The Best Gifts You Can Give The Parents Of A Newborn

Sorry if you read the title and thought you were going to find ideas for actual physical gifts to give parents of a newborn, this post is about the practical and most useful gifts I think you can give them.

When I had my first two children years ago I had a lot of family living close by, I also had a few family members who helped that are no longer in my life, I felt well supported and for that, I will always be grateful.

This time around I don’t have a lot of close family living close by, those that do are busy working or have busy lives themselves although I know if I needed their help they would and have happily obliged.

Life with a newborn and a toddler is tough, I take my hat off to those who have more than two children under five, how on earth are you coping? I started thinking about what I would really like to do for my own children when they have children of their own or even for family or friends just to make the experience a little easier for them and this is what I came up with.

A Good Nights Sleep

I recently saw on a vlog I watched on YouTube that the lady’s mother-in-law went to stay at their house every few weeks to take the baby for the night to let them both have a full night’s sleep.
Sleep deprivation is awful even if it’s just for a few nights never mind weeks or months, It leaves you feeling less able to cope with the day ahead and everything can seem worse than it actually is, so the most important thing I would give is the gift of a good nights sleep.

A Few Good Meals

The last thing you want to do when you have been looking after a newborn, a toddler and the running of a house all day is to provide a decent meal, this means that (if you are like us) you end up getting a takeaway or having sandwiches instead.
I would cook a few meals that can be frozen and take them around, or even ask them over for a meal or offer to cook for them at their home, a good-filling homemade meal can make a lot of things seem better.

Help With The Housework

This is a tough one as it would be easy to insult someone who’s sleep-deprived by asking if they want you to clean their house! but you could offer to do the ironing or any dishes you spot on the drainer while you are visiting.

A Chance To Get Out For A Few Hours

My lovely cousin (who is more like my sister) offered to watch both the kids so I could get out with my husband for an hour about a week after Jake was born, it felt like a luxury to pop to the shops as a couple without it taking an hour just to prepare to leave the house.
In the early days, looking at something other than four walls really helps lift your spirits, it’s a wonderful gift you can give to new parents who might find it hard to ask for help.

Having children is tough, I know as parents it’s our choice to have them but giving someone even just an hour’s respite without them feeling as if they are burdening you, might be worth more to that person than you will ever know.

 

 

 

| Filed under Family

28 thoughts on “The Best Gifts You Can Give The Parents Of A Newborn

  1. Without a doubt the most helpful thing for me would be for someone to come clean the house. So many people offered and when it came to it no one bothered. Seriously, if you want to help a new mum, come over wash the pots and clean the toilet! You will be beyond appreciated! Great post 🙂

  2. That is so true, just a few hours sleep or a meal not cooked by you are such precious things when you have just had a baby. I have just popped over from the #MMWBH so thank you for an interesting read x

  3. I would still love a full nights sleep. What a great idea. Family members could give tokens for these things. I'd well cash them in. Great post

  4. Oh my SLEEP and FOOD!!! Perfect perfect list, that's exactly what I wanted…and maybe a clean house too 🙂

  5. Lovely post and I can definitely relate. It can be so hard to ask for help, or even accept it when its offered as sometimes we feel we should be able to cope and that getting a bit of help is failing somehow! But even just the little things like a spot of ironing or washing dishes can make a huge difference when you are sinking! 🙂 Xx #mmwbh

  6. This is a great guide – I have an 8 week old and been very lucky to have several breaks already including a night out when my other half did all the night feeds etc… feels too cruel to ask anyone else to spend the night with him…. yet!
    #MMWBH

  7. I am so glad that my parents are there when I gave birth that I got all of this. So true that these in the list are so simple yet really vital for new parents =) #MMWBH

  8. Thanks Caroline, I find it so hard to ask for help but I'm getting better as accepting when it is offered 🙂

  9. I loved it when people would bring over a casseroles or lasagne for me to heat up/freeze later – or even a take away. Or would just make their own cuppa and leave me to sit on my but and rest rather than wait on them. #MMWBH

  10. It's 16/18 years ago that my eldest were toddlers only 18 months age between them but I can still totally relate to this post. It's something I will definitely remember to do for my kids when they have babies xxx

  11. This is a really great list. I would give an arm and a leg for a full night's sleep! You get so many things you don't really need when a baby is born but all of these things would be brilliant!

  12. Aww these are really great ideas. Everything just seems so much hard work when you have a newborn and although it is nice to receive material gifts, things like time, food and a clean home can be in short supply!

  13. Thanks, I love physical gifts as much as the next person but I would kill for a full nights sleep 🙂

  14. I can't tell you how much I LOVE the idea of having someone come to my house every now and then for the night duty. I currently have a 4 yr old and a 2 yr old and another on the way (my 9 yr old is a fab sleeper!) and would move moutains for this gift! x x

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