Ideas for self-care package for expectant mother
September 17, 2020 2:42 PM Subscribe
My expectant friend would like a pair of AirPod Pros. I’m getting a set for her, and would like to build a care package around those, preferably things she can also use once the baby arrives. So far, I’ve thought of a soft blanket, compression socks, perhaps something scented? This is a group gift, so the budget is pretty high on it. What things could we add to this gift? The general idea here is comfort and calm.
Sounds like you’re on the right track.
If she doesn’t already have a Kindle or other ereader, they’re great to have when you’re up all night with a baby.
I strongly suggest avoiding gifts that make assumptions about baby feeding needs and method of delivery. People seem to always recommend breast pads and lactation cookies and stuff, but they might be worthless (and worse, may end up being depressing to have around her house if she wanted to breastfeed and ended up not being able to). Same deal for gifts that assume she’s having a vaginal birth. Both of those subjects can be really emotional for new parents.
She might not be able to take baths for a little while after delivery (risk of infection), so I’d avoid fancy bath stuff too.
posted by liet at 2:57 PM on September 17, 2020 [7 favorites]
If she doesn’t already have a Kindle or other ereader, they’re great to have when you’re up all night with a baby.
I strongly suggest avoiding gifts that make assumptions about baby feeding needs and method of delivery. People seem to always recommend breast pads and lactation cookies and stuff, but they might be worthless (and worse, may end up being depressing to have around her house if she wanted to breastfeed and ended up not being able to). Same deal for gifts that assume she’s having a vaginal birth. Both of those subjects can be really emotional for new parents.
She might not be able to take baths for a little while after delivery (risk of infection), so I’d avoid fancy bath stuff too.
posted by liet at 2:57 PM on September 17, 2020 [7 favorites]
I had handed down to me the "Breast Friend" breastfeeding support...pillow? Here's a link. I didn't know that it would become my favored nursing tool but it was great. It acts as a shelf...for baby. And it actually buckles around your waist so you can walk around like an insane person. It has a pocket which of course I used for my phone and granola bars and stuff. There's another c-shaped bulky pillow that people like, too, but I also had one of those and it wasn't as great because it didn't clamp around my body! Anyway, it acts an armrest, too, and that made reading books while nursing and/or scrolling social media way easier.
posted by amanda at 3:11 PM on September 17, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by amanda at 3:11 PM on September 17, 2020 [1 favorite]
My constant companions in the newborn era were a giant water bottle, my phone for reading - it was the one moment in my life so far when I read ebooks - a really nice waffle-texture bathrobe made from super soft organic cotton, and felt house shoes (my current pair are Glerups). Also a lap blanket. Everything should be as nice as you can get but also really washable.
posted by Lawn Beaver at 3:13 PM on September 17, 2020
posted by Lawn Beaver at 3:13 PM on September 17, 2020
Subscription or credits to Audible. Many moms I know have a strong preference to audiobooks over physical books for ease of access. Or, relatedly, a year of Amazon Prime, as it seems to include Audible?
Essential oils and a diffuser if she's into that.
Some shelf-stable snacks that she can grab and eat easily.
posted by hydra77 at 3:16 PM on September 17, 2020 [1 favorite]
Essential oils and a diffuser if she's into that.
Some shelf-stable snacks that she can grab and eat easily.
posted by hydra77 at 3:16 PM on September 17, 2020 [1 favorite]
Not great for shipping, but if she's local: Epsom salt and a container large enough for her feet, or even one of those foot spas. I am not a foot-soaker in general but I needed the salt so badly a couple of days after delivery and of course couldn't go get any because my feet were too swollen.
