The New Mom Gift Basket Trend Is All About Food

The early newborn days pass by in a haze of joy and exhaustion. It seems like it exists in flashes of unwashed hair, dishes in the sink, takeout containers and dirty diapers… so many dirty diapers. People have celebrated new parents with casseroles, diaper cakes and baskets of newborn supplies. But in recent years, friends and family are starting to try and remove one less task from the new parents’ hands.

Here’s how that translates to the new mom gift basket trend:

The Changing Trend

The thinking has long been that new parents need gear and baby clothes. Because of course they do. Babies need cribs, bassinets, bottles, pacifiers, diapers, burp cloths and so much more. But what often happens is that parents get loaded down with more gear and clothes than they know what to do with. Indeed, some onesies and infant shoes never even get worn. Meanwhile, mom and dad are at home ordering takeout again or scrambling to put together a meal from the dregs in the fridge.

The new mom gift basket flips this convention on its head by supplying the sleep deprived mother with food and items she can use right now, while the baby is latched or finally down for a nap. So she doesn’t have to figure out a quick snack because it’s right there at her fingertips. She won’t have to hunt for a glass of water to stay hydrated because the tumbler that came in her care package stays by her side.

Why Are Food-Based Gifts Popular?

Many moms and dads don’t think about all the little bites they’ll need in between those first busy, tiring weeks. They don’t grab granola bars and fruit snacks. They’re focusing on the big issues like where the baby will sleep and how to keep the baby warm at night. It’s only in those quick moments when they find themselves thinking, “I’d kill for a snack right now.”

New parents rarely have the time or energy to shop and even less to stand at a stove and cook. A new parent care package addresses this reality by providing nutritious snacks and ready-to-eat meals that give parents a break. So the gift is comforting in a nurturing way and practical in a cross it off the to-do list way. It’s a great way to ensure your gift will get used rather than collect dust or get spit up on.

What to Look for in a Good Food Gift Basket

The most useful food baskets mix the quick and easy with the comforting. You can start with a couple of staple foods like chicken soup or a baked pasta and then add small bites around it like trail mix and yogurt covered raisins. That way, tired new parents get full bellies and they get high carb, high sugar foods for an energy boost in the middle of the day… or night. You might also consider adding electrolytes or coconut water to help mom stay hydrated.

It’s also important to remember that you’re feeding at least two people, one of whom is likely feeding another person. So keep mom, dad and any other family members who might be eating and snacking from the basket in mind. Check on allergies, dietary restrictions and preferences before adding anything to the care package. And, of course, pack and wrap your ready-to-send gift box for the growing family thoughtfully, so the food is easy to heat or grab on command.

A Collection for New Moms

Spoonful of Comfort’s pregnancy and new baby collection is an example of the new mom gift basket trend. You can choose from among several options in the collection, from soups and breads to cookies and even a stuffed animal. When you don’t have time to put together your own package, or distance doesn’t allow you to bring it over yourself, Spoonful of Comfort is designed to help you help your loved ones care for themselves.

The Who, What, When and Where of Gift Giving for New Moms

Whether you’re packing up a gift box yourself or you’re ordering online, there are a few etiquette notes to pay attention to when it comes to new parents. Many new parents feel overwhelmed in the first few weeks after the baby is born, so you may want to send your care package after those first casseroles have run out. It’s also a nice gesture to include personalized new baby congratulations messaging, offering loving words for the big changes in the household.

Solve a Problem for Moms

In the end, the best gifts are the ones that solve a problem instead of presenting a new one (like where to put all this stuff!). The goal is to help check things off a new parent’s large list of tasks. Food, snacks, cozy socks, a nice tumbler for ice water and some electrolytes can be genuinely useful for new parents, and you can show up as a real helper by sending these gifts.

And if new moms need anything, it’s more helpers.

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