Sustainable Pregnancy Gifts for First Time Moms
by the W&S Sustainability, Nature and Climate Editorial Team
SHARE ON:
Bringing a child into the world is a huge responsibility for someone to take on. Check out our suggestions for how to support your loved ones in this new chapter in life without hurting the planet.
Our guide to getting pregnancy gifts for first time moms covers non-traditional gifts for the mom, baby, and home. Be sure to bookmark, share, and subscribe for more conscious living content just like this!
What to Keep in Mind When Choosing Sustainable Pregnancy Gifts for First Time Moms
Check the Registry
The registry is key when it comes to looking for pregnancy gifts for first time moms. It’s a list of items new parents put together so that their family members can ‘shower’ them with vital childcare items, which helps curb the cost of bringing a baby into the world.
In the US, giving birth alone costs $18,865 on average. While this estimate does account for things such as pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum care, it does not account for extra costs associated with high-risk pregnancies or complicated deliveries.
New parents also don’t get to benefit from first-child hand-me-downs, thus will also be faced with the possibility of purchasing car seats, strollers, bassinets, etc. all for the first time. This stuff will easily add.
Hence, why baby showers and their associated registries have to be taken into consideration first and foremost. New parents create registries strategically and depend on their loved ones getting things they need in order for them to start parenthood smoothly.
If the place of registry does not include sustainable or eco-friendly items, talk to the new parents about buying eco-friendly versions of things they asked for at another retailer. We suggest doing this before taking matters into your own hands.
Approaching pregnancy gifts for new moms this way allows the new mom to get things she actually needs, while simultaneously allowing you to stick to your values. (The definition of a win-win!)
Make Sure Your Gift Is Actually Sustainable
The words ‘sustainable’ and ‘eco-friendly’ are not regulated by the US government like the word ‘organic’, for instance. US manufactures are notorious for exploiting these loopholes, labeling their products as sustainable or eco-friendly as a way to mislead well-meanig consumers.
This phenomenon is known as ‘greenwashing’. Without any robust federal laws to combat this, US companies are constantly exaggerating their environmental credentials as a way to capitalize on the growing demand for ethical products without making any actual changes.
The perfect example of greenwashing is when energy companies or fast fashion conglomerates continuously have press releases and commercials that suggest they’re taking more responsibility for their role in the climate crisis. However, data shows that these industries are only polluting more as time goes on and have not had any positive impact on the environment whatsoever.
Wondering why you’re seeing ads? Check out our Disclosure Policy.
So, where does this leave consumers? For starters, there are many initiatives and companies who assess brand social and environmental responsibility. Our Conscious Living Shop, for example, provides suggestions for brands and products across home, health, fashion, and beauty that are consciously made.
There are also brands like Good On You, who are committed to helping people buy better. Their website lists a range of fashion brands of which they delve deep into said brand’s entire supply chain to determine whether it’s good for people and the planet.
Before committing to any pregnancy gifts for first time moms, we suggest checking out our shop or other brands committed to supporting companies committed to a green, circular economy. If you’re not sure whether a gift you're buying from a company isn’t sustainable chances are… it isn’t. You’re better buying from a company who’s fully transparent about their supply chain!
Don’t Forget About Mommy
Not forgetting about mommy might seem redundant for some at first glance. I mean, if you’re buying pregnancy gifts for a new mom, isn’t that enough? Well, not always.
Psychotherapist Nancy Colier calls this the “Invisible Mom” problem, where women report feeling completely sidelined and underappreciated the moment they become mothers. Because women are still touted by society as the primary childcare providers, their labor is assumed as natural and people, often subconsciously, forget to explicitly acknowledge the sacrifices women are making for their family.
This fact is very concerning, as women parents in heteronormative relationships can often contribute the most labor in the family unit. Women, for instance, contribute the most cognitive labor (sometimes referred to as ‘worry work’).
This responsibility of "anticipating needs, identifying options for filling them, making decisions, and monitoring progress” are fundamental to maintaining a functioning family unit. Still, women are expected to do this labor without acknowledgement that it is even happening or, at the very least, important.
Wondering why you’re seeing ads? Check out our Disclosure Policy.
Another significant thing to keep in mind for new mothers is that being a mother is not all a woman is once she has a child. She is still a friend, daughter, sister, and lover to her partner. However, society tends to hyperfocus on a woman’s label as mother above all else.
Under all these above conditions, women may grow resentful, depressed or completely isolated. Help your loved one through her period of matrescence, where her hormones and body are getting used to her new title as mom, by making sure to remind her who she is outside of it.
Pregnancy gifts for first time moms that focus on making a woman feel taken care of and relaxed outside of her role as a parent are perfect for this. Think, if you’re getting her something that helps her as a new mom that you could have also given her before this time in her life, it’s probably exactly what she needs!
Sustainable Pregnancy Gifts for First Time Moms: For the Mommy
A Weekend Getaway
A one-person getaway for a new mom is hands down one of the BEST gifts you can give her. Ensure this trip is actually for mom, by not allowing her new baby or partner to tag along. Find a sustainable resort or hotel and spa that’s nearby. This will allow mommy to catch up on some much needed sleep and me-time. (Check out this post for some US-based inspiration for eco-friendly trips!)
