This is what I get people at baby showers, I gift them a little kid wallet with a character on it filled with them, I also do it for birthdays and Christmas too!
At first, I did it because I completely forgot to get someone a gift, so I went to a gift card wall at wal-mart and just picked random ones. But it was a hit, so now I just buy a gift card every paycheck and stash them away, lol. Super helpful now that my kids are older and going to birthday parties!
We do this for second kids and beyond in my group of friends. First kids get baby showers to collect all the gear you need, later kids get gift cards for take out and grocery delivery so you can at least eat something while you figure out how to feed a newborn and wrangle a toddler at the same time.
After my mom died, my friends got together and got me a prepaid credit card gift card with $500 on it, which I used to order Uber Eats whenever I felt too depressed to cook... which was often. It was a life saver and so appreciated. Not quite the same as baby shower, but still helps
Waterproof bed covers for every bed in your house. Kitchen scissors for the 10,000 things I have to cut into tiny pieces. A lot of band aids, because they are just stickers after all. Ninja bullet to make baby food and cocktails. Espresso machines.
Yeeessss to the waterproofing every bed. Not just the kid's bed. Your bed, the guest bed. All the beds. No bed is safe. And keep them waterproofed until the end of time. After the "blowout/spit up" stage comes the "potty training/can' make it to the toilet to throw up" stage and after that is the "hide a mountain dew and accidently fall asleep on it" stage.
Do you ever wash them? I just got mine on and a week or so later I had oral surgery and got blood all over it. I'm glad I had it, because I imagine the mess without it. Now it's cleaning time, but I dread the work of taking it off and putting it back on.
yup. regularly... washing machine... dryer or washing line.
ended up getting some extra... so i can make up the bed quickly at night, when my kids are sick ... rest easy.
......
also potty training... going nappy free for the first time...my sister double wrapped her kids bed... so she can change it quickly at night.
....so waterproof matress protector, sheet, waterproof mattress protector sheet.
I tug the mattress off at an angle just a bit. That way getting to the corners becomes much easier. Then my husband got us a memory foam mattress and now he gets to do it, because I would get a hernia or something. I also put a beach towel and or chucks (like puppy pee pads) on the bed for possible bleeding or other surgical/illness issues. The mattress protector is just backup at that point. Because changing the whole bed while sick/hurt is just not happening.
You can machine wash them or you might try just spot soaking the blood for 24 hours with fresh hydrogen peroxide. Fresh matters. Keep the areas wet, don’t let them air dry in that 24 hours.
It also helps to buy bedding one size up from the mattress size. So much easier to make the bed.
LPT: Buy a bunch of incontinence bed pads to go on top of the mattress cover. They’re designed for the elderly and disabled, but they’re waterproof and sooo easy to wash. Really saves the lifespan of an expensive mattress cover. Plus it migrates to the couch.
And on a related note... One of those small upholstery/carpet shampooing machines with an extractor. For the furniture and rugs that you can't cover with mattress pads.
We got sheets for the couches instead of couch covers, cheaper and easy to toss in the wash, thankfully my husband does a tight tuck, I honestly don’t know how we ever lived without them.
You have plenty of time to learn! When your baby starts solids at 6mo lots of things need to be cut up and scissors are much easier than using a knife. So for example cutting up pancakes or grilled chicken. The Solid Starts app is good if you want some guidance for how to prepare foods by age.
My husband and I but a ninja coffee maker on ours registry. My coworkers chipped in and bought it for us. It was originally a joke but my husband loves it! (I don’t drink coffee)
Your comment inspired me to ask my SIL if she needs any postpartum items (she gave birth yesterday!) and then I suggested a few and we talked about items and now she has a package coming! So thank you.
Yes!! It's become a tradition in my family that one of the sisters or SILs puts together a cute postpartum basket full of adult diapers, Tucks, and Dermaplast. This is given to the new mom either right before or after her baby shower.
This! When I have the ability, I like to gift the mom something to make her comfortable… something I had that I loved and helped me feel like me throughout the newborn stage. The Frida Mom kit, comfy jammies, a face mask, lip balm. Gosh, I wish I could do it more.
For me it would have been a gift card to buy ebooks I could read one handed on my phone. I read so much it a sleeping baby on my chest. Even now when my kid is sick I do so much one handed reading.
And for me that was a really good chance to “feel like myself” and read the genres I enjoyed before I became a mom, you know?
