Our friends are having a baby in May and it has been such a special time for our friend group as we walk with them in this new chapter.  They are the first couple in the group to have a baby, so we are all very invested and learning so much from their experiences!  Of course, shelter-in-place has meant they have had to alter a lot of their plans for maternity leave, delivery and bringing baby home!  As you think of what to get your expectant friends or the newest moms and dads in your life who are adjusting to the new normal, I have compiled a list of what parents really want during quarantine.  Since the couple was not able to have their baby shower where they would typically receive the majority of items from the baby registry, I recommend checking their registry for any items to ensure you are getting their preferred brand or any items that were not purchased and will be important for the first few months at home, so they do not need to worry about it!

Keep them fed and caffeinated

• Coffee Subscription like Trade

• DoorDash, UberEats or Postmates Gift Card

• Cold brew concentrate to bring the barista into their homes

• Total Wine gift cards because they do delivery too!

• Be their personal Instacart - Instruct them to text you their grocery list, so you can go shopping for them.  They can venmo you for whatever you spend and not have to worry about leaving the house or paying any additional fees or waiting too long for their groceries. 

• Meal Train - This is a great way to show your love for the new parents!  While we want to ensure they are fed, we also do not want to overwhelm them with food and leave them with no room in the fridge.  Alongside an entree, maybe think of delivering them some bread or items that do not need to be refrigerated.  My brother recently made some meals for his daughter’s friend and included some encouraging words with the meals for when the parents opened up the food.  Depending on their living situation, you might have to get a little creative with drop off/storage. I write that because our friends who are expecting live on the 5th floor of an apartment building in San Francisco, so logistics will look slightly different for them. 

Help Them Document

• Baby’s First Year Album can help you keep track of all the fun photos and milestones for their first year!

• Mom’s Five Minute Memory Journal for mom (and dad!) to jot down all sorts of quick memories being made

• iPhone/iPad Tripod Stand - In order to get a non-selfie family photo of three, this phone tripod would allow for some impromptu photo shoots at home. They are likely going to be on a lot of video calls as everyone gets their chance to virtually meet their newest family member!  Our friends gave us this iPad tripod stand that they used for their wedding photo booth and it has been such a game changer during quarantine and how we do all of our video chats. 

Turn Their Home Into a Sanctuary

• LOW maintenance (or even a faux) plant from The Sill

• Keep them cozy with super comfortable socks and a heated blanket heated blanket

• I am such a sucker for candles, but with a new baby, new parents do not need anything else to think about. This floral bouquet diffuser will allow them to enjoy a beautiful fragrance without worrying if they blew out the candle or not. 

Bring the Spa Home

• Foot massager 

• Bath robe - UGG has the most comfortable bath robes

• Under Eye Masks are easy to throw on doing anything at home while feeling a little more refreshed 

• Enable them to have a little escape and enjoy bath time with postpartum bath salts, all-natural bath fizz, and bubble bath

Just For Dad

• New Dad Socks on Etsy

• New cigars so he can look forward to a celebratory smoke with everyone when they are able to be together

• Help him embrace his new title with this #dadlife mug

• Get ready for… dad jokes! Help keep them in line with this Dad Joke button

• Jimmy Fallon’s book Your Baby’s First Name Will Be DADA is definitely a favorite for the new dads

Just For Mom

• Pipette Belly Oil or BurtsBees Mama Bee Belly Butter to keep her skin feeling nourished

• Adorable eye mask like this this one from Antho

• Postpartum Support Tea can provide her some comfort

• Lactation Cookies are a delicious treat to help with milk production

• Start Spoiling Her with Special Jewelry! I love the idea of initial necklace to celebrate her new favorite letter of the alphabet or there are a lot of name necklaces on Etsy

I hope these ideas help you as you think of what to get the newest parents in your life! They are experiencing a very unique time to bring a baby into the world, so make sure you take good care of them. Never underestimate the power of dropping off or ordering some essentials such as diapers, wipes or formula to their house.

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