9 Gifts For Expecting Mothers That They’ll Genuinely Love

The nine best gifts for pregnant women and new parents that they actually want to receive.

Anticipating the arrival of a new baby is an exciting time, not only for the parents-to-be but also for those who have the privilege of celebrating alongside them. While hunting for gifts for expecting mothers is normal, the temptation to splurge on every cute toy, outfit or gadget on the market can be hard to overcome.

No matter how delightful these gifts may be, they are not always the most practical. New parents often find themselves inundated with items that, although lovely, end up as just a waste of space. This gift guide will help you find genuinely good presents for new parents with three different categories of goodies: useful gifts, meaningful presents and gifts for mom.

Useful Gifts

These gifts are for expecting mothers who will find them useful but may not think to buy them for themselves.

Breast Feeding Pillows

© Photo by Pittato Fit

Maternity pillows are often high on an expecting mom’s ‘want but don’t need’ list, making them amazing gifts. These specially designed pillows support a baby during breastfeeding, making the experience a little bit easier for new parents.

There are lots of different maternity pillow gift options, like My Brest Friend, which clips around mom’s waist to support the weight of their baby. A Boppy Pillow is another great choice as it is shaped like a large neck pillow for a baby to nestle into.

• Japanese Recommendation: Pitatto Fit Nursing Cushion
• Price: ¥4,510
• Where to buy it: 10mois Aoyama, Shiko Building 1F, 5-7 Minamiaoyama, Minato, Tokyo 
• Open: Wed to Mon, 11 a.m.–7 p.m.

Baby Bouncers

© Photo by Smart Angel

Most expecting Mothers will have bassinettes, cribs and strollers covered, but baby bouncers can be a game-changer gift. These bobbing seats should be lightweight enough to easily move around the home so that new parents always have somewhere to set down their baby.

The BabyBjorn Bouncer is a premium choice and generous gift that grows with a baby, or the Baby Delight Alpine Bouncer offers great quality at a more accessible price point.

• Japanese Recommendation: Nishimatsuya Smart Angel Baby Bouncer
• Price: ¥5,443
• Where to buy it: Sold at Nishimatsuya Stores

A Diaper Cake

© Photo by iStock: MirasWonderland

A popular baby shower group gift, a “diaper cake” elevates gifting less glamorous but extremely useful items. To make one, stack diapers together into a tiered wedding cake shape and decorate it with ribbons and small toys. Adding additional toiletry items like baby lotion, diaper cream and wet wipes is a great way to further the gift’s usefulness for expecting Moms.

• Price: ¥4,000~¥8,000
• Where to buy it: Diapers are available in most drugstores or baby stores like Akachan Honpo

Meaningful Gifts

The best meaningful gifts for expecting mothers are items that hold sentimental value without losing out on functionality.

Storybooks

© Photo by Wakiko Sato

Storytime is a beautiful moment for new parents to bond with their babies, and a great children’s book can be read over and over again for many years. To add meaning to this gift, select a book that you remember from your own childhood. Many foreign storybooks can be ordered online, or Kinokuniya locations have a large selection of English-language kids’s books that span many decades.

• Japanese Recommendation: I Say, You Say by Wakiko Sato
• Price: ¥2,200
• Where to buy it: Order online from Kosodavinavi.com

Omamori

© Photo by Suitengu Shrine

Give the gift of spiritual protection with omamori, a traditional amulet or charm sold at Shinto and Buddhist temples across Japan. There are many kinds of omamori, each offering luck and protection for a different purpose including for expecting parents.

Anzan omamori in particular offers protection for pregnancy and safe childbirth. This amulet can be purchased from most shrines, however, Suitengu Shrine in Nihombashi is specifically dedicated to the safe arrival of new babies.

• Tokyo Recommendation: Anzan omamori, extra charm and baby sash set
• Price: ¥4,000
• Where to buy it: Suitengu Shrine, 2-4 Nihonbashi, Chuo, Tokyo
• Open: Daily 7 a.m.–6 p.m.

Baby Hakama

© Photo by Sweet Mommy Baby

Gifting baby clothes can be tricky. Newborns grow out of outfits astonishingly quickly, and it is difficult to guess the taste or preference of expecting parents. Instead of buying every cute outfit for a newborn aged zero to three months, consider selecting a single special piece sized three to six months, such as a baby hakama.

Unlike kimono, baby hakama have pants and are often marketed as baby rompers in Japan. They’re practical clothing pieces that are cute but also hold sentimental value.

• Japanese Recommendation: Sweet Mommy Baby Hakama
• Price: ¥6,000~¥10,000
• Where to buy it: Sweet Mommy, Grand Maison Daikanyama, 3-7 Ebisuminami, Shibuya, Tokyo
• Open: Daily 10 a.m.–6 p.m.

Gifts for Mom

When everything is about the new baby, don’t forget to treat the mom because all expecting mothers deserve to be spoiled.

Massage Gift Card

© Photo by iStock: nensuria

Treat a pregnant woman to some much-needed rest and relaxation with a massage. Pregnancy can be an exhausting physical experience, especially in the months leading up to birth and every expecting Mom deserves some TLC. Don’t forget to look for spas that offer specific pregnancy-safe massage options such as The Peninsula Spa or Detox Spa Damai in Tokyo. 

• Tokyo Recommendation: Spa Damai 60-Minute Maternity Massage
• Price: ¥25,300
• Location: Yamate Space 2F, 1-4 Aobadai, Meguro, Tokyo
• Open: Daily from 10 a.m.–10 p.m.

Post-baby Sushi Dinner

© Photo by Shinjuku Makoto

Pregnancy-safe food recommendations vary significantly around the world. While Japan does not recommend avoiding raw fish, many Western countries do and many expat Moms choose to go without sushi when expecting.

Gift an expecting Mother a post-baby sushi dinner as both a delicious meal and an excuse to get out of the house and socialize. For a budget and baby-friendly option, consider kaiten zushi (train sushi) chains like Sushiro, Kura Sushi or Hamazushi.

• Tokyo Recommendation: Shinjuku Makoto Casual Omakase Course
• Price: ¥8,800
• Location: 103 Shinjuku I-Land Annex, 6-2 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku, Tokyo
• Open: Thu to Mon from 5 p.m.–10 p.m.

Hydrogel Breast Pads

© Photo by Momcozy

Gel breast pads are the best of all worlds: practical, thoughtful and a luxury item for new moms. Many expecting mothers avoid splurging on these items as hydrogel breast pads come at a premium cost but would truly appreciate receiving them as a gift.

• Recommendation: Momcozy Hydrogel Nipple Pads
• Price: ¥5,424 for a pack of six
• Where to buy it: Amazon

Have there been any gifts that you’ve given to any expecting mothers that they’ve especially been grateful for? If so, let us know about them in the comments!

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