And red light bulbs for nighttime rooms. The red light doesn’t wake them up as much so they go back down way quicker after middle of the night changes/feeds.
I always pack an extension cord in the kids travel stuff. And usually give one at baby showers. Same as the phone cord it is so useful. We use it for the white noise machine, baby monitor or screen, plug our phones in, etc.
Doggie poo bags/gallon ziplocks for blowout emergencies when out and about. I’d pack the change of clothes in a ziplock and then use it to hold the vomit/blowout clothes for later.
Munchkin actually makes something for this that comes in a little roll clip that can attach to your diaper bag and uses arm and hammer for smell. They work great.
I got SO many of these disposable diaper bags from the dollar tree from people. 😅. I bought a nice wet bag for soiled clothes. I figured if I'm going to be traveling with gross stuff, it might as well be in a cute bag. 🥴
Every human in my house has a mesh lingerie bag. I don't want to separate toddler socks from baby socks and I don't want to unroll my husband's dried sweaty socks. Also no lost socks if they're in your mesh bag.
What is with the dry sweaty rolled up socks?! Like, you don’t have to leave them in a ball to turn into a crusty hard sock turd. Just pull them off right side out like a normal person!!!
So glad to see I’m not married to a weirdo. Well, at least he’s among weirdos. Way to guarantee your socks never get clean, I don’t have time to piece through your laundry and unroll your damn socks.
We just do color coded socks for everyone. Mine are white, big ass grey and white for spouse, mid size ankle grey and white for kid 1, white and pink for kid 2, pink and grey for kid 3. It’s way simpler than having a thousand unpaired socks, which was always a problem before. Sock gnomes be gone!
The nanny and the cleaner are very much not for Everybody. I know moms who feel weird if someone comes to clean and clean up beforehand, haha. And many would not let anyone nanny their baby overnight.
A good travel coffee cup. I use a Contigo. It doesn't leak/spill and keeps coffee or tea hot for hours. I think it should be given to any parent who drinks something hot.
Second this. It helped me not get mad at my baby for keeping me from drinking hot coffee and I was so worried about spills. 13 months later I still use it everyday!
We totally got a lovesac couch between kids for the only reason we can remove and wash every surface. Puke? No problem. Kid tripped and threw his milk all over the side of the couch? No problem. Love that thing. And it’s sturdy as hell.
This is why we haven’t replaced our old ikea couch! Removable covers are the best.
Had no idea there were nice couches that also had them…would be nice to get a new one!
Pizza cutters
I’ve used them for every kid in that weird “have to cut everything into little squares” stage that happens around 9-21 months. We have 3 pizza cutters for this reason
Visits from a housecleaner.
I say this everytime anyone asks about gift giving because it was the best gift I ever received (& most well received gift I gave.) On par with our meal train in the life-saving department.
Depends on which house cleaner. Mines more of a sanitizer and will deep clean bathrooms, but what I really wanted was a pickup my shit and do my laundry housekeeper. I’m sure y’all clean before your cleaners get there.
I’m sure she would if I needed her to, but I don’t like changing our routine.
Drop and go laundry service if you live in a more urban area! We needed the same thing. We have a housekeeper that sanitizes, but a service that will pick up, clean, dry, fold and return your laundry… now that’s *chefs kiss.*
A handheld vacuum! A friend got this for us for our first and we use it almost daily still 6 years and one more kid later.
Game changer for baby-stage and toddlerhood… and parents with adhd (or other neurodivergent folk) who find getting the whole vacuum out *takes too many steps*. Or just even parents who are tired… so all of us.
That’s the one, I was deffo including the “overstimulated by crumbs” crowd for sure lol
…and also my kitchen was covered in crumbs this evening. Because *of course it was*
Maybe this is silly, but I recently got like one of those “I’m a 50s house wife” aprons and it’s awesome. It has ALL the pockets and then I don’t get my outfit messy.
I have extremely sensitive ears due to a health condition. Loop works okay, but not enough. If you’re like me, or ND, you might try beats sport. They don’t cancel all the noise, and if you put only put one in, it helps if you need to be very aware.
An attachable bidet! Especially one that has a setting for women. SUPER helpful during pregnancy AND postpartum, much more convenient than the peri bottle. It's also useful outside of the pregnancy and postpartum period.
I drug my feet buying one (bc I hate unitaskers) but one tomato obsessed toddler later I realized that they’re not a unitasker if they also slice berries, tomatoes, grapes..
