The New Mom’s Needs/Wants/Wish List
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ost of us know that the last thing a new mom needs is unsolicited, easier-saidthan-done advice—“Sleep while the baby sleeps”… “Enjoy them while they’re young; they grow up so fast”…“Trust your gut”—but what’s tougher to figure out is how you can help her after the baby arrives. Part of the problem is that often, even the new mom doesn’t know what help she needs. And if she does, she won’t always ask. With that in mind, here’s a list—based on an informal poll of expectant and new moms—suggesting a few ideas. Pack a gift basket with the practical and the pleasurable: a reusable water bottle, for example, magazines, chocolate bars, small bags of nuts, lip balm, and maybe a gift certificate to a nearby coffee shop. Bring food. Better yet, cater a meal. Breakfast in bed, anyone? Or even in the rocking chair. If you don’t want to disturb the new parents, make a meal and leave it at the front door. Knock or text to alert them of its arrival. Don’t have time to cook? Drop off a bag of groceries instead. Or cook a meal during a visit. Make a Day-You-Were-Born Box. Fill it with newspaper clippings, photos, notes,
and memorabilia from the day the baby was born. Find ideas and instructions at spoonful.com/crafts/the-day-you-were-born. Spring for a subscription: Netflix for movies, Next Issue for magazines, or purchase an iTunes gift certificate for a few new songs or an app to help organize her new post-baby life. Movies, magazines, and music. Perfect for middle-of-the-night feedings. Offer to run errands. This can be especially helpful to moms who are recovering from a C-section. Call when you’re at a grocery store or pharmacy and check to see if she needs anything. If you’re met by an “Oh no, that’s okay, thanks”, try texting again—five minutes later. Gather a selection of take-out menus from nearby restaurants that deliver. Include a gift certificate to one of them. Take care of older siblings. Plan a special day, or even an hour, and make it all about them. Take them on an outing or keep them busy at home. Give a gift card for a pedicure and babysitting. Or spring for a shampoo and blow dry at a local salon. It’s a win-win: you get to cuddle the baby while the new mom gets to relax and be pampered.
Plan a Mom Shower for a month or so after the baby’s birth. Ask guests to bring a gift for the new mom—nothing extravagant, maybe a nice hand lotion, a new pair of socks, or fancy pajamas. Hire a cleaning service. Even for an hour
Editor’s Note Sue Fast or two. Or tackle some housework while you visit. Do the dishes or a load of laundry, sweep the floor, or vacuum. Holding the baby counts as help only if the new mom is having a shower or taking a nap! Snap photos of the new baby…and then send them to the proud parents. For an added touch, include a photo book gift card to Picaboo, Snapfish, Shutterfly, or Blurb. Or if the new mom has a selection of pregnancy photos on Facebook, assemble a photo book for her. Help her get outside. No need to go far, just around the block or to a nearby park. If getting outdoors is a stretch, bring news of the outside world. Listen more than you talk. Offer words of encouragement. Company. Support. And a spare pair of hands. Happy Mother’s Day.
Farewell…& Welcome
With this issue we bid farewell to former owners Paul and Anna Abra, along with partner Mada Moilliet, who since 1996 have grown Island Parent Magazine to include the annual Family Resource Guide, Family Summer Guide, Kids’ Guide to Vancouver Island, Community Info Services, Island Grandparent Magazine and the www.kidsinvictoria.com website. We will miss Paul, Anna and Mada’s presence at the magazine, but will always consider them—along with Island Parent Magazine founders Jim Holland and Selinde Krayenhoff—part of the Island Parent family. We thank Paul, Anna and Mada for their numerous contributions to the magazine over the years and wish them well in their future endeavours. Also with this issue we are pleased to welcome new owner and publisher Mark Warner who comes to Island Parent with extensive experience in the publishing industry, including a long-time position as a senior executive with Black Press. Mark is the father of two daughters, Aidan and Cassidy, and lives in Brentwood Bay. For more details, please see the official announcement on page 54.
www.IslandParent.ca
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