We’ve spent a lot of time talking to new parents and curating the best practical baby gifts. And of course, they have to fit our high standards. That means they should be legitimately practical baby gifts, but they also have to feel gifty and cool. (Always cool!) Like you don’t need us to tell you that parents need the big box store jumbo pack of wipes and butt cream, right? So we don’t.

In other words, these 24 ideas are the best practical baby gifts that new parents will love to get…and that you’ll also love to give, because you’ll be helping them a ton. Hey, new parents need all the help they can get.

Above: Hatch Rest Baby Sound Machine and Night Light

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The Best Practical Baby Gifts for New Parents: Our favorites this year

A Week (or Month) of Meals for New Parents

For Parents Who Cook: Hello Fresh Meal Kits | Meals start at $9.99/serving for 3-6 meals/week
There is nothing more practical than knowing you have good food when you’re hungry and you don’t have to think about what to make or what ingredients you need. If you’re not nearby (or not the type to whip up a week’s worth of freezer meals yourself) Hello Fresh Meal Kits are a smart, practical gift for new parents. They’re customizable by taste and diet, and even have an option for under-20-minute meals. For families that already have kids at home, Tthe Family Plan is a lifesaver, and the first box ships free.
(Disclaimer: They’re a new partner of ours, but we’ve been recommending them for years.)

For Parents Who Want Someone Else to Cook: Factor 75 Ready-to-Eat Chef-Prepared Meals | Starting at $9.99/serving
A week or more of Factor 75 meals is a thoughtful, practical gift for new parents who just want to “heat and eat,” but still get the kind of food they’d find in a gourmet restaurant. This #1 ready-to-eat meal delivery service offers nutritious dishes that are chef-prepped and ready to go. Bonus: They offer add-ons like snacks and sides — that smoothie bundle is like the perfect grab-and-go (or uh, grab-and-stay) breakfast for tired new parents. 10 meals/week is a generous gift for two adults!

The Ultimate in Family Organization

Skylight Calendar | $139.99 and up, Skylight Frame
If they’ve got more than one kid to keep track of, this calendar is a lifesaver. It’s the most streamlined way to make sure the whole family is on the same (digital) page, from meal planning to doctor appointments to individual kid events. Our readers swear by it and their new app redesign is beautifully simple.

The Baby Swing That Feels Most Like a Parent’s Own Arms

MamaRoo Baby Swing | $269.99, 4Moms | Save 20% with code COOLMOM20
This is the baby swing that reinvented baby swings — the only one with motions that mimic a parent’s natural rhythms and movement, for easier transitions from arms to swing. Bluetooth-connected and with optional app controls, it’s got 5 motions, 5 speeds, 4 sounds, and now 6 gorgeous colors that don’t look like a rainbow attacked the family room.
(They’re a recent sponsor, but we’ve been singing their praises since the day they launched!)

Note: The 20% off discount code is good on any order over $199, no expiration date.

A Diaper Subscription (The Good Kind)

Monthly Diaper Bundle Subscription | $21/pack of 30-42 diapers each, with 30% discount for bundles
Parents are raving about the first-ever EWG-Verified diapers. Chlorine-free, with a 15% organic cotton outer layer, it’s soft, safe, and even provides overnight leak protection. Best of all, you can swap or size up any time.

A Super Speedy Touchless Thermometer

Fridababy 3-in-1 Thermometer | $39.88 on sale, Amazon
A one-second temperature read. Yes, one second! Because when your baby is sick, even that feels like forever.
Also check out the full Fridababy Baby Basics Kit at Kohl’s for just $39.99. Terrific gift set already boxed for you!

A DIY Postpartum Recovery Kit

A blissfully practical baby gift idea. Get creative! Splurge or get thrifty. Give her one item, or put together a whole basket of care-taking goodies. Here are a few starters:

Other practical ideas for new moms: Maxi pads, nipple cream, nursing pads, Kit Kats. (Just us?)

Photo Organization (and Sharing!) Made Easier From Day One

Mylio | $99/1 year subscription with free 7-day trial

This incredible service helps you organize, edit, privately share, and search all your media across platforms in one place. It backs up those precious memories, and gives a safer, more private alternative to social media sharing since it’s all stored on your own devices. It’s a brilliant, practical baby shower gift that we’ve recommended for years — and now they’ve made it easier to gift a subscription to Mylio Photos for that very reason.

The Cult Favorite, Wildly Affordable, Still Stylsh Diaper Backpack

Ruvalino Diaper Backpack | Starting at $38 on sale, Amazon
After 10 years of trying them out, props to Ruvalino for making the thoughtfully designed diaper backpacks with all the pockets, padding, and features you need. Tons of colors and designs, and they make perfect dad bags too.

