What to Bring to Your Friend Who Just Had a Baby (and What She Won’t Want)

I wish I had given a “what to bring me” manual to my visitors who came over after I had my baby. I had a list of things I wanted and things I wish someone would’ve brought me, and I also had a list in my head of things they definitely should avoid.

In this list, find my simple and best ideas of what to bring over to your friend who just gave birth. The ideas in this list will undoubtedly make her happy, and appreciative, for you and your visit.

Oh and remember, don’t stay too long unless you plan to help her clean and do laundry! Let’s get started.

Stuff she’ll want to eat or drink

Moms who just gave birth are HUNGRY. I remember standing at my kitchen counter eating Oreos, thinking how never in my prior pre-baby life would I have let that fly. After you give birth, there are no rules, so here is a list of things to bring your friend who just had a baby.

Chocolate

Who doesn’t want chocolate? I personally love chocolate, and could’ve eaten mountains of it after I gave birth.

If you want to really please a mama who just had a baby, bring over a few types of chocolate, from chocolate bars, to chocolate bites and flavored chocolate or themed chocolate. Think of special alternatives to a run-of-the-mill Hershey’s bar (unless she loves those).

If all else fails, think of an assorted chocolate gift box (like Godiva) to order to her house, or buy on Amazon for a quick delivery so that you can bring it over.

Also, my tip: keep in mind if she has an allergies (I’m allergic to dairy and soy). I’m a little hard to shop for when it comes to chocolate, but it CAN be done, and when I get a chocolate I can have, I go pretty nuts for it.

Nursing snacks

Is she breastfeeding? She’ll want nursing snacks! Nursing snacks were a huge part of my nursing experience until at least a few months postpartum. If she’s recently given birth and nursing around the clock, she will want carbs, snacky things, munchy things and crunchy things.

I had a bag of mini pretzels on my nursing cart basically at all times. What does she like? (And does she have any allergies?) Bring her an assortment of savory, sweet, delicious and can’t-say-no-to-this snack choices so that she can think of you while she’s in her rocking chair with the baby.

Another cool idea is an “international snack box” to keep things interesting, with snacks from all over the world. Just an idea to make it seem special! And my last idea is granola bars, fun snack bars (ones that have sprinkles?), protein bars or just high-calorie delicious things she can stuff in her mouth with one hand while she’s holding the baby.

A latte or coffee

My friend Alex offered to bring me a hot (decaf, as per my own request) latte from a local coffeeshop when I was about 10 days postpartum and I loved her for it.

Feel free to ask your friend what she’d love from the cafe, when you’re on your way. Then maybe pick up a treat or two from the coffee shop, like a cake pop, bag of ground coffee for home or a nice mug.

If you can’t pick up some coffee (or if she drinks tea!), also consider preordering a tea and mug gift set to bring over. Having a new flavor of tea is always nice! Try this cute chai tea and mug gift box that also comes with fluffy socks.

Non-alcoholic wine

Ohhhh my gosh. My first sip of nonalcoholic wine as a breastfeeding mom was delightful. I scored a bottle of Surely zero-proof wine from a local neighborhood group and drank it a few nights when I was awake enough to appreciate it, in my postpartum days. I didn’t want to be drunk—far from it, and I was breastfeeding, so I just wanted the taste of wine, with none of the alcohol. It hit the spot—I’m telling you.

So if you want a cool way to say congrats to your friend who just had a baby, bring wine without the booze: she might like that a lot, and you can have happy hour together while the baby is sleeping on her lap.

Sushi

I mean, duh. Pick her up some sushi from a local place (if she likes sushi). If someone had brought me sushi as a surprise after I had just given birth, I would’ve picked them up and hugged them. (Instead, we ordered sushi on GrubHub and DoorDash quite a few times)

Surprise her with pregnancy’s #1 “no-no” that she can indulge in after birth. She’ll thank you later, and now!

Home-cooked baked goods (or from a bakery)

The same friend of mine who brought me the latte also brought me an entire loaf of banana bread from a local bakery known for their amazing banana bread. Do you know how much this meant to me? It hit the SPOT.

I savored the banana bread little by little and would eat it when I was up with the baby at 1am and 3am and 5am. It was my special banana bread.

A stash of fun drinks

Moms who just gave birth, and especially nursing moms, are ALWAYS thirsty. I had dry mouth with nursing for ages. IF someone had brought me a case of coconut water or my favorite flavor of seltzer, I would’ve loved that from my visitors, when my baby arrived.

An entire meal (with courses!)

I was talking about this topic with my friend Daniela and she mentioned that the best things she received when visitors came to see her new baby were full meals. Not just “sides” (like small pre-made salads or sides from a pre-made section at a store), but the whole thing: a protein, a carb/grain and a side. Think of a full meal from a fast casual restaurant: everything included.

