ACCOUNT
A new baby is coming, and the gifts are pouring in! But presents don’t have to be just for the baby.
Show your family member or friend that you are there to support them with these low-waste gift ideas.
- Meal Delivery Services
Credit: Betakit
Fresh Prep and Goodfood are great for parents that love to cook. Meal ingredients are delivered complete with easy-to-follow gourmet recipes. Generally, it takes 30-minutes or less to cook a meal for two people. 2 Guys With Knives is ideal for first-time parents or those that don’t feel like cooking. These chef-prepared meals are pre-cooked and can be customized for any diet - vegetarian, vegan, paleo, ketogenic, nut-free.
- Cleaning Service
At 9-months pregnant, it takes a three-point turn to just turn around in bed, never mind cleaning the toilet! A high-end eco-friendly cleaning service is a great gift for before and after baby’s arrival. This will allow the new parents to put their feet up and focus on soaking up every moment with their new bundle of joy. Try eco-friendly Vancouver cleaning services Aspen Clean or Kirei Cleaning.
- Be-Good-To-Yourself Coupon Book
Welcoming a baby can bring joy, but it can also create anxiety for new parents. Show the new parent that they are not alone with a coupon book that gently reminds them to practice self-love. This can be a fun DIY project and reminds your loved one how much you care. Some ideas to get you started are:
- Haircut
- Get your eyebrows done
- Go to the gym
- Go for a run
- Mani/Pedi
- Have coffee with friends
- Go on a date with your partner
- Take a long shower
- Guilt-free Netflix binge
- Order in takeout
- Call a friend
- Treat yourself to flowers
- Yoga class or stretch session
- Pamper Gift Basket
Credit: Nicole Banuelos
Put together a gift basket to help them through those 3am feeding sessions! Some things to put in the basket are:
- Snacks
- If the Mom is breastfeeding, oatmeal cookies or Lactation Cookie Bites are great for breast milk production (make sure the snacks can be eaten one-handed). Mother’s milk tea is also great for something to sip on.
- Water bottle
- Look for an insulated water bottle that will keep the water chilled. Cold water is great for helping to stay awake during late nights.
- Dry shampoo
- For those days baby won’t let them shower.
- A beautiful journal
- For keeping notes about baby’s last feed or diaper change; also great for writing haikus about parenthood.
- Parenting books
- A book I have loved myself is ‘Breathe Mama Breathe: 5-minute mindfulness for busy Moms’. Here is a list of popular suggestions.
- Tins of teas and coffees - don’t forget the caffeine!
- Postpartum Doula Visits
Hire a doula to come for 1 or more postpartum visits. A doula is an expert in all things baby, but her primary role is to parent the parents. A doula will provide breastfeeding support, can do light housekeeping, and allows parents to sleep by caring for the baby and other children. Try Doulas of Vancouver, Perla Doula Co. and Community Maternity.
Whatever gift you decide to give, remember that sometimes the best thing you can give is your time and an ear to listen to all of the ups and downs that parenting brings. You might just get some baby snuggles in return.
