The Best Gifts for New Moms, According to New Moms

There’s nothing more adorable infant-wardrobe-wise than teeny-tiny baby socks. Strategist deputy editor Simone Kitchens has been buying these merino-wool-blend socks for her daughter since she was 2 months old and still relies on them (in toddler sizes) now that she is 3.

A traditional receiving blanket like this supersoft muslin one from Loulou Lollipop — which also makes my favorite bibs and towels — can be used a million ways in addition to as a swaddle, including as a nursing shawl, car-seat cover, and burp cloth. The New York–themed print is especially sweet.

This diary spans five years and is a low-pressure way to keep track of your baby’s milestones and daily activities.It’s what Strategist senior editor Winnie Yang got when her older daughter 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.”

“You cannot have too many of burp cloths,” says new mom Rachel Kovan. “We have theme everywhere and I think these are the best ones.”

A manual siliconebreast pumplike this one from Haakaa 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, owner of Pensacola, Florida, toy storeCoral’s Closet, who just had her third child. “It was so helpful, especially in the beginning, as it’s hands-free and easy to clean,” she says. “I collected a freezer full of milk without really trying.” The newest version has gentler suction and a special spill guard in case it falls over.

This baby bottle comes with a nipple that mimics the natural rhythm of breastfeeding, which helped my second get used to using a bottle. The nipple has a no-drip design, which means no milk comes out unless the baby is actively sucking. The glass also feels more hygienic than plastic.

A snot sucker is gross but it works — and Mom (and baby, in their own way) will thank you for the considerate gift.

A lot of content aimed at moms is cheesy and frankly patronizing, which is why I loveMother 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.

Giving your newborn their first bath can be a nerve-racking — and physically difficult — experience, but having the right bathtub can help. Yang used this ergonomic bath support from Angelcare with two of her kids. For infants up to 6 months old, the BPA-free plastic tub is concave in shape and has a mesh backing to keep baby propped up and comfortable. “It makes it easy to access whatever part you need to,” she says. “Some of those other tubs or seats make it hard to really get a good angle without wrenching your back.” Yang also likes that it’s light, dries fast, and is easy to hang up to dry.

And here’s a gentle soap you can use during bath time. It’s what Strategist senior editor Simone Kitchens has been using with her daughter. “I was looking for something gentle and unscented, as my daughter had a little eczema as a newborn,” says Kitchens. She notes that you only need to use a small amount, and that the bottle lasts a long time.

Extra-gentle laundry detergent that’s safe for baby’s sensitive skin but still effective on poop and spit-up stains (good for adults too).

A bottle drying rack may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of a great gift, but this one is especially great for small city kitchens. Its upright design is space-saving and can efficiently dry and store baby bottles, breast-pump parts, and other feeding accessories.

Use the swaddles with these “affordable, cozy, wash-a-million-times waffle-weave cotton” blankets from Bella Tunno that Zoe Latta, co-founder ofEckhaus Latta,swears by.

A pretty mobile for the nursery would also make a sweet gift. Strategist senior writer Liza Corsillo received this felt planet mobile as a gift when her son was first born and it’s still hanging in his room.

Any new mom will quickly learn how important it is to stay hydrated. This Strategist- and TikTok-favoritewater bottlefrom Owala makes it even easier to drink, thanks to two sipping options: a strawanda wide-mouthed opening with an angled border that guides a stream of water into your mouth without spilling.

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 — thatdoesn’t actuallylooklike 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 cancustomizewith 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. Corsillo also swears by Bodily’sDo Anything Bra, which is a nursing and hands-free-pumping bra in one.

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.”

It’s always a good idea to have formula on hand, especially one you feel good about giving to your baby. Corsillochose Bobbieafter 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.

Yang swears by this nursing tee that she wore while pregnant, too. “I wore these almost every day for five months straight. It’s really good for nursing; I like how it keeps my midsection covered and drafts out when I’m pumping,” she says.

Upgrade their towel with this one fromTypical, which is made with 2 percent spandex, giving it a nice stretch that feels like a hug when wrapped around the body.

Apersonalized piece of jewelryis always a thoughtful gift. Corsillo recently bought one of these tiny letter charms from Catbird in a lowercaseafor her son’s name, Arlo, and wears it “nonstop.” While it’s quite small, it’s made of recycled solid 14k yellow gold, which, for $50, is a good value.

