As exciting as pregnancy can be, it can also be uncomfortable, anxiety-filled, and completely discombobulating. The body goes through so many changes that it can be difficult for the mom-to-be to feel like herself for nine-plus months, which is why a gift that pampers and puts her at ease can go a long way toward making this new stage of life more enjoyable. To help you shop for the pregnant person in your life, I rounded up a bunch of ideas from a handful of pregnant (or recently pregnant) people, including from Strategist staffers and yours truly, about the gifts they swear by — or wished they had gotten. Whether she’s struggling with morning sickness or restless-leg syndrome, hunting for maternity clothing that actually fits and looks good, or craving all the snacks, here’s 23 gifts that will soothe, amuse, and get her ready for her due date. For gifts for the baby, check out 100 of the Strategist’s favorite baby-registry picks here. And for everyone else on your list, head to our holiday-gift-guide hub.
Update on December 10, 2024: Added new products; updated prices and checked stock for all products.
Gifts $25 and under
This giftable set of Earth Mama’s clean, cruelty-free skin-care items includes lip balm, belly oil, deodorant, and body wash in travel-size bottles, making them a great stocking stuffer for someone who’s expecting. Kelli Shepard, the design director for Ralph Lauren’s women’s collection, is partial to the brand’s lip balms but loves the whole range, saying, “I feel great knowing that these are 100 percent kiss-approved — safe for baby and mama both.”
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.
If the activity book feels a little too irreverent, a guided journal like this one from Papier might be more their speed. While this wellness-themed one isn’t specifically for pregnancy, the prompts are relevant. They can track their daily energy levels, movement, and sleep goals, all of which are important to be mindful of when there’s a bun in the oven.
They will most likely already have What to Expect When You’re Expecting and Emily Oster’s Expecting Better, two no-nonsense books on pregnancy, but for something a little more old school, consider this book by midwife Ina May Gaskin. “I recommend this book to every pregnant person,” says Trinity Mouzon Wofford, founder of wellness company Golde. “Warning, it may convince you to try a home birth.”
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.”
You can pair the brush with Everyday Oil’s Mainstay blend, a favorite of Strategist senior editor Winnie Yang when she was pregnant. (It’s also beloved by actress Kate Berlant and cook Molly Baz.) Yang used it on her belly beginning in the first trimester and beyond. “I find the woody, herbaceous scent soothing and relaxing, and I think it might help with sleep,” she told us. “I rub it on as the very last thing I do before I turn in. It absorbs well and moisturizes well, but mostly I like the texture, which is not light, and the fragrance.”
Gifts $50 and under
Here’s another all-natural moisturizer made with beef tallow that Mouzon Wofford 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.
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 just welcomed her first child, loves this sweet baby brush from Officine Universelle Buly that can be monogrammed with the baby’s name.
[Editor’s note: The brush is currently on backorder, but you can sign up to be notified by email when it is restocked. Officine Universelle Buly lists all prices in euros, so the price shown is an approximate conversion in U.S. dollars.]
Finding comfortable, actually cute maternity clothing is harder than it sounds. Yang was looking for an alternative to formfitting tops with ruching on the sides when she came across this “not tight” T-shirt from Bae at the beginning of her third trimester. “I liked that first one so much I bought three more a week after I had the baby,” she said. “I wore these almost every day for five months straight. It’s really good for nursing; I like how it keeps my midsection covered and drafts out when I’m pumping.”
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.
Gifts $100 and under
Cute, comfortable maternity clothing is notoriously difficult to come by, so consider it a win when you can find normal clothing that works with a bump. Merchant has loved wearing these low-rise pants from Cou Cou in her last trimester, calling them “extremely comfortable and soft.”
Here’s something a little more luxe. Home and lifestyle editor Elyse Moody bought these 100 percent cashmere joggers when she was pregnant with her second child and promises that they would make an excellent gift.
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 body pillow to support sleeping on your side is another item that will help a pregnant person get a more comfortable night’s sleep. Yang purchased this down-alternative one after striking out with other pillows she’d tried during previous pregnancies. “This pillow is exactly what I had hoped for: soft, lofty, airy, and cooling when I feel overly warm; warm and comforting when I feel a little cold; and easy to maneuver into place,” she wrote. They can pair it with this lovely linen cover.
Here’s an oil specifically formulated for postpartum care by Ebi, a Black-owned business that makes its products by hand using plant-based ingredients. Diamond loved the therapeutic, organic belly oil for relaxing after a long day. “It’s really good for your skin and is superluxurious,” she said. “I loved the ritual of putting it on every night. It was a great way to wind down.”
Gifts $150 and up
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.)
Both Merchant and Mouzon Wofford agree that a flow-y nightgown can also be a nice, versatile alternative to traditional maternitywear. Mouzon Wofford particularly likes this cotton one from Toast that will grow with your belly.
Caraa makes some very stylish diaper bags and baby accessories that don’t scream “baby,” including this changing kit that could easily pass for a clutch. Made from a cloudlike padded and waterproof nylon, the portable diaper station comes with a removable memory-foam changing pad, pockets for diapers, wipes, and more, and a stroller strap.
A gift card from the Yinova Center, an acupuncture and Chinese-medicine practice based in New York, topped Corsillo’s pregnancy wish list. “I started going to Yinova on a weekly basis for fertility-focused acupuncture. When I was pregnant, I would go for help with anxiety and all the little aches and pains I had been getting as my body changes,” she says. “It was a calm oasis that I looked forward to every week.”
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