Gathered Gifts | Gifts for Expecting Parents
Being an expecting parent during the holiday season is both a blessing and a curse. Loved ones often focus their gifts on the baby rather than the pregnant parent. Much like baby showers, while those gifts are usually great for the infant, they don’t always have much use in supporting a new parent as they navigate postpartum or the transition to parenthood.
The Gather Birth team is not new to supporting new families as birth and postpartum doulas, lactation counselors, infant sleep educators, and new parent support specialists in the Minneapolis and St. Paul, MN area. We know a thing or two about what a new parent needs. We’ve put together some of our favorite gift ideas to celebrate your expecting friends and their pregnancy while ensuring they’re taken care of too.
Not only is this gift list great for holiday shopping, but we’ve intentionally chosen to focus our recommendations on small businesses. Many of the small businesses included on this list are female, queer, or BIPOC-owned, with additional consideration given to businesses using eco-friendly practices and ingredients.
Take a peek at our Expecting Parents Gift Guide and dream of showering the parents-to-be in your life this holiday season. Enjoy!
See other Gather Gift Guides:
Gather Birth 2020 Gift Guide | Gifts for Expecting Parents
“The First Forty Days: The Essential Art of Nourishing the New Mother“ by Heng Ou - This book is a staple recommendation for the expecting parents who work with the Gather team. “The First Forty Days,” highlights the importance of taking it slow and easy during the first several weeks of new parenthood. Often we rush back to responsibilities to the detriment of our own healing and mental health. This book makes the argument for slowing down and listening to our bodies and tells us how exactly to make that happen. Even better? The last half of the book is full of recipes to help promote postpartum healing. Gift the book and a freezer meal! You’ll be the best friend ever.
Heng Ou’s “The First Forty Days: The Essential Art of Nourishing the New Mother”
Mama to Bebe Kit from Fat and The Moon - We absolutely love this gift set from environmentally conscious brand Fat and The Moon. This gift set includes many of the postpartum healing staples for your friend who’s getting ready to have a baby exit their bod. This natural gift set includes a perineal spray, sitz bath herbs, nipple butter, belly balm, and more. Do you need all of those products for healing down there? Uh, it sure helps.
SUNSET Under the RAINBOW Quilt by Can Did Art Accessories - Alright, yes, this is technically something for the baby, but we’ll make an argument for a cute baby blanket any day. Having your baby’s blanket in your home can be such a source of comfort for expecting parents during their pregnancy. Had a rough day with the bump? Snuggle that blanket and dream of your baby nestled inside. Gather co-founder Gina even labored with her daughter’s baby blanket. It’s also hard to say “no” to this beautifully designed quilt by Black-owned Etsy shop, CanDidArtAccesories.
Ring Sling from Wildbird - Any parent who has worn their baby will tell you it’s a lifesaver. Be that family member or friend who gifts your loved one with the use of both of their hands after their baby arrives. Babywearing helps new parents get things done, like, you know, feeding themselves, all while still being able to meet their baby’s need for comfort and closeness. We love the ring slings from eco-conscious brand, Wildbird. Not only are they gorgeous, but as far as babywearing products go, they’re relatively inexpensive too.
Postpartum Pads by The Honey Pot - Are postpartum pads glamorous? No. But hear us out, these are the kinds of gifts people pass on because they aren’t fancy, but your newly-postpartum friend ends up using, loving, and thanking you a million times over for sharing. We love these no-thought postpartum pads by Black-owned business, The Honey Pot. Forget having to make your own padsicles, these pads come pre-soaked in postpartum healing herbs. Tell your loved one to toss these in the freezer for postpartum and enjoy the soothing comfort when their baby arrives.
New Baby Book Gift Box Set from Little Pickle Memories - As a new parent, if you’re responsible for gathering the goods to document your baby’s milestones in a book, the likelihood it will happen is low. Is this kid number two or three? Just forget about it. Be a good friend and treat the expecting parent in your life to this baby book gift box. This sweet set has everything they’ll need to make jotting down their kiddo’s first year super simple. What makes this book even better? It works for all families, including single or queer parents.
6-week Postpartum Package from After the Baby Bump - Want to give the creme de la creme to an expecting parent? Looking for a group gift? This is it, folks. Nothing says “I love you” more than ensuring the expecting parent in your life has six weeks of amazing postpartum support. The stellar team at After the Baby Bump cooks, cleans, talks babies, boobs, and butts, and brings a ray of sunshine to every family they touch. Even better? They make sure there’s support for the next six weeks after their time with you wraps up. Absolute angels.
Want to give your expecting parent friends the gift of some support? Check out some of the Gather Birth offerings that may be just the thoughtful gift your friend was looking for:
Virtual Birth Doula Support
Great for:
Parents who’d like a birth professional in their pocket as they navigate pregnancy, labor, and postpartum.
Available virtually to anyone in the U.S.
Birth Planning Packages
Great for:
Parents who need help navigating their options and putting together a birth plan.
Your parent friend who took a childbirth education class, but is still pretty overwhelmed.
Second-time parents who have the basics covered, but want a quick refresh on comfort measures for labor.
Available virtually to anyone in the U.S.
Postpartum Planning Packages
Great for:
Parents who are worried about how to navigate support during postpartum.
Your parent friend who has thought of all their baby’s needs, but has forgotten their own.
Expecting parents with long to-do lists for after the baby arrives.
Available virtually to anyone in the U.S.