New Parent Care Package Ideas

The gift of a new baby can bring bottomless joy—but it can also bring a lot of hard work. Whether it’s first-trimester fatigue, the 9-month emotional roller coaster of pregnancy, or round-the-clock feedings after the baby is born, most new parents would appreciate a thoughtful gift to help them adjust to their new life.

Creating a new parent care package is a fantastic way to make your loved one smile while offering some practical support. But how do you know which items to include to help the new parent in your life feel appreciated?

From postpartum undies to pampering products, you have countless options to choose from. Below, we list some always-appreciated and clever additions and gift ideas she’ll love—almost as much as the new, cute-as-a-button bundle in her life.

Self-Care Items

When you’re pregnant, tending to your needs becomes a necessity (and during postpartum recovery, too). These additions will take the fuss out of self-care for the future parent in your life:

• Comfy clothes – Soft loungewear with some stretch to it will never go unappreciated by new and expecting moms. But when curating any care package wearables, remember that hot flashes are common in the third trimester (and labor tends to generate a lot of overheating). When in doubt, opt for breathable fabrics like cotton to help her stay cool. She may even be appreciative of some new comfy nursing bras.
• Compression socks – Edema is common in pregnancy, particularly in the feet and legs. Compression socks add gentle pressure to this area to improve circulation and relieve discomfort and ankle swelling.
• Orthotic shoes – While comfortable footwear is frequently recommended for pregnant women, not everyone wants to invest in a new pair of shoes for the limited duration of pregnancy. You can help support achy feet by including orthotic shoes in your ensemble.
• Stretch mark cream – Stretch marks are a common dermatological complaint among pregnant women. Unfortunately, it’s unlikely they’ll get rid of them completely. That said, stretch mark creams, balms, and lotions—especially those formulated with hyaluronic acid—may help mask their appearance (and help her feel pampered along the way).
• Hot water bottle or heating pad –Pregnancy and the postpartum adjustment period come with lots of aches and pains. These can be especially prominent in the lower back and abdomen, typically increasing in the third trimester and continuing after labor. Hot water bottles or heating pads provide relief for moms dealing with discomfort. Buy one in a cute shape or design, and they’re sure to be used long after baby is born!

Emotional-Mental Self Care Items

Significant hormonal changes can make mental well-being a challenge for many pregnant and postpartum parents. Though mood swings are normal, plenty of parents struggle to regain emotional balance—even more so when all their energies turn toward tending to a newborn after birth.

Acknowledging this, mental health support items can be a deeply felt addition to any new mom care package. Especially a new mom who may be experiencing some effects of postpartum depression. Help your recipient tend to her own needs by including:

• A pregnancy diary – Journaling can help expecting moms stay connected to themselves during (and after) their pregnancy. In fact, the American College of Gynecologists and Obstetricians recognizes several perinatal and postpartum mental health conditions, so simply having an outlet to express and process feelings can make a huge difference, no matter what ups and downs they’re going through.
• Daily prompts or affirmations – Daily affirmation cards or creativity-inspiring calendars can be a supportive, unique element to include in a new mom care package. These offer daily doses of inspiration, projects, or words of encouragement, whether your new parent is a creative person or could use a daily boost.
• Wellness subscription – Whether it’s a yoga studio membership offering prenatal classes or a subscription to a meditation app, there are plenty of tools to support your loved one’s emotional well-being during and after pregnancy. Adopting a personal care routine during pregnancy may also help your loved one achieve consistency and adjust to life with a new baby.

Labor Support Items

Make no mistake—when your mama is in labor, she’ll be laser-focused on one thing and one thing only: giving birth. But it certainly won’t hurt to furnish her with a few personal comfort and postpartum care items to help her ease in (and out) of the process:

• Hospital bag – Whether a backpack, tote, or utility bag, a grab-and-go hospital bag can be a lifesaver. This is because the best of them have multiple compartments to keep pre-birth essentials—like toiletries, a change of clothes, and plenty of snacks—organized and accessible in a pinch.
• Cool gel pads – Cooling pads are made of a gel that retains their temperature after you’ve stored them in the fridge. They’re excellent for spot treating aches and pains near the back, neck, and pelvis.
• Essential oils –Hospitals typically don’t allow candles, but essential oils can be an excellent substitute sensory cue to relax. Choose soothing scents such as chamomile, lavender, or eucalyptus.
• Cozy robe – Hospital garments aren’t always the height of comfort. Help your recipient feel pampered with a comfortable robe that’s soothing to the touch.
• Favorite snacks –Hospital meals can also leave much to be desired. Help the new mom in your life avoid frequent schleps to the vending machine by packing her favorite pregnancy craving-satisfying snacks in your care package.

