As I write this, my son is almost seven months old. He is still little in so many ways, but when I look back on those early newborn days, it’s hard to believe how much has changed in such a short time. The first few months of motherhood were a blur of sleepless nights, newborn snuggles, and learning new rhythms. But one of the things that stands out to me from that blurry, sweet, hard season was the way our community showed up for us, upheld us, and reminded us of the Father’s love through blessings both tangible and intangible.
If you know a new mom, whether she just had her first baby or is welcoming a new addition, here are some ways to bless her and her family as they bring a new life into their home.
1. Bring food.
I know this is far from an original idea! It’s a classic for a reason. Moms of newborns rarely know what time of day it is, let alone remember to nourish themselves. To not think about preparing a meal is one of the most practical gifts a new mom can receive. Here are a few ideas for how to make a meal delivery even simpler for a new mom.
- Use disposable pans. No cleanup and no need for mom to keep track of which casserole dish belongs to who!
- Bring two meals—one for the night you planned and one for the freezer.
- Make a note of when the meal sign ups end and plan to deliver another meal after that.
- Breakfast can be a hard meal to get on the table after a long night of interrupted sleep. Think about including an easy breakfast option with your dinner drop off!
- Remember, not everything has to be homemade. Take the pressure off and think outside the box. Whether it’s delivery from a local restaurant, buying a rotisserie chicken and sides from the grocery store, or offering a gift card so mom and dad can pick something out—any and all food is a gift.
2. Offer a porch drop off.
Newborn life is messy and chaotic! It can be hard to feel prepared to let someone into your home. Offering to drop something off on their porch without the expectation of interaction is such a gift! Some ideas for easy drop offs:
- Fun treats are a welcome surprise when it’s hard to get out of the house! Offer to drop off a coffee, cookies, or other goodie on their porch when you’re in the neighborhood.
- If you’re at the grocery store, shoot a text and ask if there’s anything mom needs. Diapers? Coffee beans? Snacks?
3. Help with childcare + housework.
Offering a few options for an extra set of hands is a blessing to a new mom trying to juggle it all. These are the three options I’d recommend you offer to Mom and let her choose what is the most helpful:
- Childcare with Mom at home. Give Mom an opportunity to take a nap, get something done around the house, or just rest while you hold the new baby.
- Childcare with Mom out of the house. Does Mom want to get out for a little while by herself? Offer to babysit while Mom gets some time for herself.
- Help with housework while Mom is at home. Sometimes Mom would prefer to take care of her new baby, but needs help with other household tasks like laundry, tidying, or doing the dishes. Offer to help with anything that Mom wants done around the house while she rests with her baby.
4. Give encouragement.
Becoming a mom was the most overwhelming experience of my life, and encouragement from others bolstered me when I was at my lowest. Here are a few things I learned about giving encouragement to a newly postpartum mom:
- Beware of encouragement’s close cousin—advice—which can heighten anxiety and increase self-doubt for a new mom. Advice looks like, “Have you tried …” “You should just …” and “You’re going to miss this.” Encouragement looks like, “You’re doing a great job!” “You are the right mom for this baby.” and “I am praying for you!”
- Send a “no need to respond” text. Encouragement without an expectation of response is valuable! Try something like, “Hey, Mama! No need to respond to this, but I was thinking about you and wanted to let you know I’m praying for you as you care for your new little one. I’m praying Isaiah 41:10 over you today: “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with my righteous right hand.”
- Think about key times of transition. Some of the most discouraging moments in the first few months of my baby’s life were when a routine changed: when my mom went home, when my husband went back to work, when I went back to work, and when daycare started. If you know when some big transitions are happening in mom’s life, make a note to reach out to mom around that time to check in and offer encouragement, or one of the practical pieces of help listed above.
Being a new mom can bring the highest highs and lowest lows, and a supportive community makes all the difference. I hope these ideas inspire you to be a blessing to new moms in your life!
About Heather Ross
Heather Ross is a marketing strategist for the Lifeway Women marketing team. She loves good company, sweet treats, and fresh air. Though native to Michigan, she, her husband, and son call Lexington, Kentucky, home.
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