Things to give a new mom:

1. food, and that means anything that she may be able to prepare with one hand. Maybe nuts, larabar type bars, (or protein bars for the non-paleos); deviled eggs; a big bowl of cut up veggies. If the mom has toddlers, it's a welcome addition to have things available for them, too.

2. food, again; mom's are always hungry, and dinner prep time is rare. Frozen, easy to re-heat meals would be great.

3. We have in our area, grocery delivery--maybe a certificate for that would be nice.

4. Cloth Diapers, with really cute and awesome diaper covers.

5. Your phone number; the number of the local Breastfeeding USA counselor, or the number of the Local La Leche League leader; a breastfeeding book such as Breastfeeding Made Simple, or The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding.

6. Offer to sit with baby long enough for her to close her eyes for a few minutes....

7. More pricey options would include a baby carrier that allows for baby-wearing; ergo's are easily adjusted for age of the baby from newborn to toddlers, and are made to adjust the weight of the baby so there's less stress on the back.

Some sort of natural teething ring? We got one from a friend that was a wood ring with a little fabric doll on it that was perfect, and we were never able to find anything like it ourselves.

A few red or amber colored lightbulbs in a nightlights is a good present too. There is a lot of getting up in the night, and the red spectrum lights don't disrupt circadian rhythms as much, so it is easier to get back to sleep. You'll be a hero.

I'm a pediatric nurse and I always purchase a Nose Frida for friends when they have a new baby! As infants cannot clear their own mucus, the Nose Frida is a "snot sucker" that will prevent the common cold from becoming an ear infection or pneumonia. We recommend these to parents in the hospital all the time. Everyone I've bought this for thanks me over and over (they work much better than the standard "bulb syringe" booger device) and most people ask where I bought it so they can buy em for friends and family.

At roughly $15-$20 and invented by a Swedish mom/doctor, I wholeheartedly recommend the Nose Frida! Replacement filters are about $3/pack. These are available at Whole Foods or online.

http://www.fridababy.com/shop/nosefrida/

Best wishes!

/h have heard great things from parents who use the baltic amber teething necklace. The baby wears it around their neck 24-7 and it keeps them from pain when they are teething. I have no experience with using it, but like I said all the parents I know swear by them.

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My friend just had a baby.. We threw her a shower at work and my contribution was some organic rooibos teas: a gift for mom rather than baby. Rooibos because it's naturally caffeine free. Be careful of additives and look for fruit/herbs for flavor, and make sure it's labelled so she can check any ingredients she's leery of.

You could also make a big batch of bone broth based soup or a healthy stew and give it to her frozen. New moms do not have a lot of time for cooking, after all!

Two words: Lullaby CDs.