Nanny to Mommy

Whether it’s the birth of her child, her birthday, her first Mother’s Day or “just because,” the new mom in your life deserves a gift that will make her feel special and appreciated. New moms are often somewhat forgotten about in all of the excitement surrounding the precious new life they brought into the world, but by making her a heartfelt gift, you can ensure that she will know just how much she means to you.

There are a lot of great things about becoming a parent, but life as a new mom can be hard. It’s often quite lonely, too, once the initial excitement of bringing home a brand-new baby has worn off. If you are looking for gift ideas for a special occasion or you would just like to do something special to brighten the new mom in your life’s day, here are a few DIY gifts that she is sure to love.

If there is one thing that a new mom desperately needs, it is something to help her destress. Being responsible for a baby who depends on you for absolutely everything is stressful, and for most new moms, finding ways to relax and unwind can be challenging. With this sugar scrub, she can pamper herself in the shower or bath as her stress melts away and flows down the drain. To make this scrub, you’ll need ¼ cup coconut oil, ½ cup brown sugar, ½ cup white sugar, stress-relieving essential oil and two half-pint Mason jars. You can use a stress-relief blend or choose one (or more) of the essential oils known to ease stress.

Mix the coconut oil and essential oil together well and then add in the sugars. Stir until everything is thoroughly combined and then place the scrub in Mason jars. Make a label letting the new mom know that to use this scrub. She should apply liberally and smooth over skin that’s in need of some TLC. Deeply inhale the relaxing aroma and then rinse off thoroughly.

For the new mom who is in desperate need of a long, relaxing soak in the tub, consider whipping up a bath of relaxing bath salts. Chances are, you already have most of the ingredients needed in your cupboards!

To make this bath salt, you’ll need ½ cup Epsom salts, ¼ cup rough sea salt, ¼ cup baking soda, 6 drops of lavender essential oil and a pint Mason jar. To make your bath salt extra special, you could also add a few pinches of dried lavender flowers, but this is optional. Mix all of your ingredients together and then pour into the Mason jar.

Let mom know that, during bath time, she should add about half a cup of the salt to hot or warm water and allow it to disperse before entering the tub.

Jewelry is almost always a good option when you are looking for a sentimental gift. You can make it even more special, though, by making it yourself instead of buying it from a store. Mother’s rings that show off the recipient’s children’s birthstones are a popular option, but if you want to be a bit more original, consider making a mother’s bracelet instead.

There are a few different ways to make a bracelet that any new mom would love. Gemstone beads work well because they are beautiful and they come in a wide range of sizes and shapes. Start by selecting the gemstone that corresponds with the month that the child was born. If you would like to keep things simple, all you need to do is string approximately seven inches worth of beads onto a piece of elastic. Tie a knot and you’re done.

If you would like to try making something a bit fancier, you can incorporate different gemstones or work with various jewelry-making findings to create a one-of-a-kind bracelet that she will surely treasure. You could even learn how to wire wrap beads to make a bracelet with a stunning focal stone.

As a new mom, letting go of stress and falling asleep is no easy task. Help the new mom in your life get some much-needed rest by making her a bottle of sleepy time spray. For this project, you’ll need one teaspoon of witch hazel, two ounces of filtered water, approximately 10 drops of lavender essential oil and a two-ounce glass spray bottle. Be sure to use a glass bottle as essential oils can damage plastic ones!

Combine all ingredients and then pour into the spray bottle. If you’d like to make the spray even better, you could also add a few tiny amethyst beads. Amethyst is said to aid sleep, so infusing the energy of this stone into your sleepy time spray can’t hurt!

You might not think of preparing a meal when you think of making a gift for a new mom, but trust us on this one. Life as a new parent is chaotic and stressful. When you’ve spent your entire day (and most of the night before) tending to a tiny human, cooking a healthy dinner is the last thing on your mind. If you want to do something that the new mom in your life (and her significant other, if she has one) will be incredibly grateful for, consider making a hot meal and delivering it to her door. If you are thinking about going this route, though, be sure to talk to her ahead of time to come up with menu ideas and decide when you should bring the meal.

The perfect DIY gift for a new mom doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated. Simply doing something that shows how much you care about her will serve as a perfect reminder of just how special she is. Whether you give her something that she can use to pamper herself or you simply save her from the hassle of making dinner for an evening, your effort will surely be appreciated.