The Best Gifts for Pregnant People, According to Pregnant People

Buying things for the baby-to-come is always a nice gesture, too. Creative director Katie Merchant, who writes the Substack Thank You, OK, and is expecting her first child, loves this sweet baby brush from Officine Universelle Buly that can be monogrammed with the baby’s name.

[Editor’s note: Officine Universelle Buly lists all prices in euros, so the price shown is an approximate conversion in U.S. dollars.]

When I was pregnant with my first kid, a friend sent me a care package that included ginger chews, anti-nausea pressure bands, and this cheeky activity book that celebrates the absurdity of pregnancy with quizzes, fill-in-the-blanks, and journaling prompts. Instead of peddling the usual hyperpositive, “mama”-centric musings on what it’s like to have a bun in the oven, this pop-culture-reference-filled book lets you laugh at all the unpleasant things about growing a human inside of you, like the constipation, bloating, and epic mood swings that come with it.

Another way to capture moments during pregnancy is on film. Strategist senior writer Liza Corsillo used disposable cameras to record her growing belly when she was pregnant. “I wanted to document this period of time, but I also felt a little self-conscious in photos, so these disposable cameras made it easier to record certain moments or bump evolution without the immediate self-judgment that comes with hormonal shifts,” she said. “Plus, I always think film photos are more flattering.”

Some pregnant people experience restless legs syndrome, which often occurs at night and makes it hard to sleep. Sadie Stein, a writer and Strategist contributor, dealt with this when she was pregnant with her son, Hal, and found that “giving my legs a vigorous brush with a stiff-bristle body brush was the only thing that alleviated the feeling.” Nutritionist and mom-of-two Daphne Javitch uses this Japanese palm-fiber brush, explaining that it can feel cleansing and healing because it “increases circulation.”

Here’s another all-natural moisturizer made with beef tallow that Trinity Mouzon Wofford, founder of wellness company Golde, loves for how safe and hydrating it is, both in pregnancy and beyond. “My husband and I both use the tallow specifically on our dry hands,” she says. “With a new baby you are constantly hand washing after a million diaper changes, and you get really dry. The tallow is nourishing and protecting.” This particular formation is fragrance-free, so it’s great to use on baby skin, too.

Pregnancy cravings can run the gamut from shaved ice to spicy foods (and everything in between), and having an assortment of snacks to satisfy your current urge “is really nice because it changes so often and is really the most random things, like marshmallows!” says Jones. Japanese snack-subscription company Bokksu ships between 20 to 24 snacks, candies, and tea pairings directly from Japan, so you can gift the pregnant people on your list a snack for each of their sweet and salty whims. Every box comes with a little magazine that details each item’s origin, flavors, and potential common allergens, so they’ll know exactly what they’re biting into. Single boxes start at $65, or you can get them a three-, six-, or 12-month subscription.

This adorable lamb stuffy from Agnès B. that Merchant recommends comes with its own iconic snap cardigan.

[Editor’s note: Agnès B. lists all prices in euros, so the price shown is an approximate conversion in U.S. dollars.]

This porcelain massager can be used to target specific problem areas during pregnancy and postpartum, too. Strategist contributor Fiorella Valdesolo relied on it to combat carpal tunnel when she was pregnant (the condition is sometimes called “mommy thumb”) but also to alleviate clogged milk ducts when breastfeeding. To use, fill the porcelain vessel with hot water, cap it with the silicone lid, then pass the bumps across any sore spots. It’s glazed with crushed tourmaline crystal, which is supposed to have soothing, infrared properties.

Pregnant people can experience swelling, too, but good compression socks like these from Bombas can help. Corsillo wore them all throughout her third trimester and in the hospital, and while she said she still got really swollen anyway, “they made it more comfortable” because they were “so soft.” She adds, “I was also just nice to have warm socks that made me feel less stressed out about taking long car rides and also didn’t make me look like a grandma from 1950.” They also come in a merino wool blend, for colder climates.

For something slightly more formal than the Bae tee, consider this flowy button-up from Storq that I wore during both my pregnancies (and postpartum, too). It’s made of the softest, wrinkle-free, woven modal-blend fabric and can be worn as a shirt or a cover-up, pairing equally well with leggings or over a dress. It’s also roomy and long enough to cover your butt, but still manages to make you look put together.

A personalized-name stool like the classic from Damhorst Toys is another sweet gift that’ll get the pregnant person excited for the arrival of their little one. Edith Zimmerman, who writes the newsletter Drawing Links, calls it a “fabulous gift” that “we use constantly.” (Each of my two sons has their own, too.)