New parents receive a lot of tiny outfits. What they often lack in the first weeks is time, sleep and a hot meal. The most helpful gifts take something off their plate.
Before you buy
Check whether the parents have a gift registry or a list. It saves them from returning duplicates. Some families prefer to receive gifts only after the baby is born, for personal, cultural or religious reasons, so ask before sending anything early. If you are not sure what they need, money toward something on their list or a gift card for a store they use is a practical choice.
Food and help
- Meals. Cook something that freezes well and label it with the date and reheating instructions. Bring it in containers they don’t have to return.
- A meal delivery or grocery gift card. Useful on the nights when nobody has the energy to cook.
- A visit with a job attached. Fold the laundry, walk the dog, wash the dishes, then leave. Ask before you come.
- An offer for later. A handwritten card promising an afternoon of babysitting when the baby is a few months old.
Things for the parents
- A large water bottle with a straw, which is easy to drink from with one hand
- A soft night light for night feeds
- Comfortable slippers or socks
- Snacks that can be eaten with one hand
- A laundry basket, because there will be a lot more laundry
Things for the baby
- Burp cloths. Families go through many of them
- Muslin swaddle blankets, which are also useful as a burp cloth or a nursing cover
- Clothes in bigger sizes, such as 6 to 12 months, since newborn sizes are outgrown quickly
- Board books for reading aloud
- Diapers in the next size up
Safe sleep
Leave anything for the crib off your list unless the parents ask for it. Safe sleep guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics says the baby should sleep on their back on a firm, flat surface, in the parents’ room but not in their bed, with nothing else in the crib: no pillows, bumpers, loose blankets, positioners or soft toys. Weighted sleep sacks and weighted blankets are not recommended for babies either. If the parents swaddle, the swaddle should be snug, the baby always placed on their back, and swaddling stopped as soon as the baby shows signs of trying to roll. A swaddle blanket should never be left loose in the crib. If you want to give something for sleep, ask the parents what they use.
Ask first for big items
Strollers, car seats, cribs and baby carriers depend on the parents’ car, home and preferences, and some have safety rules for fitting and use. If you want to contribute to one of these, ask what they have chosen or give money toward it. Secondhand car seats are best avoided unless you know the full history of the seat, including that it has never been in a crash, has not expired and has not been recalled.
For siblings
An older brother or sister often gets less attention when the baby arrives. A small gift for them, such as a book or a craft, is a kind gesture and gives the parents a few quiet minutes.
Visiting
If you visit, keep it short and come only when the parents say it suits them. Wash your hands before holding the baby, and stay away if you have a cold or feel unwell. Some parents ask visitors to be up to date on flu and whooping cough vaccines; respect that if they do. Offer to hold the baby so a parent can shower or eat, rather than expecting to be hosted.
Don’t skip the card
A card with a few warm words and an offer of practical help is often the part parents remember. Add your phone number and the days you are free.
