Celebrating new moms and showering them with love is a great way to remind them that we care about them! If your group has a relationship with a pregnant student on campus, you can collect or purchase items to present her with a gift basket (or bag) from your group. If you don’t know pregnant or parenting students on campus, ask your local pregnancy resource center if you can make gift baskets for their clients.
Here are some ideas for nice gifts for expecting moms!
For Mom:
Preparing for baby? You can put together a sweet little package for your pregnant friend as she waits for baby:
- Personal care: Add a bottle of Palmer’s Cocoa Butter or similar. It helps with stretch marks and smells awesome. You might also want to consider items like a face mask, foot massage cream, bath bubbles, epsom salts, etc.
- Treats for handling nausea: Pregnancy nausea is the worst! Ginger, lemon, and peppermint are helpful for moms experiencing nausea. Consider including: ginger, lemon, or peppermint candies, lollipops, peppermint gum, or tea (e.g. lemon ginger or peppermint).
- Cravings: Ask her what she’s craving. Is it chocolate? Peanut butter? Pickles? Help a sister out, and add it to her gift.
- Entertainment: Add something fun for her! “What to Expect While You’re Expecting” is a fun chick flick for your pregnant friend. If she doesn’t like chick flicks, go for the movie genre of her choice.
For moms closing in on the due date or already given birth, try a mom’s gift that includes:
- Gift certificate to Buy Buy Baby, Babies R Us, Target, or Walmart
- Book(s) for mom: ”What to Expect When You’re Expecting,” “The Girlfriend’s Guide to Pregnancy,” “The Gentle Birth Method“
- Baby book or mini photo album to record all those precious memories
- Babysitting voucher: The gift of rest is the best gift of all! Offer to come watch the baby for a few hours while she naps, gets out of the house, or gets whatever she wants done. Make a cute little certificate for her to redeem when she is ready to accept help.
- Meal voucher: Her choice of a meal delivered to her! Look for tips for “Meals for Moms” here.
For Baby:
Ask the mom about her preferences! She may be hoping for particular brands, colors, or themes for the little one. If she has a baby registry, use that as your guide.
- Onesies
- Baby wash or lotions
- Diapers
- Non-scented baby wipes
- Burp clothes
- Diaper rash cream
- Pacifiers
tips for success
- Don’t forget the card! Write a card from your student group! Ask everyone to write little messages, or simply have everyone sign one card.
- Gender dilemma: If you don’t know the babies’ genders, pick neutral designs that could be for a boy or a girl. You can also ask if she prefers certain styles or colors.
- Picking sizes: Consider buying diapers and onesies in larger sizes! A lot of moms have plenty of newborn stuff. Try onesies in the 3-6 months size, and diapers in sizes 1 and 2.
- Personal touch: Do you know the baby’s expected birth month? If you know the date of c-section or the due date is comfortably within the first 2 weeks of the month, consider adding a simple piece of jewelry with the baby’s birthstone.
- Get creative: If you have artsy group members, consider painting a picture or designing cute letters (for the baby’s name) for the baby’s room. You could also tie dye onesies, or make a fleece tie blanket!
- Big items: If you have enough money to go in on a big gift, consider a bouncer seat or even a Pack n’ Play.
- Other ideas: Consider a mom-themed mug, a picture frame, or your favorite childhood storybook.