Being a new parent is challenging enough. There’s the adjustment to a newborn, the lack of sleep, and the crying that seems to never stop. Plus, it seems like there are never enough diapers! But quite often, the hospital sends a cold or virus home with mom or dad as well. Being sick while being exhausted is perhaps one of the worst new-parent experiences. That’s why it’s essential as a friend or family member to send only the best gifts.
Here are a few ideas to keep in mind:
Comfort Food
You can’t go wrong sending comfort food in a get well care package. It’s soothing, it’s nourishing, and it’s legitimately helpful. When someone is sick, much less caring for a newborn, the last thing they’re likely thinking of is feeding or caring for themselves. But the reality is that eating good food, especially for new mothers, is essential to actually caring for the baby. So sending or bringing healthy, rich, warm meals is actually good for everyone involved.
When it comes to healing from sickness, the best foods are those that are chock full of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory foods. Chicken soup, chicken pot pie, lasagna, and other casserole-style dishes are perfect. This is because they include healing ingredients like onions, garlic, tomatoes, potatoes, carrots, and herbs that help the body get better. Plus, they’re usually huge dishes that can be eaten as leftovers during those middle-of-the-night feedings.
Teas and Soothing Items
Speaking of herbs, teas are an ideal gift for new parents who’re not sleeping and who are struggling with a cold or flu. There are so many great options when it comes to teas, and virtually all of them will contribute to the wellness of an exhausted and sick new parent. Lavender is soothing, chamomile is good for digestive issues, ginger fights bacteria and inflammation, and peppermint soothes a sore throat. You really can’t go wrong with any variety of teas.
When sending a tea care package, plan to include all of the accoutrements your friend or family member will need. You can choose a few different loose teas or boxes to hit all the different aches and pains. Plus, you could add a French press for steeping the tea. Then, throw in a little pot of local honey with a serving spoon. Finally, you can add a mug or two with personalized messages on them, like “Mama” and “Daddy.” Your loved one will likely be delighted by the gift and get some healing properties out of it as well.
Babysitting Services
One of the hardest parts about being a new parent is finding time to do it all. New moms and dads have to cook, clean, care for the baby, care for themselves, pay bills, budget, and so much more. If the parent already has children, this problem of not enough time is only compounded. Add to it the guilt parents feel for now having fewer moments for the older kids. And now these parents are sick? Yes, life is going to be especially hard for a few days or weeks.
You can help a ton by sending or offering childcare services. This could come in the form of whisking off the older children for a park playdate and ice cream. You might even take the older kids to your house for a sleepover if you’re a close friend or family member. If the baby is the only child in the home, you can offer to come over and sit with, feed, and rock the baby while the parents try to get some rest and recover from their illness. For most new parents, any childcare help will feel like a huge weight off their shoulders.
Cleaning Services
Perhaps the next most obvious gift to send a new parent who’s getting no sleep and struggling with a cold or virus is cleaning services. They’ll care for the baby, of course, and maybe they’ll even eat cold pizza out of the fridge when they get a chance. But the house tends to become the last item on the list of things to do when everything feels like chaos. The laundry piles up, the ring around the toilet bowl grows darker, and the dishes start teetering on the end of the sink.
Getting a maid service into the house a couple of times a week can genuinely make so many parts of this period easier. You’ll be both providing the actual cleaning and you’ll be lifting moods and even contributing to healing. It’s really hard to recover from sickness when you’re surrounded by a mess. If you can’t find a cleaning service you like, you can recruit friends and family to get over to the new parents’ home for a Pine-Sol overhaul yourselves.
A Care Package of Essentials
Finally, one unexpected gift you can offer to a sick, sleepy, new mom and dad is a basket of items from their shopping list. Of course, most grocery stores deliver these days, and Amazon can usually deliver packages within days if not hours. But your loved ones might not even realize all the little helpful treats that can help in these tough times. And once your cozy sick care package arrives, they may just be overwhelmed by how helpful and thoughtful it all is.
Start with a large, open basket, and line it with a cozy blanket to keep the tired parents warm. Then, you can build from there. Consider items like cold or flu medicine, tissues, throat lozenges, and cozy socks to keep their feet warm. You can also add a cute little plant to cheer them up and a greeting card with a sweet message inside. This basket is a surefire way to lift spirits, renew energy, and get these parents on the road to recovery.
In the end, you can choose from any number of ways to help your loved ones through this crazy period of their lives. Think of your friend or family member, what they’ve told you about how they’re feeling, and how you might best meet their needs. And don’t feel like you have to limit yourself to only babysitting or housecleaning. You can offer multiple sources of help. After all, it takes a village, and in this moment, you’re one of the villagers.
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