What to Bring Over When Visiting New Parents
It’s such an exciting time to visit new parents who have recently brought home a new bundle of joy, but making sure you don’t show up empty-handed is key. While fun toys, colorful clothes, and cute items are fun to buy—some of the best gifts don’t require a bow or box to share. To start us off, make sure those new parents are fed.
Food in All Forms
Dinner is covered for tonight — like to cook? Put those skills to use and prepare a meal for the family for today, or to have in the fridge ready to heat up tomorrow. Be sure to check on any allergies or dietary restrictions in advance (or to see anything they are craving too).
Delivery gift card — don’t like to cook? A delivery/takeaway gift card is also a great option so parents can pick and choose exactly what they are in the mood for that week or something they can hold onto for a day when things are chaotic, and there’s just no time to cook.
Meal trains set up with a group — have a village? Take the lead and organize a meal train with some friends and family to bring over food options over those first few weeks. Month two or three are also just as wild as those initial days, so spacing out support can also help new parents.
Freezer stash restock — meal prep more your style? Cooking (or buying) a few freezer-safe options for the family to save and use at a future day is also a great option. These can include frozen soups, easy to reheat snacks, slow cooker dump bags, etc. that are quick to prep.
Grocery run on the way over — when in doubt, take care of the grocery list. Ideally, taking the lead and not putting the mental load on new parents is ideal here (picking up some of their go-to favorite items and some options for the week ahead). But if they have a list handy they were planning to purchase, that can be helpful to take care of for them.
Diapers and Wipes
If there is one gift that is perfect for years to come with a new baby — it’s diapers and wipes. We were lucky to receive (what I thought was a huge amount of ) diapers and wipes for our first baby at our shower, but quickly ran through that supply — and fast.
New parents might be trying out a few different brands and sizes for their little one, as well as sensitive, organic, or particular options for wipes. If you’d like to help them stock up again — check in to see what brand and size is their current preference for baby, and then also bring along a box of the next size up.
This will help check another to-do off their list to make sure they have some reserves ready — and also get them a headstart for when the time comes to size-up to the next phase. We’ve all been there when you’re down to the last few diapers and need to make an emergency run to the store, so this peace of mind is one of the best gifts you can provide.
Your Cleaning Supplies
One of the biggest needs with a new baby has less to do with the baby themselves and is more about help around the house. While caring for a little one—or especially if you already have other kids to take care of too—some of the smallest house chores can feel impossible to get off your to-do list.
Where to start? When you arrive, use your eyes, look around the house—and just get to it. In the beginning, when visitors would offer this type of help around the house, my default tended to be “Oh, you don’t have to do that” or “Please just sit down and relax,” where I’d want to play host still, while also in big need of that support. Friends and family who ignored my polite declines were angels, and I was unbelievably grateful for their help when they finished.
Need some thought starters? Here are easy chores to jump in on: dishes in the sink to clean or dishwasher to put away, bottles or pump parts that need sanitizing/washing, laundry that needs a wash or to be folded and put away, a good sweep or swiffer around the house and rooms, wiping down the countertops or kitchen appliances, taking out the garbage (don’t forget the diaper pail), restocking wipes and diapers in the nursery for easy access, etc, The list truly goes on.
Review the Registry
Even after the pregnancy announcements, gender reveal parties, or baby showers, sometimes there are still some needs off the registry that haven’t been purchased yet. If you’re looking to bring over more of a traditional gift for the baby or the parents, stick to the registry for either exact items that they are looking for — or to at least get some inspiration on the brands and styles they are looking for.
Chances are the parents spent a ton of time putting in research on exact items that will fit with their family and lifestyle, and even the color-scheme of their nursery and home. When in doubt, keeping to their original registry list is always a win and maybe a relief to new parents who might still be figuring out when else they might need as they come home the first few weeks.
Your Babysitting Services for Older Kids
Especially with a newborn, most of the “gifts” you can really give new parents is the gift of helping with the chores or house to-do list, which tends to pile up. But if you’re planning to visit some second or third-time new parents who also have older kids, taking the new big sister or brother out for a few hours might also be a welcomed offer.
Check-in with the new parents to see if they do indeed need this help — and then offer some times and dates you could swing over to take the older kids for the morning or afternoon.
Even an hour here or there could be a game changer that week, so the parents can focus some attention on the newborn, make a doctor’s appointment they have been looking for childcare for, run an errand, or just get some time to reset.
You don’t need to get fancy here — checking the local library for storytime or kids-focused activities can get them out of the house and also provide some interactive play. Going for a walk to the park or planning a mini scavenger hunt around their own neighborhood is another option to keep the kids entertained, depending on your time.
