I think we can all agree that this year has been anything less than “normal.” Due to COVID safety precautions many pregnant women are feeling gypped out of the experience they anticipated, having to cancel baby showers, attend appointments alone, and even having to adjust their birth plans.

The good news is, even if you can’t attend your friend or loved one's baby shower, you can still help them celebrate their new arrival! Rather than a more traditional gift, consider gifting the new mama or mama-to-be a more practical, non-traditional item or service from the list below. These types of gifts may not be as cute to unbox as let's say, a pair of baby shoes, but mama will greatly appreciate them after their new baby arrives!

Practical gifts of service for a mama-to-be or new mama:

1. Meal delivery.

Receiving meals after you have a baby is a huge blessing! Having easy access to a meal can relieve the stress of meal planning for a family who is busy adjusting to life with a new baby. Meal delivery gifts can be given by starting a meal train and sharing it with others to participate, purchasing gift cards from local restaurants, or even ordering delivery through apps/websites like Uber Eats, Grubhub, or DoorDash.

2. A gift card for a My Sweet Sleeper newborn sleep class.

The perfect time to gift our newborn sleep class is when mom is pregnant or before baby arrives, so she can soak up all the information in preparation! New parents may find themselves struggling with their newborn’s sleep which is why our class makes a great gift even after baby is born. The new mama or mama-to-be can choose to apply her My Sweet Sleeper gift card to the service that works best for her and her family, either one-on-one consultations or a class.

3. House cleaning service.

If there is one thing a new mama does NOT want to do right after having a baby, it is cleaning the house. Trust me, this is a gift that will be much appreciated and it helps support local business! Get a referral from a family or friend, or check your social media feed to decide which local service you would like to hire.

4. Massage.

No one is more deserving of a massage than a pregnant or postpartum mama! To make this experience even more convenient you can opt to bring the massage to her. You may be able to find a massage therapist who does home visits through an app like Soothe.

5. Night nanny/nurse.

As a previous night nanny, I can’t tell you how many times parents told me I was “saving them” in the newborn stage by being there to help at night. This is a great group gift as well if there are several friends/family members who can chip in to provide a night nanny or nurse for the first few weeks after the baby comes. To find a reputable nanny ask friends or family for recommendations, check local social media mom or nanny groups, or you can do a caregiver search on care.com.

6. Maternity/newborn photography.

This is a great gift option to allow mom to get those maternity shots she has always wanted! Then if mom is happy with the photographer’s work she can then continue using them for newborn photos, and family photography sessions throughout the years.

A great way to find a local photographer is through browsing social media channels. Your friends and family likely share their family photos on social media, so doing a bit of scrolling through Facebook or Instagram might give you a glimpse of the photographer’s style and work quality. Similar to the other services mentioned, word of mouth is a great way to find a photographer and support local business as well.

Non-traditional physical gifts:

7. Nursing clothes (shirts, dresses, jackets, pajamas).

Most moms are well-prepared with enough maternity clothing to last them through their pregnancy. What moms tend to forget to include in their wardrobe are the nursing clothes needed for breastfeeding AFTER baby is born!

If you are looking for a gift for a new mama or mama-to-be who plans to breastfeed, one brand we recommend is the brand Belly Bandit— they have a selection of quality nursing-wear, as well as a wide range of maternity and postpartum clothing and products such as leggings, belly wraps, c-section support and shapewear. We love this brand for their simple, modern styles. Also, their clothing is designed in such a way that it can be worn before, during, and even after pregnancy, making their pieces sustainable additions to your wardrobe.

BELLY BANDIT Mother Tucker Compression Nursing Tank

We also think nursing covers make great gifts! You can find one we like on PishPoshBaby —their infinity scarf nursing covers are another type of gift that can last even long after mom is done breastfeeding, since they double as an everyday accessory. They are ideal for moms who like to keep things simple, and prefer to wear their regular clothing rather than specific nursingwear.

Itzy Ritzy Nursing Happens Infinity Nursing Cover

8. An enticing water bottle.

Moms need to make sure they are drinking enough water, especially if they are breastfeeding! Having an enticing water bottle, with time markers and encouraging phrases can help mamas stay motivated to hydrate throughout the day, and can be a fun way to focus on self care.

9. Life simplifying technology.

Lessen the burden of house cleaning and give the gift of a Robot vacuum! A roomba vacuum might be the next best thing to a house cleaner. Other techie gift ideas might be an external phone charger power bank, so mom can easily keep her phone charged from anywhere while nursing/ feeding baby, or smart light bulbs so mom can turn lights on or off from the rocking chair while holding a sleeping baby.

10. Q&A Journal for Moms.

We can personally vouch for how much we love this. Moms often don’t have the time to journal, but it’s so important to record those early memories. This journal is the perfect gift for sentimental but busy moms because it is organized to show just one question prompt a day, with only a few lines to write on. It makes journaling a quick and easy task. As the years go on, mom will see how her answers to the same questions change, depending on their child’s stage of life.

Q & A a Day for Moms: A Five Year Journal

11. Skin care for those tired days.

All the effort and love moms pour into taking care of a new baby can leave her feeling a bit unlike herself, which is why simple self-care gifts like skin care products are a great option. Unlike booking a massage, or an appointment with the hairdresser, which involves arranging a block of time to leave the house, giving a mom a skin care product, such as a face mask from the True Botanicals product line, is a great idea because it its a simple and achievable task she can work into her day-to-day. It might also give her something to look forward to when she finds the time to squeeze in a quick shower, or encourage her to make time for a short daily skin care routine if this is something she has forgotten to make time for since baby’s arrival.

True Botanicals Moisture Lock Overnight Face Mask

I hope these new mama and mama-to-be gift ideas inspired you to support your family member or friend in a more meaningful, practical way during this exciting and busy time.

*Disclosure: Many of these links are affiliate links, where we earn a small amount from your purchase. However, all of our product recommendations are always authentic and honest, and the commission does not affect our recommendation.

Eleven practical gifts mamas-to-be and new mamas truly want