When my husband and I welcomed our second child this past spring, we found ourselves even more exhausted than with our first. The first few months were a blur of feedings, diaper changes, and wondering if we’d ever sleep through the night again.
Fortunately, for both of our children’s births, we were extremely blessed with an outpouring of love and gifts from family and friends that made these joyful, yet challenging, times more manageable. For our first, at our baby shower, and for our second, in the days and weeks following his birth. And while no gesture went unappreciated, there were a few gifts that really stood out to us.
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So, if you’re looking for a new-baby gift for a friend that’s more unique than the customary baby clothes, flowers, or fruit baskets (though these are all appreciated, as well!), check out this list of creative gift ideas.
Send a stress-free meal
When a friend reached out a few weeks after the birth of my son and said “I’d like to have dinner delivered to you one night this week,” I was thrilled. Our neighbors had generously set up a meal train for us (if you’re not familiar, this is a scheduling tool to help organize meals for a person or family), and the food from those meals was about to run out. Having another one delivered would help me avoid grocery shopping just a bit longer, which was a gift in and of itself. But what really made this offer stand out was her next message, “I got some of your taste preferences from [a mutual friend], so I can just take care of all the details and let you know when dinner’s on the way.”
It may sound silly, but not having to make any decisions about the meal took this gift from extremely appreciated to priceless. Having a new baby means facing constant choices every day and the decision fatigue is real and overwhelming. So, having to do nothing more than open the door to receive a warm meal was great — there was no narrowing down which restaurant to try, figuring out what we were in the mood to eat, or feeling guilty about the cost of our order. We simply got to enjoy the meal.
Cut down on their household chores
Your friends likely aren’t able to give their full attention to household chores while they adjust to their newly expanded family. So, while it’s not advisable to show up and start some unsolicited tidying, one way to help is to send a gift card for a cleaning service. This gives them a judgment-free way to ask for help with problem areas and schedule a cleaning at a time that’s best for them without worrying about finding or choosing a service.
If your friends are responsible for yard maintenance, too, you could give a similar gift for the outside of their home. (If you live close, you could even do this yourself, which makes it a bit more affordable.) This past spring, I could immediately sense my husband’s relief when we came home from the hospital with our son to a freshly cut lawn that he wouldn’t have to worry about for several days.
Pamper the new parents
While it’s always nice to get an unexpected gift delivered, I was admittedly extra excited on the couple of days that I opened packages to discover that the gifts inside were for us. With so much of our focus on caring for the new baby, these gifts were a kind gesture that showed our friends were thinking about us as individuals, as well, and provided an easy way to treat ourselves.
For example, one day we received a box of gourmet cookies and brownies (it was extra nice that they were well sealed, so there was no real worry of them going bad, as there sometimes can be with fruit baskets) and another a friend dropped off some minimal effort (are you sensing a theme?) pampering items for me, such as a sugar scrub that I could squeeze into my normal routine.
Help them juggle an older sibling
When my husband and I had our second child, we found ourselves more exhausted this time around because, in addition to caring for our newborn, we were trying to give our 5-year-old daughter adequate attention. There were times, especially once my husband began working again, that it just felt like too much to balance.
During this time, one of the kindest gestures we received was from a group of close high school friends. They put together two gift packages for my daughter, who was thrilled to receive something addressed to her, and sent them about a week apart. They contained snacks she could serve herself, like bags of goldfish crackers, and activities to keep her entertained, like kinetic sand.
In a time when her new little brother was getting countless gifts and a disproportionate amount of our attention, this gift not only entertained her while I tended to the new baby, but also made her feel noticed and loved, as well.
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Pamper the new parents
While it’s always nice to get an unexpected gift delivered, I was admittedly extra excited on the couple of days that I opened packages to discover that the gifts inside were for us. With so much of our focus on caring for the new baby, these gifts were a kind gesture that showed our friends were thinking about us as individuals, as well, and provided an easy way to treat ourselves.
For example, one day we received a box of gourmet cookies and brownies (it was extra nice that they were well sealed, so there was no real worry of them going bad, as there sometimes can be with fruit baskets) and another a friend dropped off some minimal effort (are you sensing a theme?) pampering items for me, such as a sugar scrub that I could squeeze into my normal routine.
Help them juggle an older sibling
When my husband and I had our second child, we found ourselves more exhausted this time around because, in addition to caring for our newborn, we were trying to give our 5-year-old daughter adequate attention. There were times, especially once my husband began working again, that it just felt like too much to balance.
During this time, one of the kindest gestures we received was from a group of close high school friends. They put together two gift packages for my daughter, who was thrilled to receive something addressed to her, and sent them about a week apart. They contained snacks she could serve herself, like bags of goldfish crackers, and activities to keep her entertained, like kinetic sand.
In a time when her new little brother was getting countless gifts and a disproportionate amount of our attention, this gift not only entertained her while I tended to the new baby, but also made her feel noticed and loved, as well.
Originally published by October 15, 2020.