New Baby Gifts For Moms

OK, admittedly the title of this article might be a little misleading. But when purchasing new baby gifts, if that gift benefits the mom, then the gift is a sure winner. If you've never had a child then you may not know what gifts moms would appreciate most. Having had 5 children, I am certainly qualified to tell you what qualifies as a great new baby gift.

First of all, avoid purchasing duplicates of what the other non-parents will chose for new baby gifts. And remember, think in terms of the mom as much as the baby.

If you've ever seen the movie "A Christmas Story", there's a line in there where Ralphie says something like, "My mom had not eaten a hot meal in years". That is so true. New moms have virtually no time for themselves. Diaper changes, feedings, playtime and colic can chew up the hours in a day quickly. In our household, dinnertime was a nightmare. Our children would scream as soon as the evening meal (or any meal for that matter) was about to be placed on the table. Surely there is a new baby gift that could at least help with the problem.

In our house, that item was an infant swing. It was a lifesaver and should be added to any list of thoughtful new baby gifts. It wasn't perfect mind you, but the screaming child could be placed in the swing long enough for us to wolf down dinner. The rocking motion of the swing would keep the baby quiet for at least a few minutes. Place this item high on your list of important new baby gifts.

Here's another one. Parents across the globe have universally suffered this one. Just when you think the baby is asleep and you place him or her in the crib, they will wake up screaming. Did you know that the cold of the mattress is often to blame? Our doctor suggested picking up a heating pad or hot water bottle to warm the crib first. Worked like a charm. So when shopping for new baby gifts, consider a plug-in heating pad for the new mom. If the crib is warm before placing the child in it, it just might help mom get a few hours of much needed rest.

Now one you may not have been aware of. Many babies are accustomed to mom's smell. Our children could easily tell the difference between mom and another adult. Some cologne manufacturers create unisex fragrances. If there is a scent that both the husband and wife like and can wear, get it. This simple trick made it easier for me to take over feedings. The normally breastfed child would settle down with a bottle quicker for me if I smelled like his or her mom. Admittedly, it's not your typical new baby gift, but once new parents realize the benefits, they'll probably appreciate it. (Hint: always check with the new parents first on this one).

One last new baby gift that we could not have lived without is a baby sling. Our children, like most others, hated being put down. Until we got the sling, our backs were breaking and our arms were tired from carrying them around all day. For the most part, the sling kept the baby happy and quiet. Just be sure when shopping for new baby gifts that you get a sling with good shoulder padding.

I realize that these new baby gifts are a little outside the traditional box. But if you want to help out the parents (especially the new mom), and unusual gift like the ones mentioned here will be appreciated. And you won't be copying someone else either.