On the run up to the festive period, there are many activities that pregnant women (and new mothers) won’t be able to – or want to join in with. From drinking alcohol to eating certain foods, nights on the town and staying awake past 10PM being just a few of them. To make sure new or expectant mothers don’t completely miss out on some TLC this Christmas, I’ve put together some wonderful gift and hamper ideas from some lovely independent online shops for inspiration. Psst – make sure to link this page to your partner/friends and family in case they’re stuck on what to buy…
With so many voucher, gift and hamper websites floating around online, it can be a minefield to know exactly what to buy your friend / family member / partner who is pregnant or might have given birth recently. Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve been looking at some affordable items (mainly from independent companies) and feel these would make excellent presents. Please note that I have in fact been kindly gifted* a few of these items that are featured, but I am writing about them on my own accord. This post also contains some discount codes for you to use.
1). Treat Trunk
Both a subscription service and one-off gift website, Treat Trunk sell lots of healthy snack boxes to new mums, perfect for taking into hospital or enjoying during the postpartum period. The snacks are carefully picked and packaged in gift sets to help with recovery, energy, hormones, breastfeeding, sleep, mood, time and much more. Your snacks are handpicked by the team depending on box preference. The website is passionate about supporting mothers and will be launching a specific new box next year to take new parents from pregnancy to 1 year postpartum. Prices vary depending on gift size. Shop online here.
2). HotTea Mama*
Tea has many added benefits during pregnancy and motherhood. Bethan at HotTea Mama has crafted these delicious, biodegradable whole leaf tea bags, each containing natural, tasty ingredients specially designed to support the body in the most ‘rewarding and challenging time of your life.’ “That said, they’re delicious and husbands can enjoy them with no shame that they’re raiding our stash…” she said. Delivering a wide range of flavours, the Pregnancy Gift Set would be welcome for any new parents. Stick the kettle on, will you?
3). Monique Sveinsson’s Perfect Parent Planner*
We all know that there is no such thing as the ‘perfect parent’ but this beautiful planner will help put frantic minds at ease, focusing on the tasks all juggling parents have to do. Covering birthday party ideas, meal planning, organisation tips, self care planning with log books, there is space for recording personal goals and personal finances – giving parents a tool to help reduce the overwhelm of family life. I received a sample through the post and I can honestly say this planner is beautifully packaged and is gorgeous. It’ll be the best £25 you ever spend and makes a beautiful gift for all of the mamas. Shop planner here.
4). Personalised Mum To Be Bed Socks
I know this isn’t linked an independent store (NotOnTheHighStreet.Com), but what is a gift guide without socks, really? With so much to think about during pregnancy and motherhood (and with your ever-changing body temperature) – any form of self love/TLC tends to slide right out of view. Not On The High Street are currently selling these wonderful personalised bed socks (all with great reviews!) and they look incredibly comfy. An ideal gift or hamper item to help pamper a women, these pretty socks come in two yarn types in pretty pastel shades. Shop here – UK delivery only.
5). Motherbe
I came across this fantastic little company when searching for must-have items on Instagram to include in my own #hospitalbag. MotherBe have their own little shop which makes the chore of packing for hospital effortless as they do it all for you. From pre-packed suitcases including maternity pads, flip flops, shampoo and conditioner, baby clothes and more – these individually packed baby bags and toiletries kits can be purchased directly from the website. You can claim 20% off your order by using the code ‘Emma40‘ at checkout. Shop the essentials here.
6). Perky Blenders Coffee*
Staying awake can be hard at the best of times, let alone with a new baby in the house or being kept up at all hours of the night. Perky Blenders Coffee Club promote various subscription packs, alongside one-off gift purchases and I can vouch for the fact the pouches smell and taste amazing. I especially love this coffee selection box with a choice of blends. What’s more, the majority of the packaging are biodegradable. Not only will this be a wonderful gift but you’re also promoting eco-friendly buying. It’s a win/win if you ask me! You can also sign up and save 10% on your first order.
7). A Magical Letter
A gift out of the ordinary, this fantastic independent company is run by a wonderful lady, Louise Crockett, who sells (ahem, collects from the North Pole…) these personalised letters from Father Christmas. Perfect for baby’s first Christmas, children, grown ups and pets – pregnancy is a magical time for the whole family and this personalised and thoughtful gift adds that very sentimental touch. These letters are a great keepsake item and would be a beautiful gift for any pregnant lady who doesn’t need any more baby clothes or products. What I love most is that Louise writes letters to children who might not be born yet, so the letter can be kept safe and shown to family members for many years to come. Visit the website at amagicalletter.com.
8). Spa Babies
‘A moment of zen in the chaotic beginnings of motherhood‘ – Spa Babies brings a calming sensory experience for both parents AND babies aged 0-9 months. Ideally located for those living around Solihull and Leamington Spa areas of the UK, the baby’s senses will be brought to life with beautiful lighting, aromatic aromas and relaxing music. Via this booked baby spa session, Spa Babies provide everything a baby could possibly need for this experience including their own bath tub, towel and organic oils. There is also time within the session to capture special photographic memories of this unique experience. No doubt your family and friends will want to see baby’s first blissful spa retreat. Booking in advance is required, so find out more on prices and times by contacting Spa Babies directly via their Facebook page.
9). Comfyse Cushy Cushion*
A revolutionary way to rest, recuperate and sit comfortably during pregnancy or postpartum’ – the Comfyse Cushy Cushion was designed by mother, Anita Hill, to help both expectant and new mothers improve both comfort and wellbeing. Covered in 100% cotton, the maternity seating cushion helps women sit down comfortably when experiencing coccyx pain, piles, protrusions, perineal pain, tears and other symptoms experienced before and after giving birth. Women across the country have tried and tested this item (including myself!) and have given fantastic feedback. As a current user of the maternity seating cushion, the benefits have been invaluable when sitting down and can be easily used either at home or work. I can honestly say any new mother would do well to receive this amazing gift. It can be used not only for your first pregnancy, but also for multiple pregnancies and postpartum periods. Afterwards, it can be used to support your back when sitting down, plus it is really useful as a kneeling pad either in the garden or in the bathroom when bathing your little one. Use special code ‘ES10‘ for a special 10% off discount. Shop for the Comfyse Cushy Cushion here or email [email protected] for more info.
10). VonShef Multifunctional Digital Soup Maker*
VonShef is not a brand I’d heard of before this campaign, but it certainly won’t be the last time it gets mentioned on my blog. The brand prides itself on showcasing an affordable range of kitchenware and kitchen appliances – including a variety of fabulous kitchen electricals, bakeware, food storage and preparation. I was sent one of these digital soupmakers to trial for this blog post and I couldn’t be happier. It made the run up to my birth so much easier knowing I could simply pop fresh veggies (and pre-cooked meats) into this soup maker and it does all the hard work for you. For just £39.99 – this 900W combined blender and soup heater stores up to 1.75L which is perfect for bulk soup making. It has a wide range of texture settings which allows you to cook both smoothies and soups. One of the best features is safety cut-off device if the jug gets too full or empty – perfect if you already have little ones running around. You can purchase yours on the VonShef website. A must-have gadget for any parent.
Will you be purchasing any of these wonderful gifts for family or friends? Do let me know in the comments below. You can also read about my pregnancy announcement here.