Babysitting Tokens
Offering your time is one of the best, eco-friendly pregnancy gifts for first time moms. Childcare in the US is notoriously expensive, with the average cost of babysitting by a professional is around $20/hr.
When a new mom wants an adult night out, the cost of babysitting alone might be her entire budget. Help her out by offering ‘tokens’ of weeknights or weekends that your loved one can schedule with you when they need some time off the clock!
Wondering why you’re seeing ads? Check out our Disclosure Policy.
Fitness Membership
Wanting to exercise after giving birth isn’t just about the vanity of wanting to ‘bounce back”. Exercise can be super beneficial for a new mom and help her with her self confidence, mood, and energy levels.
Also, fitness can serve as dedicated time for a new mom to adhere to her needs and take some much needed time away from her baby and partner.
If you know your loved one really enjoys the gym or going to a studio, consider getting her a membership somewhere accessible to her house. If you can find places that offer classes especially tailored to new moms, that’s a plus.
Dermatologists Appointments
Postpartum, or “4th trimester”, care and the complications that sometimes come with it cannot continue to go overlooked when trying to support new moms. Changes with the skin and hair including hair loss, acne, facial spider veins, dry skin, etc. are all common after birth.
Hormonal, vascular, and glandular changes can collectively wreak havoc on formally unproblematic skin or make preexisting skin conditions worse during the postpartum period. While many of these things will go away on their own, they might not or a new mom might not know how to address them properly.
Suggesting dermatology visits as a potential gift is one that will keep on giving. Without creating any extra unnecessary waste or shipping, you’re paying for a mom to get information and medically necessary treatment for something she might be struggling with. This is why dermatology visits are perhaps one of our favorites on this list!
Sustainable Pregnancy Gifts for First Time Moms: For the Baby
First Aid Training Class
A first aid training course can be the small difference between life or death. Children and babies require special adjustments particularly when it comes to important interventions like CPR or choking care.
These classes are relatively inexpensive but provide some of the most important knowledge new parents might need. Offer to pay for the new parents and, possibly, close loved ones planning to be around the child alone (i.e., grandparents, siblings, etc.) to take an in-person first aid course.
Some providers even combine First Aid with other parental training surrounding infant nutrition, behavior, and education. These courses can connect new parents with a community of people sharing their experiences (and anxieties) and help them feel more confident about taking on this new chapter in life.
Hand-Knitted Blanket
Making a gift by hand is one of the easiest ways to cut back on potential sustainability issues when thinking of a gift for the new baby. Hand knitted blankets are perfect as they are as practical as they are sentimental!
If you’re someone who’s savvy with their hands or picks up new tasks easily, start a knitting project using free YouTube tutorials. We also suggest keeping your materials sustainable as well, by opting for yarns like Lyocell known for being vegan and low–impact environmentally.
Wondering why you’re seeing ads? Check out our Disclosure Policy.
Cloth Diapers
Cloth diapers aren’t for everyone.. However, there are plenty of benefits for new parents who use cloth diapers. Cheaper in the long-term, free of harsh chemicals, and exorbitantly better for the planet, cloth diapers cannot be sidelined as completely unreasonable.
Even if your new mom loved one isn’t planning on committing to cloth diapers full-time, talk to her about trying them in combination with disposable diapers. Her answer might surprise you and it never hurts to ask!
Mommy and Me Experiences
Mommy and me classes aren’t just money grabbing tactics that make being a new parent unnecessarily expensive. There are real benefits for the mother-child relationship. Mommy and me classes are associated with:
Enhancing a child’s cognitive development;
Improving a child’s motor skills; and
Increased bonding between child and parent.
Do a quick search for activities local to your new mom's loved one. We love things like that double as a safety prevention measure for the new baby, like mommy and me swimming lessons.
Sustainable Pregnancy Gifts for First Time Moms: For the Home
At Home Cleaning & Laundry Service
Small but mighty, newborns produce A LOT of laundry and messes. New parents will find themselves changing their babie’s clothes and cleaning multiple times throughout the day. They can easily find themselves overwhelmed with the sudden increase in household chores on top of all the other changes they’re being faced with.
Lend a helping hand by offering to hire a cleaning service provider who can come to their home and assist them with household chores! Even one deep clean can make a world of difference for someone, so consider this option if it's in the budget for you.
Home Security Installation
New parents differ a lot on beliefs and priorities, but they all unite in the overall goal of keeping their family safe. Offer to pay for an in-home security installation for the new parents in your life. It could help them have more peace of mind with their new precious cargo.
Wondering why you’re seeing ads? Check out our Disclosure Policy.
Cover the Baby Proofing
You’d be surprised how many child hazards exist in an adult person’s home. Childproofing is an important step in transitioning into parenthood, and it can get pretty pricey.
Depending on location and size of the home, childproofing can cost anywhere between $252–$780! Help new parents out by offering to cover this cost— you could even chip in and make this a multi person gift.
Baby-Safe Cleaning Products
The US simply does not have enough robust regulation when it comes to household products on the shelves and their impact on infants and children. Parents are often left to their own devices to figure out what is and isn’t safe for their little one.
Lend a helping hand by taking some of the burden of “new parent” research by exploring eco-friendly, baby safe cleaning products for the home. Not only will this curb costs for your loved ones bringing a child into the world, it also allows you to learn about child safety so you can be a more supportive member of the village!
