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Whether it’s a first baby or a baby being brought home to siblings, families experience a lot of needs after a baby is born. Use one of these 30 ideas to bless a family when they bring a new baby home!
In just a few weeks Baby #3 will be joining our family. We are excited and so thankful, but I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that I am also feeling a little bit nervous!
Though an incredible gift from the Lord, babies can be exhausting and the transitions are numerous! For me personally, I feel anxious about the lack of sleep and exhaustion that marks the first few months of baby’s life. I am the type of person that doesn’t function too well on too little sleep!
Without even mentioning the many dynamics in play when a new baby is brought home, the lack of sleep coupled with the crazy hormonal changes in your body are enough to affect even the strongest woman leaving her feeling weak and vulnerable, especially when you’re on your 2nd, 3rd, or 4th time around!
As women, we really do desire to help other moms through this transition, but often times we aren’t really sure how to help.
On the flip side, as new moms, we might be afraid to actually say what we really need! I tend to be one of those people. I don’t ever want to put anyone out or be a burden, and I never want to offend anyone by saying what I really need.
That’s where this list comes in! If you are looking for ideas of how to help a new mom, here are over 30 to get you started. If you are a new mom and a
re shy about asking for help, share this list with friends and family! It’s an easy way to remind them that though we’d like to be, we really aren’t Super Woman, and we do need their help!
How to Help a New Mom
1. Meals are a wonderful blessing. Please send them! If you drop them off in the first week or two, though, consider leaving right away so that Mom doesn’t feel like she needs to entertain visitors. Remember: she’s exhausted!
2. Meals are wonderful in the first week, but what about bringing a meal in the following weeks when all of the excitement and attention has died down, but Mom and Dad are still exhausted? Try to think of things that the kids and parents will like. A friend on Facebook said:
“An older couple in our church came a couple months after the baby was born with a meal. PLUS: they brought several frozen meals for our family. They still do this for me every couple of months and my baby is 18 months old. SO NICE! It is really nice to pull out one of their meals out on a rough day! I am blessed!”
3. When bringing meals use disposable dishes! Not having to wash or return dishes will be a welcome relief!
4. Don’t like to cook? Order a subscription service like Blue Apron or Hello Fresh. Or grab some groceries to help keep the fridge stocked! Think staples like toilet paper, milk, bread, eggs, and fresh fruit and maybe some fun extras, too.
5. CLEAN — Show up in your scrubs to dust and vacuum or clean the bathroom. If you’re too far away or have little ones of your own, pay for a one-time (or more!) visit from a cleaning service. This is one of the biggest blessings a new mom can receive!
6. Pray for her and with her. As new moms, we so covet your prayers. When my first baby was born, a friend reminded me that it is okay to pray that the baby eats, sleeps, and poops well! Those are all important things! Pray, too, for each person in the family. Each one has their own unique set of adjustments to a new baby. Pray for God’s peace to rest in each heart and over the home. Need some ideas for prayer? Grab a copy of my new book or check out these other resources for praying for our kids!
7. If there are older siblings, pick up some great children’s books from the library. This will be a huge blessing for family snuggle time when Mom is too tired or sore to be up and moving around.
8. Bring a book or two for Mom, too, and throw in a little book light so she can read during late night feedings!
9. Cut fresh flowers from your garden. Our hormones are all over the place after a baby is born, and Mom has probably cried a lot. Bright, happy flowers on the table are a lift to the spirits!
Image Credit: visualpanic
10. Bring a stack of thank-you cards and help her write or address them.
11. If there are older kids in the house, Mom is probably feeling guilty about not having enough time to give them the attention they need. Hold the baby for an hour or two so she can have focused time with the older children. One friend mentioned (and I couldn’t agree more!):
“Sometimes its nice for someone to come over and watch the baby so mom can hang out with her other kids. They still need mommy too!!!”
12. Let Mom know you’re coming to fold her laundry. Tell her to pile it up on the couch and you’ll come fold it all while she naps. If she hasn’t done the laundry yet, come on over and throw in a load. Hold the baby or play with the older kids while the laundry cycles through. Then bless her even more by folding it and carrying it upstairs.
13. Watch the kids when Daddy is home! This will give him a few hours of “man time.” He’s going through lots of changes too and needs some time for rest, hobbies, and relaxing!
14. Create a playlist for her on Pandora or burn a disc of music that will encourage her and minister to her spirit.
15. Drop off an at-home date kit: a good, new movie, some candles, a bottle of sparkling grape juice, a plate of cheese, crackers, and meat and fresh fruit. Throw in some candy for the movie or a plate of home-made brownies! Need some date ideas? Check these out.
16. Ride along on errands so that Mom can leave the kids in the car and actually just “run in.”
17. Or, run errands for her — return the library books, drop off the movies, return the duplicate baby gifts, fill up the gas tank, stop at the post office. You name it, it probably needs to be done!
18. Wash the dishes and straighten up the kitchen. If you’re really ambitious, clean out the fridge!
19. Prepare individual, healthy snacks for the older kids. Easy grab and go snacks are great for the kids if Mom is too tired to fix something or is nursing.
20. Prepare nutritious snacks for Mom, especially if she’s nursing. Keeping up her calories is important, but oftentimes she’s too tired or busy to prepare something healthy.
21. Spend time with the older kids. Play their favorite game or take them outside to play!! Find some of our families favorite play ideas here.
22. Bring a special treat for the older kids, too!
“A friend dropped by with a new baby gift AND a big brother gift. Wonderful!”
