Non-traditional baby shower gift suggestions from a crunchy mom
It’s no secret that I’m a crunchy mama, I try to align what I do as a parent and photographer with a natural or primitive mindset. I like to let natural biology lead the way. While this isn’t the mainstream way to parent or run photography business, it is on the rise in our world and I love to support other moms in their journey to crunchiness. So maybe you’re here for non-traditional ideas for gifts for another mom in your life or ideas on what to ask for at your own baby shower, either way I’m here to help. There is a quite large crunchy (formerly known as “granola”) community in Spokane, Wa and I love to connect anyone who asks with the crunchy pros in our area. So here are my top picks for non-traditional baby shower gifts, because let’s be honest, who needs another pair of baby socks?
Funds for midwifery/doula care
Many don’t know this, but most midwives do not accept insurance and are cash pay only. Some look at this as a downside, BUT privately hired midwives and their services are significantly cheaper than OB’s and hospital births and usually offer financing options, because they care deeply about the mothers they serve. So funds for a midwife are invaluable. Doulas typically don’t accept insurance either, and they can be great for the moms in your life that are planning a hospital birth, for whatever the reason may be, doulas can be critical in the advocating process for the mother and her family while in the hospital.
Postpartum doula package
Postpartum doula services are a little different than birth doulas in that they are support for the mother and baby AFTER birth. A postpartum doula can step in and help for mothers that may not have family near by or whose husbands must return to work quickly. Postpartum doulas can help with housework, baby care, cooking, supporting a nervous first time mom, all sorts of things, which makes funds for one a fantastic gift to a new mom.
Funds for lactation consultant visit or potential revision cost
Most moms go into birth with the plan to breastfeed. While breastfeeding is natural, it doesn’t always come naturally with your first baby or even your third, every baby is different and so is every breastfeeding experience. Failed breastfeeding attempts can be traumatic for a mother, so funds for a lactation consultant can be highly beneficial to a mother and baby. A private lactation consultant is better than a hospital provided consultant, because they have much more time to work with and support the new mom and baby within their home and are not as quick to push formula. Some babies need tongue-tie revisions to be able to nurse properly, so funds to help with that can also be a great gift.
Postpartum body work-
Postpartum body work can be chiropractic, massage, pelvic floor therapy and many others. Pregnancy and birth are hard on the body and many moms find that their bodies need more support in the months following birth. These are a great way to care for the new mom.
House work, meal trains, grocery gift cards
In the first month postpartum, mom should be horizontal in bed nursing and cuddling her new baby. So a great way to support mom and baby is by providing housework or a house cleaning service, delivered meals without extra visitors, premade freezer meals that can be thrown in a crockpot, or grocery gift cards for delivery or curbside pick up.
Newborn photography
This is often overlooked a gift option. Having a photographer come to the home of the family with the new baby is a total gift. Moms want quality pictures of their new baby to last a lifetime, but often don’t pay to have it done because of all of the other expenses that come with being a new mom. Cell phone pictures are great, but mom may not be as flattered in them and the photos may not ever be printed and when they are- the quality will not be good. So definitely consider buying the new mom in your life an in-home newborn photoshoot.
Funds for counseling
Sometimes birth, breastfeeding, or early parenthood do not go as planned and it can leave mom in a tough place emotionally. So consider providing funds for counseling to the new mom as another gift option. She may not need it right away, but at some point it could be very valuable to her and her family.
Hopefully this list is helpful to you in your quest to pick the best non-traditional baby gift. This list of items is not spoken of often, but most moms will tell you that any one of these would be more valuable than any crib mattress or set of bottles on a registry.
If you’d like information on postpartum pros in the Spokane, area, I’d love to suggest a few so feel free to reach out!
If you’d like to purchase an in-home newborn session for a mom in your life, reach out to me below!