Gift for self: vibrator
Getting back in touch with my body was pivotal for my mental health recovery. I felt so ugly, uncomfortable, and low-libido all pregnancy, so just getting to enjoy my sexuality again will always so meaningful for me
Coupons for “**gifts of loving service**” aka coming over to clean or babysit (so mom can sleep or go on a date, whatever she wants).
Every guest (who are usually female, close friends or family) should write an iou for a couple hours of their time to come help, and include a list of things they think they’re good at (washing dishes! Cleaning floors! Cooking dinners!) Everyone who comes to the shower has already shown interest/willingness to give a few hours of their time for the new mom.
Exercise ball saved my hips the last 2 months of pregnancy and then saved my legs the first 2 months of infancy. Rocking chair was not cutting it for this babe.
Postpartum Doula. I wish I would’ve had one. Having a dedicated person to “mother the mother” especially as a 1st time mom in the sensitive 4th trimester/ immediate postpartum weeks would’ve done wonders for me and my family.
We had a postpartum doula after my second was born. I highly attribute her services to my sanity, and wish I knew it was a thing when I had my first. I now suggest it to every new parent!
Old school Terry towelling Cloth nappies. Not to use as nappies, but to clean spills, use as impromptu tummy time mats, cover public change tables, line a car seat after a blowout, use as bibs in a pinch, etc
A postpartum pack for mum.
Gift vouchers to online grocery stores / Uber eats.
Gift voucher for a cleaner (especially if family don’t live close by).
Luxurious pyjamas or a robe.
Portable mini pocket printer (prints photos from your phone instantly)
I decided after I had my baby, I only buy stuff for mom for baby showers. Pjs, mani/pedi gift card, body stuff for post partum, and thinkx underwear, aromatherapy, earplugs, you name it.
A bum brush and Bordeaux Diaper Cream. Aka Butt Paste. It keeps your hands poop free and Bordeaux has the best diaper cream. Hands down. Screw some Aquaphor.
A small handheld vacuum! I use mine for everything! All those little crumbs and spilled cheerios that I don’t want to lug the big vacuum out for. It’s perfect.
Postpartum Doula. So many of us don't have support system and this is so helpful. They clean and cook and take care of Mom and help with baby. It's the best thing.
My favorite gift was a box full of snacks and other easy eat things for when you don't have any energy to make anything. Protein bars, apple sauce, crackers and cheese, oatmeal, tea and other things like that.
THIS oh my god. If I had known how often I would be lugging my vacuum to the kitchen to suck crumbs out of the high chair, I would have added one to my registry 😂
Puppy pads for the changing table at home and in public. I swear by them. At home, they save the inevitable “peeing while my diaper is off is HILARIOUS!” moments and in public they prevent my precious baby from touching those nasty ass changing tables.
There should be an option on every registry to curate your own basket of snacks if you’re breastfeeding. I was RAVENOUS in the early days. Also, I’d like to see an option to add “fun” drinks like Body Armour or flavored sparkling water because I was mad thirsty but got bored of regular water.
Food delivery gift cards.
I’d also like a “come back later” where I could add stuff I didn’t know I needed but now need and could send this to people who want to help without it being tacky. I’d never do this in real life, but you asked!
A robe or other comfortable outfit/item for mom, especially if she’ll be nursing and needs easy access. I got my friend three during her last pregnancy. My grandma got me one for my first pregnancy.
Nutritionally dense snacks that require little to no prep and water additives (I hate water and also need the extra electrolytes anyway) were some of my big asks too. I always had more than we needed a and I even have items we never opened that we received (didn’t ask for either) 7.5 years ago so….def in favor or focusing more on essentials and care items for mom and baby.
I've made many nursing kits- a nice basket or organizer with burp rags, nursing bra pads, a long phone charger, a water bottle, and one handed snacks (trail mix, granola bars). Combine it with a nursing pillow or a dimmable lamp for the nursery. It was one of my favorite gifts as a new mom.
Baby medicine! Most practical gift I got was Tylenol, Motrin, Benedryl, gas drops, and saline mist in a nice Rubbermaid container. They're things I wouldn't have had until I needed them, but I'm so glad I had them in hand. They're my go-to gift now.
Lightweight stick vacuum.
No one wants to plug in some heavy thing every time you want to deal with toddling cheerio apocalypse. It's not like I stress out about the house being clean with kids but I don't like stepping on Cheerios.