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 stretchyTencel Modalfabric, the Solly wraps around your body and keeps your baby close, snug, and secure.Lauren Snyder, owner ofthe 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 thebest supportive but not tight maternity leggingsis 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 everythingSandeep Saltercreates 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 restaurantHearth. Broth has many noted restorative benefits as it’s rich in protein and gelatin (and flavor), all things a new mom craves. This sampler includes all six of Brodo’s broths, including chicken, Spicy Nonna, Hearth, and Deeply Rooted bone broths — all of which you can drink from a mug or use as a base for soups and noodles.

A set of tinned fish would also make a quick, nourishing, and tasty meal.

To make pumping on the go a less stressful experience, consider this insulated bottle for breast milk that comes with glass storage bottles that you can attach to your pump. Corsillo loves that “you don’t have to mess with ice cubes to keep it cold and you can see how much milk you have in the glass bottles,” she says. “It makes the whole process of pumping at work, or at a wedding, or at your in-laws’ house so much less annoying and more discreet.”

Diapersalways 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. The brand’s newdiaper rash and multi-use ointmentwould also be a nice addition.

A cribside mushroom lamp for late-night feeds that doubles asdécor(and isn’t too bright).

In those early days, a new mom may not want to wear any clothes at all, which makes a robe a versatile gift. Three of the moms we spoke to say a robe was one of the best things they received postpartum, and this one from Parachute “is the easiest to curl up and fall asleep in,” according toTuber.

And something just as cozy for baby is this merino wool–lined sleep sack that several Strategist staffers and I allswear 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.)

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 sustainable baby brandAU Babyrecently sent me a beautiful hand-embroidered blanket made of the softest plant-dyed merino wool that would make a luxurious gift for a very stylish mom (and newborn). It’s available in five pastel colors and 12 embroidery-thread options, but I happen to think the combination I got — a sky-blue blanket with dark-chocolate stitching — is the best.

This changing pad from Hatch is also a scale, which can be helpful for new parents who are worried about their baby’s weight gain in the early days.Hannah Bronfmantold us that “having something like this at home is so convenient so you don’t have to rely on doctor visits every time you want to weigh your baby.”

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 bloggerJennifer Jean-Pierrecalls this little kitchen gadget “genius,” in that it eliminates having to worry about mixing the right amount.

While this is onlytechnicallya gift for the baby, Mom will thank you much more. We’ve written a lot about theSNOO, a smart bassinet that uses motion and white noise to calm your baby back to sleep so you don’t have to. New moms say it’s priceless, but the $1,195 price tag indicates otherwise, which is why Kaufman, whose daughter started sleeping through the night when she was 2 months old using the SNOO, says gifting a one-month rental of the magic bassinet would be a dream. “I can’t imagine a gift a sleep-deprived new parent would appreciate more than anything that might get them an extra hour of sleep,” she says. I got one as a hand-me-down and used it for both babies and can attest that it’s a game-changer. The younger one basically sleep-trained himself, and we owe it all to the SNOO. You can rent it for $159 a month or get a six-month rental for $499.

And aScandinavian sleep carrierfor midday naps.

A compactstrollermight not have made it on the baby registry, but it would be a thoughtful gift for a new mom who will definitely want one when the baby is older. I used an early version of the Colugo with my older son as my on-the-go stroller when my Vista was just too big, and now I’m testing the newest iteration with my younger child. The stroller is extremely compact, light, and easy to fold and unfold — and it comes at a really great price.

This organic-cottonthrowhas a little bit of weight to it — about 5.8 pounds — and it’s the perfect blanket to curl up under or drape over your lap while feeding the baby.

I looked far and wide for a plain round pendant “mom necklace” that I couldpersonalizethat was both substantial and not cheesy. I finally found it at Ariel Gordon, whose jewelry is made with 14-karat gold. It has a really nice heft to it and feels like it could be a heirloom piece. I got to test the largerImperial Disc Pendant, which can be engraved with names or dates and studded with tiny diamonds, and love how subtle and easy it is to wear with just about anything. The mini-version is a bit more affordable and can also be personalized with a letter.