The 12 Best Gifts for New Parents of 2021

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Our Top Picks

InnoGear Essential Oil Diffuser at Amazon

"New parents can use this oil diffuser to help them relax, fall asleep, or even perk up with its two misting modes and mood light."

“Le Petit Baby Book” at Amazon

"A more sentimental baby gift, this book features space for ultrasound photos as well as a milestone journal. "

Alaska Bear Natural Silk Sleep Mask at Amazon

"Safe for sensitive skin, this hypoallergenic mask will help make midday naps a little more comfortable."

Sony Wireless, Noise-Cancelling Headphones at Amazon

"Wireless and adjustable, these noise-canceling headphones offer quality sound for when parents get a rare moment to themselves."

Zyllion Shiatsu Back and Neck Massager with Heat at Amazon

"Complete with a rotating kneading massage style as well as heat therapy, it's designed to fit comfortably behind the back or neck."

Mud Pie Monthly Milestone Blanket & Frame Set at Amazon

"Parents can use this cotton blanket and frame set to stage their monthly milestone pictures for their baby book."

Keurig K-Slim Coffee Maker at Amazon

"Energize your mornings with this single-cup coffee maker, featuring a 48-ounce water reservoir and auto-shutoff."

UGG Men’s Scuff Slipper at Amazon

"The exterior is made from 100% suede with a rubber sole while the interior is filled with soft sheepskin lining."

Corkcicle 16 oz. Insulated Coffee Mug at Amazon

"Never again worry about finishing a cup of joe while it's still hot with this insulated mug that keeps drinks warm for hours."

Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker at Amazon

"Simplify the meal prep process with this Instant Pot, which functions as a yogurt maker, slow cooker, rice cooker, and steamer."

After welcoming a new baby, the needs of the parents can get cast aside while everyone focuses all of their attention on the newborn baby. But, new parents need some love, too! In those early days, while they’re running around trying to tend to their little one, parents can also put their own needs aside, so a gift that makes life a little easier or gives them a minute of self-care is exactly what they need.

Here are some great gift ideas for the new parent in your life.

Our Top Picks

InnoGear Essential Oil Diffuser

New parents will love clicking on this oil diffuser to help them relax, fall asleep, or even perk up. It’s available in five design options, all of which are compact and offer two room-temperature misting modes with run times between six and eight hours and auto shut-off. This diffuser can also create a relaxing ambiance with its mood light that can be set to dim or bright.

“Le Petit Baby Book”

A baby memory book is one of the more sentimental baby gifts you can give to a new parent. With spaces for ultrasound photos and pages to track milestones, this book is great to give before or after the baby arrives. To top it all off, this adorable book also features pop-up pages and adorable artwork throughout.

Alaska Bear Natural Silk Sleep Mask

New parents need to sleep whenever they have a chance, including in the middle of the afternoon when the sun is shining bright. This sleep mask with cotton interior lining and silk exterior covering will help make those mid-day naps a little more comfortable. It’s available in a variety of different colors, is hypoallergenic and great for all skin types, and has a fully adjustable head strap.

Sony Wireless, Noise-Cancelling Headphones

If a parent gets a rare moment for themself while someone else is watching the baby, sounds of crying are hard to ignore and relax through, so a pair of noise-canceling headphones will make for a wonderful gift. These headphones are wireless with an extended battery life of up to 35 hours. They are adjustable for maximum comfort and are designed with “dual noise technology” which helps keep out external noise.

Zyllion Shiatsu Back and Neck Massager with Heat

All of those late-night feedings can do a real number on a person’s neck and shoulders, which is why this massager is such an amazing gift. It features a rotating kneading massage style as well as optional heat therapy (with auto-shutoff) to help loosen up the muscles even more. It’s ergonomically designed to fit comfortably between the back and a chair or to lay on for a neck massage.