Postpartum or New Baby Prep Items

Baby showers help round out many of the items needed for a new baby, but let’s be fair: Newborns go through a lot of diapers.

With that in mind, any of the following new baby preparatory items will likely be greatly appreciated:

• Diapers and wipes
• Baby swaddles
• Baby-friendly bath products
• Nursing pads
• Postpartum underwear
• Perineal soothing spray

Memory and Keepsake Items

You might also consider helping your loved one keep memories of their child’s first weeks and months with these commemorative items that make perfect gifts for new parents:

• A first year journal – First giggles, first words, first claps…help make those first “firsts” accessible by gifting the new parent in your life a first year journal. These can feel easier to use than your standard blank journal, offering prompts, “firsts” to look out for, and opportunities to savor those early moments that don’t always go preserved.
• A quilt or baby blanket –Who could forget Peanuts’ Linus and his beloved blanket? Baby quilts are durable, practical gifts that can hold as much beauty as they can memory. Whether you get crafty and stitch one yourself or purchase one from a trusted vendor, you’re sure to get two rounds of applause: one from the new mom in your life and one from the little one who’ll be using it.

What to Consider When Curating Your Parent Mom Care Package

No matter what you ultimately put together, your recipient is sure to appreciate the gesture of a care package for its own sake. But it can help to get practical (and specific) about the goodies they’ll get the most value and mileage from.

Aside from personal needs, preferences, interests, and style, it can help to think through these questions:

• What stage of pregnancy or parenthood are they in? – The gifts you’ll include in a new parent care package can differ depending on whether your recipient is still pregnant or already a new mom. Certain items—like stretch mark cream or heating pads—can have longevity postpartum, but knowing when you’ll be gifting your package can help narrow down your options.
• What are they unlikely to purchase themselves? –Sometimes, planning for a baby can feel like one endless to-do list, so your recipient will surely appreciate you covering the bases she may not have thought of. Self-care is often at the top of the list, as are “unnecessary” indulgences—especially if your recipient is budgeting time, money, or precious energy (hello, pregnancy fatigue).
• What kind of support do they need? – Since you’ve known them, what kind of support gestures has your friend appreciated most? Emotional? Practical? Comic relief? It can help to consider the five love languages, which showcase the different ways people affirm and help one another out. Consider:
  • Words of affirmation
  • Acts of service
  • Gifts
  • Quality time
  • Physical touch

If you realize your friend adores acts of service, you might create a coupon for “1 Crib Assembly,” or a 10-punch hole card for free childcare that doesn’t expire. Or, if they’re always up for a hug, sensory devices like massagers or cozy clothes may be greatly appreciated.

Whatever it is, with careful consideration, you’re sure to create a perfect gift that matches their style of love and care.

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Looking for more tips, ideas, and inspiration for new parents and parents-to-be? Explore the SneakPeek blog for helpful topics like sweet cravings during pregnancy, the benefits of avocado during pregnancy, and much more to support every step of the journey.

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At SneakPeek, our commitment is to provide accurate, up-to-date, and reliable information to empower our readers. Our content is thoroughly researched, reviewed by medical experts, and fact-checked to ensure its credibility. We prioritize the well-being and education of our readers, and our editorial policy adheres to the highest standards of integrity and accuracy in all our articles.

This post has been reviewed for accuracy by:

Sarah Cacia

Sarah Cacia, currently leading as the Director of Business Development at Gateway Genomics, parent company of SneakPeek, brings an impressive blend of bioengineering expertise and clinical business acumen. Her extensive experience, marked by roles at renowned institutions like Genentech and UC San Diego's Cardiac Mechanics Research Group, underpins her deep understanding of biotechnology and clinical research. A UC San Diego alumna with a Bachelor of Science in Bioengineering: BioSystems, Sarah's rich professional background empowers her to provide authoritative insights into the cutting-edge developments in the field.

Sources:

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2. Today. Best maternity footwear for women, according to podiatrists. https://www.today.com/shop/best-shoes-pregnancy-t234526
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4. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Summary of Perinatal Mental Health Conditions. https://www.acog.org/programs/perinatal-mental-health/summary-of-perinatal-mental-health-conditions
5. Psychology Today. What Are the 5 Love Languages? Definition and Examples. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/click-here-happiness/202009/what-are-the-5-love-languages-definition-and-examples
6. Antique Quilt History. Children’s Quilts of the 19th Century. https://www.antiquequilthistory.com/childrens-quilts-of-the-19th-century.html
7. Healthline. Pregnancy Mood Swings: Why You’re Feeling Them and What to Do. https://www.healthline.com/health/pregnancy/pregnancy-mood-swings