The 4th trimester. That awkward time when both parents and baby don’t quite know what to do with themselves or even know what they need. Somehow I always seem to have my children as newborns during the Christmas season and no one ever knows what to buy my babies.
And even though I have gone through practical gifts for newborns that can grow with them, the reality is, there are things that could make life easier now and that even my newborn can appreciate.
This is a part of our postpartum and 4th trimester series.
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What your baby really needs in the 4th trimester
It’s a special time for both mom and baby and really a time when everyone is adjusting.
But for the baby, it’s three months of understanding what it means to live on the outside, wear clothes, have to work to eat, and what the rules of living are.
Ultimately snuggle time, a caring provider, and to eat/poop/sleep. But beyond the basic needs, a few practical gifts for babies 0-3 months old can make life a little easier and maybe even a little sweeter for the whole family.
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Special keepsakes & helpful gifts to buy for a newborn
These are some of the basics that are great for both baby showers and for holidays like Christmas, but if you’re looking for more gifts don’t forget to check out the ultimate and comprehensive toddler and baby buying guides list with ideas from across the web and from moms who have been there!
Aden + Anais Blankets
They great keepsake style blankets and can be layered easily when swaddling or just for multiple types of weather. In fact, they’re still our most-used blankets 4 years later.
Velcro Hand rattles & a Rolling Rattle
Especially before babies are mobile, it’s great to still stimulate their senses through things like mobiles to look at but also ankle and wrist rattles to get a feel for self-awareness.
As they get older, a simple wooden rolling rattle help get them interested in moving forward and even start crawling!
Don’t quite want the noise of rattles, check out a list of quiet toys for babies.
Cute hooded towels
Bath time is such a relaxing event for babies and being able to wrap them up and cuddle in a hooded towel is just part of having a newborn. We have one that’s embroidered with our oldest’s name on it and it’s a special, but practical gift we got for those early months that is still used even as she’s beyond the baby and toddler years.
Find more personalized presents for baby in this list from my friend Paula.
White noise machine
Inside of the womb, babies hear white noise ultimately because of mom’s heartbeat, breathing, and just the muffled noise from the outside world. For many families, a subtle white noise machine is the perfect addition to the room.
A babywearing carrier for mom
I have used many different carriers over the years including rings slings, moby wrap, woven wraps, and a variety of soft structured carriers. Something with an ergonomic seat for baby is best, especially for long-term wearing for the comfort of both mom and baby. Find more of the brands we recommend in this traveling with baby post.
Find more great gifts to grow with your child in this guide for educational toddler gifts moms love.
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Kara is an author and advocate for positive, grace-filled parenting. She is homeschooler to her 5 children living on a farm in New England. She believes in creative educational approaches to help kids dive deeper into a rich learning experience and has her degree in Secondary Education & Adolescent Childhood Development. She is passionate about connecting with and helping other parents on their journey to raise awesome kids!
Sophia
Practical gifts are the way to go! completely agree
Liya
Nice ideas….Aden and Anais Blankets and A baby wearing carrier for mom are the gifts I selected to give my sister for her new born baby.