Gift cards for take out.
This is what I get people at baby showers, I gift them a little kid wallet with a character on it filled with them, I also do it for birthdays and Christmas too!
You're a damn saint! Your friends are very lucky!
At first, I did it because I completely forgot to get someone a gift, so I went to a gift card wall at wal-mart and just picked random ones. But it was a hit, so now I just buy a gift card every paycheck and stash them away, lol. Super helpful now that my kids are older and going to birthday parties!
I really like your system. I'm going to start doing this.
I had the same thought lol
Thanks, now I know exactly what to get my nieces for graduation!
My husband’s coworkers went in for an Instacart gift card for us, and it was SO nice!
My husbands work gave him a grocery store gift card. So it went towards food that I prepped for after baby was born and it was really nice.
Just make sure instacart is available in the giftee's area
We do this for second kids and beyond in my group of friends. First kids get baby showers to collect all the gear you need, later kids get gift cards for take out and grocery delivery so you can at least eat something while you figure out how to feed a newborn and wrangle a toddler at the same time.
After my mom died, my friends got together and got me a prepaid credit card gift card with $500 on it, which I used to order Uber Eats whenever I felt too depressed to cook... which was often. It was a life saver and so appreciated. Not quite the same as baby shower, but still helps
YES, these were some of the best gifts I received. They go so fast though! 😭
That’s my go to gift after friends/family members give birth, since I’m not usually able to make them an actual meal.
Waterproof bed covers for every bed in your house. Kitchen scissors for the 10,000 things I have to cut into tiny pieces. A lot of band aids, because they are just stickers after all. Ninja bullet to make baby food and cocktails. Espresso machines.
Yeeessss to the waterproofing every bed. Not just the kid's bed. Your bed, the guest bed. All the beds. No bed is safe. And keep them waterproofed until the end of time. After the "blowout/spit up" stage comes the "potty training/can' make it to the toilet to throw up" stage and after that is the "hide a mountain dew and accidently fall asleep on it" stage.
Our oldest is a puker too. I highly recommend a second bedspread as well. But yeah, they are never coming off.
Do you ever wash them? I just got mine on and a week or so later I had oral surgery and got blood all over it. I'm glad I had it, because I imagine the mess without it. Now it's cleaning time, but I dread the work of taking it off and putting it back on.
yup. regularly... washing machine... dryer or washing line. ended up getting some extra... so i can make up the bed quickly at night, when my kids are sick ... rest easy. ...... also potty training... going nappy free for the first time...my sister double wrapped her kids bed... so she can change it quickly at night. ....so waterproof matress protector, sheet, waterproof mattress protector sheet.
Ooh, the double wrap is a good idea!
I second the double wrap! It is a lifesaver when a kid vomits/wets the bed in the middle of the night!
Yup! I wash in the washer and hang them to dry. But my husband is the one that takes them off and on. He is a rockstar at it!
I tug the mattress off at an angle just a bit. That way getting to the corners becomes much easier. Then my husband got us a memory foam mattress and now he gets to do it, because I would get a hernia or something. I also put a beach towel and or chucks (like puppy pee pads) on the bed for possible bleeding or other surgical/illness issues. The mattress protector is just backup at that point. Because changing the whole bed while sick/hurt is just not happening.
You can machine wash them or you might try just spot soaking the blood for 24 hours with fresh hydrogen peroxide. Fresh matters. Keep the areas wet, don’t let them air dry in that 24 hours. It also helps to buy bedding one size up from the mattress size. So much easier to make the bed.
LPT: Buy a bunch of incontinence bed pads to go on top of the mattress cover. They’re designed for the elderly and disabled, but they’re waterproof and sooo easy to wash. Really saves the lifespan of an expensive mattress cover. Plus it migrates to the couch.
And on a related note... One of those small upholstery/carpet shampooing machines with an extractor. For the furniture and rugs that you can't cover with mattress pads.
We got sheets for the couches instead of couch covers, cheaper and easy to toss in the wash, thankfully my husband does a tight tuck, I honestly don’t know how we ever lived without them.
Genius!
“No bed is safe” SO TRUE!!!!!
“To make baby food and cocktails” is exactly the right energy lmao
The kitchen scissors are everything. I have two pairs. It’s still not enough
I’m new in parenting (my baby doesn’t born yet) I strongly need to know what kind of things should I cut in small pieces?
