The Best Gifts for New Moms, According to New Moms

Whether you’re a new mom or not, sometimes your face needs a quick refresh, especially if you are short on sleep or feeling puffy. Passing a stainless-steel gua sha tool over your face for a few minutes can help wake you right up. Pop it in the freezer for an extra jolt.

As a new mom, you’re constantly hungry. “I wish everyone would bring me hot food I can eat with one hand,” home and lifestyle editor Elyse Moody, who recently had her second baby, tells me. Coffee, along with granola (while not hot), are at the top of her list. “I like this one because the almond butter is super-filling,” she says.

A new mom could always use a little help breastfeeding and pumping, which is why a gift certificate from Legendairy Milk can be welcome. Hilary Swank swears by its Liquid Gold lactation supplements, while Strategist senior editor Winnie Yang and I both used Pump Princess (for milk flow), Milkapalooza (for milk enrichment), and Sunflower Lecithin (for clogged ducts) with our kids.

This manual silicone breast pump passively collects milk using the power of suction and is a great alternative to an electric pump. It’s at the top of the list for Bethany Barnes, a mom of three and owner of Pensacola toy store Coral’s Closet, who says, “It was so helpful, especially in the beginning, as it’s hands free and easy to clean. I collected a freezer full of milk without really trying.”

A traditional baby diary can feel overwhelming to complete for some new parents. This five-year diary includes space for just a couple of lines each day and is a low-pressure way to keep track of your baby’s milestones and daily activities. Yang got it when her older child was born. “It’s where I write down stuff the kids are doing/reading/into as a record for myself,” she says. “I like that it is a way of tracking them through more than just babyhood. And that it’s flexible enough to write about all the kids, not just one.”

The best support network when your child is a newborn is other moms. Writer Ann Friedman compiled the text-message correspondence she had with her friends during the first few months of parenthood in this little zine.

Swaddling a baby in a traditional receiving blanket is trickier than it looks. This swaddle from the makers of Snoo takes just a few seconds thanks to secure inner flaps and a two-way zipper.

Sometimes you need a quick pump but don’t want to pull out the entire electric setup, which is where this wearable manual pump from Willow comes in. You can pop it into your nursing bra and use the handle to express breast milk while also moving around. (Traditional manual pumps typically require the use of both hands, and the passive collectors like the Haakaa can be slow.)

Any new mom will quickly learn how important it is to stay hydrated, and Owalas make it even easier to drink water, thanks to two sipping options: a built-in straw and an open spout.

Stealing away for a shower can feel like the ultimate luxury during the first few weeks. These bath oil “pebbles” from Kate McLeod that Moody received as a gift are made from a solid form of cocoa butter that will make the experience even more restorative.

If they can’t wash their hair, they can at least style it with this compact, hand-carved comb from Crown Affair for instant detangling and a light scalp massage. Jenny Xie, content designer and author of shopping newsletter Ode, who owns this one as well as the larger size, says, “It’s just so pretty and luxurious-feeling. It makes me feel like the few minutes I could steal away to comb my hair is time well spent.”

Even if you’re not going far, schlepping diapers, bottles, and whatever else you need to prepare for the worst (a poop explosion) can get tedious, but a couple of moms told us that having the right diaper bag — that doesn’t actually look like a diaper bag — can make all the difference. Sadie Stein, a writer, Strategist contributor, swears by the long handles, zip top, and exterior pocket of L.L.Bean’s classic Boat Tote, which you can customize with the new baby’s (or mom’s) name.

No matter how compartmentalized a diaper bag may or may not be, having pouches like these from Baggu will keep everything organized. The set comes with three different sizes that can be used for stashing diapers and wipes, extra clothes and burp cloths, toys, and so much more.

I buy this bra — the only bra I wore for the first few months postpartum — for all my pregnant and new-mom friends. It’s perfect for when your milk starts to come in and your breasts are extremely sensitive because it’s made from the softest, stretchiest modal-viscose blend that still provides enough support to make you feel secure. Strategist senior writer Liza Corsillo also swears by Bodily’s Do Anything Bra, which is a nursing and hands-free-pumping bra in one.