23. If you know the family and the kids well, set up a play-date for the older kids or take them out for a special treat. One friend wrote:
“Grandma and Aunt came and took the older kids for the day so I could rest and take care of the baby! They were such a blessing to a very tired mom! They still do this for me and my kids are 5, 6, & 8. Meals are wonderful, and someone willing to watch all the kids so hubby and I could go out for a quick dinner!
While another friend commented:
“Play dates for my older daughter were also a source of joy for her and peace for me….”
24. Recommend a few encouraging podcasts: set them up on her iPod or burn a disc for her to listen to while she’s feeding the baby.
25. If it’s summertime, help with some of the yard work. Mow the lawn or weed the garden. If it’s winter, come plow the driveway.
26. When you stop by, bring diapers. Spend a little bit more and get the name brand kind. Maybe even consider this creative idea for devotional diapers!
27. Wash the sheets and re-make the beds.
28. Give her arms a rest and hold the baby so she can have some “free time.”
29. Drop off her favorite treat — a decaf latte and a scone from the local coffee shop?
30. Clean the bathroom. (Do you see a trend here with cleaning?!)
31. Deliver a “laugh pack.” One friend mentioned on Facebook:
“I think a ‘laugh basket’ or something of the sort would be nice. I know I have struggled with baby blues after two out of three of my kids so maybe a basket full of things that are funny, like a hilarious book or a season of “The Office” or something.”
32. Vacuum the car.
33. Pack a few lunches for Daddy to take to work. Chances are Mom is too tired to think about it.
Image Credit: crystl
34. Stock the fridge with fresh fruit and veggies, washed, prepped and ready to go.
35. Supply Mom with a stash of paper plates! Another friend mentioned:
“Paper plates for a couple of weeks–I know it’s bad for the environment but just til I got on my feet, it was wonderful!”
36. Take her out. She might be ready to get out of the house for a bit, but the idea of packing up the kids and managing all of them will keep her from going. Agree to meet her at home, help her pack up and get out, then help her in the store. Having an extra set of hands pushing cards and strollers down the Target aisle or at the mall will make a huge difference.
37.Talk to her! A month or two after baby arrives, stop by with a treat (see #29) and just hang out! Mom is probably craving some adult conversation, especially if it’s too hard to get out and about. Just remember to overlook the dishes in the sink and the piles of laundry on the couch. Better yet, while you chat, do #12 or #18! Another friend remarked:
“Having people come visit or stop by for coffee is great. A simple visit shows great support.”
38. Let her borrow the latest season of Downton Abbey or another series she’ll really enjoy – or gift her with a free 30-day trial to Pure Flix!
Gifts for a New Mom
39. If you’d really like to buy a gift for a new mom, treat her to:
-
- a manicure and pedicure
- a new haircut or highlights
- a massage
- a new Scripture journal or planner — our top recommendation is the Faithful Life Planner of course!
- a gift card for a family outing to the zoo or children’s museum
- a gift card for post-pregnancy clothes — or even better a Stitch Fix gift card!!
- a “pamper pack” — her favorite shampoo and conditioner, bath salts, body wash and lotion
- a one-time paid maid service to come clean the house
- professional photos from a great photographer
- an item left on her registry
Whether you have hours or just a few minutes, there are so many ways you can help ease the “new baby transition” for a family!
Question for You!
What else would you add to the list? When you brought a new baby home, what acts of thoughtfulness blessed your family or what did you wish for? Also, feel free to include book, movie, or series suggestions, too!
I love this list! As a mom of 3 under 5 I remember quite well the overwhelming feeling of exhaustion, apprehension, and the messy house that comes along with bringing a new baby home. Your ideas are wonderful and I’ll be printing them out because I have several friends who are expecting and will need some blessing! Thanks for the inspiration!
Thanks, Becky! I’m going to be in your same shoes — three kids 4 and under!
Praying this list will help you bless others!
Very good, extensive list! Meals are a biggie. I remember when I had my daughter the two things I appreciated the most was a meal brought after she was a bit older + also little gifts inside the baby gift that were just for me.
Wonderful list!! And I’m so excited for you as you anticipate the new arrival! xoxo
Thanks, Christine!
After having four babies, I know I’ve been blessed each time with 2-weeks of meals from my church family. A favorite memory is a friend who stopped by to visit me and baby in the early weeks and catching me in a moment of panic upon just discovering that my bedroom (of all places!) had been overrun with ants because of the days of rain we were experiencing. I was a hormonal mess and she just stepped in and grabbed the vacuum and started sucking them up. The disaster was cleaned up amidst love and laughter on a day that could have put this new momma over the edge!
Oh my goodness! What perfect timing and what a blessing!
Amazing list Erika!! I’m sharing this one for sure!!
Erika, this list is wonderful!! I have actually had to have A LOT of help with the first two babies, as I had c-sections and they were in the NICU for 4 and 6 weeks. I needed help with cleaning, cooking, and driving me to the hospital to see my baby. But, I love the disposable containers suggestion-so practical. When I’ve had my children people brought me meals, and not having to worry about returning the containers is a blessing. Getting take out from the mom’s favorite restaurant is also a special treat. Thanks again for sharing this list!
Oh Kathy! I can only imagine!
I love the idea of someone brining MOM’s favorite take-out. :) That would be a special treat!
As a first time mom last October, I sincerely appreciated when someone called and asked us what he/she could bring when they visited. I loved being able to request anything. For me, the most essential items that were most appreciated were moisturizing hand soap and lotion (constant diaper change hand washings really take a toll on the hands) and simple toilet paper. Thanks so much for this list. I’m going to save it so I can remember ways to bless a friend who’s due in a few months. You’re great. I’m sure your friends are very blessed to have you in their lives.
This is an AWESOME list, Erika! I’m so excited about what God is doing in your ministry and in your family life!