Great Gifts For New Moms In A Pandemic - Page 6

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Slightly over 10 percent of new mothers experience postpartum depression. In addition to that, mental health issues have increased across the board – regardless of parenthood status – during the COVID-19 pandemic. With that in mind, new motherhood plus the pandemic might be the perfect storm for an emotional roller coaster. If you know a new mom right now, know that she’s likely struggling (more than new moms already do). We know the old adage that it takes a village to raise a child, but right now, nobody can be near their village. This is especially true for new moms who cannot afford to get sick since they need to care for their babies and because of that, aren’t getting to be around loved ones.

While studies have found that there have been substantially fewer births this past year, likely due to the pandemic, what about the women who chose to get pregnant just before discovering that a virus would shut down the world? They’re nursing a little one under quarantine. When the new moms in your life can’t get the traditional support you’d like to offer them – like stopping by with food or just to say hello – they can get your support through good old-fashioned gifts. When you can’t be there in person, you can give a useful gift that will remind a new mom that she has support. Just consider gifts that alleviate some of the particular stresses of a pandemic, plus motherhood, when you’re brainstorming. Here are great gifts for a new mom during these stressful times.

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A diaper subscription

Depending on a baby’s age, they could go through at least six and up to 10 diapers a day, and even toddlers still need frequent changes. But one survey found a good amount of moms under-change their babies to make their supply of this pricey item last. Make the new mom in your life feel more than secure that she’ll never run out of diapers by getting her a diaper subscription. Jessica Alba’s The Honest Company has a subscription service that provides four weeks of diapers and wipes for $80 and reminds the buyer to update their size preference before a new shipment goes out.

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Relaxing bath additions

The mom in your life may be taking hot baths as she’s learned they might combat the inflammation and weight gain that can come with pregnancy. Or, she may just take a lot as it’s the only time she gets a little peace and quiet. Whatever the reason for her soaking habit, give her some things to improve bath time, like a caddy for her book, a candle, some wine, or this muscle-relaxing bath bomb that has both healing Epsom salt and ancient sea salt, along with exfoliating clay and refreshing eucalyptus in it. Or if your new mom is struggling with post-partum eczema, get her this bomb that has soothing honey and oatmeal.

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A neck massager

When you can’t be there to give your friend a massage, and it’s not safe for her to visit a spa or have a professional masseuse visit her home, you can still give her the gift of a neck rub. Deep-kneading neck massagers like this one come with a wall and a car plug for on-the-go use and allow you to control both the intensity and temperature of the device. It’s also under $50, so it pays for itself in the money the user saves on professional massages over the years. If it’s just healing heat a new mom wants to calm her muscles after rocking a baby all day, there is this unique product.

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Hands-free pump

Working from home and cleaning dishes and pumping and managing everyone else in the household is no easy task. And when moms are home, they somehow find themselves mothering everyone – including their spouses. With that in mind, they need their hands free. Ones like the Elvie Pump are wearable, portable, and wireless. It discreetly fits in a bra, charges via a USB cord, and connects to the associated app to give updates on pump volume and the baby’s feeding schedule. It automatically closes off the bottle when full and is quite easy to clean. It’s so small, colleagues won’t notice when your favorite mom is pumping during a Zoom meeting.

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A jade roller

Even if we’re stuck at home, new moms need to feel like they have some indulgences, and that they can get back to taking care of themselves after pregnancy – including when it comes to a few matters of vanity. A crystal roller set like this option from Sephora includes an amethyst stone (said to soothe irritated skin), a rose quartz stone (said to boost radiance), and a jade stone (said to remove puffiness). Jade rollers are also said to tone the skin, boost circulation, and even help eliminate toxins. If you’re on a budget, the Heaven of Joy set contains a roller and Gua Sha facial tool for less than $20.

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Zoom pro

Alright, this may seem a little boring at first, but Zoom Pro is $15 a month or $120 for the year (with a coupon). Without it, having any more than three people in a session means you get cut off at 40 minutes. But what about the mom who needs to create a mommy support group during a pandemic and would like more than 40 minutes to swap tips and vent and enjoy instructional videos together with her mommy friends? What about the mommy who wants to host a mom book club where members read all about parenting and talk about their findings for an hour? See. Zoom Pro is a good gift for moms.

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A food delivery service

When a new mom is focused on making sure her newborn gets enough sustenance from her breastmilk, it can be hard to make sure her spouse, other children, or that she herself gets enough sustenance in general. When it’s time to eat, it can be really nice if the food is just there, and doesn’t have to be made. Or, at the very least, doesn’t have to be shopped for. We covered some of the best food subscription services, from those who deliver ready-made meals to prepped ingredients to whole groceries. There should be something for most budgets on the list.

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A no-touch thermometer

There are many reasons new moms need thermometers – it is imperative to be aware of if a baby develops any sort of fever, as it can be a sign of something serious. And now, during the pandemic, everyone should have a reliable way to take their own and their family members’ temperature if symptoms of the coronavirus arise. An oral thermometer, however, is a surefire way to pass germs around the home. A no-touch thermometer lets you safely take everyone’s temperature, without having to pass germs. You can even take a sleeping baby’s temperature without waking her, using a no-touch thermometer. The iHealth option is affordable and gently vibrates when done, rather than making a loud beeping noise.

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A baby sound machine

Any parent knows that you pretty much only get sleep when your baby sleeps. So any gift that helps baby sleep is a gift to mommy. This Hatch system is both a sound machine and nightlight that will work for babies and toddlers. It has programmed sounds scientifically proven to promote restfulness. You can control it from your phone, so there’s no need to wake your baby to make adjustments, and you can adjust the color and brightness of the light for feedings or bedtime stories. It’s compatible with iOS 11 and higher, as well as Android, and communicates with your phone via Bluetooth.