymore; I don’t have time,” she told us.
Here’s an unlikely gift: a booger scooper. Journalist Yelena Shuster said she tried this after using the popular Frida Baby Snot Sucker, which made her baby cry. It operates, she explains, like an “adorable mini-shovel to scoop out boogers,” and she likes that it’s less bulky than the Frida and easy to clean.
This manual silicone breast pump passively collects milk using the power of suction and is a great alternative to an electric pump. It’s at the top of the list for Bethany Barnes, a mom of two living in Pensacola. “It was so helpful, especially in the beginning, as it’s hands-free and easy to clean. I’ve collected a freezer full of milk without really trying.”
I switched to this bottle (in the glass version) with my second, because he was slow to take to the bottle and I wanted something that mimicked the natural rhythm of breastfeeding. The lifelike nipple has a no-drip design, which means no milk comes out unless the baby is actively sucking, just like a human nipple. Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson, who’s partnered with the brand, is also a fan of its leakproof, milk-saving design.
Gifts $50 and under
This giftable set of Earth Mama’s clean, cruelty-free skin-care items includes lip balm, belly oil, deodorant, and body wash in travel-size bottles, making them a great stocking stuffer for a new mom. Kelli Shepard, the design director for Ralph Lauren’s women’s collection, is partial to the brand’s lip balms. “I love the whole Earth Mama range and feel great knowing that these are 100 percent kiss-approved — safe for baby and mama both,” she says.
For something comfy for the feet, consider Birkenstock’s rubbery Arizona sandals, which are waterproof and a low-maintenance shoe for the busy mom. Grace Lim Premvaree, owner of children’s clothing line SM. Dossier, loves that they’re supportive enough to wear while running around with little ones, while a bunch of other professionals who stand all day long vouch for their comfort, too. They’re also great for inevitable spills. Writer Alison Freer told us that “dirt literally refuses to stick, no matter how long you wear them.”
Swaddling your baby is a must for those early days, but it can be tricky to get right, which is why parents swear by the Sleepea swaddle from Happiest Baby, the company started by Dr. Harvey Karp, inventor of the SNOO (see below). “Two minutes feel like two hours when a newborn is screaming, so my husband and I swear by this award-winning zipper swaddle that literally takes five seconds,” says copywriter Jessie Mooney DiGiovanna. It has arm flaps and Velcro closures for extra security, and the entire thing zips up and is more likely to stay on through the night than something that’s just wrapped around your baby.
For a swaddle that’s a little more traditional but still foolproof, Laura Izumikawa, blogger, author, and mom of two, recommends the Miracle Blanket. “This swaddle wrap was so easy to use and kept our newborns safely wrapped,” she says. “We found that our girls were so much happier and slept longer when swaddled in this particular wrap.”
This prompted journal takes the pressure off of tracking all of your child’s milestones, from pregnancy to when they’re 18 years old. “It has questions for each month as well as space for just thoughts and moments,” says Barnes. “I love journaling, so this was a great way to keep it all in one place, and I can’t wait to share it with my daughter one day.”
No matter how compartmentalized a diaper bag may or may not be, this set of pouches — it comes with a diaper pouch, a wet bag for dirty clothes, and a bag for clean clothes — helps keep everything organized. Miriam Cohen, the mom of two behind the Very Best Baby Stuff, says she’s been recommending these pouches for years, as they’re “nearly weightless, flexible, machine washable, travel friendly, and easy to pack,” she says. “I toss mine into my stroller basket or hang them from my stroller hooks. The wristlet on the diaper pouch is especially convenient — I can easily wear the pouch on my wrist while holding my baby and avoid bringing my entire diaper bag into a public restroom.”
