Gifts for New Mums

This month we’re taking a look at gifts for new mums you can buy – including pillows, baby balm, and fair trade gifts – but I have some ideas too for things money can’t buy…

This month we’re taking a look at gifts for new mums you can buy – including pillows, baby balm, and fair trade gifts – but I have some ideas too for things money can’t buy…

So, firstly, what are some free and practical ways you can help a new mother?

The massive one is meals. Gifts of food are not called "love you can eat" for no reason, and meals are always welcome. Better yet – organise a meal train so she has a meal for every day for two weeks cooked by a team of friends, family and suporters.

Secondly, cleaning. It doesn’t sound glamorous, but showing up and vacuuming the floors and cleaning the bathrooms will make the world of difference to a new mother.

Thirdly, babysitting. This usually is a few weeks down the track for first babies, but looking after an older child while mother bonds with new baby, or has a date night with her partner, or sleeps, is so helpful.

Fourthly, offer to do the supermarket shopping for her, and run any errands out of the house such as picking up drycleaning.

Fifthly, encourage her to go for walks with you, or with her baby while you stay at the house with older children or do the laundry for her. Walking is immensely helpful for new mothers mentally and physically and great for babies (who are over a couple of months old and wrapped up warmly) to get into the outside world.

Here are some new releases that have come across my path that would make perfect baby shower presents or gifts for new moms and babies…

BORN Organic baby balm is just one of a range of baby products including wash, massage oil, stretch-ease oil and baby balm with zinc, from this 100% organic New Zealand company. Endorsed by New Zealand’s baby whisperer Sharlene Poole, they are available for $33 at www.bornorganic.co.nz

Kio Kio is a NZ made range which utilises native ingredients, such as this Neroli and Horopito hand and body lotion. With bio-actives and rich in Vitamins C, A and E, it replenishes skin’s essential fatty acids and has almond and jojoba oils along with Mamuku – a New Zealand-sourced natural hyaluronic acid. The 300ml lotion retails for $29.90 from selected gift stores and pharmacies and at www.kiokio.com

Washing your hands well is so important for new mums, but you don’t want your skin to get dried out, so lovely soaps make ideal gifts. The new MOR Correspondence Collection is perfect for those women who appreciate old-fashioned and vintage charm. We love the beeswax seal on it. MOR Correspondence soap bars are available for $19.95 from department stores, Redcurrent, and selected gift stores. See www.morcosmetics.com for details.

Pebble hats are handmade hats from pebblechild.com, a company that supports fair trade babywear made by communities in Bangladesh with rural employment income. They are contemporary and stylish and cool to wear and help women out of poverty while making baby look adorable. Win-win. Prices start at $12.95. For more info and where to buy in New Zealand, see www.pebblechild.co.nz

This is a GREAT product! So many pregnant women feel pain and discomfort when lying down, and Mumanu pillows aim to alleviate this with a self-inflating pillow that ensures the hip, knee, and foot are in alignment to aid lower back and hip pain. It has been developed here in New Zealand by pregnancy massage expert Samantha Thurlby-Brooks and is the only pillow endorsed by the Osteopathic Society of New Zealand. It can also be used during labour, and after baby arrives for breastfeeding. Mumanu retails for $90. See www.mumanu.com for stockists.

The Aromaroom has a range of hand-blended in New Zealand body oils that are 100% pure and natural, such as this warming, relaxing and comforting Intimacy Oil. Apply daily to your cleansed body for mums (don’t use essential oils while pregnant or on babies and children.) It contains certified organic jojoba, sweet almond oil, grapeseed oil, wheatgerm oil, rose absolute, bergamot, rosewoodm and sandalwood and smells divine. Available for $39 for a large 100ml glass pump bottle from www.thearomaroom.co.nz

Mum’s Secret cream isn’t actually JUST for mums; it’s a one-stop moisturising cream for all the family, and suitable for senstive skin. It contains fifteen organic and natural ingredients and is free from parabens, petrochemicals, fragrance, and lanolin. Active ingredients are colloidal silver, glycerine, calendula, and Vitamins C and E. Mum’s Secret Soothe & Repair Moisturising Cream can be used for dry skin, nappy change, barrier cream, cradle cap, insect bites, after-sun care, chafing, hand care, pregnancy dry skin and scars. It comes in a large 125ml tube for $29.90 and a small 50ml tube for $14.90. For stockists and more info see www.mumssecret.co.nz

Johnson’s Baby Miniatures Pack $4.99 is a handy travel size of mini size Johnson’s Baby Shampoo, Pink Baby Lotion, Baby Bath and Baby Powder, and the Baby Starter Pack for $24.99 is a large size pack for newborns with Baby Top-to-Toe bath, Baby Shampoo, Pink Baby Lotion, Baby Powder Pure Cornstarch with Aloe and Vitamin E and Ultra sensitive Fragrance Free Skincare Wipes. Available at supermarkets.

I love this brand and use it on my own children every bathtime. The detangling spray has now been joined by a bubble bath with the mouthful of a title Bubble Blast Bubbles That Last. It retails for $17.95 and a little goes a long way. See www.made4baby.co.nz for more info.

Words and photos, Megan Robinson
3 March 2013