Postpartum care package & gift basket ideas – the BFF TMI version!
Reading about childbirth, (no matter how much you read!) is nowhere close to the actual experience. There are so many different ways your body, mind and spirit are impacted that you can’t quite understand unless you’ve gone through it yourself.
That’s why a postpartum care package from a mom whose “been there, done that,” can make a world of difference to a new mom caring for a new baby after childbirth. Think of this gift as a “BFF spilling all the REAL details of childbirth with a splash of TMI” care package.🙂
Using your personal experience as a woman who has gone through childbirth, with a sprinkling of our favorite product recommendations can help you easily put together a postpartum care package that will give a new mom comfort and support as she recovers from childbirth.
Looking for a less TMI new mom care package? Here’s our guide to making a beautiful care package for new mothers. Or you can try our breastfeeding care package if you know mom is breastfeeding.
One warning… please check with the new mom to make sure there are no allergies, aversions or anything contrary to her plans (i.e. lactation tea if she’s planning to breastfeed).
Let’s dive into the best ways to put together a postpartum care package and our favorite product recommendations.
Note: this blog post probably contains affiliate links, which means we may receive small commissions from purchases made through links in this post (atNOextra cost to you). You can read our fulldisclosure for more information.
One of the easiest ways to take your postpartum care package from “meh” to “WOW” is with the way you package it. And surprisingly, cute packaging doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive!
Here are some creative postpartum care packaging ideas:
- Shipping box: If your care package is traveling via post, take the extra time to make the package special. Some ideas: Purchase a literature shipping box (opens up like a fancy subscription box) and line itwith cute wrapping paper. OR purchase some stickers to decorate the outside of a cardboard box that you already have at home.
- Care Package Container: If you don’t need to ship the care package, there are so many adorable (and useful!) ways you can contain your gifts. You could choose a re-useable wire basket, an adorable tote/baby bag or a big beautiful gift bag
- Care Package Extras: Sometimes it’s the little details that make all the difference. You can add some pretty shredded paper, curled wrapping ribbon or tissue paper.
Now let’s chat about the contents of your postpartum care package. Remember, you are an expert here…think back to your postpartum recovery kit, the products you used (or wished you had!) when you were recovering from child birth in the postpartum period.
Try to think about more than just the physical aspect of recovery and choose gifts that will support mom’s recovery in other ways.This is the best gift you can give a new mama!
1) A Sitz Bath
The first several days after vagin*l birth are tough for a first time mom. A soothing sitz bath is often recommended by doctors and will provide instant relief for a new mom. You can help by sending her this handy sitz bath container that can fit on top of any toilet seat. Simply fill with warm water and sitz bath mix for a quick sitz bath that doesn’t require getting in and out of a big bath tub. You can also just send the sitz bath mix in your postpartum care package.
Read more: What’s the big deal on postpartum sitz baths?
2) Perineal sprays
Another great product that will help soothe a new mom is this herbal perineal spray.It’s common to have pain in the perineal area while toileting for the first few days after birth so this spray can be a lifesaver!
Read more: How to Pee Postpartum (When It Hurts to Pee) & How to Poop Postpartum (When the Idea Terrifies You)
3) Perineal balm
Many moms say this balm works significantly better than traditional witch hazel, Tucks’ medicated pads and ice packs. This balm is 100% certified organic and has a pleasant smell.
4) Chocolates
If the new mom is a chocolate lover she will enjoy a special treat that is all her own while she works through the haze of postpartum life.
5) Lactation Tea
This tea is a 2-for-1 gift… a soothing tea that will help mom relax plus herbs that help increase milk production. (Just make sure she is nursing or pumping before sending this!)
6) Cute water bottle
Useful, cute and oh-so-necessary for new moms… a new water bottle will encourage her to stay hydrated.
7) Spill proof coffee flask
New moms are generally running on zero sleep, a coffee flask that doesn’t spill would make an amazing addition to a postpartum care package.
8) Pretty washable nursing pads (breast pads)
This set of nursing pads comes in cute patterns, are reusable and washable and they will help combat the problem of mom needing to change her clothes every few minutes after leaking milk.Now mom might include these in her hospital bag , which is why a super pretty set is essential to make this a lovely gift.