Instead of a meal gift card, you could send a ready-to-eat box of fruit from a place like Frog Hollow Farm, one of Strategist senior editor Winnie Yang’s favorite sources for fresh fruit. “One of the best gifts I’ve ever received after having a baby was a five-pound box of stone fruit from Frog Hollow Farm,” she says. “The California grower is most known for its apricots, peaches, plums, and pluots, but if you want to send something in the fall, they have pears that are better than any others I’ve tasted.” The fruit arrives at peak ripeness, so it’s best to consume everything within the first two or three days, but putting them in the fridge can prolong their freshness, advises Yang, who also subscribes to the farm’s summer-fruit club.
A bottle drying rack might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of a great gift, but Cohen says the moms in her NYC Moms Facebook group rave about this one. It’s upright, so it’s space saving, making it “a must for NYC galley kitchens,” she says. “This rack offers a space-efficient way to dry and store baby bottles, breast-pump parts, and pacifiers.”
Another fuss-free piece of baby clothing is this onesie from Magnetic Me. Instead of snaps that are confusing or zippers that get stuck, all the brand’s clothes fasten with magnets, which means “it’s so easy to change the baby,” according to Izumikawa. “Their designs are Supercuts, and the materials are so soft and comfortable for babies.”
A trip to the spa is a great way to pamper a new mom. “I can’t overhype how good a massage feels when you’re uncomfortably pregnant, then later when you’re tense all over from breastfeeding, baby schlepping, and parenting in general,” says DiGiovanna. With a Spafinder gift card, they’ll be able to go to a place of their choosing whenever they’re ready for it. For prenatal sessions, they can even request a table with a hole cut out for their stomach, DiGiovanna points out.
New moms might be shocked to find that there isn’t too much time for hair-washing, so when they have the chance, they should use the Strategist’s best-in-class pick Olaplex’s hair mask, which has repairing and moisturizing properties. Gena Kaufman, who recently had her second baby, says that while postpartum hair loss is a “bummer,” her hair “feels softer and air-dries nicely after using these treatments.”
If they can’t wash their hair, they can at least style it with this compact, hand-carved comb from Crown Affair for instant detangling and a light scalp massage. Jenny Xie, content designer and author of shopping newsletter Ode, who owns this one as well as the larger size, says, “It’s just so pretty and luxurious-feeling. It makes me feel like the few minutes I could steal away to comb my hair is time well spent.” She also loves how portable it is and that it helps her “feel like I did something for myself.”
Athleisure brand Girlfriend Collective (a Strategist favorite for sustainably made, comfortable, size-inclusive, and actually nice-looking activewear) happens to make a line of maternity wear that includes leggings, bike shorts, and bras — like this crossover nursing bra. It’s available in sizes XXS to 6XL, and as developer Caláh Jones puts it, it’s “easy to throw on” when little else fits correctly.
When your milk starts to come in after you’ve had the baby, you won’t want to wear anything tight and constricting — except for Bodily’s the Everything Bra, which is made from the softest, stretchiest modal-viscose blend that’s designed to accommodate engorgement and fluctuations in breast and band size in those early postpartum days. Bodily sent me a couple to try when I had my second son, and the bras — and nursing-tank version — were all I wore for the first few months of his life. They were so comfortable that I barely noticed they were on, but they still provided just enough support to make me feel like I was covered up. Now, I buy them for all of my pregnant and new-mom friends.
After I graduated from the Everything Bra, Larken’s all-in-one X bra was the only bra I wore that first year. I used it to pump and nurse, and because it’s so comfortable and feels like nothing is on you, I also slept in it. It’s a cinch to use, too: For pumping, simply twist the double-layered front to create an X shape, then slip your flanges into place. I was surprised at how secure the pumps felt against my boobs, which wasn’t always the case with other combination nursing-pumping bras I’d tried in the past.
We spotted these nipple shells on the Instagram of Rudy Jude’s Julie O’Rourke, who just had her third child. They’re a natural (and more beautiful) alternative to silver nursing cups, and they are meant to protect and soothe chafed, cracked, and sore nipples in the early days of breastfeeding.
