Whether you’re creating your baby registry or you’re the baby gift giver, I started thinking about some non-traditional gifts that might be off the beaten path but are easy to get when you have a baby.
Here’s what I came up with for great non-baby items for new parents:
1. Battery
I don’t think there has ever been a time in my life where I blew through so many batteries like when I had babies. Swings, toys, vibrating mats things I prayed would help them sleep. All of them require about 700 AAA batteries. I find AA and AAA the size of choice for most things, but those jerks C and D come in for a lot of toys.
2. Food
Whether it’s a meal kit delivery service, take out gift cards, or a slow cooker with a freezer full of dump and go meals, I think every new mom should register for some type of food. You have to eat and you may not feel like cooking for the first few days, months, years.
3. A Good White Noise Machine
There are many baby versions, apps, and toys out there that play white noise, but you want one that isn’t looping and has a loud, loud sound. I’m a big fan of Lectrofan because it can drown ANYTHING and you can use it past the baby stage.
4. App Subscriptions
Lots of apps and sites have amazing paid versions that are a fraction of the cost of personal experts. For example, you can get a full year of Huckleberry’s Premium Membership for under $100. That’s 12 months of saving your sanity on sleep!
5. A Dog Walker
If shoveling poop with a 4-day-old baby strapped to your chest isn’t your idea of fun, then add a dog walker to your registry.
6. A Roomba
Not only does this keep dust bunnies and dirt off your floor, but you can also justify it as a safety thing because it keeps choking hazards to a minimum. You see what I did there? (Also note that I chose the most expensive Roomba for my example – I don’t own one so I’m living off your baby registry so let me have it, okay.)
7. Streaming Entertainment
Whether it’s Netflix, Disney+, or HBO, you get great entertainment for all-night viewing when your baby wakes up at 1:00, then 2:00, then 3:15, then 3:34, then 5: 57. Netflix and chill have a new meaning.
8. A Great Humidifier
Humidifiers are great for keeping moisture in the air and for coughs and colds. I’m a big fan of the classic teardrop, but there are a lot of fun shows out there. (Public service note: don’t stick essential oils in these – it cracks the clear plastic tank. Get a separate oil diffuser if you want to jack up the room full of lavender.)
9. Car Seat Cleaning/Installation
There are plenty of free services that will make sure you install your car seat correctly, but Baby Quip goes above and beyond with cleaning up the horror of them. Bye bye back shits and raisins!
10. Postpartum Doula
If only there was a group of wonderful people who know all about babies and postpartum care who can help new moms navigate the nutty post birth world. Oh wait, that’s a postpartum doula! I know it feels rotten, but just swinging by them once a week is usually less than a dinner out and can save you and your partner a lot of ‘is that normal’ googling.
11. Cash Fund
Need to save money for daycare? Diapers? School? Bail out? Registry sites like Babylist let you add a cash fund to your registry and people can add to it like a mini Kickstarter.
What do you think is the best non-baby gift for new parents?
What did I forget? What would you add?
Our next reco: Top Baby Registries Comparison
