Some baby gifts are adorable. Some baby gifts are useful. And after you’ve had one baby — or watched a friend survive those first newborn weeks — you learn very quickly which ones matter more.
A huge box of wipes may not get the same “awww” at the baby shower as a tiny outfit, but it will absolutely be appreciated when the baby is home, everyone is exhausted, and nobody wants to run to the store.
If you’re pregnant, building a baby registry, or shopping for a practical new mom, these are the useful gifts worth adding to the list. They may not all be cute, but they are the gifts new moms actually use.
How to get your friends to buy the baby shower gifts you really want from your registry
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Make it more comfortable for your friends to shop for you
Oh, how times have changed. Nowadays, shoppers can just log into their browsers and order what they want. You don’t even need a baby shower. I like to send friends who are recovering from c-sections comforting gifts through Amazon so that they aren’t burdened with the stress of a visitor. The only problem is that a lot of your friends probably don’t know what exactly you want, which leaves them guessing. An Amazon Baby registry is such a good way to know exactly what you need. Plus, you’re picking the gifts out, so you know you’re going to get what you want.
Quick Answer: What Are the Most Useful Gifts for New Moms?
The most useful gifts for new moms are the things that make the first few weeks easier: diapers, wipes, basic baby clothes, breast pump parts, nursing supplies, nipple cream, and practical registry items they may not think to buy ahead of time. Cute baby outfits are fun, but the gifts new moms usually appreciate most are the ones they reach for at 2 a.m.
Amazon has built a business on providing value and convenience to their consumers. Take advantage of it! A friend is more likely to buy something practical and mildly personal — like breast pads, or nursing bras, if they don’t have to carry it through a store.
Make a practical list of the useful gifts you want them to buy
If you put items on your Baby registry that you don’t really want, you’re setting yourself up for failure. Here are some practical items you can put on your list, to help you get what you want.
Breast Pump Parts You’ll Be Glad You Have Extras Of
Most of us have a breast pump, but we’re missing some of the breast pump parts or accessories we need to be successful. Why not add this to your list? It’ll be one less thing you need to buy when baby gets here. Plus, breast pump parts can be expensive. Here are a few ideas to add to the Baby registry.
Breast Pump Accessories
- Breast shields
- Extra tubing
- Milk Storage Bags
- Membranes
- Valves
- Milk Cooler
- Steam Bags for Disinfecting Your Pump Parts
- Breast Pump No Rinse Sanitizer Spray
I remember having to leave work to grab breast pump valves and membranes. Once I had to get a breast shield, and another time I forgot the entire pump so I ran to the store to get a manual breast pump. Working and pumping is loads of fun, I tell you!
Incidentally, the manual pump actually yielded far more milk than the expensive electric pumps for me.
The Not-Cute Gift Nursing Moms Actually Need
For my breastfeeding mamas, this is something practical that you need. Nipple cream should always be in reach during the early days of nursing. You can add it to your Baby registry and it can be delivered right to your door. Sore nipples are no fun when you have a newborn baby to care for.
Diapers and Wipes: The Boring Gift That Always Wins
I’m the kind of person that doesn’t like to leave my house for months after I have a baby. I love having time to adjust. If you want your friends to buy you something practical, make sure you put a variety of sizes of diapers on your registry. Something so simple, yet so practical. Just note that the baby will not be in newborn or the smaller sizes for very long. I stocked up on sizes 2 and 3.
The little stripe that shows you if the diaper is wet at all is a lifesaver. My youngest would scream if there was even the tiniest drip of urine on her diaper. Without the little color-changing stripe on the Pampers swaddlers, I would have assumed that her diaper was dry and she would have continued shrieking. I always gift my friends this giant box of Pampers Sensitive Baby wipes. It isn’t cute, but I know that when they have the baby, they’ll thank me.
Baby Clothes That Actually Get Used
I think it’s safe to say that people love buying baby clothing. The practical person in me says that frilly things are nice, but the outfits will just be pooped and puked on. My kids both had so many outfits that they never wore. When you know something will be soiled in the next hour or so, you forgo the adorable outfits for the ones that will be easiest to change him or her into and out of….Hey, just keeping it real here. Your best bets are basic onesies, socks, sleep sacks, mittens and so on.
How to Nudge Friends Toward the Registry Gifts You Really Want
Tell your friends that you would rather have things that you know you’ll use. It’s okay to be honest, just don’t be rude. You’re trying to keep your friends, not lose them. Being honest with them and letting them know you’re a practical baby gift kinda gal is more than okay. Money can be a concern when you have a newborn. Having the necessities already in stock during those early months will relieve stress for the whole family. There is nothing wrong with wanting to give and receive useful gifts for new moms.
Or you can always just buy something yourself! This insulated tumbler would be a perfect pick me up while recovering from labor.
For more great baby shower gift ideas:
Joyce with My Stay At Home Adventures has some great tips on what to get new moms.
Crystal at Crystal and Company shares her baby shower gift ideas here.
And if you know a c-section mom that just had a baby, here are my top gift suggestions for recovery.
It is so overwhelming when you’re trying to figure out what you REALLY need as a new mom. I so wish I had a list like this when I was pregnant for the first time. I’m definitely saving this list for gift ideas!
Yes! I am definitely the mom giving away the Costco sized box of wipes. It’s even better than getting diapers. Love the idea of giving replaceable breast pump accessories too.