I'd definitely co-sign the robe as well. It should have big pockets things don't fall out of.
posted by teremala at 3:19 PM on September 17, 2020
I'd definitely co-sign the robe as well. It should have big pockets things don't fall out of.
posted by teremala at 3:19 PM on September 17, 2020
A yoga ball. My wife and I spent countless hours bouncing on a yoga ball while holding babies.
posted by jclovebrew at 3:32 PM on September 17, 2020
posted by jclovebrew at 3:32 PM on September 17, 2020
A couple super-long phone charging cables
Little packets of nice snacks, like mixed nuts or trail mix that she can grab when she’s hungry and too tired to figure out what to eat
A big insulated mug for water
posted by beandip at 4:09 PM on September 17, 2020 [1 favorite]
Little packets of nice snacks, like mixed nuts or trail mix that she can grab when she’s hungry and too tired to figure out what to eat
A big insulated mug for water
posted by beandip at 4:09 PM on September 17, 2020 [1 favorite]
I like to give a water bottle with a straw (eg CamelBak Eddy) and a Costco sized box of granola bars.
I second the e-reader suggestion. And a nice robe.
For my qualifications, I'm holding a six week old baby right now and I also have a toddler.
posted by carolr at 4:10 PM on September 17, 2020 [2 favorites]
I second the e-reader suggestion. And a nice robe.
For my qualifications, I'm holding a six week old baby right now and I also have a toddler.
posted by carolr at 4:10 PM on September 17, 2020 [2 favorites]
Ive included packs of soft ear-plugs in my previous baby survival kits, mostly as a joke, but the feedback has generally been that they've been surprisingly useful - particularly when in hospital. Ditto non-slip yoga socks.
posted by ninazer0 at 4:36 PM on September 17, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by ninazer0 at 4:36 PM on September 17, 2020 [1 favorite]
Bumpbox might be a good place to gather even more ideas.
I really needed time when I had my child, so gift cards for takeout and cleaning services and grocery delivery and such were especially exciting and appreciated.
Amazon Prime was super helpful. Despite the moral issues, it was so nice to be able to order what we needed without leaving the house. If she doesn't already have a prime subscription, I second that being a great gift for this particular time/season.
posted by ASlackerPestersMums at 4:47 PM on September 17, 2020
I really needed time when I had my child, so gift cards for takeout and cleaning services and grocery delivery and such were especially exciting and appreciated.
Amazon Prime was super helpful. Despite the moral issues, it was so nice to be able to order what we needed without leaving the house. If she doesn't already have a prime subscription, I second that being a great gift for this particular time/season.
posted by ASlackerPestersMums at 4:47 PM on September 17, 2020
the best things we got when we had our kid recently were subscription food services and a diaper service. The diaper service was so, so, so great.
Earthmama makes nice nipple balm and perineal balm.
I also enjoyed having a nice electric heating pad for my boobs.
The note above about not making assumptions re: baby care is a good one. Babies are so friggin' different, one from the next.
posted by stray at 5:57 PM on September 17, 2020
Earthmama makes nice nipple balm and perineal balm.
I also enjoyed having a nice electric heating pad for my boobs.
The note above about not making assumptions re: baby care is a good one. Babies are so friggin' different, one from the next.
posted by stray at 5:57 PM on September 17, 2020
Fancy hot chocolate and fancy coffee (if she's a coffee drinker). Yes to the water bottle or mug.
posted by sizeable beetle at 6:22 PM on September 17, 2020
posted by sizeable beetle at 6:22 PM on September 17, 2020
My mom has bought everyone in our family pyjamas as a post-natal gift. Her reasoning is that all you want to do is wear a new, comfortable clothing around the house and pjs tick all of those boxes. Plus, it’s easier to guess sizing, and you can’t really go wrong with a nice pair of pjs. I also think you can’t go wrong with a meal delivery service or takeout gift cards.
posted by Champagne Supernova at 11:35 PM on September 17, 2020
posted by Champagne Supernova at 11:35 PM on September 17, 2020
The least-fancy Apple Watch is an amazing pair with the AirPods: they make them so much more usable, like a remote control for your ears. I liked both the watch and the earphones better once I realized how well they work together.
posted by Edna Million at 11:53 PM on September 17, 2020
posted by Edna Million at 11:53 PM on September 17, 2020
Giant water bottle for sure. I love my 720 Degree bottle: 1 liter, one hand to open or close, watertight, and it’s just a hole and it’s not like a nozzle that I have to suck and makes an annoying “gurgle girlie squeeeeeee” sound.
