Photos by Alexa Cutrer
There’s a baby boom happening in my life right now. I don’t know if everybody took a sip out of my drink while I was pregnant or what, but it seems like everyone I know and love either just had a baby or is about to welcome a new little addition.
It’s had me thinking about the best ways to love on people during those first few weeks. Having a baby is one of life’s most incredible experiences, and new parents deserve a chance to slow down and soak it all in. Unfortunately, laundry, dishes and dinner did not get that memo.
The best gifts, I’ve found, are a mix of practical and delightful.
FEED THEM
Before my cousin had her baby recently, I asked which meals she and her husband actually liked, planned a menu and bought everything ahead of time. The day after the baby arrived, I made chicken spaghetti, steak with orzo, mushrooms and asparagus, and bacon, egg and cheese quiche.
I portioned everything into individual, disposable containers so they could eat what they wanted and freeze the rest. A few hours after they got home from the hospital, dinner showed up on their doorstep.
DO SOMETHING, DON’T JUST OFFER
“Let me know if you need anything!” is a well-intentioned offer, but it puts the burden on an exhausted new parent to ask.
Instead, get specific: “Can I bring dinner Monday?” “Can I come do your dishes and fold laundry?” “Can I take your older child somewhere fun for the afternoon?”
Give them something easy to say “yes” to.
GIVE THEM A GRAND WELCOME
Practical gifts are wonderful, but so is pure celebration. I recently surprised my cousin with a six-foot pink stork from South Mississippi Stork Co. announcing her baby girl’s name and birth details. It was waiting in the yard when they came home from the hospital, and seeing their reaction was priceless.
Sometimes the gift is simply making someone feel celebrated.
GIVE SOMETHING THEY’LL ACTUALLY USE (AND KEEP)
My go-to baby gift is a Little Hometown two-in-one burp cloth and bib. They’re oversized, incredibly practical and come in adorable regional prints. I buy mine locally at 605 Pharmacy and have the baby’s name embroidered on it.
This gift checks every box: useful now, personalized enough to feel special and sweet enough to keep.
Because ultimately, the best gift for new parents isn’t another thing. It’s something that makes those blurry, beautiful first weeks just a little easier — or a little more joyful.
