I’ll admit it – I love telling people what to do making suggestions for what people who are new to something might want to try when I’ve been around that particular mulberry bush a time or two.
And one mulberry bush I’ve been around a time or two (or in this case, 4 times) is having a baby. There are a TON of posts that exist on what you REALLY need on a baby registry or in your hospital bad (and shocking! they’re all different!) but less so on what new moms (even the 4th time around) really need.
So I’ve decided to throw my hat in on some of my pre and post baby stuff FOR MOM!
New Mom Must Haves (from a Mom of 4!!)
Awesome Nursing Bras
I never found a nursing bra I loved before this baby. I tried lots of them, usually got overwhelmed by the price, bought one or two different styles, and then just wore them and they were just ok.
But this baby – I LOVE MY NURSING STUFF. I found Kindred Bravely via a Facebook ad* and these bras are AMAZING! The nursing tanks offer actual support as well as staying down over my belly with great length. The terry night nursing bra is so comfy you don’t even realize it’s there. And there are other styles, too!! Plus undies and pj’s and…let’s just say, she gets moms!
This might become my go-to new mom gift because seriously, AWESOME.
You can learn more about these nursing bras here.
Encouraging Mom Swag
Whether this is the first baby or you’re welcoming another cutie pie head to your growing gaggle, sometimes we need encouragement and truth looking us right in the face. I love to do this on my coffee mugs. Drinking my morning (and let’s face it – afternoon) coffee in a mug that says Blessed Mama. That simple and small truth reminds me in the hardest parts of the days that these babies are a blessing.
Marriage Care
It can be super hard to get a date night with a new tiny baby and the sleepless nights and the feeding schedules. That doesn’t mean our marriages should get put on hold. Our parenting is stronger when our marriages are stronger.
And can I be really honest? When I’m sleep deprived I have a lot harder of a time just being kind and extending grace to the people closest to me.
So I am super passionate about helping couples grow in that way. My husband and I wrote books on this Intentional Love: 31 Ways to Love Your Husband with Purpose and 31 Ways to Love Your Wife with Purpose. These books help you build thoughtful habits in your marriage at a really important time in your life. Check out the books here.
Versatile Maternity Leggings
Ok, so I actually really hate maternity pants. If the panel goes over my belly I get too hot. If there’s no panel, I’m hitching up pants all day. But I love me some leggings. And the maternity leggings from Blanqi* are no joke.
What I love BEST about these leggings is that they are versatile – fit over my belly at any time during my pregnancy and didn’t stretch to be unwearable after baby. AND they cover my tummy when I’m nursing (if one of my killer nursing tanks happens to be in the wash).
Other things I love – the fabric is a super cool blend that is stretchy but not too tight, heavy, but still breathable. And they are LONG! which this tall girl loves.
Kindle
Ok, so maybe this doesn’t like an obvious gift but hear me out. Kindle = Books. TV. Audio books. Podcasts. All in one spot. Super helpful.
Self Care Supplies
In the early, blurry days of a new baby at home – and the months following – self care is super important. Help the new mom out with something she likes, like a gift card to Starbucks, a month of Hulu or Netflix, a subscription to Audible, great ear buds, snacks, or a great water cup to keep hydrated. Massages, and mani/pedis also welcome.
FOOD
Maybe it’s because food is how I love people, but can you ever go wrong with a meal? I think no. So take over some dinner. Or a frozen meal. It doesn’t have to be homemade! Costco makes ballin’ lasagnas and take out is delish!
Cleaning
This time around, a friend of mine who happens to clean houses offered me 3 hours of house cleaning as my baby gift. Guys….it was amazing. But even if that’s not your profession, you can run a vacuum, wipe a floor, fold some laundry.
Sleep Mask
I think these might be great for sleep all the time, but in the new baby phase when you’re catching naps at weird times, or just getting back to bed as the sun’s coming up, a sleep mask is super helpful. I’ve been using this one and I’m so impressed at how much light it blocks out and how well I sleep – even if it is just blocking the on lights of the baby monitors.
What other products do you love for moms? Leave them in the comments!
*I received free product from both Kindred Bravely and Blanqi for this post. However, I want you to know that I take very seriously what I recommend to other people and I wouldn’t say anything about them that wasn’t true.
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