Buying A Gift For A Mom-To-Be? Go Practical or Memorable, Celebs Say

What's the best gift you can give to an expecting mom?

Whether it's for a baby shower, Mother's day, or any occasion, going for practical or memorable gifts is always a good idea. In separate interviews, Smart Parenting asked celebrity moms Pauleen Luna-Sotto and Solenn Heussaff, who both have two kids, what they consider the best gifts for new and expecting moms. 

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Best gifts for moms-to-be according to celebrity moms

1. Haakaa breast pump

For Smart Parenting May 2024 cover star Pauleen, who is breastfeeding her second (and last) child, Mochi, a great gift for a mom-to-be who plans to breastfeed her child is a Haakaa. A Haakaa is a manual breast pump that moms would usually put on their other breast to collect milk as they feed their baby on the other. It's been voted as the preferred breast pump of Smart Parenting parents and editors, so we definitely agree with Pauleen!

Buy Haakaa on Lazada (Php 2,260)

2. Wipes, cotton balls, and other consumables

Another practical gift idea by Pauleen is newborn essentials. "Yung mga wipes, cotton. That's a very good gift kasi naubos siya eh. Bili ka lang nang bili," Pauleen said. Recently, Pauleen shared her haul from a mom and baby fair, and one of the products she bought was this Moby newborn pack with cotton balls, gauze pads, and jumbo pads for everyday use. 

Buy Moby products on Lazada

Laundry detergent and other cleaning essentials are also practical and helpful gifts for new moms. Yoboo, a Japanese mom and baby products brand endorsed by celebrity mom Jessy Mendiola, recently launched its Calendula Baby Laundry Detergent and Fabric Softener that are gentle and safe for babies.

Buy Yoboo products on Lazada

3. A good baby bag

A good baby bag that has smart features is also a good gift idea for moms-to-be, Pauleen said. She likes a baby bag with insulation and multiple pockets. Plus points if it comes in a gender-neutral color so that dads can comfortably wear it! We found this one by Kleenfant on Lazada that has a USB port and 15 pockets!

Buy Kleenfant Multifunction Mommy Bag on Lazada (Php 584.10)

4. Me-time

For Solenn, who has been vocal in encouraging mothers to spend time for themselves, a good and memorable gift for a mom-to-be would be a day-off. "I feel kung mag asawa kayo or mag-jowa at may anak, I think it's a nice to allow your wife to maybe, ako hindi ako masyado ma-spa, but to go to a spa or to give her 2 to 3 hours to be with her friends," Solenn told Smart Parenting during the Nespresso Boutique launch in Trinoma last April. She recommends a trip to Tagaytay or even abroad, if possible. The mom of two explained, "We all like our quality time. We all like our me-time sometimes. Just to kind of refocus our energy, and be able to start again and be a good mother and be a good wife."

5. Silk beddings

Another gift idea from Solenn is a nice set of silk pillow cases, or something that can help the new mom have a restful sleep (when she can). Check out our recommended brands and links where to buy here.

Buy this Polyblend Silk Bedding Set on Lazada (Php 1,499)

Other celebrity and mom-approved unique gift ideas for new moms

If you are looking to give practical yet unique gifts on your friend's baby shower, here are some products that we and celebrities recommend that are proudly offered by Filipino mompreneurs.

1. Nursing bra from Valianne's Trends

Gone are the days when breastfeeding moms would have to sacrifice their style just to accommodate the needs of their babies. Thanks to Valianne's Trends, a local business that has been coming up with trendy and fashionable apparel for postpartum moms, they offer nursing bras that look like our usual comfy and sexy bras plus the breastfeeding feature at an affordable price.

Buy Megan Seamless Nursing Bra on Lazada (Php 550)

Celebrity mom Chariz Solomon recently purchased Valianne's Trends apparel to give to her mom friend.

2. Breastfeeding cover from Metro Mama

Another pretty and hardworking gift you could give to an expecting mama is this beautiful breastfeeding cover from Metro Mama. Emphasis on beautiful, because the designs are really pretty and can elevate any mom's outfit. Metro Mama's nursing covers that double as stroller covers are recommended by celebrity moms like Danica Sotto Pingris, Kris Bernal, and Dianne Medina.

Buy Metro Mama Nursing Covers on Instagram

3. Eco-friendly Cloth Diapers from Bumboss

If your soon-to-be mom friend is big on sustainability, they will love eco-friendly gifts like cloth diapers for their little ones. Bumboss is a local brand that offers high-quality cloth diapers, and has an after-care community that supports moms. Get your mom friend one or two pieces of a particular style first, so that they can try it and purchase again in case they (and their babies) like it!

Buy Bumboss Cloth Diapers on Lazada (starts at Php 300)

4. Access to the Beacon Postpartum Club

To say that new and first-time moms need help is an understatement, and so one of the best gifts you could give them is a postpartum support group. Fortunately, we live in a time where mental health support is accessible and available for new moms. For only Php 1,500 for 3 months, you can gift a mom access to the Beacon Postpartum Club, which includes a 14-day self-paced online course, monthly group coaching calls via Zoom, and 24/7 access to a private community group. 

Gift Beacon Postpartum Club access to a mom here

Bonus: One of the best, free gifts you can also give to a new mom (which I can attest to) is inviting them to join the Smart Parenting Village, an exclusive Facebook group for parents. P.S. Don't forget to invite the dad-to-be too!