Psalm 127:3 says, “Children are a gift from the LORD; they are a reward from him” (NLT). The arrival of a precious new baby is such a sweet and special time, so here at Lifeway Women, our team has shared some suggestions for how to best celebrate the newest gift from the Lord. We’ve included ideas that will bless the whole family as they welcome their newest addition!
Baby Gift Ideas
- Instead of a card, ask guests attending the shower to bring their favorite children’s book and sign it.
- A fun group gift: baby-proofing a house! Some companies offer baby-proofing services for the parents’ home which can be a great group gift.
- Write a letter to the new baby for them to cherish as they grow up.
- Give a Bible as a gift. Ask shower attendees to highlight their favorite verses or write a prayer for the new baby.
- Offer a “sprinkle” instead of a full-blown shower for a second/third/fourth baby—smaller gifts, just diapers and books, and so forth. At the sprinkle, orchestrate a time to pray over Mom and the new baby.
Food Ideas
- Set up a meal train for the new family to keep everyone organized.
- Meal trains tend to mostly be dinners, so consider sending something for lunch or breakfast. (I had someone bring me some homemade chicken salad, fruit, and croissants and it was so nice! Other ideas are fresh fruit, a breakfast casserole, and poppyseed bread—things they could easily grab and go and serve to visiting family for breakfast!)
- Have a freezer meal party and stock the parents up with several freezer meals to get them through tough days.
Just for Mom
- Put together a mom “only” gift basket that includes items such as a devotional, candle, hand cream, and robe (just for mom!).
- Give a pair of new cozy loungewear—this is so nice for new mamas!
- Offer to come and sit with her while she’s on maternity leave. This can be a lonely time for new mothers.
- Offer to watch the baby so she can NAP!
- Offer to watch the baby while she takes a shower or bath.
- Offer to wash her dishes, bottles, and so forth.
- Make a playlist of encouraging worship songs that are lullaby friendly so she can be encouraged as she rocks the baby.
- Tell her she’s doing a great job. Not advice or specific encouragement, just a general and gentle reminder that she’s seen and she’s doing great.
- Set a time to pray for her and text her when you do.
- Put together a coffee basket and things to keep her hydrated.
- Ask if she wants to go for a “drive-through” or if she wants you to bring her anything. Pick her up and go to a favorite drive-through restaurant to grab a smoothie, milkshake, drink, or snack. Talk on the way there and back but keep the visit short. A drive-through visit also helps her get out of the house and take the baby along.
- Create a postpartum care package: comfy PJs, a nice water bottle, postpartum care supplies, her favorite snacks, and a DoorDash® gift card.
- Sit with mom while she processes emotions through her birth story and postpartum feelings. Check in on her and her mental well-being regularly.
- Give her an Audible® gift card so she can download books to keep her entertained and awake during late-night feedings.
For the Whole Family
- Help Dad, too! Take on some yard work or house care items that either of them might handle (like power washing, oil changes, and so forth).
- Create personal “coupons” like: “One coupon for me to babysit while you go on a date night.”
- Put together a date box! This works best to go in with a friend to do. Get twelve gift cards from places like coffee shops, restaurants, movies, and so forth. Place each one in a separate card and envelope with a note saying free babysitting. This gives the couple one dedicated date night a month for the first year.
- Send DoorDash® gift cards! These were a lifesaver for us.
- Go to her house and wash, dry, and fold clothes.
- Beforehand, offer to help her clean the house (or do it for her!) and set up the nursery.
- Call and ask if you can come by for a ten-minute tidy visit! You go in and do as much as you can to straighten things up for ten minutes (fold clothes, pick up toys, prep dinner, and so forth.) Talk with her while you visit, allowing her to just sit.
- Offer to watch pets!
- Drop off coffee or snacks on the front porch randomly with no obligation (aka don’t ring the doorbell!) Coordinate with the spouse to find out the best timing.
- Take the big kids off her hands for a Saturday if she’s not a new mom. Plan a day of fun adventures and treats to help them feel special, too. Extra fun is a stop to pick up a sweet little surprise for Mom on the way home.