Vouchers for take aways. Chocolate.
I agree to not make assumptions about baby care (ie no pacifiers, nipple pads, etc). But some things that I think are universally useful that I couldn’t have enough of: muslins (soft cotton cloths for burping and general wiping), a set of Cheeky Wipes (even if they use disposable wipes these have been great for little messes and a god send for weaning), a Lamaze toy called Freddie the Firefly (seems like a required toy for babies, they all have one strapped to the stroller and can help occupy baby), a portable white noise machine.
posted by like_neon at 12:51 AM on September 18, 2020
Vouchers for take aways. Chocolate.
I agree to not make assumptions about baby care (ie no pacifiers, nipple pads, etc). But some things that I think are universally useful that I couldn’t have enough of: muslins (soft cotton cloths for burping and general wiping), a set of Cheeky Wipes (even if they use disposable wipes these have been great for little messes and a god send for weaning), a Lamaze toy called Freddie the Firefly (seems like a required toy for babies, they all have one strapped to the stroller and can help occupy baby), a portable white noise machine.
posted by like_neon at 12:51 AM on September 18, 2020
iPad saved our lives during the neonatal period. Just being able to watch endless TV at all hours with baby on our shoulders or stuck to boobs. AirPods didn’t exist at the time but they would have been great. Also (I swear I’m not an Apple shill), an Apple Watch is a great idea — I was never interested in one but got it as a gift and I have to say that seeing who’s calling or reading text messages without having to fumble around or find my phone with hands full is really nice.
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 1:18 AM on September 18, 2020
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 1:18 AM on September 18, 2020
A friend sent us a ton of really fancy frozen ready meals.
This was an excellent gift (except that we didn't have a freezer, but it was a good excuse to buy one) because we then had a freezer full of good food that was super easy to prepare.
Don't send any baby stuff.
Anything they need, they already got themselves.
posted by Just this guy, y'know at 4:40 AM on September 18, 2020
This was an excellent gift (except that we didn't have a freezer, but it was a good excuse to buy one) because we then had a freezer full of good food that was super easy to prepare.
Don't send any baby stuff.
Anything they need, they already got themselves.
posted by Just this guy, y'know at 4:40 AM on September 18, 2020
im not a parent but i am in my mid/late 30s so i know a lot of folks who have had kids.
its not for her specifically, but semi related to the idea of the earbuds, if you could be confident she had not already bought or been gifted one, you could pair it with a baby shusher. our friends with kids pretty much all said that despite seeming silly and gimicky, they got a ton of use out of theirs.
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 7:24 AM on September 18, 2020
its not for her specifically, but semi related to the idea of the earbuds, if you could be confident she had not already bought or been gifted one, you could pair it with a baby shusher. our friends with kids pretty much all said that despite seeming silly and gimicky, they got a ton of use out of theirs.
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 7:24 AM on September 18, 2020
If your friend is anything like my friends, she may be excited to eat/drink all the things that have been verboten during pregnancy. So soft cheeses, cured meats, sushi, alcohol, and all the caffeine!
posted by hydra77 at 1:01 PM on September 18, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by hydra77 at 1:01 PM on September 18, 2020 [1 favorite]
I’m 3 months into motherhood and my best self-care non-baby purchase was a Natori Shangri La robe (https://www.amazon.com/Natori-Womens-Shangri-Solid-Heather/dp/B01N6QH7WA/ref=mp_s_a_1_12?dchild=1&keywords=natori+robe&qid=1600530598&sr=8-12)
It has big pockets, it’s super soft jersey, it’s wash and dryable and covers well enough to answer the door and host my in-laws in, without being ugly.
Seriously. Every new mom should have one.
posted by Sweetchrysanthemum at 8:53 AM on September 19, 2020
It has big pockets, it’s super soft jersey, it’s wash and dryable and covers well enough to answer the door and host my in-laws in, without being ugly.
Seriously. Every new mom should have one.
posted by Sweetchrysanthemum at 8:53 AM on September 19, 2020
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posted by corey flood at 2:55 PM on September 17, 2020 [2 favorites]