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Today’s blog post has been highly-requested… a gift guide for the new or expecting mom! I wanted to put together a list of items that I personally appreciated as a new mom (or would have liked to have!). The first few weeks are such a blur… you’re sleep-deprived and still healing from birth, it’s hard to even function as a human being. Gifts are wonderful, but I REALLY appreciated when people brought over meals or cooked for us. The LAST thing I wanted to think about was what we were going to eat for dinner! I also loved when people came over and cleaned without us asking (did laundry, cleaned our kitchen, etc.) and the best present was when my mom would offer to watch Kennedy for an hour so that I could take a short nap. Lol. But in case you want to give something tangible for Christmas, here’s a list of the must-have items!

one // HATCH Nesting Robe

I ended up LIVING in my robe for the first several months after giving birth to Kennedy! The Nesting Robe by HATCH is warm and cozy and perfect for snuggling a new baby. It’s also a great gift for breastfeeding moms, because wearing a robe makes it super easy to breastfeed every few hours (easy access to your boobs!). Trust me, it sucks to have to keep taking off your shirt all day long! I love that you can wear this robe all throughout pregnancy and for years afterward, too. The Nesting Robe is included in the 4th Trimester Nesting Bundle and the Hospital Bundle – both of which would make great gifts! You can also use code CAITLIN for 15% off all HATCH products right now!

two // HATCH Ribbed Bike Short

These ribbed bike shorts are another great option for the new or expectant mom. These seamless bike shorts are designed to move, stretch and grow with mama from her First Trimester to the Fourth – they’re even able to stretch to twice their size without ever losing shape! A new mom could wear these while lounging around the house or to go on walks with her new baby. I personally would have loved having these bike shorts after birth and for months afterward! Code CAITLIN also works on these ribbed bike shorts, as well!

three // Water Resistant Diaper Bag

A cute diaper bag that is also functional is hard to find! This one is a doctor-style bag which allows for quick access and stays open during diaper emergencies. It’s water-resistant (trust me you will want this!), and it has both shoulder straps and backpack straps so that you can carry it a variety of ways. I love how many pockets this one has! The best thing you can do as a new mom is always have a diaper bag packed and ready to go with the essentials (diapers, wipes, pacifier, an extra outfit, toys, burp cloth, etc.) because you never know when you will need it! We had to go to the pediatrician the next morning after we got home from the hospital and were absolutely not prepared – we were rushing around trying to pack the diaper bag at the last second!

four // Stoney Clover Sherpa Pouch

I got a Stoney Clover pouch just like this for Kennedy and I have gotten so much use out of it!! It’s the perfect size to operate as a baby’s packing cube, haha. I filled it with onesies and socks and packed it in my hospital bag for her arrival, and since then it has come with us on every trip we’ve been on! It’s the perfect size for baby clothes, toys or even bottles. And since it’s customizable, you could even have it personalized with the baby’s name!

five // Heated Smart Mug

I have never needed caffeine as much as I did when I was a new mom. You’re waking every few hours to feed a baby, so you definitely need a little pick-me-up in the morning! This heated smart mug is a GENIUS idea because it keeps your coffee warm for hours on end. I feel that any mom would truly appreciate this! Now I am always running after a crawling baby and my coffee gets cold before I can take more than a few sips. But it doesn’t have to be that way! You can actually set your preferred temperature of your coffee using an app on your phone, and voila. No more cold coffee.

six // Mom’s One Line a Day Memory Book

This was one of the best presents I received after Kennedy’s birth!!! This memory book has enough space to record a single thought, a memorable milestone, or a special event each day… for five years! Each day you can look back and see what you wrote the year (or years) before. This gift is perfect for busy moms who don’t have time to sit down and write pages in a diary every night, but still want to capture the everyday moments of motherhood. You can track your child’s changes from day to day and year to year, or just use it as a diary to record your daily thoughts and feelings. I write a little bit of both!

seven // HATCH Mama Nipple + Lip Balm

This Nipple + Lip Balm is designed with breastfeeding moms in mind. And trust me, YOU WILL NEED THIS! Especially at first, when your nipples are raw and irritated! This lanolin-free formula helps calm and soothe irritation, and is made from a blend of tropical butters and superfruits to protect against chafing. It can be used to moisturize anywhere from head to toe, even chapped lips, rough elbows, or dry cuticles.

eight // Mother and Baby Matching Beanies

Okay, let me tell you! There is nothing sweeter than matching with your newborn baby. I love these “mommy and me” knit beanies because they come in a bunch of colors and are less than $20! This is such a thoughtful gift for Christmas because it’s not something a new mom would necessarily think to get for herself. And have you ever seen a baby in a beanie? Too precious for words.

nine // Insulated Crossbody Bag

This insulated bag matches perfectly with the diaper bag and is a great size for baby’s bottles. (We ended up needing one of these a few times right after we had Kennedy and did not have one!) The streamlined design will keep two of your little one’s bottles cool, and it also features an exterior pocket perfect for storing napkins, condiment packets or other small essentials. This would also make a great snack or lunch bag as your child gets older, too.

ten // Elvie Curve wearable silicone breast pump

This is a MUST-HAVE for any breastfeeding mama! This silicone breast pump fits perfectly into your bra, and you use it on the opposite side as you nurse your baby. I was able to save up so much breastmilk using this, and was able to stock our freezer! Unlike other silicone pumps (like the haakaa), this one sits discreetly inside your bra, so you don’t have to worry about it being knocked off when your little one is feeding. This was something I didn’t even realize I needed until after Kennedy was born, and it would have been so nice to have owned from the start.

eleven // Ultra Large Towel Warmer

So this last gift idea is definitely a luxurious one! This is not necessarily a must-have, but wow would it be nice. When you’re a new mom, you really savor any little bit of pampering you can get – and, yes, the shower counts as pampering! Sometimes you may only have five minutes of alone time to yourself to go and grab a shower, and having a nice, heated towel to grab afterward would certainly improve your entire day.

I’ll link everything in the widget below! Please comment if you have any other ideas!

*Thanks to HATCH for sponsoring today’s post