9) Boobie Tubes
Besides their catchy name, Boobie Tubes are SO helpful for a new mom. It can be frozen or heated in the microwave to help with engorgement or mastitis pain and/or to help increase milk production.This is one breast related product that helps whether mom is breastfeeding or formula feeding – the ice can help reduce the pain of engorgement until mom’s milk stops.
10) Lactation massager
This might be a product a new mom hasn’t even heard of…but a lactation massager can help increase milk production and provides soothing comfort for engorged breasts.
11) Nipple cream
If mom is nursing or pumping, a postpartum care package wouldn’t be complete without some nipple cream. This organic cream is safe for baby and mom!
12) Postpartum Girdle
This is a great product for moms who delivered vagin*lly OR by c-section. It provides support while they heal. If mom is at all sensitive about her size or weight, you might want to skip this product or have a quick conversation about it before you get it.
13) Peri bottle
This genius peri bottle sprays upwards making it easier to get to all of the spots that need cleaning and rinsing.
14) Instant Ice Pads
Another genius idea…these maxi pads are absorbent PLUS they have instant first aid ice packs built right in!
15) Nipple Shields
If you know mom is breastfeeding… a nipple shield may be just the thing to help out! Lactation consultants might not agree and it’s not something you should rely on, a nipple shield can give sore nipples a brief break so they have time to recover!
Need more ideas for a new mom gift basket? Read more: DIY Care Package for a New Mom [+ What NOT to Include]
Pre-made Care Package Options
There are also some amazing pre-made postpartum care packages available for new parents. Overall they will cost more to purchase, but you won’t have to worry about shipping or packaging. Here are our favorite options:
Mega Lux Postpartum Care Gift Box – This care package has all the postpartum essentials for new moms! It includes a soft robe, a tumbler mug and lots of products that will help soothe her sore parts and make her feel pampered.
New Mom Postpartum Box – This lovely assortment of Handmade artisan body care products are made with quality natural and organic ingredients. It includes sitz bath, herbal teas, face masks and nipple balm among other body care products. These are packaged beautifully!
Postpartum Care Package – This pre-made postpartum care package contains lots of products for a new mom that you can find at a store like Lanisoh nursing pads and Senokot stool softener. It is packaged in a cute box and ships fairly quickly (from Canada).
When Should You Gift a Postpartum Care Package
For a new mom to get the benefit of your gift, you ideally need to get it to her in the first week. If you wait for a few weeks postpartum, a lot of these items won’t be useful – you only need ice packs for the first day or two.
What NOT To Include in a Postpartum Care Kit
We’ve given you a list of great products to put into a postpartum care package and make a great gift but we also want to mention some of the things you should try to avoid.
- Bath Bombs: If mom has had any tearing or stitches, a bath bomb can cause more harm than help. Stick to a helpful Sitz Bath and save the bath bombs for way later than postpartum recovery.
- Nursing products/nipple care if mom has decided to formula feed: It is a sensitive decision and could make a new mom very emotional to receive breastfeeding products if they have decided not to breastfeed.
- Clothing that is too small: Trust us and always 1) ask or 2) size up. A new mom’s body takes many months (years even!) to return to pre-pregnancy size. Go for comfort over fashion and make sure to mention that you went up a size so she’d be comfy!
- Anything too TMI unless you know the recipient well: I am an advocate of women being more open about all of the aspects of postpartum nobody wants to share. That being said, consider your relationship with the recipient and lay off the nipple cream unless you feel comfortable talking about it face-to-face.
A postpartum care package is an amazing way to support a fellow mom who is recovering from child birth. When you think about all that a new mom goes through physically and how we still manage to take care of a newborn through sleepless nights it is quite phenomenal.
Celebrate and support the new moms in your life with a thoughtful, perfect gift that will help them heal and feel special. Whether you put a few thoughtful products in a gift sack or go all out with a pre-packaged postpartum care package, any new mother will feel special when she receives a little something that says you care.
