Survival Gift for Upcoming Mom

First, food. We had two friends that cooked us enough for several meals. We had another two friends that bought an assortment of deli foods from Whole Foods for us a different week. Believe me, this is the only food with any nutritional value that we ate those first few weeks.

My seccond suggestion is a bunch of those little white long sleeved shirts they put newborns in at the hospital-- the ones that snap around the side and have little folds to cover the infants hands so they can't scratch their faces.

Tucks pads!!! Yummy lotions, so even if she can't shower she can lather up with the lotion and smell delicious. Lamisil-that nipple cream. A starbucks gift card. A new pair of comfy p.j.s or lounging wear. A gift certificate to netflicks so even though she and the hubby won't be going to the movies they can get movies sent to their house and have a little date night. Some herbal teas like chamomille. A box of really good dark chocolate.

I found it difficult to get out of the house to grocery shop, etc. when I was a new mom, so how about a gift certificate to peapod for grocery delivery, or a basket full of diapers, snacks, or a gift certificate from Oberweis to drop off milk for the family, etc.. Also along the same food theme, how about dropping off dinner every so often.

If I were having a second child, I'd want a super practical gift.

Bring over some frozen entrees so all she has to do when it is time to feed the family is pop it in the oven and be done with it. Throw together a huge bowl of salad. Put together some smaller bowls of cut up fruit.

Make her coupons to:
-Take her child for an afternoon
-Pick up groceries if needed
-Offer to be a 'night nurse' for an evening (if you can swing that...I realize it might be tough with two kids of your own).

One of the best new-mom gifts I got when having my second child was a huge grocery bag full of GOOD easy to make foods. Burritos, pizzas, etc. Trader Joes has lots of this sort of thing. This was a huge help for me the first few weeks because I just couldn't think about lunch for me and my toddler at first - it was much easier to pop something into the oven or microwave and be done with it.

Other suggestions would be a gift membership or even just a bunch of stuff from Dinner By Design or something similar.

I am guessing you want something for mommy rather than just baby. You could include relaxing music cd, favorite lotions or creams, a book by a favorite author-just in case she gets some time to herself, a certificate for a restaurant that delivers. There is also a book called Don't Sweat the Small Stuff. I enjoyed it when I had my first kids. A friend included it in a gift for the baby.

Hi K.-

I'm not sure where your at. I'm in the St. Charles area. I started my own business for this reason, busy moms & new moms. I offer gift certificates for "time". Whether it's shopping, running an errand, cleaning, laundry, birth announcements, christening planning... Whatever the new mom needs. (upcoming holiday shopping!!) My second had colic, I was so unprepared, and family was not nearby! My website is www.conciergemichelle.com.

As for a basket type gift: I would put an inspirational book on motherhood, luxury spa type soap, lotion.

Good luck! Please contact me if I can be of assistance. M..

I like Marci's answer.
I had planned (didn't stick with it) to do these things while pregnant with my 3rd....gift certificates for those shops where food is 3/4th made (dinner by design?), gift certificates to peapod, a maid service (or a paid visit to clean), a paid certificate for a mom's helper and reading material. I know in my town they have something called Handy Helpers or something and it is a service run by women and you pay for help to clean your house, drive you places, cook a meal, house sit while you nap. I would have loved that. Or a basket of big sibling presents to open a new one once a week (stickers, books, etc) and then to only play with when the baby is being fed, etc. What a nice friend you are!!!! and congrats on the baby!

PS...does your town have a greeter? Ours does and provides coupons/freebies (pizza, oil change)to new residents AND parents or newborns (not just new parents). If you have one maybe call for her?