Mud Pie Monthly Milestone Blanket & Frame Set

Parents can use this blanket and frame set to stage their monthly milestone pictures for the baby book and social media. The blanket is a 45-inch square and is made from 100% cotton, which can be machine washed and tumble dried. Finally, the included frame is made completely out of felting so there aren’t sharp corners for the baby to roll into.

Keurig K-Slim Coffee Maker

When you’re a new parent, getting sleep in three-hour stretches, you’re going to need your morning tea or coffee to give you some energy. This single-cup coffee maker does most of the work, making the caffeine preparation process quicker and easier.

It can brew 8, 10, and 12-ounce cups using single-serve Kcup pods, which are available in a variety of flavors. The machine has a power-saving auto-shutoff and a 48-ounce water reservoir that can make up to six cups of coffee before it needs to be refilled.

UGG Men’s Scuff Slipper

Shuffling around the house in the dark (or the day) is a little more enjoyable when your feet are cozied up in some soft slippers like these. The exterior is made from 100% suede with a rubber sole while the interior is filled with soft, plush sheepskin lining. These slippers are available in men sizes 7-18 and in an assortment of colors.

Corkcicle 16 oz. Insulated Coffee Mug

It’s hard for new parents to have enough time to finish a cup of coffee while it’s still hot, which is why this 16-ounce mug is such a great gift. It’s made from stainless steel and is fully insulated and will keep a drink warm for up to three hours. It has a safe travel lid to avoid spills when they are on the go, a comfortable handle, and comes in a variety of colors and patterns.

Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker

Meals in early parenthood consist of whatever is quick and easy to make, which is why the Instant Pot is such a great gift. It functions as a pressure cooker, yogurt maker, slow cooker, rice cooker, steamer, warmer, and more.

All a parent has to do is pop some food into the 6-quart pot, press a button to get the settings right, and the Instant Pot does the rest. Cleanup is just as easy, as the lid and all other removable parts are safe to toss into the dishwasher.

iRobot Roomba 675 Robot Vacuum

New parents barely have the time or energy to shower, let alone clean the house, so this robot vacuum that does the work for them will be their favorite thing. All they have to do is download the app and schedule a cleanup and the Roomba will do the rest. It has adaptive navigation technology so it learns the area it cleans to avoid running into furniture and walls.

It’s also compatible with Google Home and Amazon Echo, so parents whose arms are occupied by a baby can simply call a command into their speaker and the vacuum will start right up.

Baby Shusher Sound Machine

One of the most important parenting skills to master early is soothing your baby to sleep. Unfortunately, that skill doesn’t always come easily and some babies are very strong-willed which is where the Baby Shusher comes in.

It mimics the sounds the baby heard in the womb to trigger their natural calming reflex, allowing them to gently fall asleep. To use it, all parents have to do is prop it up on a flat surface near where the baby is sleeping, set the timer to 15 or 30 minutes, and let it do the work from there.

Final Verdict

Honestly, most new parents would be happy to get any of the gifts on this list, but if you’re looking for a guaranteed hit, go with either the Zyllion Shiatsu Back and Neck Massager or the Corkcicle 16 oz. Insulated Coffee Mug.

What to Look for When Buying Gifts for New Parents

Purpose

Are you looking for something that they will use to relax and unwind after a long day of diaper changes and baby rocking or are you looking for a gift that the new parent can use to commemorate their journey to this point? Determine the purpose of your gift before purchasing to help guide you to the right product.

Usefulness

Many parents can attest to having entirely too much stuff during those first few years. Instead of adding another "thing" to their growing collection, consider a gift that they will actually find useful. A gift like the Roomba Robot Vacuum or Keurig Coffee Maker will be helpful and useful for years to come.

Why Trust Verywell Family?

Ashley Ziegler is a staff and freelance writer who covers lifestyle, home, parenting, and commerce content for a variety of platforms. She’s a mom to 1-year-old and 4-year-old daughters and an aunt to 3 nieces and 2 nephews ranging from 5 to 11 years old. In addition to regularly scouring the internet to find the best things for herself, Ashley spends multiple hours a week researching, comparing, and writing about products specifically for kids and families.