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Becoming a parent can be a wonderful and mixed bag of emotions, especially if you’re a first-time one. People can experience the transition into parenthood in so many different ways, and the best gift for a new mom is one that’s tailored to the individual. At the end of the day, you know the new mom in your life best. But here we offer a few suggestions from parents on our staff that we think will make this first Mother’s Day an even more memorable one.
New clothes, but easier
Nike Air Force 1 ’07
Link Example: https://www.nike.com/t/air-fast-womens-running-crops-C6ppXR/CI0288-567
For those post-pregnancy occasions when a new mom just has to get out of that robe—as cozy as it is—but still needs to be comfortable, athleisure is here to save the day. A pair of stretchy but chic pants, paired with a super-soft top, can be enough to help her feel a little more put together. Nike Air Fast Leggins (Link: https://www.nike.com/t/air-fast-womens-running-crops-C6ppXR/CI0288-567) are just that. They have a loose, forgiving high waistband and stretch fabric through the legs, which helps them suit many different bodies.
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Not just any box of chocolates
Assorted Chocolate Gold Gift Box, Red Ribbon, 105 pc.
Link Example: https://www.godiva.com/105pc-gold-giftbox-holiday/191532.html
though we can’t claim this is a particularly original idea, great chocolates are sure to delight almost anyone on the receiving end. And chocolates are just a lovely Mother’s Day tradition. Godiva, a Parisian chocolatier, makes some of the best chocolate truffles (Link: https://www.godiva.com/chocolate-truffles) we’ve ever tried. Cluizel also offers equally tasty Dark Chocolate Covered Strawberries (link: https://www.godiva.com/dark-chocolate-dipped-strawberries/10254.html) (a favorite of mine).
A simple nap kit
LectroFan Micro2 Sleep Sound Machine and Bluetooth Speaker – White
Link Example: https://www.walmart.com/ip/LectroFan-Micro2-Sleep-Sound-Machine-and-Bluetooth-Speaker-White/302776183
A tired new mom often has only a brief window of time for a nap. These accessories can help keep her from being disturbed. Our favorite white noise machine, the LectroFan
(link: https://www.walmart.com/ip/LectroFan-Micro2-Sleep-Sound-Machine-and-Bluetooth-Speaker-White/302776183).
A cozy robe
Natori Shangri-La Robe ($98 at the time of publication)
Link Example: https://www.natori.com/new/collections/at-home-essentials/shangri-la-robe/
A comfy robe is a great gift for new parents who are spending more time at home with a newborn—it’s an easy item to throw on that’s both comfortable and functional. In our guide to the best robes, we suggest several options, but parents on staff especially loved the Natori Shangri-La Robe (Link: https://www.natori.com/new/collections/at-home-essentials/shangri-la-robe/) for its exceptionally soft and drapey fabric.
Framed memories
Barnwood Picture Frames
Link Example: https://www.pictureframes.com/custom-framing/categories/barnwood-picture-frames
A framed family photo, a print of tiny footprints, or another memento from the first few months with the new baby are cherished events that deserve memorializing. Our favorite online framer, Pictureframes.com (link: https://www.pictureframes.com/), has services for printing and framing digital photos or original art. And the company even has a few baby-oriented styles, if you need some inspiration to get started.
Easy-to-fit-into pajamas and slippers
L.L.Bean Women’s Wicked Good Moccasins
Link Example: https://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/18664
Help make sure the new mom’s long days (and nights) spent caring for a newborn are as comfortable as possible. We love these cotton Hanna Andersson pajamas (you can mix and match tops and bottoms), which have a stretchy waistband and a soft rib knit. And they won’t wear out with frequent washings. Wirecutter writer Jackie Reeve recommends giving these pajamas along with our favorite slippers (L.L.Bean Women’s Wicked Good Moccasins) (link: https://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/18664), because they’re easy to slip into when one’s old shoes still don’t fit due to postpartum swelling.
A toilet upgrade
Toto Washlet C200
Link Example: https://wayfair.com/home-improvement/pdx/toto-washlet-c200-elongated-toilet-seat-bidet-tot5397.html
Note: Toto’s bidets are out of stock currently, but will be available again in June.
A bidet may seem like an odd Mother’s Day gift, but a lot of our moms on staff said they would’ve loved having one while they were recovering from childbirth. Wirecutter editor Courtney Schley says, “A washlet can make using the bathroom easier in the weeks after giving birth. It’s more convenient than a squirt bottle in caring for a sore perineum. And a bidet toilet is a quality-of-life improvement that continues to deliver long after recovery.” The Toto Washlet C200 (link: https://www.wayfair.com/home-improvement/pdx/toto-washlet-c200-elongated-toilet-seat-bidet-tot5397.html) is the top pick in our guide to washlets. Yes, it’s a lot of money to spend on a toilet seat, but the Toto’s intuitive controls, as well as its ability to customize things like water temperature and pressure and seat temperature, will make any skeptic a total convert after they use one. Our runner-up (link: https://www.wayfair.com/home-improvement/pdp/toto-washlet-c100-elongated-toilet-seat-bidet-tot4855.html) and budget picks are slightly more affordable and still great if you need other options. Just be sure to read our washlet installation section to confirm that a bidet will fit a new mom’s current bathroom setup.
Swaddles in sweet patterns
Aden + Anais Silky Soft Swaddle 3-pack ($45 at the time of publication)
Link Example: https://www.adenandanais.com/swaddle-3-pack-silky-soft-muslin
If scarves aren’t the new mom’s thing, or she prefers a thicker fabric than the giant cotton scarf (link: http://www.scarf-shop.com/shop/original-cotton-giant), we love Aden + Anais swaddles (link: https://www.adenandanais.com/swaddle-3-pack-silky-soft-muslin). They’re attractive and versatile, and they can serve as nursing covers, burp cloths, and lightweight blankets. Wirecutter editor Harry Sawyers reports that his Aden + Anais swaddles have lasted seven years, across three kids. He recommends giving a set of three since at least one of them will likely be dirty at any given time.
Fresh sheets
L.L.Bean 280-Thread-Count Pima Cotton Percale Sheet Set
Link Example: https://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/113446
Wirecutter editor and parent Courtney Schley recommends giving a new set of sheets around the time a new baby arrives: With all the dribbles, leaks, and other mishaps, new parents will likely be swapping out bed linens more often than they’d been accustomed to. These L.L.Bean cotton percale sheets (link: https://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/113446), which have been a Wirecutter pick for seven years, are super-soft and feel luxurious on a bed, but they’re also durable and can withstand even the most frequent wash-dry-repeat cycle.
A better way to vacuum
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Dyson V7 Motorhead
Link Example: https://www.wayfair.com/storage-organization/pdp/dyson-v7-motorhead-bagless-stick-vacuum-xys1039.html
Housecleaning is one of those chores you might want to help new parents with—either by doing the work yourself or by hiring a cleaning service for them. But right now, social distancing will make that difficult. The next best thing? A light and powerful cordless vacuum, such as the Dyson V7 (link: https://www.wayfair.com/storage-organization/pdp/dyson-v7-motorhead-bagless-stick-vacuum-xys1039.html), which will at least make the task a whole lot easier. Staff members who have cordless vacuums swear they vacuum more—and dread it less—because it’s so effortless.
