--- description: These gift ideas from experts and moms are way better than a onesie. title: 4 Gifts New Moms Actually Want image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt8ee68c5c9528a5c6/69888045cf40a88d0ec4245c/new-moms-best-gift-ideas-preesnts.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Living](/tag/time-section-living/) ## Living Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # 4 Gifts New Moms Actually Want by [Melissa Locker](/author/melissa-locker/) ## Melissa Locker Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Mar 4, 2016 5:53 PM CUT  Present with pink ribbon. Present with pink ribbon.Getty Images by [Melissa Locker](/author/melissa-locker/) ## Melissa Locker Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Mar 4, 2016 5:53 PM CUT When your college roommate sends you a birth announcement—or posts the ultrasound photo on Facebook—it’s time to start thinking about [baby presents](https://time.com/shopping/article/best-baby-shower-gifts/ "undefined"). While some mothers set up gift registries, there are certain things that soon-to-be moms don’t even know that they need until every last diaper-changing pad, reusable glass bottle and diaper warmer has already been purchased. Plus, there are only so many adorable onesies, novelty booties and designer wipe warmers that a new mother (and her house) can handle. So we talked to various experts—all of whom are moms themselves—about what new mothers could _really_ use. **1\. A doula for a day**“The best present I got was a gift certificate for postpartum doula services after my second was born,” said Laurel Carrasco, advertising director at [NW Kids Magazine](http://www.nwkidsmagazine.com/ "undefined"). “It was really helpful for someone to come in as primary support to me as a new mother to both tend to me and help me build a rhythm for my family. She taught me tricks that helped me get my baby to sleep and manage caring for another child at the same time.” **_Read more:_** [_‘I Surveyed More Than 1,000 People to Find Out How Having a Working Mom Really Affects Kids’_](http://motto.time.com/4241071/working-mom-impact-kids/ "undefined") **2\. Free time**Offering your babysitting services will always be a welcome gift. “What I always tell my clients—and what I enjoy myself—is to ask for help and time,” said [Danika Severino Wynn](http://www.danikawynn.com/ "undefined"), a midwife and lactation consultant in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. “Time to shower, time to rest, time to throw back a beer without a baby in your arms—whatever it might be, just time to feel like yourself so that when a visitor leaves, you have had a chance to catch your breath. That way you can dive back into demanding ‘mommydom’ with a little bit of Zen.” **_Read more:_** [_The Career Advice I Wish I’d Followed When I Was Pregnant_](http://motto.time.com/4192644/work-advice-pregnant/?iid=sr-link5 "undefined") **3\. Something unglamorously practical**“The second-best baby gift of all time would be the [Nosefrida](http://fridababy.com/product/nosefrida/ "undefined") booger sucker gadget,” said Wynn. “It puts all other nasal aspirators to shame, and I bring it to every baby shower I attend. Silly but true!” **4\. A care package for mom**“I have a care package that I like to send people that has brownies and a trashy magazine,” says Hillary Frank, host of [“The Longest Shortest Time,”](http://longestshortesttime.com/ "undefined") a podcast that covers all things parenting. Also in her care package are juice boxes and graham crackers to consume with medication in the middle of the night. “People are always thinking of what to send the baby, like onesies and stuff, but I always try to send things that will make the mom feel taken care of,” says Frank. “I also like to send a children’s book that they can enjoy for a long time.” Note that no one mentioned adorable onesies, but if you find a _really_ cute one, feel free to send it anyway. ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4247749/new-mom-gifts/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4247749/new-mom-gifts/"},"headline":"4 Gifts New Moms Actually Want","datePublished":"2016-03-04T17:53:34.000Z","dateModified":"2026-04-13T08:57:38.894Z","description":"They’re so much better than a onesie","url":"https://time.com/4247749/new-mom-gifts/","keywords":["Living","Parenting"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt8ee68c5c9528a5c6/69888045cf40a88d0ec4245c/new-moms-best-gift-ideas-preesnts.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Melissa Locker","jobTitle":"","url":"https://time.com/author/melissa-locker/"}],"articleSection":"","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt8ee68c5c9528a5c6/69888045cf40a88d0ec4245c/new-moms-best-gift-ideas-preesnts.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"168081348","caption":"168081348","creditText":"Getty Images","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/tag/time-section-living/","name":"Living"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/4247749/new-mom-gifts/","name":"4 Gifts New Moms Actually Want"}}]},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"How to Stay Mentally Strong When You Think You're About to Crack","description":"","thumbnailUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/QLgnQEN9/poster.jpg?width=720","uploadDate":"2016-01-27T15:44:28.000Z","contentUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/QLgnQEN9.m3u8","embedUrl":"https://time.com/4247749/new-mom-gifts/","duration":"PT39S","potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","target":"https://time.com/4247749/new-mom-gifts/?jw_start={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"}}] ```