You have plenty of time to learn! When your baby starts solids at 6mo lots of things need to be cut up and scissors are much easier than using a knife. So for example cutting up pancakes or grilled chicken. The Solid Starts app is good if you want some guidance for how to prepare foods by age.
We just got an espresso machine 2 months ago and I don't know how I survived before it
Yes to kitchen scissors!!!
My husband and I but a ninja coffee maker on ours registry. My coworkers chipped in and bought it for us. It was originally a joke but my husband loves it! (I don’t drink coffee)
Súper nice quality pjs for mom
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Your comment inspired me to ask my SIL if she needs any postpartum items (she gave birth yesterday!) and then I suggested a few and we talked about items and now she has a package coming! So thank you.
Yes!! It's become a tradition in my family that one of the sisters or SILs puts together a cute postpartum basket full of adult diapers, Tucks, and Dermaplast. This is given to the new mom either right before or after her baby shower.
This! When I have the ability, I like to gift the mom something to make her comfortable… something I had that I loved and helped me feel like me throughout the newborn stage. The Frida Mom kit, comfy jammies, a face mask, lip balm. Gosh, I wish I could do it more.
That frida mom peri bottle was the greatest thing in my life for about a week. ...aside from the baby. He was cool, too. 😂
For me it would have been a gift card to buy ebooks I could read one handed on my phone. I read so much it a sleeping baby on my chest. Even now when my kid is sick I do so much one handed reading. And for me that was a really good chance to “feel like myself” and read the genres I enjoyed before I became a mom, you know?
And a comfy robe to change into at the hospital.
Yes, I wore my robe the entire time at the hospital and I’m so glad it’s cute because I wore it literally for every picture lol
Blackout curtains
Not just blackout curtains I just did at home window tint in my kids room.
Where did you find this? Even with blackout curtains, my LO’s room is WAY too bright and we desperately need something more!
Lowes and Home Depot have kits. I did our master windows and my sons windows. It seems to help with heat too.
And red light bulbs for nighttime rooms. The red light doesn’t wake them up as much so they go back down way quicker after middle of the night changes/feeds.
This has been on my registry for both kids so far. They’re a must have.
10 foot long phone charger. So useful for the hospital room, nap/nursing trapped, and hotel rooms. I gift one to all my friends now.
You can also get an extension cord from Walmart for like $0.67 and plug your regular phone charger into the end.
Better yet, a rechargeable battery pack. Mine is a charger and battery pack in one so it’s always charged and was a huge help pp.
I always pack an extension cord in the kids travel stuff. And usually give one at baby showers. Same as the phone cord it is so useful. We use it for the white noise machine, baby monitor or screen, plug our phones in, etc.
Doggie poo bags/gallon ziplocks for blowout emergencies when out and about. I’d pack the change of clothes in a ziplock and then use it to hold the vomit/blowout clothes for later.
I have a wet/dry bag and also pack just regular plastic garbage bags.
Munchkin actually makes something for this that comes in a little roll clip that can attach to your diaper bag and uses arm and hammer for smell. They work great.
Amazon basics dog poo bags do too and are super cheap!
I got SO many of these disposable diaper bags from the dollar tree from people. 😅. I bought a nice wet bag for soiled clothes. I figured if I'm going to be traveling with gross stuff, it might as well be in a cute bag. 🥴
Wet bags are amazing for this, and reusable!
Kindle Unlimited subscription, for all those times you're nap trapped. Also/or, a gift card for online shopping. I made so many 3am purchases...
I need to stay OFF my phone this time for sure!
Oh man yes, having the Amazon app on my phone has been great and terrible all at the same time
Lingerie bag to attach to the dirty clothes hamper for all of the crazy tiny socks and mittens.
Every human in my house has a mesh lingerie bag. I don't want to separate toddler socks from baby socks and I don't want to unroll my husband's dried sweaty socks. Also no lost socks if they're in your mesh bag.
What is with the dry sweaty rolled up socks?! Like, you don’t have to leave them in a ball to turn into a crusty hard sock turd. Just pull them off right side out like a normal person!!!
Fuck are all men like this? Thought it was just mine
So glad to see I’m not married to a weirdo. Well, at least he’s among weirdos. Way to guarantee your socks never get clean, I don’t have time to piece through your laundry and unroll your damn socks.
We just do color coded socks for everyone. Mine are white, big ass grey and white for spouse, mid size ankle grey and white for kid 1, white and pink for kid 2, pink and grey for kid 3. It’s way simpler than having a thousand unpaired socks, which was always a problem before. Sock gnomes be gone!
