They say it takes a village.
Nine months seems like a long time until you’re racing to have the nursery ready, alongside all possible newborn essentials and postpartum care products stocked up in time for baby’s arrival.
The time it takes to grow a tiny human seems to take an age, while simultaneously passing by in a flash. There’s so much to do and so much to learn, all the while acknowledging that – rather like passing your driving test and going out alone for the first time – true confidence and know-how will build over time.
There’s only so much you can glean from the countless pregnancy books and guides you’ve purchased, for it’s the hands-on experience that fills you with the kind of sage knowledge you’ll pass on to other new parents.
As a close friend or family member, there’s so much you can do to help alleviate some of the wonderful yet inherently stressful tasks associated with welcoming a little one into the world.
Yet there’s an oft-overlooked gift recipient, and it’s the new mum.
It’s all about thinking outside the box and purchasing essential items that’ll come in handy both in the immediate future, and later down the line. At the same time, the new mum in your life deserves some pampering. While new baby gifts are most certainly welcome, think about the kind of indulgences mum might want – especially after nine months without certain food and drink.
Still struggling to come up with ideas? Fret not, for I’ve curated a selection of the best new mum gifts below – from post-pregnancy cravings and cosy pyjamas to luxury and practical items alike.
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M&S New Baby E-Gift Card
For the new parent who might prefer to choose their own array of essentials, you can’t go wrong with an M&S New Baby e-gift card – which can be loaded with £10 to £500.
Buy now, M&S
Harvey Nichols Hello Baby Hamper
Pregnancy can be a hard time with drastic changes to mind and body. Harvey Nichols’ Hello Baby hamper aims to celebrate the newborn and offer some much-needed pampering to new mums too. The hand-picked edit includes the likes of Slip, Dr. Barbara Sturm and Hatch Mama, all packed into a smart black wicker basket that can be repurposed as baby keepsake storage.
Buy now £180.00, Harvey Nichols
Cutter & Squidge Baby Biskie Box
While Champagne may be traditional in some cultures, not everyone can or wants to drink to welcome a new life into the fold. Enter Cutter & Squidge, masters of fancy bakes that can send sweet treats directly to their door. This box of baby biskies may not be a hamper per se, but it is 100 per cent vegetarian and Halal-friendly, making it an option for a much wider audience. Plus, just look at how cute they are.
Buy now £18.99, Cutter & Squidge
TBCo Tartan Ruffle Pyjama Set
Nothing hits quite like a fresh pair of pyjamas on brand new bed linen after a long bath – especially when caring for a newborn. Treat the new mum in your life to a sumptuous pair of 100 per cent cotton PJs from TBCo. If she’s going to live in them for the first few weeks, best to make them fancy, like this square-necked and ruffled set with buttons down the front to make feeding easier.
Buy now £72.00, Anthropologie
Frida Mom Labour, Delivery, & Postpartum Kit
Though not the most glamorous of gifts, this labour, delivery and postpartum kit from Frida Mom is certainly an essential. Comprising everything a new mum needs in the hospital, no matter how long the birth is, the set includes items like a peri bottle, disposable underwear, four instant ice maxi pads for soothing care, 24 witch hazel pad liners, with hazel perineal foam, a toiletry bag and more.
Buy now £89.99, Amazon
111SKIN Rose Gold Illuminating eye mask
Enter your skin-soothing quick fix. Luxury skincare label 111SKIN’s Rose Gold range patches are formulated with active ingredients like natriance, pomegranate seed cell culture, colloidal gold and rose extract that provide brightening, anti-inflammatory and hydrating benefits. Apply for 20 minutes.
Buy now £80.00, Space NK
Nursem Caring Minis Gift Set
Constant washing of bottles and new infants is bound to take a toll on her hands. Give them some TLC courtesy of Nursem's mini set, which includes a mini hand wash and cream that are perfectly sized to fit in a changing or travel bag. It also comes with a 50ml pot of Skin Fix to soothe other sore, dry or chapped body parts, so very useful if you're breastfeeding.
Buy now £15.00, Space NK
NAYDAYA Breast Saviour
If they've tried everything - including cabbage leaves - to soothe their poor sore nipples, give the new mum in your life the Breast Saviour. From Naydaya, a brand started by a mum of three, the lotion supports skin health and nourishes it back to life thanks to the hydrating mix of oils and butters in the formula.
Buy now £15.20, Cult Beauty
Lily& Roo Solid Gold Curve Initial Letter Necklace
A delightful gift for any new mum, why not purchase this wonderful curved initial letter necklace by Lily & Roo with the initial of the new baby? You can also add a twinkling, individual birthstone charm to the chain for an extra personal touch. Choose between gold, silver and white gold, as well as a variety of chain lengths and styles to suit your recipient perfectly.
Buy now £129.00, Lily& Roo
Eleanor Bowmer Mother Like No Other Mug & Coaster Set
Make those early morning starts a little brighter with the help of this “A Mother like No Other” mug and coaster set by Eleanor Bowmer, crafted from premium stoneware and packaged neatly in a gift set.
Buy now £20.00, Anthropologie
Barefoot Dreams CozyChic Microstripe Blanket
Given the seal of approval by Chrissy Teigen and a feature in Hailey Bieber’s annual Christmas gift guide, Barefoot Dreams has a cult celebrity following. Born out of Malibu, the collection includes sumptuously soft loungewear, robes and accessories but is perhaps best known for its throws.
The brand has recently launched in the UK and we made it our mission to see if it was worth the hype - and we have to agree, this is one of the softest blankets we’ve felt. It comes in a range of designs too, from block colour to stripes to our favourite leopard print.
Buy now £151.72, Amazon
Maison Margiela Replica From The Garden Candle
Every time we inhale the aromas of one of Maison Margiela’s Replica scents, we’re amazed by just how accurate they are. From The Garden brings forth images of a morning wander through a flourishing garden, where green leaves glisten with dew and the air carries hints of crushed stems, rose, and jasmine.
This candle blends floral freshness with an earthy touch of patchouli, capturing the magic of nature in full bloom.
Buy now £55.00, Space NK
Teddy Bear High Back Cuddle Cushion
No reading nook is complete without a supportive, cuddly cushion. This high-back option from Dunelm is covered in a sumptuous teddy bear fleece fabric and even comes equipped with a sleeve for your smartphone.
Buy now £30.00, Dunelm
The Original Drowsy Sleep Mulberry Silk Eye Mask
New mums, insomniacs or light sleepers - no matter the sleep concern, we have the solution in the bag. The luxe Drowsy eye mask offers a complete blackout of external light and has a sophisticated and sumptuously soft silk construction. It has a thick band for added comfort and puts next to no pressure on the face.
Buy now £69.00, Amazon
Kylie Minogue Alcohol-Free Sparkling Rosé
Think pink and you think Kylie Minogue: her eponymous brand of rosé wine with Benchmark Drinks has become the number-one rosé brand in the UK with over eight million bottles polished off since she popped the cork.
While her Prosecco Rosé, Sauvignon Blanc and Côtes de Provence might have you spinning around after one too many, her No Alcohol Sparkling Rosé mirrors the crisp flavours and acidic balance of its boozy counterparts and reflects the growing thirst amongst consumers for clean alternatives.
Looking much the same as the other bottles in her line – slender, elegant, pink – the ‘wine’ is made using premium grapes and green tea from the Yunnan province of China while being produced without generating any alcohol. The flavour profile, while not comparable to a goblet of Whispering Angel, is not disappointing: in fact, it’s surprisingly complex and finely balanced.
The best bit? There are just 22 calories per 100ml – 80 calories less than a standard glass of Prosecco – making this a welcome change of pace at even the most raucous of parties. Launched by Kylie initially as a flight of fancy, her mission has since evolved to produce quality wine, and this alcohol-free alternative is no exception.
Buy now £6.25, Sainsbury's