Even if you’re not going far, schlepping diapers, bottles, and whatever else you need to prepare for the worst (a poop explosion) can get tedious. But a couple of moms told us that having the right diaper bag — that doesn’t actually look like a diaper bag — can make all the difference. Stein swears by the long handles, zip top, and exterior pocket of L.L.Bean’s classic Boat Tote, which you can customize with the new baby’s (or mom’s) name. Keep everything organized with the Mother Load pouches above.
What a new mom might want most of all is some help, which is why a gift card from Tot Squad, which offers a range of virtual services including lactation consulting, sleep coaching, expert car-seat installation, and nutrition, would go a long way.
Gifts $100 and under
Instead of a fussy nursing bib, consider something more stylish and functional, like this airy linen scarf that florist and mom of two Grace McDonald told us about. “I’m a V-neck mom, so I needed stuff to help cover the top of my boob when I was breastfeeding,” she said. “I like this because the linen is a lighter material that’s good for indoor and outdoor wear.” And, of course, when they’re not nursing, they can just wear it as a scarf.
I don’t love using body and facial oils, but I gave this a try when the brand sent me one to sample, and now I buy it for all my pregnant friends. It’s superlight, has only a hint of a natural scent, and feels so nice on the skin. It’s nongreasy and quick-drying, unlike other oils I’ve tried. It’s great for your expanding belly, yes, but also for the rest of your body. I still use it when I don’t feel like slathering on lotion.
And here’s an oil for your face, which is on the wish list of therapist Elizabeth Antoon-Walsh. “I’ve been obsessed with this light but hydrating face oil since getting a sample; it feels divine to rub my face with two of my favorite smells, ylang-ylang and jasmine,” she says. “It’s a luxury that is hard to justify buying for myself, as the price tag equals about 250 diapers, but it would be a perfect gift to find under the tree.”
New parents will quickly learn that a sound machine and not-too-bright nightlight are essential for middle-of-the-night feeds. The Hatch Rest+ is an app-enabled, multifunctional, all-in-one device that includes both aforementioned functions as well as an alarm clock, two-way audio monitor, and a “time to rise” indicator light for the toddler stage. Both Cohen and Izumikawa swear by it, with the latter praising its portability. “Our girls fall asleep to it, and we always bring it along with us for trips,” she says.
Everything you’ve heard about these being the best supportive but not tight maternity leggings is true. I still wear mine from my first kid — from nearly five years ago. While they definitely pill a lot, they’re still as stretchy, supportive, and durable as they were on day one. Strategist contributing editor Jessica Silvester agrees: “My proportions have more or less returned to normal, and the fabric has snapped back, too; it continues to conform to my shape,” she promises. Mom and style blogger Jennifer Jean-Pierre also calls them “the softest, comfiest pants I have ever had” and can attest to their supportive — but not constrictive — nature after wearing them post-C-section: “These are great for not rubbing on the incision,” she says.
For lounging, a soft and stretchy ensemble like this sweet maternity robe-and-dress set that the recipient can wear while pregnant and postpartum also makes for a thoughtful gift. Xie received it when she pregnant and calls it “so soft and the perfect weight and thickness.” She started wearing the dress in her third trimester, saying it was “super-flattering, especially for petite frames like mine.” Now that the baby is here, Xie has been wearing the dress and robe at night for nursing. It also comes with a matching baby swaddle, which she used for a hospital photo shoot and now as a liner for her stroller bassinet.
If the new mom is itching to put on something a little more exciting, consider giving them this GOTS-certified organic-cotton bra from Juem, an Australian line that Strategist senior editor Simone Kitchens says “is making what I consider to be the best-looking nursing bras out there.” As she explains, “They just don’t look maternity. The shapes are flattering; the ribbed fabric feels soft; and the colors — like taupe, raisin, and lilac — are just nice.” And instead of plastic clips, this style uses an “easy-to-maneuver” tortoiseshell button, an unexpected but thoughtful detail. Kitchens notes that the brand uses Australian sizing, so check the size chart and measure before ordering.
