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Gifts for the new mom (and baby)
“Look out for Mr. Stork, that persevering chap. He’ll come along and drop, a bundle in your lap...”
My friend Bernice sat singing the song from Dumbo as we sipped cappuccinos one recent morning. The past two months we’ve had three friends have babies. Another is due with twins in a month. “All these babies means baby showers, and I’m not feeling much gift-spiration.” She made the meh face.
“Social media will help gift-spire you.” I pulled my red-covered iPad mini from my purse and asked my friends what they bring to baby showers. The answers started pouring in before we finished our caps.
“A Costco box of diapers and wipes,” said Mariana. “And a pedicure.” (Huggies Snug & Dry Plus Diapers, size 1, run $29.99 for 156 count; Kirkland Signature Baby Wipes, 900 count, cost $19.79.)
“I love aden + anais muslin swaddle blankets,” offered Christel. “And a massage.” (Target sells a four-pack of the swaddle blankets for $34.99.)
“If the gift is for a new mama, then I would say a Boppy or a Hooter Hiders are must-haves,” said Ma’May. (Boppy Bare Naked Nursing Pillow costs $39.98 at Walmart. A Hooter Hiders Nest Nursing Cover is $36.99 at Babies R Us.) “If the gift is for a seasoned mama, then I vote for a massage or a meal delivered for the family.”
“I’ve been given Mustela Bebe Shampoo, which is just yummy smelling and gentle on the skin,” explained Meg. “I use it on my daughter who has eczema. You only have to use a little bit, so it lasts a long time. It’s the gift that keeps on giving [$9.99 for 6.7 ounces at Target].”
“I also love Bath & Body Works sugar scrubs,” she added. “When you’re a new mom and tired and sore and you feel like you look terrible, it’s so nice to smell and feel delicious. And the essential oils add an aromatherapy treatment, which is so refreshing.” (Bath & Body Works Lavender Chamomile Sugar Scrub costs $16 for 13 ounces.)
Mary preferred the Bath & Body Works Sleep Lavender Vanilla Luxury Bath ($16.50 for 15 ounces). “It’s like slipping into velvety heaven,” she offered. “My absolute favorite bath soap — you smell divine when you are finished.”
“A cleaning service,” offered my friend Jane. “After every baby, I’ve always wished for a cleaning lady to come in and give the house the thorough treatment before I come home from the hospital. It makes it so much easier to manage things when everything is in order, and it keeps the stress level down.”
“Purell hand-sanitizer,” said Margaret ($2.69 for 8 ounces at Target). “My sons asked to hold their little baby sister and afterward proceeded to tell me all about the snake and two salamanders they had just caught.”
“Chinaberry in Spring Valley sells a Tummy Tub,” offered Madaline. “It’s womb-shaped, so the baby feels very secure being bathed. Works well with my fussy baby. It can be used up to age two, and it only uses around a gallon of water. The water stays warmer longer because of the shape of the tub [$39.95 at chinaberry.com].”
“They also sell an Organic Teething Blankie that our baby loves,” she added. “It’s a striped, dotted cow, so it was visually stimulating for her, and the hooves are knotted. Those hooves gave her teeth some much needed love. It’s nice to have on a hot day for a comfort item instead of a hot blanket.” (Organic Belle Cow Teething Blankie runs $12.95 at Chinaberry.)
“A Wubbanub,” answered Janet. The plush stuffed animal attached to a pacifier helps the baby hold on to the pacifier (Wubbanub Ella Bella Pink Elephant, $12.98 at Motherhood Maternity).
“Robeez or the similar Target brand of the soft little shoes,” offered Serena. “They make it so easy to learn to walk and are easy for the moms to get on and they stay on the feet.” (Robeez “All-Star Rodney” Crib Shoe goes for $24.95 at Nordstrom. Ministar Infant Boys’ Lizard Shoes at Target cost $14.99.)
“An adjustable baby sling with a ring,” said Monica. “Can’t live without it. It’s easy to put on, easy to lay a sleeping baby down in, and great for fussy babies and big babies. And it frees your hands up to work around the house [SlingEZee Baby Sling, $59 at slingezee.com].”