10 Gifts You Should Buy a New Mum

subscription to Netflix

Much of a new mums time becomes dominated to breastfeeding or bottle feeding, and even though it’s a magical bonding experience - it can feel a little tedious after some time. To make those moments a little more “productive” and worthy for a new mother, you could gift them a subscription to Netflix or a similar streaming channel. From just £5.99 a month, you could give a present that really helps keep spirits high during those feeding frenzies.

food

Everyone needs food to sustain themselves, but a new mother needs to keep her energy up through good nutrition. You can only care for someone else if you feel mentally and physically on top, which is why a new mum will love you showing up at the door armed with either a home-cooked meal or her favourite takeaway and some chocolate. Having a tiny human to look after can mean that mums often forget to give time for themselves, which includes finding time to cook; show her you care by stocking up the fridge for a while.

wet wipes

When you have someone who demands 99% of all your time, it’s no surprise that finding the time to shower becomes bottom of the priority list. However, having not showered in approximately 2 weeks or more can lead to feeling exceptionally bad about yourself, even if that shouldn’t be the case. Wet wipes are going to be a gift from the Gods for any new mother as they’re great for staying clean and versatile for many other things. From a wet wipe shower to cleaning the kitchen worktops to wiping baby’s bottom; the wet wipes are a must-have essential.

baby sling

Pushing around a pushchair seems easy enough in theory, but in practice can be a little more difficult. Living in the city as a new mother is both amazing and terrifying at the same time; exploring with little one is special, but trying to clamber onto tubes with a pushchair can be a nightmare on your own. The sling won’t be advisable for mothers who have had a C-Section, so take note of this, but for those who haven’t and have recovered, a sling is a practical way to get out of the house and not have to juggle the city with a heap of plastic. Slings are now available in different colours and patterns to match with a new mum’s personality and style.

new bedding

Once you become a new parent, sleep seems like a beautiful past-time that may never return to your life. That’s not entirely true, but for a good amount of time, being sleep deprived will become a permanent part of your everyday reality. Unfortunately, you can’t gift a new mother sleep, as much as they would love you forever for it. As a compromise, you can gift her a brand new set of pillows, duvet and bedsheets to ensure that she has everything for the most comfortable few hours of sleep each night. You could even go one step further and invest in a new mattress for her.

something just for her

One aspect that new mums always say they didn’t consider until after having their little one, was being treated as only a mother, and not who they are as a woman. Correct; your life is redefined when you become a parent, however, that shouldn’t mean that your personality is redefined as only a mother. To remind that special lady that she is just as important as baby, and is still who she always was, why not treat her to something that is just for her. Whether that’s a new handbag, her perfect dress or that book she’s been dying to read - give a new mum something that reminds her she is still who she always was, just with an added mini-me.

bath essentials and a night off

As a new mother, finding some time to yourself is often completely out of reach, but it doesn’t have to be. Create a bath hamper with some candles, relaxing oils or bath bombs, and moisturisers so that she can indulge in an hour of de-stress time to get back on top of feeling happy and healthy.

Jennifer E. Lansford PhD, who is a professor for the Social Science Research Institute, says that “stressed parents are less responsive to their infants' cues, and that less-sensitive caregiving is stressful to babies.” therefore it’s important to make sure parents get a moment to de-stress. Whilst she’s having a bath and clearing her mind of all responsibility, you can look after baby for a few hours and make sure nothing disturbs her chance to regain a sense of calm.

clothing for baby

New parents will spend a large majority of their time trying to get baby to sleep, and also changing baby’s nappy. Both are two facts of parenting that are inescapable, and often tiring for a new mum as it can seem continuous. You might want to gift a new parent clothing that looks adorable, but the truth is, parents want something that encourages sleep and also makes changing (during both day and night) as quick and easy as possible. Sleepsuits made from organic materials are often softer on a baby’s delicate skin, and also help them to regulate their temperature and prevent them feeling uncomfortable during the night. When buying sleepsuits, opt for those that have zips or just a couple of poppers at the crotch area for quick access during the night changes.

extra-long phone charger

Once she’s got her Netflix subscription, she’s going to want to be able to make sure she can binge watch all of the latest series, without having to experience her mobile depleting of life before baby has finished feeding for the night. You could buy a normal phone charger, but the plug socket might be a little out of reach so an extra long lead means social media can be accessed almost everywhere and anywhere. Alternatively, an on the go charger is always going to come in handy.

reassurance

Something that is not talked about enough when it comes to becoming a parent for the first time, is the loneliness. It often comes unexpectedly but is like a strong tide that you cannot get your head above. “…while new mothers might feel extremely connected to their newborn, they often feel extremely disconnected from everyone else — including their spouse.” - Guy Winch PhD from Psychology Today explains that even though you constantly have a human interacting with you, motherhood can be isolating.

The problem with it is that “Loneliness, especially when it continues for too long, can pose risks to our physical as well as our emotional health.”, and as mentioned previously, a mum cannot look after her little one if she is not feeling 100% herself. Whether you are her friend, mother, father, partner or sibling - reassure her that she always has someone to talk to about anything that is going through her thoughts. If you can’t be there all the time, then giving a new mum a post-natal course where she can connect and meet other new mothers will ensure she has somewhere to go and find solace in others.