Top Ten Gift Ideas for New Mothers

One of the biggest changes in life for a woman is becoming a mother. After nine months of pregnancy and an exhausting delivery, the new mother could always use some pampering. Whether it's Christmas, Her Birthday or just a "Congratulations" gift, here are some gift ideas for new mothers.

1) Gift Certificate to her favorite "Women's Clothing Store"
After nine months of gaining baby weight, it's obvious that the weight will not disappear immediately after giving birth for most women. A gift certificate to her favorite clothing store will give her a chance to buy a new outfit or two and avoid the sweat pants or maternity clothes. It gives her a chance to feel good in a nice, new comfortable outfit and not worry about the extra pounds or tight clothes. Another tip in choosing a clothing store gift certificate is to choose one that only sells women's clothing versus a variety, such as Target or Wal-Mart. The reason for this is its natural for new mothers to buy new things for their baby versus themselves. Therefore, limiting her choice takes away that option and forces her to get out of the sweat pants and enjoy a new outfit and focus on herself for a moment.

2) Gift Certificates to Local Restaurants or Pizzerias
You wouldn't really think of taking a newborn baby to restaurants but when we received gift certificates to local restaurants and pizzerias, we found them to be very helpful. The new concept that many restaurant chains have adapted is the "carside to go" idea. The way that it works is after you call and place your order, you then drive to a designated parking spot and they bring it right out to your car. This is extremely helpful when you have a sleeping baby in the back seat after a long day out. It's also easy and convenient to send somebody to pick it up for you without getting out of the car. Many restaurant chains offer this service, such as Applebee's, Chili's, Outback Steakhouse, Carraba's and Romano's Macaroni Grille.

3) A Gift Certificate to a Spa or Salon
After giving birth, a new mother is balancing many new responsibilities and dealing with "out of whack" hormones so a day at the spa or salon would be an excellent gift of relaxation. New mothers put very little time aside for themselves so this would give them a reason to pamper themselves with a massage or get their hair done. After carrying an average of 25 pounds or more, a massage is one of the best gifts a new mother could use. A day at the salon could work wonders for the so called "baby blues", related to the crazy hormones because when you look good, you feel good!

4) Books or Magazine subscriptions
Books and baby or parenting magazine subscriptions are other gift ideas and are also inexpensive. Nothing is more relieving to read that other mothers are sharing your same experiences or concerns. A few good book suggestions for new mothers are "Hugs for New Moms" by Stephanie Howard and "Baby Laughs: The Naked Truth About the First Year of Mommy hood" by Jenny McCarthy. Magazine subscriptions to "Parenting" and "American Baby" are also great sources for new mothers.

5) Digital Camera, Photo Printer or Picture Frames
New parents love to take pictures and create memories of their babies so an ideal gift is a new digital camera. Digital camera's range in price and can become a more expensive gift but will be worth every penny for the new mother. Many new parents are already prepared with their digital cameras but are not equipped with a quality photo printer so this is another alternative gift idea. If the camera or printer is out of your budget, another inexpensive gift is picture frames. A nice picture frame is also great for new fathers, especially those with desk jobs.

6) Netflix / Blockbuster Gift Certificate
Most new mothers and fathers spend most of the first few weeks of their newborns life inside so a gift certificate to the online DVD rental store Netflix is a great idea. DVD rentals are shipped directly to their home and late fees do not exist. This is very convenient because you only have to go as far as your computer and mailbox. Monthly subscriptions to Netfix start at $5.99 per month and up. They also offer a free two week subscription to try out. If she does not have internet access, a gift certificate to the local Blockbuster or video store is also a good alternate.

7) A large fashionable purse
A nice large purse is a great alternative to the typical diaper bag for short trips to the store. Diaper bags are a must in most outings but on the quick trip to the local store, it's easier to throw a few diapers and wipes and even a bottle in your purse, rather then lugging the big diaper bag with you.

8) I- Robot Roomba Vacuum Cleaner or Cleaning Service Gift Certificate
Finding time to clean can become an even bigger chore when you are caring for a newborn. One of the best gift purchases that I can recommend is the I-Robot Roomba. It is a small compact vacuum, approximately the size of a large pizza. It vacuums a room by itself and returns to its base charger when finished. The Roomba's range in price from $150-$350. Another great gift would be a gift certificate to a cleaning service or if you have the energy, volunteering to clean is a gift that will help a new mother immensely.

9) Photography Studio Gift Certificate
Even though new Mom's and Dad's take hundreds of pictures, they will still spend the money to have them professionally done at a studio. A gift certificate to a local photography studio such as JC Penny's, Sear's or Picture People are a great asset to off set the many sittings and holiday pictures that new parents incur.

10) Scrapbook Items or Picture Box
After all the pictures taken of their son or daughter, many mothers go to work on a baby book or scrapbook. A nice picture box to store the many pictures and memorabilia is a great and inexpensive gift. Another idea is scrapbook paper, cut outs and other scrap booking products that you can purchase at any craft store.