So Your Friend Is Having A Baby...
Gift ideas for all the moms in your life!
Shitters! Mother’s Day is quickly approaching, and instead of a last minute scramble, I wanted to give you ample time to get brainstorming about how you want to treat the moms in your life—whether that’s your own, your partner, your friends, mother-figures, etc.
Speaking of which, over the past year or so, I’ve found myself with more friends who are becoming new moms. It’s an exciting time! But also, if you’re like me and have never had a child yourself, you might find yourself a bit lost when it comes to what to give someone who’s about to or just did.
Of course there are baby gifts, but I’m not talking about those—I’m talking about things specifically for expecting/new moms that they’ll use, wear, love, or find helpful or comforting in a time of huge change. So I decided to go straight to the source—I called up a few of my new mom friends to hear about their favorite gifts from pregnancy and after their babies arrived, plus the things they would have loved to receive during this time.
What follows is an assortment of things they mentioned, plus a few ideas that would be great for any mom in your life, new or not! Hopefully this helps you find something special that the people you love will love too!
For every mom, new or not!
Starting strong with Venus et Fleur! These long-lasting flower arrangements are luxurious and beautiful, but also incredibly low maintenance, making them the perfect gift for any mom or mother figure in your life. Whether she’s doing it all at home and work, or she’s an empty nester who’s enjoying more time away from home, these will stay looking fresh for a year (at the very least!) without any need to trim stems or change water (the last thing mom needs is another to-do!).
VeF is known for their signature roses, but they have so many more options. They just introduced gardenias (a gorgeous, tropical white flower), and a whole new wicker collection that’s overflowing with hydrangeas. Each of their blooms is meticulously selected, and I love the way the wicker in particular gives the arrangements a more relaxed, summery feel. These hydrangeas in Oregano pink are my personal favorite, but if she’s more into the classic look, this small round style is practically bursting with blooms! They have something for every style and budget—you really cannot go wrong.
Other favorites include anything Flamingo Estate—they do an amazing job curating boxes of luxe pantry items (their olive oil and honeys are especially good!) and bath and body treats (this peppermint soap brick makes my shower smell phenomenal), plus their packaging is on another level. This set is on my personal wishlist. Speaking of body care, LILIS’s instant peel is blowing up and I have a discount (PRIYANKA10)! The packaging is similarly beautiful, and it also comes in a gift-ready set! And if you really want to spoil her, this box from Violet Grey should do the job.
Aura Frames are another favorite, especially for new grandparents—it’s SO easy to send new photos to the frame straight from your phone, and I love the new frames with matting. This engravable bracelet is splurgy, for the sentimental mom (or grandma—so much room for all the grandkids’ names!). It makes a fantastic milestone gift, and is the most special piece I own. Along the same lines, these mini trunks are such a great idea for a jewelry lover/ collector and are even better in person—I love the mint green and rich navy ones, personally.
Less splurgy, but if mom could use a chill pill (in the kindest way possible), these gummies are the micro-est microdose with a good ratio of CBD and the best flavors. These amazing body stones are under $50 and are such a treat to use (the Vanilla Rose Teacake is my favorite!). And all the cool downtown moms are wearing sets by The Great and Suzie Kondi—linked to my favorites from each!
For the new/expecting moms
“I want to emphasize my belief that the best gifts for new moms are gifts for new moms.” —Mattie Kahn, writer and new mom
The general consensus from most people I spoke with was that there were SO many gifts for the baby when they were expecting/gave birth, so it was really appreciated to get something just for them. As Mattie said, “a lot of well-meaning people are out here giving babies fancy items of clothing or expensive accessories that will be lost on them, while their mothers long for treats. Treat the mother in your life!” Say no more—treat we shall!!
Skin/Hair/Body Care
Starting with the undisputed favorite—every single mom I spoke with talked about savoring nice skin, body, and haircare products, especially in the early postpartum days. These make something that she’s doing for herself (oftentimes during the only time she has to herself!) a little more luxurious.
First up: body care. Three of the friends I spoke with mentioned this body oil by name (this is a great starter set to gift!). Similarly, Mutha makes a super rich and hydrating body butter, and Kate McLeod’s Mama Stone requires zero rubbing in. Haircare also got big shoutouts, including SIBAL-favorite Roz shampoo and conditioner, Crown Affair’s leave-in conditioner (PRIYANKA15), and this luxe hairbrush (per Madison Podpirka of Fewer Finer, it’s also great for postpartum hair loss). And you can’t go wrong with luxe body washes and soaps either!
These inexpensive aromatherapy steamers got a shoutout from Margaret Geeslin of Sweet Geese Bakery—they’re the perfect little treat to send to a pregnant girlfriend. She also mentioned these undereye masks for early mornings—store them in the fridge for an extra cooling effect. Speaking of cooling, these belly masks were also a hit! According to my friend Nikki Courtney, they’re especially nice if you’re very pregnant during the height of summer. (Not a gift idea, but if any new moms are in LA and in need of some support throughout all the changes, highly recommend dropping my favorite LMFT a line).
