Cold weather is on its way, coffee shops are offering pumpkin spice lattes and that means holiday season is fast approaching. This time of year can be especially exciting if you are a new parent. Holiday season can be very difficult to navigate with having to focus on who to buy for, what type of gifts to get and trying to stay within your budget. Not easy at all. One of the perks of this time of year is that you get to bless the special people in your life with gifts that show you are thinking about them. Parents of newborns could really use a little bit of encouragement all year long and we have some great ideas.
Are you looking for the perfect Christmas gift for friends that are new parents or yourself? Some of the presents we’ve picked offer to give new parents a break in the midst of this crazy season.
Washable and Squashable Travel High Chair
Parents who are travel lovers will love this item because it makes your trip trouble free – at least when it comes to feeding the kiddo. This chair fits any dining chair, regardless of its size and shape. The lightweight and easily foldable design makes this chair perfect for on-the-go travel. Now, you can say goodbye to the hassle of looking for chairs for your tots to sit in while you dine.
Nursing Pillow
Tired of carrying your baby using your arms? Is your back aching when you breastfeed your infant? This Nursing Pillow is not just for breastfeeding moms but also for those who feed formula to their babies. It’s a feeding pillow, which provides relief for your back, neck, spine and most particularly your arms. If you breastfeed your child this pillow is a good investment. If you have a congested sick baby another benefit of this type of pillow is that it can help ease congestion for your little one as you feed them. Put the pillow around your waist and fasten its belt or Velcro tightly and you are ready to start using it.
Baby Shusher
Everyone loves being able to rest during Holiday season but what if your baby’s cry makes it hard to get that elusive rest? This device can keep your tots calm during the night and at naptime. The “shushing” sound the device produces helps give your baby a peaceful and restful sleep and so you too can enjoy the rest of the night. This device operates best when it is two feet away from the hearing radius of your toddler that way the sound waves will be pointing toward baby’s ears and not away.
Handprint/Footprint Jewelry
Do you want to add a personal touch to your first Holiday with your baby? You can have a mold made of your child’s actual handprint or footprint, have it engraved, and actually add it to your pendant or keychain. Aside from being a super unique gift, it is also very personal and is a great memory to give. It’s a keepsake and your little one can cherish it as they grow older. Your child can enjoy this token forever and as they look at it, they will be reminded how you treasure them and how precious they are in your life.
Soothe Shirt
This cozy pouch can be part of your wardrobe so you will not be out of style even during the cold season. Your baby is safe because this soothe shirt is expandable and baby tucks right inside. Another benefit of this shirt is that it promotes mommy and baby bonding time. It has a nursing bra as a part of its setup so it helps make feeding time less awkward when you are on the go. The soothe shirt is ideal for babies between 7 lbs and 15 lbs.
Baby Food Maker
We are pretty sure you want to offer your babies a healthy and delicious diet. This is a great gift for parents with young children that are just learning how to eat solids. Having a baby food maker on hand allows you to prepare the food along with the rest of your meal and then turn it into a meal for your little one – as opposed to having to buy a bunch of pre-made baby food. Using your own baby food maker you can always be sure that you’ll have safe food for your tots and will not be subjecting them to any unknown preservatives in the pre-packaged food. You can steam vegetables, blend fruits and use it to warm and defrost food. It saves you time by allowing you to prepare fresh and healthy meals for your infant ahead of time. Then the meals are ready to serve when you are ready to feed. The kit comes with a list of recipes for you to try, or you can always use your secret family recipes instead.
Bathtime Easy Kneeler
Bath time can be one of the most challenging times of the week for new-parents. The Bathtime Easy Kneeler is a gift that seeks to ease that stress a little by helping keep you safe and comfortable while you are bathing the little one. Babies are fragile and so we have to use extra care every time we give them a bath and that is a whole lot easier if your knees aren’t pressed into the hard, cold ceramic tile on the floor. This product is a user-friendly tub kneeler that uses polyfoam pads with nonslip synthetic rubber so your knees won’t get hurt and numb. The cushioning aspect of the product also helps reduce stress on your lower back. The extra-padding is designed to provide an easy feeling and cushioning on your knees. It has a pocket where you can put the soap, washcloth, shampoo, or the other stuff needed when bathing your babies. It’s also foldable and washable and can fit any standard tub.
Stroller Hand Warmer
As winter rolls in, the chill of the air starts to freeze us when we are outside. We love to go out on a leisurely stroll with our infants to take in all of the sights and sounds of the season. That means we need to break out the baby stroller (unless you are wearing them – and that is an entirely different post). With it being cold outside, we don’t want our hands to freeze while pushing the stroller. The Stroller Hand Warmer is attached to the handle so you can still keep your hands warm. It’s very convenient in the event you have to pick up your phone, you can instantly answer it unlike the thick gloves that are hard to work with and typically will not operate the touch screen interface on your phone. The hand warmer is very easy to install and remove.
Teething Crib Rail Guard
Whether we like it or not, our little angels will reach that stage where they want to gnaw on their bed – while it is a little weird, it is completely normal. As parents we are a little concerned that all of this gnawing on hard wood, metal, or plastic may damage their little chompers. This product is a dual purpose gift, it protects your tots teeth and it also protects the crib. Teething is just normal and so we have to be prepared as new parents for this behavior (kind of like when you bring that adorable German Sheppard puppy home not realizing they are going to chew through your entire house). The guard comes in both fabric crib rail covers and plastic crib rail covers.
A Spa Treatment
Ok, admittedly this one has nothing to do with the baby, but it is a great idea for the parents of the newborn. A trip to the spa gives the new parents an opportunity to relax and to be stress free – at least for a little while. Similar to the old “Calgon take me away” commercials, parents (especially new moms) can be run ragged with the demands of a new baby. A little bit of time away to refuel will pay big dividends for everyone at home. Trust us, new parents will love this special treat.
The gifts we have detailed above are just the tip of the iceberg. If none of these seems just right for you, all you have to do is go visit Pinterest or go to Google and type in “Gifts for new parents”. There are a ton of great ideas out there. Whether you present is simple (like a snot sucker) or mind-numbingly extravagant the new parents will be wildly appreciative of the fact that you have thought of them during this time of year and taken pity on them as they adjust to life with their new bundle of joy!