In addition to comfy clothes, the new mom in your life might like a little bling to pair with her Lulus, like this gold-filled necklace that you can get customized for no additional cost. DiGiovanna found the brand after “hunting for what I kept calling ‘minimalist mom jewelry.’” “It’s everything I was looking for: chic, subtle, and affordable.” Pricing for this gold-filled necklace starts at $52 for the shortest chain, making it a solid option for a reasonable push present and one new moms can enjoy immediately. DiGiovanna says, “Putting on my new ‘M’ necklace the morning we left the hospital was the first time I felt semi-cute after pushing a human outta me.”
Diapers always make a welcome gift, but ones that are free of fragrance, lotion, latex, rubber, dye, alcohol, heavy metal, parabens, and phthalates are perhaps a little more special. “I struggled to find a brand of diapers that fit well and are soft and minimal,” says Barnes, who says she wanted something that was ecofriendly. “Coterie diapers are simple, secure, soft, very absorbent, and the safest and cleanest diaper I’ve found, which is exactly what I want to put my baby in.” I love these diapers and can vouch for them myself — they are so soft, and I love the fact that they look old-fashioned — but they are on the pricey side, which is why they make a great gift to a new parent who might feel overwhelmed with all the gear they have to buy.
Premvaree says that — based on personal experience — photo albums make fantastic gifts for doting grandparents and new parents alike. Her favorite service is Artifact Uprising, which she and her husband used to create their wedding album and to send their parents baby-photo albums for the holidays. She loves the company for its “great quality and minimalist and sleek aesthetic” and the fact that it’s “very user friendly.” She says that “their customer service is impeccable, so they keep me coming back.” Dana Rudolph, a mom and the founder of LGBTQ+ parenting site Mombian, told us that Artifact Uprising’s Baby Book is a great gift for new mothers in two-mom households, since the fill-in-the-blank book uses gender-neutral language to fit different family structures.
At the Strategist, we love everything Sandeep Salter creates for her eponymous store in Brooklyn — including her line of sweet nightgowns that several of our editors and writers personally own (including me). The nightdresses come in a range of flowy, ultracomfortable styles that are ideal for new moms — which is why they’ve become some of our go-to gifts for friends who’ve just had babies. Choose ones with a buttoned front, like this pleated gown with a crochet-lace-trimmed Peter Pan collar, for a nursing-friendly option.
Gifts $200 and under
Three of the moms who we spoke to say that a robe is one of the best gifts they received postpartum. Says Casino, “Pre-baby, I never used to spend that much time in my pajamas, but now I live in those suckers.” Among her different loungewear options, Casino actually looks forward to putting on this softly textured cotton robe from Parachute. It makes her feel like she’s “heading to the spa every time I wear it.” If you want something a little more plush, Parachute’s classic bathrobe is a Strategist favorite.
For something a bit lighter, Stein recommends this cotton robe from Eberjey — one of our favorite brands for all things comfy — which she says was “terrific” for when “the baby is a newborn and you’re breastfeeding a lot, or even if you’re not!”
For a two-piece set with shorts, Eberjey’s supersoft pajamas come highly recommended by Joanna Muenz, a photo editor and mother of two, who says she got “tired of wearing milk-stained, stretched-out tanks” and feels “more put together and classy in some swanky loungewear.” Munez especially likes that this pajama shirt is button-down — a design that’s her “best friend for breastfeeding.”
And something just as cozy for baby is this merino wool–lined sleep sack that Yang, Kitchens, and I all swear by. Sized for 2 months to 24 years, it’s meant to be worn all year long. “I’m just a big believer in wool’s ability to keep a baby warm in winter, not too hot in summer (in the right weight), and warm even if their diaper leaks,” says Yang, who used it with two of her kids. “I also like the weight of it. It seems like it’s heavy enough to feel like a real blanket, which is not how the fleece and many cotton ones feel.” It’s quite durable and washes well, too. I basically used the same one with my older child, and now we’re using it with the baby.
