The Best Gifts for New Parents
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What gifts do new parents really want? While baby clothes are adorable and packages of diapers are handy, what new parents really need may be something else entirely. We went straight to the source—new parents—to find out what gifts new parents actually appreciate. We got hundreds of answers with some common themes. Here are the best gifts for new parents, according to parents.
The Most Requested Gift for New Parents: Food
Parents’ answers made one thing clear: they want food. While new parents mentioned many gifts that were appreciated, meals kept coming up again and again. Freezer meals, meal trains, gift cards for DoorDash or local restaurants, meals from a local grocery store—these were all suggestions. Think beyond dinners: swing by with coffee and breakfast sandwiches, or bring salads and soup at lunch time. One mom added that she was especially grateful for meals that were dropped off without her having to interact with anyone! We’ve got a whole blog post with suggestions for how grandparents can help new parents with meals over here.
Other parents mentioned nutritious snacks as being a welcome gift. Think of things that are easy to grab from the fridge, like pre-portioned veggies and hummus or apples and nut butter. Nursing parents are also grateful for snacks that can be kept by the bed and eaten with one hand, like dried chickpeas, nuts or trail mix, and fruit like grapes or apples. Make up some pretty jars with quick snacks, and drop them off without making the new parents come to the door.
New Parents Love Lovevery
While the baby aisle in your favorite store has a wide variety of attractive baby toys, new parents love the quality and developmental power of toys from Lovevery. Here are the best Lovevery toys for newborns.
The Play Gym Designed to entertain children from newborns to toddlers, this play gym and mat is made of sustainably sourced wood, organic cotton, and baby safe materials. The many zones of developmental activities engage babies throughout their first year. See why it has over 2400 5-star reviews.
The Looker Play Kit New parents love getting a subscription to Lovevery’s Play Kits, and the first is designed for babies from 0-12 weeks. We believe every baby will benefit from these quality toys designed by developmental experts. Find out more here.
Tummy Time Course Pack Lovevery’s course packs provide expert guidance to parents as they navigate key stages in their baby’s life. The tummy time course pack includes video, audio and downloadable guides to make tummy time a happy, stress-free experience. Learn more about this great gift for new parents.
The Best Gifts for New Parents on Amazon
There were also certain gifts that new parents felt were lifesavers. More than one parent mentioned the Haakaa manual breast pump. This simple item has over 52,000 five-star reviews. You can also get a model that includes a lid and base, something nursing parents will appreciate.
Another inexpensive gift that new parents will appreciate is super-soft bamboo washcloths. One mom said she now uses them herself after receiving them for her baby! This set of 6 bamboo washcloths at Amazon comes in a variety of colors.
There were also three new parent gifts on the pricier end that came up in our informal poll. One was the Hatch, a combination sound machine/nightlight/audio monitor. It also includes a time-to-wake feature, which will come in handy when that new baby is a toddler. The Hatch is on Amazon.
Going up in price, the Keekaroo Peanut changing pad has raving fans. We’ll be honest, we have trouble believing that a changing pad can be worth well over $100, but the parents who have one will tell you it absolutely is. Check out the reviews on Amazon.
The most expensive gift for new parents that made our list is the SlumberPod. This portable blackout tent pops over a portable crib, creating a dark, enclosed sleep space for baby when sharing a room or traveling. The price tag is steep, but think of it as giving new parents extra hours of sleep. You can’t put a price tag on that. Find it on Amazon, too.
The Gift of Helping Hands
If expensive gifts are not in your budget, don’t fear. There are gifts new parents will greatly appreciate that cost nothing but your time. Helping hands are almost always appreciated, as long as they don’t come with unwanted advice or criticism. One new mom mentioned how much she appreciated someone taking care of their dog when the baby was born. Another said her parents came to help take care of her, understanding that she could take care of the baby. Both of these are things we’ve mentioned before, and you can find more ideas by reading 10 Ways to Help New Parents.
Thoughtful gifts are one way to build a trusting, supportive relationship. Grandparents will earn a lot of brownie points if they choose a gift that new parents will really appreciate. Even new parents who have everything can use some help or a meal!
More ways to support new parents: