Gifts for pregnant women: 10 unique ideas that last
Choosing gifts for pregnant women has a catch: almost everything people come up with is for the baby, and she’s left feeling the gift wasn’t really hers. Here are ten gift ideas for expecting moms, or for both parents-to-be, from the simplest to the most special. At the end, what’s best to avoid.
Before you choose: three questions
Is it for her or for the baby? Will you give it at a party, like a baby shower or a gender reveal, or in person? Do you want it to last, or to be enjoyed that same day? With those three answers, the list narrows down to two or three options.
10 gift ideas for expecting moms
A day of doing nothing
A prenatal massage at a spa that offers them, a meal she doesn’t have to cook, or a free afternoon while you take care of the errands. In the third trimester, that’s worth more than any object.
Loungewear she can keep wearing afterward
Pajamas or a knit lounge set one size up, so it fits during pregnancy and after the birth. Something she can wear in both stages beats maternity clothes that only last three months.
A maternity photo shoot
Bump photos are among the ones people treasure most as the years go by. Many photographers offer short mini sessions at a flat price. Give it with the date already booked, so it doesn’t end up as a forgotten gift certificate.
The pregnant gummy bear
This one is ours, so I’ll say it plainly: a 22 cm (8.7 in) resin bear with a baby bear inside, pink or blue. It works for announcing the pregnancy or revealing the baby’s gender, and afterward it stays in the nursery. It’s handmade once you order it, in about five days. See the pregnant bear.
A pregnancy pillow
It helps with side sleeping in the last few months, and later it works for breastfeeding or bottle-feeding. Ask first, because some moms already have one.
A dinner out or a babymoon before the birth
One last plan as a couple before the baby arrives: dinner at their favorite restaurant or a night away close to home, with no long trips.
A pregnancy journal
A notebook with week-by-week prompts for jotting down cravings, first kicks and rejected baby names. It doesn’t cost much, and over the years it becomes a keepsake.
Magnets for the ultrasound pictures
To keep the ultrasound pictures and the to-do list in plain sight. The gummy bear magnets are US$12 each, and there’s a set with all five colors.
Something to decorate the nursery
A print, a night-light or a figurine for the shelf. If they don’t know yet whether it’s a boy or a girl, neutral colors take care of that.
Your time
Offer to do the grocery shopping, cook meals for the freezer or watch the older kids for an afternoon. It doesn’t need wrapping, and it’s what people remember most.
What to avoid
- Skincare, oils or herbal teas when you don’t know whether she can use them: some products are not recommended during pregnancy, and it’s better for her to decide with her doctor.
- Food or drinks she can’t have, like alcohol.
- Newborn clothes: babies outgrow them in a few weeks, and parents usually get more than enough.
- Anything pink or blue before they know the baby’s sex, if they’re planning a reveal.
What if it’s for a party?
At a baby shower the gift is usually for the baby, and at a gender reveal most guests bring nothing, or just a small something for the parents-to-be. You’ll find more ideas in the guide on what to bring to a gender reveal.
If you’re going with the pregnant bear, it’s handmade in Madrid once you order it: in pink, in blue or as a set of both.
See the pregnant bear →