One of the most thoughtful gifts I received after my second was born was a package from Brodo, a “bone-broth bar” by the popular East Village restaurant Hearth. Broth has many noted restorative benefits as it’s rich in protein and gelatin (and flavor), all things a new mom craves. This sampler includes 24 packs total of Brodo’s organic chicken broth, Spicy Nonna bone broth, Deeply Rooted bone broth, and its signature Hearth bone broth — all of which you can drink from a mug or use as a base for soups and noodles.
While this is only technically a gift for the baby, Mom will thank you much more. We’ve written a lot about the SNOO, a smart bassinet that uses motion and white noise to calm your baby back to sleep so you don’t have to. New moms say it’s priceless, but the $1,695 price tag indicates otherwise, which is why Kaufman, whose daughter started sleeping through the night when she was 2 months old using the SNOO, says gifting a one-month rental of the magic bassinet would be a dream. “I can’t imagine a gift a sleep-deprived new parent would appreciate more than anything that might get them an extra hour of sleep,” she says. I got one as a hand-me-down and used it for both babies and can attest that it’s a game-changer. The younger one basically sleep-trained himself, and we owe it all to the SNOO. If you commit to a six-month rental, the price goes from $159 a month for the first four months down to $49 a month for the fifth and sixth months.
Jean-Pierre calls this little kitchen gadget “genius.” It’s kind of like an electric coffee maker but for baby formula. “This formula-maker has been everything and more for us,” she says. “No more worrying about mixing the right amount when this does it for you.” Fill the top with formula, and this machine will automatically make one- to ten-ounce bottles of milk for your baby. According to Jean-Pierre, the machine knows how much powder is needed based on the formula brand, and it even connects via an app, which allows you to control it remotely.
Gifts $500 and under
Shepard, who was expecting her second daughter when we spoke, told us that she wanted to make the postpartum phase a priority. “I vow to really luxuriate in the sweet lying-in time with so many newborn snuggles the second time around,” she said. To that end, she recommends this collection of luxury hospital essentials from Hatch, which includes a pair of underwear, a robe, and nightgown — all made of organic bamboo — as well as a pair of cozy socks.
This portable, rechargeable baby-bottle warmer from Ember was the only new baby product that I was genuinely excited about with my second child. As I wrote in my registry redo, it allows you to warm breastmilk (or water for formula) on the go in about four minutes, no outlet required. Simply place the bottle (which includes a warming base that can go in the fridge, dishwasher, boiling water, and bottle sterilizers) on the rechargeable puck and press the button for perfectly warmed-to-body-temperature milk in an instant. It’s beautifully designed and comes with two bottles, an insulating sleeve to keep milk chilled in transit, plus adapter rings for Philips Avent and Dr. Brown’s nipples. It’s definitely pricey but great for a group-registry buy — or just a fancy new-mom gift.
For a mom who wants a little more from a traditional baby monitor, the Owlet sock and monitor might be a good option. It not only streams audio and video to your phone of your baby sleeping; it tracks your baby’s heart rate and oxygen level. “This has provided so much peace to my husband and I while we sleep,” says Barnes. “It was a gift from our friends and one of the most thoughtful gifts we received. We love that the sock and monitor are both connected to an app, making it super-easy to use.”
The YOYO stroller is so small and compact that Catbird creative director Leigh Plessner says, “It’s like a doll stroller!” It’s ideal for city living and fantastic for travel. “I just wanted the lightest, smallest thing I could find, and this is the perfect stroller for New York vestibules and stairs,” she says.
Additional reporting by Chloe Anello, Tembe Denton-Hurst, Kayla Levy, Kaitlin Menza, and Jenna Milliner-Waddell.
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