the 2016 holiday gift guide for new(ish) moms.

We're still behind on a lot of blog posts (a weekend trip to Adelaide... a 10k and 5k... life in general). but instead of focusing on those interesting subjects, I'm going to jump ahead to something a little more frivolous (but timely):

A holiday gift guide. For new moms!

The Holidays (Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, Winter Solstice, Yule, The Gregorian New Year, The Lunar New Year, Arbor Day, Independence Day, etc.) are coming up quickly. Also, a bunch of my friends just became moms for the first time. Seriously, I had maybe five friends who were pregnant at the same time and they all delivered their babies within the past two weeks. It got me thinking about early motherhood, and the things I couldn't live without for the past year, things I wish I had known about sooner. So. Here are some practical and thoughtful gift ideas for your new-mom friends and family members and foes.

(And I'm not talking about "coupons for babysitting" or anything like that. I mean, those are essential and you should definitely give them generously. But this list is all about actual physical things that moms can eventually KonMari out of their lives after the frazzled-early-mom-tornado-stages have passed.)

1. Soft (non-zip) sweaters.

Babies feed 24/7. So if you're breastfeeding, you need an easy access wardrobe for the duration of your breastfeeding journey. But even if you're not breastfeeding, soft clothing is surprisingly important. Babies like to nuzzle and snuggle on your chest, but you know what they don't like rubbing their delicate newborn faces against? Zippers. Buttons. Pockets with zippers and buttons. Frills of any sort (now is NOT the time to wear your favourite bedazzled denim blazer). So, take advantage of the "open cardigan" trend, or the ugly sweater fad. Get something comfortable and cute, but not too luxurious or expensive. Because let's be real - for at least the next year, whatever you're wearing is basically a giant burp cloth for your baby. (Hint: floral patterns are terrific at hiding baby barf!)

2. Infinity scarves.

I have an affinity for infinity scarves and it's grown tenfold since having a baby. First of all, they make great casual and easy nursing covers (yes, there are more fancy made-for-nursing shawls/covers out there, but I got by without needing them). A scarf also keeps you warm, especially when it's winter and you're constantly breastfeeding or puttering about in the middle of the night sterilising bottles and whatnot. Scarves hide double chins and those tiny scratch marks on your chest. And they are incredibly versatile as emergency stroller blankets, burp cloths, or even as a giant tissue to wipe away those hormonal tears. I swear by infinity scarves from sportswear companies like Nike and Oiselle.

nursing cover...

...and a blanket. look how tiny Arden was!

3. Slip-on shoes.

When I was pregnant, I eventually got to the point where I couldn't bend over to put on my sneakers, and I was tired of asking strangers to help me lace them up (just kidding). So I waddled on over to a nearby Vans outlet and picked up a pair of hideous leopard print slip-on shoes, because they were the cheapest ones I could find. Postpartum, I was finally able to bend down to tie my favourite shoes - but it just took so much precious time! So the leopard print shoes were my go-to kicks, well past their lifespan. During our July trip to the States, I upgraded to a pair of classic black Vans, and I haven't looked back since.

so. fashionable.

4. Water bottles.

Hydration is important not only for breastfeeding moms, but also for bottle-feeding moms. And also humans, and animals, and plants in general. You can't go wrong with water. For breastfeeding moms I recommend those plastic tumblers with a lid and reusable straw, for those nursing marathon sessions where it's hard to drink from a glass and easy to spill. For everyone else, I highly recommend Vapur bottles for travel - I've sworn by these flexible canisters for years. I hate carrying around a heavy empty water bottle, but this one is light, sturdy (no leaking! just be careful) and it folds up small when you're done. I take one everywhere I go.

I know, it looks like an over-glorified ziploc. but it's sturdy, I promise.

5. Lip balm.

Sometimes, lip balm is the only makeup a new mom has time to apply. I recommend more "natural" products and companies, because new moms are always paranoid about toxic stuff like petrochemicals and parabens and gluten. Burt's Bees wild cherry flavour is one of my current faves. And for more fancy-new-moms, makeup companies like Tarte are cruelty/paraben/toxin-free and taste minty, too.

Bonus Idea: A haircut. Or a haircut package to a nearby salon, if you're not particularly gifted with shears.

I can only speak for myself here, but I was all too eager to say goodbye to my long and luscious hair after a few weeks of experiencing the reality of new motherhood. I was always putting my hair up in a messy knot, so there wasn't a point to having longer-than-ponytail-length hair. Also, it took forever to dry after my weekly shower, and time is everything. Even if your recipient is brave/put-together enough to keep her long locks, I'm sure any mom would love some kind of hair treatment. After motherhood, haircuts go from being a semi-enjoyable chore to a blissful vacation.



So, there you have it. Just a few practical ideas for the new moms in your life. Maybe I'll put together a holiday gift guide for babies sometime in the near future. But no promises. Like I said, we have a lot of catching up to do.

CK

p.s. You can trust me. All opinions are my own. Nobody paid me for any of this. Nobody pays me for anything.