It’s always a good idea to have formula on hand, especially one you feel good about giving to your baby. Corsillo chose Bobbie after extensive research because it’s made with the organic milk of grass-fed cows with no corn syrup or palm oil. It also tastes like the real thing, according to Corsillo, and most important, her baby loved it. Bobbie just released a grass-fed whole-milk formula, the first USDA organic whole-milk formula manufactured in the U.S.

Grace Lim Premvaree, owner of children’s clothing line SM. Dossier, used Artifact Uprising for her baby photos because she loves the “great quality and minimalist and sleek aesthetic” and the fact that it’s “very user friendly, with impeccable customer service.” Dana Rudolph, a mom and the founder of LGBTQ+ parenting site Mombian, told us Artifact Uprising’s Baby Book is a great gift for new mothers in two-mom households because the fill-in-the-blank book uses gender-neutral language to fit different family structures.

A lot of content aimed at moms is cheesy and frankly patronizing, which is why I love Mother Tongue, a biannual print magazine that explores modern motherhood without making “being a mom” your entire identity. Through incisive, often hilarious writing and gorgeous art, the stories, interviews, and musings here make you feel connected to the larger enterprise of being a person — who also happens to be a mom — in the world.

Fresh fruit is another thoughtful option. “One of the best gifts I’ve ever received after having a baby was a five-pound box of stone fruit from Frog Hollow Farm,” says Yang. “The California grower is most known for its apricots, peaches, plums, and pluots, but if you want to send something in the fall, they have pears that are better than any others I’ve tasted.”

For a special tasty treat, consider this sweet and savory bundle from Brooklyn baker Laurie Ellen Pellicano, whose shortbread cookies are one of the Strategist’s favorite holiday gifts. The set includes her famous lemon-poppy-seed shortbread cookies and everything-cheddar crackers, both of which I’ve tried and are truly delicious.

Breastfeeding can be painful in the early days, and these lightweight nipple shields can help provide some relief. They’re made from pure 925 silver, which has natural anti-microbial, anti-fungal, and anti-bacterial properties, and they feel soothing on sore nipples, too. They also prevent your nipples from rubbing on your bra or shirt between feeds.

This gift set from Tubby Todd includes gentle products for mother and child, including nipple cream, belly oil, allover ointment, and fragrance-free hair and body wash.

For the new mom who wants to try baby-wearing, consider the Solly. Made of soft and stretchy Tencel Modal fabric, the Solly wraps around your body and keeps your baby close, snug, and secure. Lauren Snyder, owner of the Primary Essentials, said that her daughter loved being in it — “it calmed her” — and that it “just works really well and made it so easy when she was really little.”

Everything you’ve heard about these being the best supportive but not tight maternity leggings is true. I still wear mine from my first kid — from over five years ago — and while they’re definitely pill-y, they’re still as stretchy, supportive, and durable as they were on day one.

At the Strategist, we love everything Sandeep Salter creates for her eponymous store in Brooklyn — including her line of sweet nightgowns that several of our editors and writers personally own (including me). The nightdresses come in a range of flowy, ultracomfortable styles that are ideal for new moms — which is why they’ve become some of our go-to gifts for friends who’ve just had babies.

One of the most thoughtful gifts I received after my second was born was a package from Brodo, a “bone-broth bar” by the popular East Village restaurant Hearth. Broth has many noted restorative benefits as it’s rich in protein and gelatin (and flavor), all things a new mom craves. This 12-pack sampler comes with seven of Brodo’s most popular broths, including ginger turmeric, Hearth, and beef bone broths — all of which you can drink from a mug or use as a base for soups and noodles.

Diapers always make a welcome gift, but ones that are free of fragrance, lotion, latex, rubber, dye, alcohol, heavy metal, parabens, and phthalates are perhaps a little more special, like these from Coterie, which several Strategist staffers and I love. Barnes is also a fan: “They’re simple, secure, soft, very absorbent, and the safest and cleanest diaper I’ve found, which is exactly what I want to put my baby in,” she says.

I had nothing comfortable to wear at home when I got back from the hospital with my first, and I regretted it immediately. For the second baby, I made sure I was ready by getting comfortable loungewear ahead of time. This three-piece set from Lake (one of our favorite pajama brands) is made from supersoft modal and comes with wide-leg pants with a drawstring closure and pockets, a long nursing-friendly camisole with a shelf bra, and a generously sized kimono wrap jacket.

