My gift guide for new parents.

The holiday season is upon us, and if you’ve got friends or family who are expecting or have a new baby, you’re probably wondering what they need. You’ve probably already discovered that the market for new parent and infant products is a minefield. With so many items, it’s really hard to know what’s actually helpful. I’m going to break this down to essential items that most new parents could use.

However, before discussing actual products, I’m going to focus on services. I know people love giving lovingly wrapped gifts, but hear me out on why services should be the first priority.

There are very few products that make a big difference in a new family’s experience of parenting. Sure, some families will swear by items like the Mamaroo or the Snoo, but with price tags in the hundreds and thousands and a shelf life of only a few months, these may not be worthwhile for all families. My personal advice is to hold off on these big ticket items, since they’re often not needed. The money could be better spent, and if it turns out that these items could be useful, they can be purchased or borrowed later.

Instead, services support the family’s basic needs, so that they can care for themselves and their baby with less stress. Here are a few services that would be super helpful to many new parents:

A lactation consultant.

Obviously, this is my #1 suggestion for parents expecting a baby and planning to breastfeed.

I highly recommend establishing a relationship with a lactation consultant during pregnancy, in order to help parents plan for the early postpartum period. Once the baby arrives, their lactation consultant will be able to help the family work through any issues that come up as they move through the breastfeeding journey.

To hire a lactation consultant, search online for people that work in the family’s area. If you can’t find anyone local, a lactation consultant who does virtual visits will be helpful as well.

A house cleaner.

One of the last things new parents should be worrying about is how to keep their house cleaned. A cleaner who can come weekly or a few times a month will ease the burden by allowing the new family to rest as much as possible.

To hire a cleaner, search for a company or solo practitioner who is local to the family.

Meals.

New parents need fresh, healthy food, but preparing it is time-consuming. Consider hiring someone to bring meals to the new family, buying locally prepared meals, or using an online prepared meal delivery service. If you have the time and desire to cook, doing it yourself would also make a lovely gift.

To find a service, search online for “prepared meal delivery.”

A postpartum doula.

Our modern approach to child rearing is that two people live in a home and have full responsibility to care for the new child. This model is hard! We can make it a bit easier with a postpartum doula.

A postpartum doula is an experienced caregiver who understands the needs of new families the way many do not. They care for whatever needs caring for, including the new parents’ emotional needs. Doulas often do light housework, cleaning, as well as baby care. Many doulas provide overnight services as well.

To find a postpartum doula, just search for “postpartum doula” in the family’s city or town.

Body work.

After nine months of pregnancy and childbirth, our bodies could really use some attention. One visit with our OB or midwife six weeks after delivery doesn’t cut it. Parents deserve a lot better.

After delivery, a lot of attention is placed on the baby and getting breastfeeding off to a good start but this doesn’t have to be at the expense of the birthing parent’s body. What if everyone who gave birth saw a body worker such as a massage therapist, chiropractor or physical therapist?

Allow me to try to put this into perspective. After having surgery, most people are immediately referred to physical therapy. I would argue that pregnancy and childbirth are just as challenging for the body as surgery and are thus deserving of the same care. Furthermore, a third of all births in the U.S. are now surgical, and at this point, people who deliver via cesarean are not routinely referred to physical therapy.

Before looking for a service, I recommend asking the parent what type of body work they prefer and if they’re already working with someone. Once you know that, you can find someone local and purchase a gift certificate. What’s great about this gift is that it will make a huge difference and is something that most people don’t prioritize.

OK, let’s shift to products. Here are a few that I find most parents value and will get a lot of use out of:

A baby carrier.

A well-designed and comfortable carrier that a parent wears to carry their baby will likely be used daily. There are many options available now; Moby, Solly and Ergo are very popular and work with most bodies.

A great breast pump.

Most people get a breast pump through insurance, but many people appreciate having another model that’s portable, so they can pump on the go when it’s needed.

There are a few portable models that work really well and allow parents to pump without access to an electrical outlet or having to sit in one spot the whole time they’re pumping. The pump market is always changing and growing, but at this point, the Pumpables and the Baby Buddha are two of my favorites.

Great bottles

At some point during the first six months of their baby’s life, most families will start to use bottles. The vast array of bottles and their marketing cause a lot of confusion for parents. Should you get the “most like breast” bottle or the one that claims to prevents reflux? Does it matter if the bottle nipple is your skin color and what about plastic vs. glass? And what is up with all the flow rates?!

Guess what? Many of these claims are just BS. Companies are in the business of selling products, and will say whatever they believe new parents want. The truth is that no one is regulating what’s used in bottle marketing, including flow rates.

Here’s what I recommend - a bottle nipple that has a gradual slope, encouraging the wide latch that we want at the breast, and a flow rate on the slow side, which helps to prevent the development of a flow preference. Bottles that give you both characteristics are the Evenflo Balance, Pigeon and Lansinoh.

Milk collectors and pads

Many nursing parents will experience leaking breasts, especially in the early months, and will appreciate options for absorbing or collecting that leaking milk.

The first milk collector to take over this market was the original Haakaa, and most people still get one as a shower gift. While these can be a helpful tool, they have some risks that many parents are not aware of. Using them for too long or too often can cause swelling and stimulate an over-production.

Instead, I recommend passive milk collectors that don’t rely on suction, such as the Kindest Cup and the Haakaa Ladybug.

For nursing pads, Bamboobies are great as are the wool-silk pads from Danish Wool.

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One last thought for a gift. Many cities have a small business that provides products for new families, and they sometimes have community spaces for classes and play groups. If the city that the family is in has one of these stores, they will probably become regulars there, so a gift card is a great idea.

Support a local business and the new family. A win win. 🥳