Finally, skincare. If you know what they use/like, amazing, but it can be tricky to know what works for their skin type or what they’re able to use during pregnancy/ breastfeeding. In that case, a gift card to Dermstore or Sephora is an easy way to make sure they can pick exactly what they want (s/o to Mattie for the idea!).
Treatments
Prenatal/lymphatic drainage massages were mentioned often, although Nikki suggested gifting these pre-baby because the time/desire to spend it away from baby can be harder to come by afterwards. For that stage, Madison recommends gifting an at-home blowout or manicure. “Anything at home is nice when feeding schedules are all over the place. My mom gave this to me when I was about a month postpartum, and it’s just such a nice thing to have when you’re done with the recovery phase and feeling like you want to get out and about.”
Comfy Cozies
Starting with the classics. Per Nikki, “It’s cliché, but especially in the beginning, it was really nice to have a cozy robe, especially if you are breastfeeding.” That one came highly recommended by my former boss Sarah, and is the softest thing on Earth. Nursing-friendly PJs were also mentioned frequently, including this wrap style from Lake (I’m not a new mom, but I can vouch for it comfort-wise!). Eberjey is a classic, this cotton Doen set doubles as separates while you’re out and about (bottoms here), and these less expensive ones by Gap and Quince got shoutouts from Sarah too. Not a cozy, but a good idea for while you’re in them—Nikki recommends gifting credits for audiobooks: “There’s so much time that you’re sitting and feeding, and I didn’t necessarily want to have the TV on. Listening to an audiobook felt like a good option.”
During pregnancy, Nikki loved these maternity jumpsuits—by the end, she says it was the only thing she was reaching for. And for postpartum, Margaret recommends this set by Spanx (pants here). It’s soft and stretchy and flattering, and the style is more put together than your typical sweats.
Keepsakes
While the above ideas lean more practical, sentimental gifts were well appreciated too. Mattie cited this Tiffany & Co. Birth Record Frame as a favorite from when her son was born: “It’s beautiful, subtle, and a real lifelong heirloom. It has the benefit of being baby-oriented, while still satisfying the aesthetic sensibility of the aforementioned baby's mother.” Though the price tag means this one is really only for the closest family or friends, there are plenty of other beautiful options out there for less (1/2/3).
In the same vein, Nikki recommends subscriptions to Chatbooks, a company that turns your iPhone photos into a high-quality physical album (I love this monthbook idea!), and even digital cameras: “I don’t always want my phone out around the baby, but I do want to capture things. I’m considering getting one for myself.” (Hint, hint!)
Jewelry, of course, was another popular recommendation, specifically pieces representing the baby’s name. Mattie was gifted this splurge-worthy initial necklace by New York jeweler Briony Raymond and wears it daily. This version by EF Collection is simple and classic, this one by Adina Reyter is fun, and Madison’s brand Fewer Finer makes an engravable nameplate that I adore. Birthstone bracelets are another idea that’s more accessibly priced.
Madison also recommends this Keepsake Box—“these are so chic and it's a simple, nice gift to give someone so they have a specific place to save things in their baby's first few years.”
Treats
Last, but certainly not least, who doesn’t love a treat! Postpartum favorites included audacious babkas, bagels and lox, and Levain cookies (Margaret says that the oatmeal raisin ones are close enough to a lactation cookie).
Per Mattie: “If you want to ball out, send the gift that no one has ever sent me but that I dream of receiving one day: membership in Frog Hollow Farm's Gotta Have My Peaches Fruit Club. The best peaches on earth, shipped from California, delivered juicy and perfectly ripe, all summer long. The price is ludicrous. I can't defend it. I can only say: I want it.” Someone send her peaches ASAP!!!
Speaking of food, if you’re on the fence about sending that delivery app gift card, most everyone I spoke with mentioned how much they appreciated them—of course for the meals, but also because these allow them to pick exactly what they want and order it exactly when they’re hungry (helpful in the days when there is no such thing as a schedule).
Are you a new mom yourself? Tell us about the best gifts you received (or the things you would have loved to get)!
Other things I’ve been loving lately: STOP THE PRESSES—Salt and Stone finally turned their best deodorant scent into a personal fragrance (and so much more)!!!!!! NEED immediately!!! I’ve watched every single TikTok interpreting the “party 4 u” bridge to completion. Masterpiece of a song, glad it’s getting its due. Currently in the bad habit of getting an iced strawberry matcha every time I leave my apartment. Some spots are inconsistent (looking at you, Matchaful), but The Elk’s and Kijitora’s are always delicious. L’Appartement 4F sourdough + salted French butter + scrambled eggs + Onino = my forever perfect breakfast.
Today’s newsletter was written in partnership with Venus et Fleur, whose florals I’ve loved and recommended here so many times over the years! Thank you so much to the VeF team for their continued support of SIBAL—I feel so lucky to work with such an incredible brand! If you’re interested in collaborating on a future newsletter, let’s chat. Drop me a note at priyanka.aribindi@gmail.com—I’d love to hear from you!
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Mattie Kahn had a baby!!!!!!!!! :') I love her internet presence (all the way back to her amazing bakes!!!). Thank you for this delightful tidbit of info.