The Ultimate Postpartum Care Package Guide: 30+ Thoughtful Gifts
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The swaddles, the stuffies, the bassinet, all the teeny tiny outfits! New babies get so many amazing gifts—and new and expectant parents are so darn grateful. (Thank you!!) But once Baby arrives, it’s not a bad idea to shift your gift-giving focus to the awesome human who just ushered a new life into this world. Baby will be just fine without another children’s book or adorable bunting, but those new parents? They could use some TLC. The truth is, showing support with a postpartum care package that you’ve lovingly tailored to their needs can make a world of difference as they adjust to their new role. Need postpartum care package ideas? We’ve got you covered!
Postpartum Care Package Ideas: Healing Gifts
From specialized undies to soothing creams, these postpartum gifts are designed to provide comfort and support.
1. Postpartum Undies: Unlike regular cutey-cute underwear, postpartum panties are specially designed to support tender bellies and perineums. And fave underwear will be spared from ruin! (Kindred Bravely, Frida Mom, and Bodily all have A+ options.)
2. Belly Wrap: Experts recommend using an abdominal binder post c-section or vaginal birth to help reduce pain, improve mobility, and add support, making it a perfect addition to any postpartum care package.
3. Ice Packs: So many postpartum crotches and boobies need extra love right now! Enter the glorious postpartum ice pack for down below, and the cooling comfort of a Bamboobies Soothing Therapy Pillows for up top. (Bamboobies can also be warmed to help plugged ducts and mastitis.)
4. Nipple Cream: Nipples need to be soothed and nourished, especially if they’re just starting their nursing journey! Some rich, moisturizing, and organic favorites to consider adding to your postpartum care package include Motherlove Nipple Cream and the nipple butter from Earth Mama.
5. Silicone Strips: Cesarean parents will appreciate c-section scar patches made of medical-grade silicone. These magical strips are designed to keep the incision protected and hydrated, which aids healing.
6. Essentials Kit: For a little bit of everything for down-there care, Frida Mom Postpartum Recovery Essentials Kit has you covered with an upside down peri bottle, ice maxis and liners, perineal healing foam, and disposable undies.
Postpartum Care Package Ideas: Nourishing Gifts
These gifts focus on providing easy, healthy options for parents who don’t have the time to plan and cook!
7. Healthy Snacks: Eating nutritious food helps heal and strengthen the body after birth—and they’re a fantastic addition to any postpartum care package. To up your gift-giving game, make sure those snacks can be eaten with one-hand! Our fave? Happiest Baby x Sweet Laurel Blooberry Bar, which packs a flavorful and nutritious one-handed punch for fourth trimester support.
8. Coffee: No one needs a coffee quite like a new parent. Sleuth out their go-to brand and add some to their personalized postpartum care package.
9. Delivery Gift Cards: Cooking? With a newborn? No one wants to do that! What they do want is to order meals, guilt-free from Doordash, UberEats, Postmates, etc. Bonus: DoorDashers can grab groceries, too! Or buy gift cards to local restaurants and/or grocery stores that deliver.
10. Bone Broth: Mineral-, collagen-, protein-rich, plus hydrating, and easy-on-the-tum: No wonder bone broth is an uber-popular addition to today’s postpartum care packages.
Postpartum Care Package Ideas: Sleepytime Gifts
Soothing teas, light-blocking eye masks, cozy blankets? Yes! These new-parent gifts promote relaxation and better sleep during those rare quiet moments.
11. Sleepy Tea: Herbal, caffeine-free tea has long been touted as an effective sleep aid. Plus, it’s yummy, comforting, and feels like a warm hug after a long day of parenting. Why not tuck a box of the classic Celestial Seasonings Sleepytime tea into your postpartum care package?
12. Weighted Blanket: Research shows that sleeping under a weighted blanket can help grownups fall asleep more easily—something every new parent needs!
13. Silky Eye Mask: New parents need all the sleep help they can get! Toss a light-blocking and washable silk eye mask into their postpartum care package to let them know you are rooting for their ZZZs.
14. White Noise: Babies need white noise to get them through the fourth trimester (and beyond)…and so do parents! Consider including SNOObie into your postpartum care package for a cute-as-can-be sound machine/nightlight.
Postpartum Care Package Ideas: Pampering Gifts
All postpartum care packages should include items that help new parents feel refreshed and pampered. Consider these luxurious additions:
15. Lux Hand Cream: Endless diaper changes mean new parents wash their hands a lot! To stave off dryness, include a fancy-pants hand lotion, like Biossance Squalane + Omega Repair Hand Cream or Necessaire The Hand Cream in your postpartum care package.
