gifts they might actually want

The Best Gifts for Pregnant People, According to Pregnant People

Photo-Illustration: The Strategist; Photos: Retailers

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As exciting as pregnancy can be, it can also be uncomfortable, anxiety-filled, and completely discombobulating. The body goes through so many changes that it can be difficult for the mom-to-be to feel like herself for nine-plus months, which is why a gift that pampers and puts her at ease can go a long way toward making this new stage of life more enjoyable. To help you shop for the pregnant person in your life, I rounded up a bunch of ideas from a handful of pregnant (or recently pregnant) people, including from Strategist staffers and yours truly, about the gifts they swear by — or wished they had gotten. Whether she’s struggling with morning sickness or restless-leg syndrome, hunting for maternity clothing that actually fits and looks good, or craving all the snacks, here’s 22 gifts that will soothe, amuse, and get her ready for her due date. (For gifts for the baby, check out 100 of the Strategist’s favorite baby registry picks here.)

Gifts $50 and under

When I was pregnant with my first kid, a friend sent me a care package that included ginger chews, anti-nausea pressure bands, and this cheeky activity book that celebrates the absurdity of pregnancy with quizzes, fill-in-the-blanks, and journaling prompts. Instead of peddling the usual hyperpositive, “mama”-centric musings on what it’s like to have a bun in the oven, this pop-culture-reference-filled book lets you laugh at all the unpleasant things about growing a human inside of you, like the constipation, bloating, and epic mood swings that come with it.

If the activity book feels a little too irreverent, a journal with a vibrant cover like these from Papier might be more their speed. Developer Caláh Jones and Taiwo Odusanya, a life-science-solution architect, both said that journaling was an important part of their pregnancy self-care routine. Odusanya, who was pregnant during the pandemic and the Black Lives Movement, told us that journaling put her in “a more positive mindset”: “Whenever I was feeling anxious, I found it really helpful to just write down my manifestations.”

Another way to capture moments during pregnancy is on film. Strategist senior writer Liza Corsillo, whose baby is 9 months old, used disposable cameras to record her growing belly. “I wanted to document this period of time, but I also felt a little self-conscious in photos, so these disposable cameras made it easier to record certain moments or bump evolution without the immediate self-judgment that comes with hormonal shifts,” she said. “Plus, I always think film photos are more flattering.”

From $34

Pregnant people will quickly learn that their underwire bras aren’t going to cut it. For something that won’t dig in and will accommodate growing breasts, consider this wide-strap bra from Arq that several Strategist staffers wore during pregnancy (and postpartum, too).

Pregnant people (and new moms) constantly hear that staying hydrated is key, which is why a large water bottle that they can get excited about would make a welcome gift. Chugging water can also help with morning sickness, as Hill House Home founder and CEO Nell Diamond found when she was pregnant with twins, and her Yeti tumbler, which kept water “ice-cold over a 12-hour pregnancy sleep,” was “better than a Birkin bag.”

Some pregnant people experience restless legs syndrome, which often occurs at night and makes it hard to sleep. Sadie Stein, a writer and Strategist contributor, dealt with this when she was pregnant with her son, Hal, and found that “giving my legs a vigorous brush with a stiff-bristle body brush was the only thing that alleviated the feeling.” Nutritionist and mom-of-two Daphne Javitch uses this Japanese palm-fiber brush, explaining that it can feel cleansing and healing because it “increases circulation.”

You can pair the brush with Everyday Oil’s Mainstay blend, a favorite of Strategist senior editor Winnie Yang, who recently got back from maternity leave. (It’s also beloved by actress Kate Berlant and cook Molly Baz.) Yang used it on her belly beginning in the first trimester and beyond. “I find the woody, herbaceous scent soothing and relaxing, and I think it might help with sleep,” she told us. “I rub it on as the very last thing I do before I turn in. It absorbs well and moisturizes well, but mostly I like the texture, which is not light, and the fragrance.”

Lower-back pain is, unfortunately, another one of those annoying ailments that come with pregnancy, so an electric massager like this Strategist-favorite pillow-size one from Zyllion can be a game-changer. The compact size makes it easy to transport, and it can also be used for the back of the neck. It’s an at-home alternative that some reviewers say is even better than a professional massage.

Finding comfortable, actually cute maternity clothing is harder than it sounds. Yang was looking for an alternative to formfitting tops with ruching on the sides when she came across this “not tight” T-shirt from Bae at the beginning of her third trimester. “I liked that first one so much I bought three more a week after I had the baby,” she said. “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.”

To go with that top, try these lounge pants from sustainable brand Pact, which Corsillo loved for being more comfortable than regular maternity leggings whose thick elastic waistbands began to dig into her as her pregnancy progressed. “These are just smooth all the way up, so I could fold them over or wear them all the way up over my belly without feeling any compression at all — and they stayed up unlike a lot of leggings that I was always having to adjust.” In addition to being comfortable, Corsillo added, they “looked nice enough to wear out of the house.”

