Best Practical Newborn Gifts

Every new mom needs a lot of support and love during the newborn phase, but it can be hard to know exactly how to do that. I was always so grateful for friends and family who called, texted, or stopped by to see how I was doing and offer encouragement and help.

What Are the Best Newborn Gifts?

Now I try to pay that kindness forward by visiting and supporting my friends when they have babies. Most of the time I take a meal, but when meals have already been taken care of by family or church groups, I’ll pick up one or two of my favorite newborn items. Personally, I try to avoid giving clothing as a newborn baby gift, since most moms get lots of clothes as shower gifts or hand-me-downs. I focus on giving items that aren’t common shower gifts, but ones that I used consistently when my baby was born. An added bonus is that these are gender neutral gifts, so they can be kept and used for more than one child.

Diapers and Wipes

Diapers are an awesome newborn gift! Pick up some newborn or size 1 diapers and a box of wipes. It’s not cute or trendy, but boy, will it be appreciated. When my daughter was born, I seriously underestimated the number of diapers she would go through. My “one month supply” lasted two weeks. Even cloth-diapering mommas will appreciate a package of disposables for their newborn, as skinny newborn legs usually don’t fit cloth diapers until month two or three. A large box of wipes is great to pair with diapers, and I prefer fragrance-free baby wipes.

Huggies Little Snugglers

My very favorite diapers for newborns are Huggies Little Snugglers.

They are incredibly soft on the inside for little bums getting used to wearing clothes.
Even when soaking wet, they feel almost dry to the touch inside, which is great for sensitive newborn skin.
The elastic around the top and leg holes is nice and snug to reduce blowouts (nothing can really stop the explosive power of newborn poop though).

Pampers Sensitive Wipes

Pampers Sensitive wipes are great for newborns. I usually order a large box to go with my diaper gift.

They are fragrance-free and very gentle for sensitive newborn skin.
They are soft and absorbent, so I end up using fewer wipes compared to cheaper brands.
If you choose to buy them with a plastic wipes dispenser (opposed to the refill packages), the dispenser is great. Wipes come out easily, but release one at a time, and the latch mechanism is sturdy and seals well.

Diaper Ointment

Along with newborn diapers and wipes, diaper ointment makes another great newborn gift. Newborns seem to frequently break out in diaper rashes as their skin gets acclimated to their new environment.

GroVia Magic Stick

My personal favorite diaper ointment for mild diaper rash is GroVia Magic Stick.

It’s like giant chapstick, so it’s easy to apply without using your fingers.
It is super effective; I usually see an improvement overnight or sometimes after a few applications.
Made of all natural healing ingredients like shea butter, lavender, calendula, and vitamin E.
The Magic Stick is petroleum free, so it can be used for cloth diapers or disposable.
The Magic Stick pairs well with heavier ointments too. If a rash is really bad, I’ll apply it first and then top it with a heavy moisture blocking ointment.

Desitin

Another great diaper ointment is Desitin. It’s been around forever, and for good reason. I like to use it paired with the Magic Stick to seal in the healing goodness and protect from moisture.

It’s soothing and cooling for sore little bums.
It blocks moisture very effectively, which allows skin to heal faster.
It’s smooth and creamy, so it’s easy to apply without sticking and pulling sore skin (it is a little messy though).

Cloth Diapers

Newborns generate an incredible amount of mess for such tiny bodies. Between the poop and spit up, it seems like you’re always wiping, changing, or bathing a newborn.

Gerber Cloth Diapers

I use these Gerber Cloth Diapers for everything. I was shocked by the amount of fluid associated with a new baby. Either her diaper was leaking, or she was peeing on the changing table, or she was spitting up, or I was leaking milk, or I was bleeding, or I was sweating bullets, or I was crying for no reason. There’s just a lot to wipe up those first few weeks.

These are super absorbent and soft (after a few washings they really fluff up).
I like to put one under baby while I change her diaper. It’s easier to swap than the changing pad covers that wrap the whole thing.
They make excellent burp cloths because they are nice and wide, keeping your arm and neck safer from the spew.
TMI Warning: I also liked using these instead of maxi pads after about week 3 postpartum. I was really tired of sweaty, scratchy maxi pads, and my bleeding had slowed considerably by that point. So I folded these up and laid them in my hospital mesh undies, and they were soft and breathable. I tossed them in the washer, and they came out nice and clean.