16. Face Mask: A beautifying face mask provides some much-needed low-key luxury. Plus, overnight moisturizing masks like SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 Mask or Drunk Elephant’s F-Balm Electrolyte Waterfacial are designed for folks to fall asleep in, which is perfect for tired parents!
17. Shower Steamers: Sometimes the only break a new parent gets is in the shower. Help make that time feel spa-like with aromatherapeutic shower steamers. For before-bed relaxation, consider adding Lavender Love by Anihana to your postpartum care package. For a morning energizer, try their Mint Refresher.
18. Facial Mist: For quick pick-me-ups throughout the day, tuck a refreshing and moisturizing facial mist into your postpartum care package, like Hyaluronic Ceramide Mist from Dermalogica. (It’s antioxidant-packed to help curb postpartum dryness.)
19. Ice Roller: An Esarora Ice Roller is a TikTok classic for a reason: It soothes tired skin and help reduce puffiness. Bonus: It can be used with one-hand while nursing a baby.
Postpartum Care Package Ideas: Practical Gifts
Just because these postpartum care package gift ideas are practical, does not make them boring! Each can make a new parent's life way easier.
20. Microfiber Hair Towel: RIP hair drier. Until that extra haircare step can be resurrected, a quick-dry hair towel will be a welcome postpartum care package inclusion!
21. Phone or Tablet Stand: For all those times one wants to FaceTime Grandma—or zone out to Netflix—while trapped under a baby.
22. Coffee Tumbler: Fight the no-more-hot-coffee new-parent trope by adding the Yeti Rambler Mug to your postpartum care package. This baby keeps coffee hot for hours!
23. The Happiest Baby on the Block: It’s the next best thing to gift wrapping renowned pediatrician Dr. Harvey Karp! This new-parent sleep savior will prove to be a game-changing book to any new parent.
24. Dry Shampoo: For those days when washing hair is as likely as winning the lottery. The much-loved dry shampoo from Klorane is one to consider for your postpartum care package.
25. Water Bottle: Nursing parents lose an average of 25 ounces of fluid each day. Help out your breastfeeding pal by including the trendy and leak-proof Owala FreeSip water bottle in their postpartum gift.
26. House Cleaning Gift Card: Nothing says “I love you” like not having to scrub a toilet when you’ve barely slept in weeks. Merry Maids gift card FTW.
27. Audible Gift Card: Reading a physical book that’s not about baby sleep while on parental leave!? That’s hilarious. But plugging headphones in for a “read” while stroller-pushing? That’s the bee’s knees! Audible gift cards start at $15 for one month.
Postpartum Care Package Ideas: Fashion-y Gifts
Stylish and oh-so-comfy? Yes! These postpartum care package ideas will have the new parent in your life feeling like a million bucks— spit-up stains notwithstanding.
28. Leggings: High-waisted, stylish leggings say “I work out” even if the only exercise in the cards right now is baby-lifting. Quince makes a super-cozy postpartum pair with pockets, while Blanqi’s are known for their gentle compression.
29. Loungewear: A cozy lounge set works for both Netflix marathons and impromptu visitor pop-ins. Check out Target’s Ingrid & Isabel sets and PJs at A Pea in the Pod, too.
30. Hair Accessories: Because there’s no time for hair styling with a newborn, sneak claw clips, some scrunchies, or a French hair pin into your postpartum care package.
31. Baseball Hat: When scrunchies and dry shampoo aren’t cutting it, it’s a relief to be able to reach for a cute baseball cap, like this “mama” one!
32. Sling or Crossbody Bag: Ideal for stroller walks—and a great way to avoid a diaper bag deep dive. This one from Uniqlo is a fun add to your postpartum care package.
Postpartum Care Package Ideas: Just-For-Fun Gifts
Don’t forget to include some items to your postpartum care package that are all about the joy!
33. Funny Book: Mom Milestones by Instagram-famous Grace Farris invites big laughs by poking fun at the absurdity of parenthood! (C-section friends: Put a pillow on your belly first!)
34. Wine or Champagne: For the non-teetotalers out there, include a special bottle to toast the new arrival.
35. Friend Coupons: Bust out the colored markers and DIY some personalized coupons for the new parent in your life. Think along the lines of: “I’ll tidy up while you nap,” “Coffee’s on me!” or “Stroller duty!”
36. Affirmation Jar: Keep the craft supplies out and put together a collection of positive affirmations for your postpartum pal to pull from and read on challenging days. Include some of these go-to affirmations.
More Gifts New Parents Love:
- Meaningful Gifts for Preemie Parents
- Best Holiday Gifts for New Parents
- Sleep: The Ultimate New Parent Gift!
- Happiest Baby Gift Card…They Always Fit!
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