In those early days, you may not want to wear any clothes at all, which makes a robe a versatile gift. Martha Tuber, the Strategist’s weekend and holiday writer and mom of a 4-year-old, recently wrote about all of her favorite house robes (not to be confused with bathrobes). She loves this cushy cotton-Tencel-poly-linen-blend style from Parachute, likening it to an “oversize sweatshirt you’ve been lounging around in for years,” and of all the various house robes she owns, it’s “the easiest to curl up and fall asleep in.”

Tuber also loves these sweatpants from The Great, a company that makes high-end loungewear. They’re definitely more expensive than the average pair, but they go a long way to make a new mom feel put-together. “They’re just the easiest thing to reach for and feel comfortable in,” says Tuber. “They’re incredibly soft and comfy and light, and they have a purposeful shape.” She says that the drawstring waist is also “very adaptable and forgiving,” especially for pregnant or postpartum women, so you can pull it up around your midsection or wear it below and “the pants themselves stay attractive either way.” She adds, “I feel inherently more elegant in them (even if I haven’t washed my hair in a week).”

And something just as cozy for baby is this merino wool–lined sleep sack that several Strategist staffers and I all swear by. Sized for 2 to 24 months, the wool blanket’s temperature-regulating qualities mean it can be worn all year round. It’s got a great weight, Yang says, “like it’s heavy enough to feel like a real blanket, which is not how the fleece and many cotton ones feel.” It’s durable and washes well, too. (I would recommend it for when the baby grows out of the Halo.)

This formula maker, which can automatically make one- to ten-ounce bottles of milk, can also save new parents a few more minutes of sleep. Style blogger Jennifer Jean-Pierre calls this little kitchen gadget “genius,” in that it eliminates having to worry about mixing the right amount.

Speaking of bottles, getting all of them ready for the next day can also be a drag, but this sterilizer and dryer can buy you a little time. Xie calls it a “classic not-strictly-necessary-but-so-nice-to-have” item that preps bottles (and pacifiers and pump parts) for use in 30 to 45 minutes.

New parents will inevitably receive a bunch of baby blankets, so consider giving them a down duvet instead. Gooselings’ baby-size down duvets are made with European Muscovy down and encased in a 280-thread-count cotton-sateen shell, making them extremely plush and warm. This set comes with a cover that’s also made of the smoothest sateen. Great for stroller walks and daytime lounging.

This portable, rechargeable baby-bottle warmer from Ember was the only new baby product that I was genuinely excited about with my second child. As I wrote in my registry redo, the beautifully designed product allows you to warm breast milk (or water for formula) on the go in about four minutes, no outlet required. Simply place the bottle (which includes a warming base that can go in the fridge, dishwasher, boiling water, and bottle sterilizers) on the rechargeable puck and press the button for perfectly warmed-to-body-temperature milk in an instant. It’s definitely pricey but great for a group-registry buy — or just a fancy new-mom gift.

This diaper bag from Caraa is definitely pricey, but it’s so versatile and cute that you can use it well into your child’s toddler and preschool years. I had a version of this backpack when I had my younger son, and loved how thoughtful the organization was, from insulated pockets for bottles to a removable caddy to multi-use straps. It comes in several colors, but the black model in organic cotton is the only one that’s machine washable.

Artipoppe’s baby carriers are arguably the prettiest ones out there and have become extremely popular as a result. They also happen to be very comfortable for both mother and child, according to Corsillo, who tested one. And Mouzon Wofford agrees: “It is infinitely more comfortable than other carriers I’ve tried. I carried my older daughter all over Japan on my back for a month when she was 1.5 (read heavy).” Plus, she adds, “They’re also just really striking — I get compliments on it everywhere I go.” (Designer Zoe Latta is also a fan.)

A personalized piece of jewelry is always a thoughtful gift, and a small letter charm is a nice place to start. Susan Orlean told me about this charm she recently got for her son’s name, pointing out that it’s not easy to find letters that have serifs. It’s made of 14-karat gold and has a tiny diamond, giving it a subtle sparkle.

For an even bigger splurge, consider this retro “Mama” pendant arranged in a blocky pinwheel from Ariel Gordon, which you can order by itself or with a Singapore foxtail chain. The word may be fraught, but I love the tongue-in-cheek style of this necklace, which reminds me of Phoebe Philo’s “Mum” necklace that sold out instantly upon launch.