5 Gifts to Buy a Mama-to-Be

Wahoo! Your friend or family member is having a baby, time to show them a little love! My number one suggestion when gift giving to a mama-to-be is to check to see if she has a registry. Chances are she does if this is her first baby, and some even might have one for subsequent babies if a “sprinkle” is being thrown for them. Before buying anything, ask the mama or reach out to her family members to see if she has a registry going. (Sometimes a quick google of the couple’s names can find it as well!)

If they have one, I definitely recommend getting something from there. I know, I know, you might feel like you want to get them something creative or something they didn’t think of, and maybe you’re actually really good at that and the mama would appreciate it…and if that’s the case, go for it! But if you’re totally lost on what to get them, or you’re not sure if they already received something similar, have it already, want a different brand, or don’t want it at all, then stick to the registry! As a mom who’s picky about gear, clothes, and decor, I definitely appreciate when people buy from the registry because those are things that I researched and want for my baby. As a gift-giver, I’d rather get someone something they want than something I think they want that will just end up being be returned, exchanged (that prego mama does not want to be doing that!), or even worse, unused.

However, if you can’t access the registry, or there isn’t one, and you still want to show the mama-to-be some love, these are a few of my favorite items that are both beautiful and functional and can be completely gender neutral as well! Don’t forget gift receipts and remember that a gift is a gift, any mama-to-be will be thankful you thought of her to begin with! (You’re so nice!)

Summer 2016, 8 months pregnant with Wyatt!

Gathre Mat

(also available here on Land of Nod and The Tot) They’re leather mats that you can use for basically anything…at the park, under the highchair, as a drop cloth for messy baby projects or cooking with baby, for indoor picnics, at the beach….the list goes on. Instead of throwing down a blanket at the park for a playdate, we put a Gathre Mat down: its wipeable, waterproof on both sides, and looks awesome. I have three sizes, and use the mini (high chair size $40) and the Midi ($70 small family size) the most. I LOVE LOVE LOVE this product, every mom needs one (or many) and you really can’t go wrong with any of the colors! Side note: the packaging is phenom, I almost kept the box. 

Solly Baby Wrap

(also available here at The Tot) There are a ton of wraps on the market, this is a pretty popular upscale one and it comes in awesome prints and the fabric is super duper soft. I have the grey and white stripe, which is gender neutral if they don’t know the gender or are planning on having multiple kids. I am a huge fan of baby wearing, Wyatt lived in this thing for basically the first 8 weeks of his life, every mom needs a wrap like this, baby wearing is the key to getting anything done in those early months! ($65) 

Freshly Picked Moccasins

(Also available here on Nordstrom and Amazon) These are so cute on newborns, infants & toddlers. Wyatt wore them as part of his coming home outfit from the hospital, and still wears toddler sizes today. The soft sole is comfortable for little babes, and these shoes actual stay on. Some people don’t believe in shoes for babies until they can walk, or are more mobile, but if this is a stylish mama I know she’ll want her babe to be accessorized from birth! I wouldn’t bother with the “newborn size 0” some babies will never have feet that small, and if they do it’ll be for a short time. I recommend getting a size 1 in a neutral color, (unless you know the gender- but even still a neutral is nice) something like the “pebble” or “birch.” (The original line is $49) 

Plum Pretty Sugar Robe

(Also available here) As a new mom, I spent a lot of time in loungewear after Wyatt was born. Pre-pregnancy clothes still didn’t quite fit right, some days we didn’t leave the house (still happens), and sometimes the same PJs would be left on for days (for reals). More often than not, in those early weeks, you could find me in a nursing tank and PJ shorts or pants, and a robe. I have always loved robes, but they took on a whole new meaning for me when I was postpartum. They were easy to throw over a nursing tank (while still having the flexibility to nurse in) and the gorgeous Plum Pretty Sugar prints made me feel a little prettier than I really did. I also wore this one in the hospital after Wyatt was born. (~$45-$65) 

Add Ons

Manhattan Toy and Hape (both super available on Amazon, but also at other stores like Land of Nod and Pottery Barn Kids) make wooden toys that are good for baby’s development and aren’t ugly to look at. Some nice options: Skwish, Bead Rattle, Shape Sorter. ($12+)