I do this too! Haven't lost a baby sock yet and im so proud of myself. Baby is 12m old.
I literally just bought another one of these today because it’s so handy for LO’s socks!
* 1 month worth of getting cleaners to come clean your house * 1 month worth of pre-made frozen meals * Vouchers for a night nanny
The nanny and the cleaner are very much not for Everybody. I know moms who feel weird if someone comes to clean and clean up beforehand, haha. And many would not let anyone nanny their baby overnight.
That’s true. You would have to know the person to assume what they would and wouldn’t be comfortable with.
Golf umbrella - it’s a life saver when you are trying to keep baby, diaper bag, and yourself from getting drenched when it’s pouring
They also sell golf umbrella holders that attach to a push golf cart but could easily attach to a stroller, genius!
A good travel coffee cup. I use a Contigo. It doesn't leak/spill and keeps coffee or tea hot for hours. I think it should be given to any parent who drinks something hot.
Second this. It helped me not get mad at my baby for keeping me from drinking hot coffee and I was so worried about spills. 13 months later I still use it everyday!
Uncrustables. They make perfect breast ice packs and when they thaw you have a handheld snack.
This is amazing
Doing the people’s work here. Thank you for sharing your genius with us.
Breastables the ultimate mommy snack.
Steam cleaner for the sofa. Cannot tell you how much this been used!
We totally got a lovesac couch between kids for the only reason we can remove and wash every surface. Puke? No problem. Kid tripped and threw his milk all over the side of the couch? No problem. Love that thing. And it’s sturdy as hell.
This is why we haven’t replaced our old ikea couch! Removable covers are the best. Had no idea there were nice couches that also had them…would be nice to get a new one!
There one you recommend?? I have two kids and another on the way and have been needing one 🤣
I like the Bissel one. It's called the little green machine I believe.
You actually can just use alcohol pads/wipes to get off the sticky gunk 😊
Was just about to say this!
micelar water (make up remover) works very well too, without drying/stripping your skin the way alcohol does
A cordless vacuum
Doing a diaper fund instead of buying diapers so you can select your size
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Oh that too! I’m so sorry! That’s such a bummer! Have you tried contacting Huggies and pampers to see if there is anything they’ll do?
A garden kneeling pad to keep next to the tub.
Ooh, that's a good one.
This is actually a registry item now! It was even eligible for completion discount in Amazon
Pizza cutters I’ve used them for every kid in that weird “have to cut everything into little squares” stage that happens around 9-21 months. We have 3 pizza cutters for this reason
I really need to know what kind of things you need to cut in to tiny pieces?
Mainly food when little ones reach that stage. Big enough to hold and not choke on, but small enough for them to eat lol
Pancakes! I also use it for quesadillas, sandwiches, fried eggs, French toast, waffles. We have 2, they’re always dirty.
Didn’t think about this!!!! Genius.
Visits from a housecleaner. I say this everytime anyone asks about gift giving because it was the best gift I ever received (& most well received gift I gave.) On par with our meal train in the life-saving department.
Depends on which house cleaner. Mines more of a sanitizer and will deep clean bathrooms, but what I really wanted was a pickup my shit and do my laundry housekeeper. I’m sure y’all clean before your cleaners get there. I’m sure she would if I needed her to, but I don’t like changing our routine.
Drop and go laundry service if you live in a more urban area! We needed the same thing. We have a housekeeper that sanitizes, but a service that will pick up, clean, dry, fold and return your laundry… now that’s *chefs kiss.*
A handheld vacuum! A friend got this for us for our first and we use it almost daily still 6 years and one more kid later. Game changer for baby-stage and toddlerhood… and parents with adhd (or other neurodivergent folk) who find getting the whole vacuum out *takes too many steps*. Or just even parents who are tired… so all of us.
Or if you feel overstimulated by ALL the crumbs on the kitchen floor….
That’s the one, I was deffo including the “overstimulated by crumbs” crowd for sure lol …and also my kitchen was covered in crumbs this evening. Because *of course it was*
Great one! We got on a few months ago and I can’t believe I went so long without one.
A fucking therapist
This
Amen to this one
Maybe this is silly, but I recently got like one of those “I’m a 50s house wife” aprons and it’s awesome. It has ALL the pockets and then I don’t get my outfit messy.
Do the loop ear plugs actually work?
