Cuddly toys are sweet, muslins are a must, and honestly- someone needs to turn up with a truckload of zip-up sleepsuits. But if you’re looking for a gift that’s for the new mum (not the baby), here are some of the thoughtful things I received that genuinely brought joy during those hazy, sleep-deprived newborn days – and that I still remember now.
This might actually be the number one gift! and one of the sweetest (literally) gifts I received as a new mum came through the letterbox—fresh, gooey brownies. The genius of these? You can eat them one-handed, essential when you’re holding a baby who refuses to be put down. Top tip: Wait until the 3am feed, when the house is quiet and you don’t have to share them
Before I gave birth, I was sure I’d be back in my jeans the minute I got home from the hospital – how wrong I was!!! Instead, I found myself living in leggings and oversized t-shirts, trying to figure out feeding, healing, and functioning on no sleep. A gorgeous friend gifted me the perfect pair of pyjamas: a beautiful set with a button-up top for easy breastfeeding and drawstring trousers that adjusted as my body found its way post-baby. They made all the difference – comfortable enough for endless couch feeds, but still stylish enough that I felt put-together when people popped in to visit.
You will swear you’ll never forget those first details… until you absolutely do. That’s why I’m obsessed with this birth poster – it has all the magic in one frame-worthy design. I ordered myself another one when my son was born 2 years later.
Between the sleepless nights and the endless nappy changes, my memory after having my daughter was basically non-existent. I couldn’t remember how often she’d fed when the midwife asked, and I definitely couldn’t keep track of who’d bought what gift to send thank you notes. Enter: my partner, with a simple little notebook. It quickly became my lifeline – a place to jot down feeds, questions for the health visitor, and a list of all the beautiful gifts. In a time when everything felt a bit out of control, having one small space to scribble things down made a big difference.
Easy read fiction books
There’s only so much scrolling and online shopping you can do during those lonely night feeds. At some point, even Instagram gets old. That’s when my sister stepped in with the perfect gift – an easy-read fiction book. Nothing too heavy, just something I could dip in and out of without losing the plot. Suddenly, 3am didn’t feel quite so endless. It became less “please, just go back to sleep” and more “okay… just one more chapter.” A tiny escape in the middle of the night.
It started with a little Instax camera – a thoughtful gift that quickly became one of the most treasured things I owned in those early months. I found myself snapping all the little in-between moments and sticking my favourites on the walls. I even popped them into thank you cards (when I finally got around to sending them!). I have loved and used it so much that I recently treated myself to an upgrade: the beautiful Leica Sofort. It’s also become something my kids love too – snapping their own little moments and flipping through the photos we’ve collected together.
What were your favourite gifts as a new mum? What gifts really made a difference? I’d love to hear the little lifesavers, the thoughtful surprises, and the things you didn’t know you needed until they arrived!
xx
