When my husband and I became first-time parents, we underestimated just how much of our time would be taken up by having a baby. This includes time to maintain the home and sometimes basic human needs, like eating. We had thoughtful friends and family who made an effort to make our lives easier by delivering homemade meals and even sending us Fresh Direct orders so we didn’t have to go grocery shopping.
If you have someone in your life who just became a new parent -- in time for the holidays -- you’re probably thinking about gifts to get them. When I came up with this list, I thought about what I liked having and what I would’ve found helpful as a new parent. I wanted to make sure this list included items that would be practical for new parents and wasn’t just focused on the baby, since they most likely received enough gifts for their child at their baby shower (if they had one). I’m sure they’d be appreciative of any gift they receive, but I can guarantee that they would like a gift that will help them survive the newborn stage (and beyond). Some of the recommendations below are gifts they can use right away, while others are for later on in parenthood. Check out our practical gift ideas below.
Nourishing yourself during the postpartum period is important, but at times it may seem impossible. Gifting the new parents in your life gift cards for food delivery services like Doordash, Seamless or Uber Eats will make their lives easier.
If they still like to prepare their own meals but don’t have time to hit the grocery store, then a meal delivery service like Blue Apron or Purple Carrot could be helpful. If you need ideas on the best meal delivery services, you can check out some of CNET’s top picks.
You quickly learn that you can’t have enough diapers with a baby. Diapers are also expensive, so adding a box of diapers as part of a holiday gift to new parents will be appreciated. Before purchasing a box, make sure to find out the size the baby is wearing because some babies grow out of certain sizes faster than others. You should also find out the diaper brand the parents prefer because some children may have skin sensitivities, so it’s best to stick to the familiar.
In any case, always include a gift receipt. There have been times I had a brand new box of diapers that my child outgrew by the time I got to them, but I’ve been lucky that Target and Walmart have generous exchange policies for them.
If the new parent in your life is exclusively formula-feeding or combo-feeding (a mix of formula and breast milk) their baby, a formula machine that takes the guesswork out of measuring bottles is a life changer.
The Baby Brezza Formula Pro Advanced Baby Formula Dispenser was my go-to and it saved me the hassle of making a bottle each time I fed my son. The machine is easy to set up and resembles a Keurig (water tank and formula dispenser). With a click of a button, you select the size of the bottle of milk you’d like to make and it dispenses a warm, well-measured bottle of milk within seconds. You can also customize how warm you want the milk to be.
This saves time compared to when you have to do the mixing yourself. Plus, if you’re holding your child, you can make the bottle one-handed.
A baby food maker is helpful if the parents are at the stage where they’re introducing solids to their baby. Some people start off with purees, which is where a baby food maker can be helpful. The Nutribullet Baby Complete Food-Making System is a favorite because it lets you create your own batches of baby food that you can refrigerate or freeze. Another plus is that it's dishwasher safe, so you don’t have to worry about your sink piling up with dirty containers.
The Nutribullet is also useful once you get past the puree stage and are looking to introduce food in different textures by blending and chopping them instead.
If there’s one thing new parents are used to, it’s their coffee getting cold. Unless you’re having iced coffee, it’s not great tasting cold coffee after it’s been sitting out for a while. A baby requires you to drop everything if they need a diaper change or are looking to be fed. Unfortunately, that often means cold meals and coffee for the parents. Gifting them a coffee mug warmer is a thoughtful way for them to never have to worry about their coffee getting cold in the mornings or whenever they need a pick-me-up.
This inexpensive gift can also work to keep tea, hot chocolate and other warm beverages hot.
One of the things I underestimated was how exhausted my arms would be from carrying a baby all the time. A Hip-Seat Baby Carrier can be a great gift for the parent whose baby or toddler constantly wants to be carried, but whose back needs saving. It can get exhausting carrying a child -- no matter what their weight is -- after a long period, so anything to make the experience easier is a major plus.
One popular brand, the Tushbaby, was designed to offer lumbar support while you’re carrying your child. It basically looks like a fanny pack with a moon-shaped seat attached to it to prop your baby. It can support a child who weighs up to 45 pounds, is travel-friendly and PT-approved. The Tushbaby also has small storage pockets in case you need to store your keys, diapers or wipes.
If the Tushbaby is not in your budget, another alternative is the Momcozy Hip Seat Carrier, which is more than half the price and an Amazon bestseller. It also functions the same way as the Tushbaby and offers a medium and large-size option.
One of the things that takes a backseat as a new parent is keeping your home tidy. In this case, a robot vacuum could offer a lot of help. With a click of a button, you’ll have it cleaning up your carpets and dirty floors, and you don’t even need to lift a finger. CNET’s top pick for robot vacuums is the Dreametech DreameBot D10 Plus. The DreameBot D10 has a self-emptying dustbin and a built-in mopping pad, which is a plus and takes an extra task off your hands. Having a robot vacuum when you have limited time is also helpful to keep your surfaces clean as your baby starts to crawl and spends more time playing on the floor.
Robot vacuums aren’t exactly cheap, so this could make for an extra nice gift for a close friend or family member. They’ll appreciate that they don’t have to worry about keeping their floors clean during this busy time in their life. If you are on a tight budget, then you can also consider the Eufy RoboVac 25C, which is a less expensive, yet just as effective robot vacuum.
A mini fridge can be helpful for storing freshly expressed milk or other premade bottles of formula. This saves new parents time from having to go into the kitchen whenever they need to feed their child(ren). Some people who are nursing also keep snacks and beverages in the fridge to stay hydrated and replenish nutrients. Having milk for the baby that is easily accessible can make a big difference, especially in the middle of the night.
The new parents in your life may not have thought of this idea, so it will be extra thoughtful that you made an effort to think about ways to make feeding a baby (or themselves) an easier experience.
DIY care gift basket
If DIY is more your style, you can also create a gift basket filled with things the new parents could use. Fill it with their favorite snacks, beverages, some 10-feet-long phone charging cables, their favorite coffee pods or ground coffee brand, face masks, a gift card for a book store, a large water bottle, a portable night light for late-night feedings, or diaper changes and other goodies.
You know your giftee best, so you can get creative with your gift. They’ll be appreciative of any thoughtful items you add to their gift basket since this is the time they’ll make most use of it.