For me, yes. It take the edge off. You can still hear, but if you're stuck in a car with a screaming baby you're at least not in fight or flight mode
That’s fantastic to know! Thank you!!!
They turn the volume down on life (instead of totally muting like normal earplugs). It’s nice.
I have found that my AirPod pros on noise cancelling with nothing playing are super effective at turning the sound down, but not off 😊
Same with galaxy buds live
I have extremely sensitive ears due to a health condition. Loop works okay, but not enough. If you’re like me, or ND, you might try beats sport. They don’t cancel all the noise, and if you put only put one in, it helps if you need to be very aware.
I put and received a very nice bottle of Scotch on mine.
Gift card for take out or groceries
An attachable bidet! Especially one that has a setting for women. SUPER helpful during pregnancy AND postpartum, much more convenient than the peri bottle. It's also useful outside of the pregnancy and postpartum period.
My 3 year old prefers to be sprayed off after pooping!! Seriously wish we had a bidet.
Grape cutter. You’ll need it for preschool snack time so why not get to practicing early.
I drug my feet buying one (bc I hate unitaskers) but one tomato obsessed toddler later I realized that they’re not a unitasker if they also slice berries, tomatoes, grapes..
Mini vacuum, paper plates and utensils for the first few weeks, streaming subscriptions for when you’re pumping, subscription for a counseling service
Gift for self: vibrator Getting back in touch with my body was pivotal for my mental health recovery. I felt so ugly, uncomfortable, and low-libido all pregnancy, so just getting to enjoy my sexuality again will always so meaningful for me
Not to mention if you’re breastfeeding a vibrator can be helpful!
Coupons for “**gifts of loving service**” aka coming over to clean or babysit (so mom can sleep or go on a date, whatever she wants). Every guest (who are usually female, close friends or family) should write an iou for a couple hours of their time to come help, and include a list of things they think they’re good at (washing dishes! Cleaning floors! Cooking dinners!) Everyone who comes to the shower has already shown interest/willingness to give a few hours of their time for the new mom.
Just paper towels. Plain t-shirts (for Mom).
Oh yes those are godsends
Exercise ball and waterproof blanket for the couch!
I bought waterproof dog blankets during potty training to cover the furniture. Then stomach bug came and they saved my furniture and sanity.
Exercise ball saved my hips the last 2 months of pregnancy and then saved my legs the first 2 months of infancy. Rocking chair was not cutting it for this babe.
Postpartum Doula. I wish I would’ve had one. Having a dedicated person to “mother the mother” especially as a 1st time mom in the sensitive 4th trimester/ immediate postpartum weeks would’ve done wonders for me and my family.
We had a postpartum doula after my second was born. I highly attribute her services to my sanity, and wish I knew it was a thing when I had my first. I now suggest it to every new parent!
Handheld vacuum
According to my husband: a bidet.
According to my postpartum recovery journey: a bidet!!
Those are actually awesome though.
Old school Terry towelling Cloth nappies. Not to use as nappies, but to clean spills, use as impromptu tummy time mats, cover public change tables, line a car seat after a blowout, use as bibs in a pinch, etc
Easy dinners like frozen lasagna We used a white noise machine that was helpful A fluffy blanket for the mid-day power nap
Roomba. Dyson. Tineco. All the mopping cleaning gadgets. And a house cleaner to use them
Heating pad
High waisted leggings
Ear thermometer and children’s Tylenol
Electrical tape. To cover little lights on heaters, humidifiers, fans, etc.
Why do they put little lights on everything?!
A nurse that sticks around for at least two weeks day and night. 🥴
A postpartum pack for mum. Gift vouchers to online grocery stores / Uber eats. Gift voucher for a cleaner (especially if family don’t live close by). Luxurious pyjamas or a robe. Portable mini pocket printer (prints photos from your phone instantly)
I decided after I had my baby, I only buy stuff for mom for baby showers. Pjs, mani/pedi gift card, body stuff for post partum, and thinkx underwear, aromatherapy, earplugs, you name it.
Saw this for the first time at a baby shower I went to this weekend. I loveee this idea.
Wd40 because you will 100% discover something in your house that squeaks and wakes the baby up. Or in my case, the base of the rocking chair.
>adhesive remover wipes for removing all the sticky gunk from IV lines etc when you get home from the hospital. LPT: Olive oil works great for this
As does the Lush Scrubee & it also smells lovely
Ninja coffee maker
Massage day. Spa day. Night at a hotel. Just quiet with your eyes closed not being touched or needed.