A Little Help With Waking Up…and Getting To Sleep

Caffeine-Free Rejuvenating Tea Bundle Gift Set | $41 Art of Tea
Okay, so maybe parents need less help with getting to sleep. Still, it’s a delicious, thoughtful, and practical baby shower gif.t

A Fan To Take From Crib to Stroller

SmartDevil Clip-On Stroller Fan | $39, Amazon
Expecting in the summer months? This fan’s octopus tripod wrap-around grip makes it amazingly handy, wrapping around stroller handles, crib rails, a beach umbrella, and anywhere an extended nursing session takes place.

The Most Comfortable Wearable Breast Pump

Willow Go Breast Pump or Willow 360 Breast Pump | $262-374 on sale, Willow

A thoughtful practical baby gift — a breast bump for moms who intend to breastfeed. This one is rated 100% comfortable by moms, is discrete under shirts, and can even help extend breastfeeding time because it’s just that comfortable, effective, and easy.

The maternity robe celebrity moms adore

Luxury Pima Maternity Robe | $118, Petite Plume with optional monogramming

She will live in this (literally) from those pregnant days at home, to those postpartum days…at home. It’s both a luxury baby shower gift and a practical baby shower gift, and evidently approved by everyone from Kate Hudson to Kim Kardashian to Princess Kate Middleton,

Better Sleep, Ahhh

Hatch Rest Baby Sound Machine and Night Light | $59, Amazon
App-enabled, dimmable clock, sleep stories and more — all to help your baby sleep better. And parents too.

The Ultimate Practical Keepsake

Personalized Ruler Growth Charts | $258, Olive & Cocoa
Generations of parents have dutifully tracked their kids’ growth on walls, doors, and doorframes. This one let’s you save the memories without accidentally painting over it one day, or losing it if you move. (Sniff.)

An OB-GYN Approved Stretch Mark Helper

(The Spoiled Mama Tummy Butter, $68 on sale, The Spoiled Mama)

A Top-Rated Travel System (In Cute Colors)

Graco Verb Click Connect Travel System with SnugRide Infant Car Seat | $164.99, Target
Spoiler alert: You don’t have to spend thousands to get a terrific travel system. This one comes in cute patterns too!
Maybe add in a gas gift card to get them on the road — or at least a gift card for the coffee shop in town!

Two Free Hands

Bandolier Crossbody Designer Phone Case | $100 and up , Bandolier
Since moms always wish we had more hands, our favorite wearable phone case at least lets you use the ones you’ve already got.

A Diaper Pail That Doesn’t Stink

Diaper Dekor Plus | $49.99 and up, Amazon
Sleek, sophisticated, and basically smell-proof. To be extra thoughtful, add some diaper bag refills.

Baby Shoes That Are Definitely Not Sneakers

Timberland Crib Bootie and Cap Set | $44.99 on sale, Footlocker
Yes, baby sneakers are adorbs but getting them on and off…oof. Instead, try these crib booties that are wildly cute for boys or girls, and a soft leather outsole allows for actual crawling — and walking??)

A Back-Saving Baby Carrier

Ergobaby Baby Carriers | $109 and up, Ergo Baby
The baby carrier we’ve actually used from 4 mos to 4 years is a favorite among babywearers for a reason. Perfect for moms, dads, sitters, and very very generous grandparents.

A Humidifier That Does A Little Extra

Babymoov Hygro + 3-in-1 Humidifier | $69.99 on sale, Amazon
It humidifies, it lights, it diffuses essential oils…the only thing it doesn’t do is rock the baby to sleep.

The Gift of Silence

Cushy Closer Door Silencer | $9.95 or $26.50/set of 3, Cushy Closer
Because nothing is more frustrating than waking a baby up when they finally get to sleep.

A Sterilizer for…Everything

Verilux CleanWave Portable Sterilizing Wand | $59.99 on sale, Amazon
As if new parents weren’t already germophobes before Covid.

A DIY Baby Food Maker That Beats The Rest

Beaba BabyCook Neo 4-in1 Glass Baby Food Maker | $259, Amazon or Nordstrom
The top-rated baby food makers is a little pricey, but as far as practical baby gifts go, it will save you a fortune on ready-made stuff in the long run. It will steam cook, blend, defrost, and prepare up to 34 servings of baby food in 20 minutes. Magic!

Coooooffffeeeeeee…

Mama Needs Coffee Stoneware Mug | $19.99, Sweetwater Decor
Bodum French Press | $19.99 on sale, Amazon
BLK&BOLD Dark Roast | $14/12 oz, BLK and BOLD

Put together a DIY coffee gift pack for new parents. They’ll be THRILLED! An encouraging new mug should definitely be part of the mix. And hey, you can always trade up for a Trade Coffee gift subscription to keep the beans coming.