baby shower giftsAhhh, parenthood. That beautiful adventure that commences with the long-anticipated arrival of a little bundle of joy. A little bundle that means big changes for the new mom and dad…

And with those big changes on the way, sometimes it’s a good idea to look beyond the baby shower when it comes to picking out gifts for new parents.

Now don’t get me wrong! I’m a strong advocate of theme parties and games, diaper cakes, decorating onesies, and gift wrapping cute baby-lovin’ essentials. Especially if cupcakes and mimosas are involved.

And those “diaper parties” that dudes even throw for their bros, to bring gifts for him? The said gifts tend to be diapers, in exchange for the chance to spend an afternoon drinking beer with the dad-to-be, before those diapers actually come in handy. Pure genius, if you ask me.

Collectively, these get-togethers provide an awesome way to share quality time with friends and family, while preparing for Baby’s big arrival. And they give us girls a chance to “oooh” and “awww” over items for tiny humans and not feel the least bit bad about it. Because these are very necessary baby shower gifts. Obviously.

baby shower gifts_stork

But, what happens after the little lad or lady is welcomed into the world — when the parents’ world encounters an abrupt shift? No matter how prepared they are, nor how impressive their haul of (entirely cute and crucial) baby shower presents, parenting means life —as they know it— is forever changed. As I’m sure every parent would agree.

Now I’m not going to dive into the pros and cons of embarking on this new lifestyle. Because while I may be a proud, repeat winner of the “Auntie of the Year” award, on top of making fairly consistent baby shower appearances, I’m not yet a parent myself. So let’s simply focus instead on how the addition of offspring makes life different. Very different…

When parenting hits, meals may go half-eaten or not touched at all. A once pristine home may not see a vacuum for months. A Netflix account that was rarely used may suddenly encounter binge watching marathons while the baby snoozes. Coffee sometimes trumps sleep, purely out of necessity. Running to the store once entailed just a sweater and wristlet, and now requires a stroller, diaper bag, wipes, bottle, snacks, chew toys, and jacket, etc. MOPS meet-ups replace happy hour catch-ups with the girls. And so on and so forth (in fact, y’all honestly deserve a medal)….

Enter the need, then, to select and give the best gifts for new parents. Ever.

baby shower gifts_baby

For our purposes here, I’m going to give you ONE priceless gift idea to cover all the (selfless and sacrificial) bases mentioned above.

It’s a gift that requires no packing, nor transportation of the parents or child(ren). It cleans up after itself. It keeps the new mom and dad socialized, and gives them a chance to reconnect and schmooze with their buds. And it’s so delicious, nothing will go only half-eaten; in fact, everyone involved will likely be part of the Clean Plate Club. The incorporation of Netflix is entirely optional. Are you chomping at the bit to know what it is yet?

Oh, and maybe the best part yet: as the gift-giver, you will bestow something that leaves a long-lasting impression, but requires minimal work.

Essentially, it’s one gift for new parents to rule them all. (*Drumroll please…*)

fork spoon - private chef gift

Give the gift of a personal, in-home chef for the evening!

While this may replace a typical baby shower gift, it shouldn’t take the place of family and friends swinging by the house to meet the little one and fill the new parents’ fridge with heatable meals.

Rather, it’s the type of gift for a new mom and dad that gives them a classy, but very low-maintenance evening to look forward to, to help them relax, calm any nerves, and curb any ‘stir-crazy’ feelings.

gift ideas for new parents

gifts for new parents

In fact, here’s what the new parents can expect of a present like this…

  • Consultation – The hired chef will chat with the lucky dinner recipients in advance to plan a menu. They can be as lenient or picky as they like, it’s their special night!
  • Convenience – All the ingredients and culinary supplies will be provided by the chef. The new parents only need to provide plates and an eager appetite.
  • Class – Don’t expect an ‘ordinary’ meal. From aesthetically-pleasing presentation to palate-pleasing flavors, the chef is on a mission to whip up gourmet goodness that really delivers a wow-factor!
  • Comfort – As far as gifts for new parents go, this one is ideal because Mom and Dad can relax in the coziness of their own home. They can dress to impress if they wish. Or, while the food itself may exude class and sophistication, there’s also nothing wrong with savoring it in a pair of sweatpants (with the baby monitor not too far away).
  • Good Company – Dinner parties typically accommodate a party of up to four or six. So the new parents can share the memorable evening with a couple close friends or family. And the chefs in this business usually enjoy being around people, undoubtedly adding to the social ambiance to the desired extent of the guests.
  • Clean-Up – Don’t even think about lifting a finger. The chef will take full responsibility for leaving the kitchen even more spotless than he/she found it, including washing any dishes and cutlery utilized.

gifts-for-new-parents-cheers-dinner-party

So the next time you have friends or family who are expecting, wrap up an extraordinarily unique gift for new parents that says both “congrats on the baby” and “bon appétit!

baby shower gifts for new parents

Need a few more ideas that go beyond traditional baby shower gifts? Lend a bigger hand than you’ll ever realize with gifts for new moms and dads that come as gestures like:

  • Schedule a cleaning service to spruce up the family digs.
  • Load up a coffee gift card for those involuntary moments when caffeine trumps sleep.
  • Subscribe them to a movie/tv-streaming account (Apple TV, Netflix, Hulu, On Demand, etc.)
  • Offer to babysit so they can take a quick break to grab a drink (or maybe even a few winks).
  • Send them for a refreshing, renewing spa treatment. Even a basic massage or a simple mani-pedi will work wonders!

heart

 


Didn't find what you were looking for? Search our collection of over 2,300 experiences to find the perfect gift!