Having children is a life-changing experience, to say the least, but having your first child can feel overwhelming even with all the joy it brings. While baby showers provide an easy opportunity to gift mothers with things they will need for their upcoming new arrival, there are also plenty of other ways to help them. Sometimes after the hustle and bustle of bringing a new baby home, first-time parents can feel isolated and like they don’t have very much help. Please keep reading for a list of ways to be of service to first-time parents and help lighten the load for them.
Purchase a Subscription Service
With the unpredictable sleep patterns of newborn babies comes inconsistent availability to run everyday errands. One way to help new parents is to order a subscription service in their name. If they have chosen to formula feed their baby, a subscription for weekly or monthly deliveries of the formula they use is a great gift. Diaper subscriptions are fantastic, and you can give the parents the account information to update the sizes as their baby grows. You don’t even have to make the subscription baby-specific. Maybe a membership to a streaming service they would enjoy, a meditation app, or loungewear delivered monthly. You know the recipient, so tailor it to their needs.
Knowledge Is Power
We all have fears surrounding parenthood, how to protect our children, how to make sure they’re eating healthy and hitting milestones. Arming the new parents with books or podcast recommendations can help assuage any fears they’re having. Of course, send a note with the caveat that every family and baby is different, but you want to help. Sometimes, without these books by certified professionals, parents can find themselves going down endless rabbit holes on the internet and get easily overwhelmed. The gift of knowledge is priceless.
Room To Grow
One of the most common gifts to receive at baby showers is clothing, which is excellent, but babies grow quickly, and their needs change depending on the season. Consider purchasing items the baby will need beyond the first three months. Is winter approaching? Newborn baby hats or mittens to keep them warm is a great idea. Are they heading to the beach in a few months? Purchase some adorable swimwear and safety products for the baby. Even if you’re shopping for the child before they’re born, having items on hand a couple of months down the line size-wise always comes in handy – so the parents aren’t in a scramble when their three-month-old needs size six months onesies.
The Gift of Time
We all need a break from our job, and it’s long been said that being a parent is the most challenging job in the world. The gift of time is invaluable to a new parent. Offering to come and hold the baby or play with them while the new parents can take a nap is one of the greatest gifts you can give. Though it’s normal for new parents to be nervous about others watching or even holding their new babies, if you’re in their home and they are close by, this gift can give them the precious time they need to relax and recharge.
Self-Love Packages
We all know the importance of taking time for our emotional and mental health. If you have a close relationship with the new parents and feel overwhelmed, you could offer to pay for some form of therapy where they can talk to someone about the new feelings they’re having. Another form of self-love gift is purchasing a gift certificate to a spa where they can get a facial or massage to relax and unwind. Sometimes, just being able to do the things we used to do pre-baby can make all the difference in new parents feeling less overwhelmed.
Becoming a parent, while stressful, is easily one of the greatest blessings any of us will ever receive. That doesn’t mean that the feelings of insecurity about the job you’re doing or overwhelm aren’t real and don’t need to be addressed. By being of service to first-time parents, you can help them reconnect with themselves, making them more present and productive parents to their little one. Consider using the above-mentioned ways to help ease their transition into parenthood.