The reason behind why full meals are so great to bring to a friend who just had a baby is because chances are, she has no time to cook, and her partner may be tied up with making bottles, cleaning while she naps, or getting the baby to stop crying. We can’t bring our friends more time, but we can save them time by bringing over a great lunch or dinner!

A few ideas are picking up a full meal from a fast casual joint, or a meal of tacos and chips with a salsa or guac, or something like Chinese takeout, or Thai. Ask your friend who just gave birth what she really loves!

Stuff for her room or home

I didn’t know just how much time I’d be spending in my own home once my baby arrived. Given that, it’s important that your friend’s home is a relaxing place where she enjoys spending time with that newborn!

Flowers

It may sound sappy or too traditional, but I would say mostly everyone likes flowers. Flowers can turn a drab room into a room with life, and they can make people happy when they see them.

For your friend who just had a baby, flowers can be a pick-me-up if she’s feeling exhausted, tired, sore or downright in shock, like I was when I had a baby.

If you can’t stop by a florist, arrange for a flower delivery to arrive the same day as your visit, or simply send an UrbanStems flower delivery to her door if you live too far to stop by.

A plant for her kitchen or the baby’s nursery

Just like how a baby brings new life to a family, a little plant will grow with time and can become part of a home.

Bringing a little sapling to your friend who just gave birth, and saying, “It can grow with the baby,” is ever-so-sweet, and who could turn down a new little green thing?

I’ve had luck with The Sill plant delivery in the past and I recommend it. You can also try Bloomscape, for sending a gift if you can’t make it over.

Stuff that’s just for her

Even if you’re friends with the dad of the baby more than the mom (sorry guys!), it’s the mom who did the heavy lifting during labor, delivery and birth. And the dad knows that!

The ideas of these things you can bring to someone who just had a baby are for mom herself.

A heating pad

A friend’s wife brought me over a surprise goody bag when I gave birth and a heating pad was inside. Why did I need this?

I soon learned about heating pads as a form of postpartum recovery: they can help with soothing skin near the abdomen, or for breastfeeding or for other pains. I kept it around and always thought of her!

Eye mask

If she just gave birth, she will probably be taking naps, or maybe using my guide for how to get sleep when you have a newborn.

You can bring her a super simple eye mask, like the Quince sleep mask I swear by, and that I will undoubtedly be wearing when I try to catch some snoozes with baby #2!

Aromatherapy or essential oil set

With a tiny newborn crying for a lot of the day, your mama friend needs a way to relax. Beat her to the punch and bring over a set of essential oils that she can use in a diffuser, or just dab on her wrists or neck before taking a nap.

These are a super affordable and quick thing to pick up if you’re on your way over to her house for your first visit to see the new baby and they can add a little luxury back to her life when she’s exhausted, sore and stuck inside.

More ideas

If none of these ideas tickled your fancy, check out my guide of the best gifts for new moms, where both I and my friends have chimed in on the most memorable and useful gifts we got after having our babes.

Stuff not to bring

There are some things I definintely would not have wanted, as a mom who had just given birth.

Clothes

After I gave birth, I simply did not want to know what size I was. I did not want to be near a scale, I did not want to be near my pre-pregnancy clothes, I did not even want to be near maternity clothes. I wanted to wear old pajama shirts and sweats.

I would stay far away from bringing any type of clothes for your friend who just gave birth. Both you and she have no idea what size she’s currently wearing, and she likely does not want to be forced to think about it.

Bath soaks or too much self care

After I had my baby, I had no time to myself for at least three months. Figuring out how to make time for yourself with a newborn is borderline impossible, so I did not want anyone to force me into thinking about how I had no time to pamper myself.

Bringing your friend something like a manicure set or face masks sounds nice, but chances are, she barely has time to shower.

Too much “Breastfeeding stuff”

Some women who give birth find out in the early days that they can’t breastfeed. This could be either because they don’t have the supply, and they have to switch to formula fast, or because maybe they have a condition like D-MER, which causes anxiety for moms who breastfeed.

Gifting her too much breastfeeding-related supplies and equipment might not be the best thing, especially if she plans to give up nursing in the next few days. There are probably better gifts to give and things to bring over to her house.

Baby blankets

OK, I have to break it to everyone on the Internet: no one who gave birth needs more baby blankets.

By this point, your friend who gave birth probably got them as hand-me-downs, gifts, registry items and things that her mom’s friends sent in the mail. Stay far away from bringing any baby blankets! There are far more useful things to bring over when you visit that very first time.

Specific postpartum recovery products

I think I would’ve been a little skeeved if any of my friends brought over something more “personal” than the nipple cream I put on my registry as a breastfeeding essential.

Also, what if she had a C-section? What if she’s having a really tough time and doesn’t want to be reminded that she had a C-section or a really tough labor and an excruciating birth? I would leave it to her to pick her own postpartum recovery products.