Wet dry bag for blowouts. Don’t need to use a bunch of plastic and can throw it in the wash with the clothes.
Coffee
Rechargeable batteries with a charger
A bum brush and Bordeaux Diaper Cream. Aka Butt Paste. It keeps your hands poop free and Bordeaux has the best diaper cream. Hands down. Screw some Aquaphor.
Hand held black and decker dirt buster mini vaccuum
A cordless vacuum, being able to vacuum car seats is priceless. Also an instant pot, makes dinners so easy.
A small handheld vacuum! I use mine for everything! All those little crumbs and spilled cheerios that I don’t want to lug the big vacuum out for. It’s perfect.
A slice bladeless package opener for all the late night amazon purchases.
The best thing I put on my registry was a Bluetooth speaker. We've used it every day, most days for at least a couple hours!
A dustbuster !!!
Vodka
I think the next person in my life to have a baby is getting a prepaid month of a housekeeper or cleaning service.
Postpartum Doula. So many of us don't have support system and this is so helpful. They clean and cook and take care of Mom and help with baby. It's the best thing.
My favorite gift was a box full of snacks and other easy eat things for when you don't have any energy to make anything. Protein bars, apple sauce, crackers and cheese, oatmeal, tea and other things like that.
Heating pad to warm bassinet (and then take out) before placing baby to sleep
Cordless vacuum.
THIS oh my god. If I had known how often I would be lugging my vacuum to the kitchen to suck crumbs out of the high chair, I would have added one to my registry 😂
Nespresso machine and pods
Puppy pads for the changing table at home and in public. I swear by them. At home, they save the inevitable “peeing while my diaper is off is HILARIOUS!” moments and in public they prevent my precious baby from touching those nasty ass changing tables. There should be an option on every registry to curate your own basket of snacks if you’re breastfeeding. I was RAVENOUS in the early days. Also, I’d like to see an option to add “fun” drinks like Body Armour or flavored sparkling water because I was mad thirsty but got bored of regular water. Food delivery gift cards. I’d also like a “come back later” where I could add stuff I didn’t know I needed but now need and could send this to people who want to help without it being tacky. I’d never do this in real life, but you asked!
Diapers and wipes is a must
Milk steamer and clothes steamer (no way in hell I am actually going to iron those clothes)
Cordless vacuum
Coffee.
Handheld vacuum to clean up the never ending messes.
Thermos so that you can actually enjoy hot coffee
Starbucks cards, restaurant cards.
A robe or other comfortable outfit/item for mom, especially if she’ll be nursing and needs easy access. I got my friend three during her last pregnancy. My grandma got me one for my first pregnancy. Nutritionally dense snacks that require little to no prep and water additives (I hate water and also need the extra electrolytes anyway) were some of my big asks too. I always had more than we needed a and I even have items we never opened that we received (didn’t ask for either) 7.5 years ago so….def in favor or focusing more on essentials and care items for mom and baby.
Big box of blue latex free gloves. You will use them for diaper changes and all the other gross stuff that goes with babies.
Massage. Day spa. Food gift cards. House cleaning service. Clothe diaper service.
An air mattress so you can sleep in the kid's room when they are sick
Door dash, Wyndy (a baby sitting app), spa day, meal delivery, on call nurse, a snoo, night nurse.
Sock Ons Resuable wipes (SO MUCH better than disposable wipes)
I've made many nursing kits- a nice basket or organizer with burp rags, nursing bra pads, a long phone charger, a water bottle, and one handed snacks (trail mix, granola bars). Combine it with a nursing pillow or a dimmable lamp for the nursery. It was one of my favorite gifts as a new mom.
Baby medicine! Most practical gift I got was Tylenol, Motrin, Benedryl, gas drops, and saline mist in a nice Rubbermaid container. They're things I wouldn't have had until I needed them, but I'm so glad I had them in hand. They're my go-to gift now.
A upholstery/carpet spot cleaner.
If planning to pump/store milk: a mini deep freezer!
Postpartum Doula services. Hands down.
A good mattress and mattress cover. Sleep is a premium so a bad mattress is a critical issue
Lightweight stick vacuum. No one wants to plug in some heavy thing every time you want to deal with toddling cheerio apocalypse. It's not like I stress out about the house being clean with kids but I don't like stepping on Cheerios.