Hooded Baby Towel

Lucear Muslin Cotton White Baby Bath Towel

Is there anything cuter than a tiny pink baby wrapped in a bath towel?? I don’t think so.

This muslin baby towel makes a great newborn baby gift. I’ve used and loved it for my baby’s entire first year.

Unlike most baby towels, this one is large. I can wrap my big one-year-old up like a darling wet burrito after her bath.
The fabric is fluffy and soft. It dries her well without being abrasive on her sensitive skin.
The hood is deep and fully covers baby’s head.
I find the ties on the sides unnecessary for now, but I may use them as she gets older.
The label recommends handwashing (ha!), but I’ve always machine washed and dried it with no problems. It’s still just as absorbent and fluffy as it was when new.

Stain Remover

Fels Naptha Laundry Soap Bar

My baby laundry has slowed in the last few months, but at the newborn stage, I had a onesie soaking in the sink constantly. That newborn poop is just so explosive. (HOW? How does it happen?!). The best thing I’ve ever found for getting out poop stains is Fels Naptha Soap. I give a bar of this soap to every new mom I know. It’s been around for literally over 100 years, and it takes out baby poop (and lots of other stains) like magic! Everyone is always so excited when I tell them how well it takes out baby poop. (Welcome to #momlife, where a new stain remover is a highlight of the day.)

Digital Baby Thermometer

Purple Safety Baby Digital Thermometer

Most of the newborn gear I thought I needed didn’t get used, but a few pieces definitely did. I loved having a thermometer because I was paranoid those first few weeks when the pediatrician tells you to go to the ER if baby gets a fever. Did I check her temperature every day for the first month? Yes, yes I did. But it helped me sleep better at night. And when my daughter finally did get her first fever at 10 months old, I had lots of practice checking her temperature. 🙂

I use this baby and child thermometer and would give it to a new mom. There are fancier thermometers out there with lots of features, but I like using a no-frills one. Hospitals and pediatricians typically use auxiliary (under the arm) temperatures instead of forehead or rectal temperatures, so that’s what I do too.

This thermometer is inexpensive, which is nice because I tend to misplace small items like this, and I don’t want to feel bad if I have to replace it. (I especially tend to lose things in the chaos of a newborn.)
I like the case that keeps it clean and protected. It’s also easy to hand wash with a little soapy water.
The display is easy to read, but it would be nice to have it backlit.
It’s consistent and accurate, but a little slow to reach the final temperature.

Pacifier

Dr. Brown’s HappyPaci 100% Silicone Pacifier

Pacifiers are nice to give as newborn gifts too. They tend to get misplaced, so it’s nice for a new mom to have a few stashed in every room, diaper bag, and purse. They are always appreciated and used, and they are a great inexpensive addition to any baby gift. Lots of moms prefer the Dr. Brown’s Pacifier.

It uses the same shape as the Dr. Brown’s bottles, so it’s a familiar shape and size for bottle fed babies.
All one piece means it won’t let water or soap get trapped inside the nipple.
High quality silicone is dishwasher safe (top rack only).

The butterfly shape allows plenty of room to breathe under baby’s nose.

Snacks for Mom

CLIF Bar-Energy Bar

I love spoiling my friends when they have new babies. It’s so easy to forget yourself in the all-absorbing task of keeping a newborn alive, but self-care is so important too. So I like to take a little something for a new mommy too.

Snack food is usually what I’ll bring to a new mom. Breastfeeding ramps up your metabolism, and the recovery process in general requires a lot of energy. Add never having two hands to do anything and zero desire to cook, and new moms need good snacks! Chocolate Brownie CLIF Bars are my favorites.

They are actually tasty. Most protein and energy bars have a chalky whey protein taste, but these just taste like a giant cookie.
They have 250 calories in one bar, which means they can keep me going for several hours in between meals.
With lots of protein and fiber, they don’t have the rush and crash of a sugary candy bar.

Whatever you choose to take as a newborn gift, never forget the importance of giving your time and energy to a new mom. Sometimes all she needs is someone to listen, to talk, to encourage, and to help. So stop by, call, text, or write a note along with the gifts you give. Offer to hold the baby while she showers, or ask if you can put in a load of laundry or run the vacuum. Whatever you give, give it with love. Motherhood is hard, but we can make it easier together.