10 Unique Items To Put in a New Mom Gift Basket

If you’re trying to buy a gift for the new mom in your life, then we get how challenged you might feel. You want to get items that support both Mama and Baby, and you don’t want your present to feel generic. Below, we explore several genuinely unique items to put in a new mom gift basket that she is sure to use and love.

A One-Handed Snack Sampler

Sit-down meals using two hands are infrequent luxuries for new parents. Your friend is probably going to be sneaking in meals through quick snacks throughout the day, and you can make that easy and fun for her.

The following one-handed snacks will allow her to grab something satisfying without thinking:

• single-serve trail mix with nuts and dried fruit
• protein bars
• shelf-stable fruit or veggie puree pouches (also for Baby!)
• nut-butter squeeze packs
• jerky
• string cheese

A Pretty, Leak-Proof Water Bottle With a Straw Lid

Everyone’s got to stay hydrated, but new moms can forget. Help your friend drink water throughout the day by getting her a pretty bottle she can sip on, even when her hands are occupied. A straw lid lets her sip while holding the baby.

Look for a bottle that fits a cup holder and seals tightly in a diaper bag. You can also tuck in a few single-serve electrolyte packets or a fruit-infused option she can use when plain water sounds boring.

A Soft, Supportive Postpartum Belly Wrap

A belly wrap is designed to bring postpartum women comfort by controlling inflammation, supporting weakened abdominals, and generally offering support. It’s not the most popular gift basket inclusion, but it sure is helpful.

Shop for an adjustable style that is gentle and easy to put on.

A Set of Cooling and Warming Pads

Another fantastic relief item to include in the basket is a set of cooling and warming pads. Cooling soothes swelling or aches, and warmth can feel amazing when her shoulders or back start complaining after hours of holding a baby.

Shop for pads that come with soft (ideally cute) covers and a flexible design so they can sit comfortably on her shoulders, back, or lower belly.

A Shower Upgrade Kit

Postpartum showers hit different, and you can really elevate the experience for the new mama. Here are some spa-worthy gifts that will help your friend feel like a human again when she steps out of the steam:

• shower steamers (in light scents like eucalyptus)
• a high-end, nourishing body wash
• a microfiber hair towel wrap
• a rich hand cream

A Nightstand Caddy Organizer

Newborn nights involve a rotating set of essentials—burp cloth, water, charger, lip balm, pacifier, snack, and so much more. And those items somehow disappear every time she needs them most. A small caddy keeps everything within reach and immediately accessible in the dark at 2 a.m.

If you want to make the basket feel extra put-together, place a few small goodies inside the caddy before wrapping it up. Some ideas include lip balm, hair ties, a phone charger cable, and a burp cloth, but buy things your friend will actually use.

A Set of Support Coupons

People love to say, “Let me know what you need,” but that puts the work back on the new mom to figure out what to ask for, when to ask, and how to phrase it. Take away the stress by giving her a set of support “coupons.” Make the coupons cute and simple—index cards tied with ribbon work perfectly—and write them as “good for” offers she can redeem whenever things get overwhelming. The best ones focus on specific, no-explaining-required support, such as these:

• A weeknight dinner (dropped at the door, disposable container included)
• A weekend babysitter (two hours so she can nap, shower, or leave the house)
• A grocery run (pickup or delivery)
• A load of laundry (wash, dry, fold, and put away)

Use your creativity and knowledge of your friend to make coupons you know she’ll appreciate and use.

A Gentle Sleep Mask With a Contoured Fit

Sleep looks different after childbirth, and your friend will likely be taking many short naps in the middle of the day. Make this easier by getting her a contoured sleep mask, which blocks light without pressing on lashes. Choose a breathable fabric and an adjustable strap that won’t snag hair.

A “Tiny Joy” Book That’s Easy To Dip Into

Despite all her new responsibilities, your friend still wants to (and should) have time to enjoy something fun like reading a booking. But getting through a full-length novel is nearly an impossible task with a newborn.

Instead, give her a book she can pick up and put down in quick increments. Maybe it’s a collection of short stories, a guided journal, poetry, or a joke book. This way, she can read a page or two at a time and get value from those sessions. She can also pick it back up in several days and not feel like she has to backtrack.

A Comfort Item for Baby That Helps Mom Too

Some items for Baby are also gifts in disguise for the tired Mama. If you can include a comfort item for your friend’s newborn, she is sure to appreciate it. This is something soft and snuggly that can accompany the baby on stroller walks, cuddle time, and those stressful moments when they need extra comfort. It should also, of course, be washable. Some of the best options are stuffed animals, loveys, and security blankets.

Shop at Bunnies by the Bay

If you’re gathering unique items to put in a new mom gift basket, a soft, personal comfort item makes a beautiful “final touch” that ties the whole basket together. Bunnies by the Bay is a lovely place to shop for that part of your gift.

We make loveys, baby blankets, and stuffed animals, with personalization options that let you add a name or special message. We also provide bigger curated sets that come packaged as ready-to-give bundles. When you want something tailored and sweet, take a look at our personalized gifts for Baby Girl or Baby Boy and choose an embroidered lovey, blankie, or plush friend that feels truly meant for them.