Gifts $100 and under

For a more targeted massage, try this porcelain massager that Strategist contributor Fiorella Valdesolo used to combat carpal tunnel, another condition that some pregnant people may experience (it’s sometimes called “mommy thumb”). To use, fill the porcelain vessel with hot water, cap it with the silicone lid, then pass the bumps across any sore areas. It’s glazed with crushed tourmaline crystal, which is supposed to have soothing, infrared properties. Valdesolo found that this oddly shaped massager was the only thing that tempered her hand and forearm pain — and postpartum, she has continued to use it to reduce shoulder tension and as a teething toy for her baby.

Pregnant people can experience swelling, too, but good compression socks like these from Bombas can help. Corsillo wore them all throughout her third trimester and in the hospital, and while she said she still got really swollen anyway, “they made it more comfortable” because they were “so soft.” She adds, “I was also just nice to have warm socks that made me feel less stressed out about taking long car rides and also didn’t make me look like a grandma from 1950.” They also come in a merino wool blend, for colder climates.

Pregnancy cravings can run the gamut from shaved ice to spicy foods (and everything in between), and having an assortment of snacks to satisfy your current urge “is really nice because it changes so often and is really the most random things, like marshmallows!” says Jones. Japanese snack-subscription company Bokksu ships between 20 to 24 snacks, candies, and tea pairings directly from Japan, so you can gift the pregnant people on your list a snack for each of their sweet and salty whims. Every box comes with a little magazine that details each item’s origin, flavors, and potential common allergens, so they’ll know exactly what they’re biting into. Single boxes start at $65, or you can get them a three-, six-, or 12-month subscription.

Several of the pregnant people I spoke to said that comfortable maternity leggings are among their favorite pieces of maternity clothing. Jones loves the bottoms from Girlfriend Collective being “so easy to throw on,” while therapist Anya G., who is due in the spring, says they are even comfier than the brand’s regular leggings.

For something slightly more formal than the Bae tee, consider this flowy button-up from Storq that I wore during both my pregnancies (and postpartum, too). It’s made of the softest, wrinkle-free, woven modal-blend fabric and can be worn as a shirt or a cover-up, pairing equally well with leggings or over a dress. It’s also roomy and long enough to cover your butt, but still manages to make you look put together.

A body pillow to support sleeping on your side is another item that will help a pregnant person get a more comfortable night’s sleep. Yang purchased this down-alternative one after striking out with other pillows she’d tried during previous pregnancies. “This pillow is exactly what I had hoped for: soft, lofty, airy, and cooling when I feel overly warm; warm and comforting when I feel a little cold; and easy to maneuver into place,” she wrote.

Here’s an oil specifically formulated for postpartum care by Ebi, a Black-owned business that makes its products by hand using plant-based ingredients. Diamond loved the therapeutic, organic belly oil for relaxing after a long day. “It’s really good for your skin and is superluxurious,” she said. “I loved the ritual of putting it on every night. It was a great way to wind down.”

Odusanya also appreciated that one of her friends gifted her a necklace with her initial on it when she was pregnant (and planned to add another initial once the baby was born). “It felt like a nice intention toward me and our child,” she says. We’ve pointed out that Etsy is a good place to shop for affordable but nice-looking initial necklaces, or you can get this letter charm from Mejuri to add to any existing bracelet or necklace chain.

Both Diamond and Stein say an eye mask is a nice gift for pregnant people who need more sleep, especially for the hospital, “because it’s very bright and hard to sleep between the machines and the roommates,” explains Stein. During each of her deliveries, Diamond brought a silk pillowcase and eye mask to the hospital for added comfort, and this travel set, from Strategist-favorite- and dermatologist-recommended- brand Slip, comes with a mini pillow, pillow case, and sleep mask.

Gifts $150 and under

Caraa makes some very stylish diaper bags and baby accessories that don’t scream “baby,” including this changing kit that could easily pass for a clutch. Made from a cloudlike padded and waterproof nylon, the portable diaper station comes with a removable memory-foam changing pad, pockets for diapers, wipes, and more, and a stroller strap.

A gift card from the Yinova Center, an acupuncture and Chinese-medicine practice based in New York, topped Corsillo’s pregnancy wish list. “I started going to Yinova on a weekly basis for fertility-focused acupuncture. When I was pregnant, I would go for help with anxiety and all the little aches and pains I had been getting as my body changes,” she says. “It was a calm oasis that I looked forward to every week.”

“I think it’s impossible to ignore the staggering maternal mortality rates for Black women in America, even right in our own backyard in New York City, so I’ve made a particular effort to seek out Black-owned businesses that are supporting mothers during this time and also Black-owned nonprofits,” says Diamond, who found it particularly meaningful when, after hearing about her pregnancy, a friend donated in her name to the Black Mamas Matter Alliance — an organization working to advance Black maternal health before, during, and after pregnancy.

The Strategist is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best acne treatments, rolling luggage, pillows for side sleepers, natural anxiety remedies, and bath towels. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.

22 Best Gifts for Pregnant People