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Whether you’ve grown up around this tradition or it’s totally new to you, the concept of a “push present” has been increasing in popularity over the past decade.
What is a push present? It’s a gift given to a new mother at or following childbirth.
We know, we know — the name is a little graphic (a cute alternative is a “baby bauble”). But the miraculous feat of bringing a new human being into the world is amazing (whether you have a vaginal delivery or a C-section!), and many people feel that a mama’s hard work and the pain endured should be recognized with a gift.
Almost every new mother you talk to will say that their baby alone is a priceless gift, and nothing else is needed. But if you want to show some extra appreciation for your partner during this huge life event, a push present may be the perfect way to do so (especially if your SO’s love language is receiving gifts).
A push present is usually given by the new mom’s significant other or family members, and the most typical gift is jewelry. However, a push present can be anything that they would love!
We polled a group of parents, and there were some very creative ideas for push presents — everything from sushi to handmade shelves to an expensive bottle of tequila. You can absolutely get creative and customize your gift specifically for your particular mama-to-be.
One factor to consider is timing. Many people prefer to give the push present at the hospital, when the new mama is recovering from labor.
Choose a private, quiet moment when they’re not being examined, having their vitals taken, or trying to decide when to give baby’s first bath. It’s common to be exhausted and a little distracted after childbirth, so wait for a lull in all the activity.
Some people prefer to give the gift before the baby’s birth (before things get sleepless), while others wait until they are home from the hospital and settling in.
It’s ultimately a personal decision, and you know your significant other best. Whatever you decide, this is sure to be a memorable moment for you both. The birth of a baby is also the birth of a mother, and a push present can be a thoughtful way to acknowledge all they are experiencing.
While the name sounds pretty exclusive to the partner birthing the baby, you might wonder whether dads ever get push presents (after all, they’ve hopefully been a major source of support during this pregnancy, and are themselves undergoing the huge transition to parenthood).
Historically, the answer is no. Push presents are specifically for the person giving birth.
However, if you (the birthing parent) want to show appreciation for all the support you’ve been given by your partner, a gift is a wonderful way to do that! Think of it as a way to say thanks for all the patience, midnight ice cream runs, and foot massages. Check out this list for some ideas.
For this list we polled new moms, pored over reviews, and considered quality, function, and sentiment above all.
To find a push present for the new mom in your life, read on! Whether they love jewelry, reading, or sentimental keepsakes, we’ve rounded up some sure-to-please gifts for any mama.
Price guide
- $ = under $50
- $$ = $50–$100
- $$$ = $100–$200
- $$$$ = over $200
Best push present jewelry:
Maya Brenner Birthstone Ring
Price: $$$$
This beautiful 14 karat gold ring is a perfect, classic push present.
Customize it with your baby’s birthstone, and they’ll love wearing it for years to come as a reminder of both you and your baby.
Buy the Maya Brenner Birthstone Ring online.
Interlocking Circle Necklace
Price: $$$
A lovely gift that captures the unbreakable mother-child bond without being overtly “mom-y”, this necklace is a beautiful choice for the understated jewelry lover.
Made in Italy from warm, 10K gold, it’s a timeless piece that mom will no doubt wear forever.
Buy the Interlocking Circle Necklace online.
Initial Necklace from Etsy
Price: $
A lovely, simple necklace that is totally customizable, this is a great push present if you think you might have more children later (or already have other children you want to include).
When customizing, you can choose the number of discs on the necklace and can easily add more at a later date. If you wish, you can add initials for baby, your SO, and yourself, representing the whole family unit.
Buy the Initial Necklace from Etsy online.
Stephanie Gottlieb Engraved Band
Price: $$$$
From designer Stephanie Gottlieb, this beautiful band is an impeccable choice if you’re looking for a ring that can be stacked with mama’s wedding band.
You can choose your metal, and customize the ring with an engraving of your baby’s name or birthdate. Diamonds can be added for an additional charge.
Buy the Stephanie Gottlieb Engraved Band online.
Best keepsake push presents:
‘The Story of You’ Baby Book
Price: $$
A one-of-a-kind gift, this lovely photo journal is a great way to make it easy for her to capture baby’s first year of life.
The journal includes a code for a free set of prints from Everyday Prints, so once you start accumulating those adorable pics, filling up the book will be a cinch.
Create “The Story of You” Baby Book online.
Newborn and family photo shoot
Price varies by photographer.
A photo shoot will take a little local research on your part, but is a priceless gift for the mother of your child. The nights will seem long, but the newborn stage flies by, and you’ll both cherish professional photos of when your baby was “soooo tiny.”
Baby’s Heartbeat Art
Price: $
A unique choice, this personalized gift is sure to be a treasure.
Simply send a tracing of your baby’s in utero heartbeat to an Etsy artist, who will transform the sound waves into a beautiful watercolor piece of art. It also adds a personal, sentimental touch to baby’s nursery.
Buy Baby’s Heartbeat Art online.
The Birth Journal
Price: $
For the introspective, reflective, or word-loving mama, this elegant birth journal gives her the chance to document one of the most transformative experiences of her life — giving birth to her child.
This guided journal includes 72 lined pages for writing your story, plus 6 blank pages for adding photos.
Best push presents they’ll use daily:
Everly Grey Analise During & After 5-Piece Sleep Set
Price: $$
It’s no secret that new moms spend a lot of time in their PJs. In the early days, you hardly know whether it’s day or night, and comfort is the pinnacle of dressing for success.
This super-soft PJ set includes a cardigan, nursing tank, lounge pants, and adorable matching set for the baby (pictured).
Buy the Everly Grey Analise During & After 5-Piece Sleep Set online.
Breville-Nespresso Creatista Espresso Machine
Price: $$$$
You cannot go wrong giving a new parent the gift of caffeine, so if your baby mama is a coffee lover, this may be the one for you.
This espresso maker from Nespresso and Breville is high quality and makes a variety of coffee shop favorites, including lattes, macchiatos, flat whites, and cappuccinos.
Buy the Breville-Nespresso Creatista Espresso Machine online.
Kate Spade Tote Bag
Price: $$$$
While a lot in her life is about to change, being stylish doesn’t have to be one of them.
This gorgeous leather tote from Kate Spade can keep mom feeling fresh, and doubles as a roomy diaper bag for all those tiny baby necessities.
Buy the Kate Spade Tote Bag online.
Slip Silk Pillowcase
Price: $$
While neither of you will be using a pillow as much as you used to once baby arrives, this luxurious silk pillowcase can make what little sleep mom does enjoy even better.
Silk is renowned for its stay-cool properties, as well as being gentle on hair and skin. After all, new mamas deserve all the self-care.
Buy the Slip Silk Pillowcase online.
Natori Luxe Shangri-La Robe
Price: $$$
This luxe super-soft robe is a wonderful gift to keep mom feeling fresh and elegant (when they’re likely feeling anything but) during all those hours of nursing, rocking, and trying to catch a few hours of sleep.
Buy the Natori Luxe Shangri-La Robe online.
Best high-tech push presents:
Google Nest Hub
Price: $$
If you have a connected home, this is a fantastic gift. With the Nest Hub, you can control the other devices in the house, see camera footage, make video calls to show off that precious bundle, and start a movie — all hands-free (which is priceless when your hands are busy changing diapers, burping, and feeding a baby).
Buy the Google Nest Hub online.
Samsung Galaxy Watch
Price: $$$$
A present that is sure to get a ton of use, this smartwatch will enable mom to check texts, calls, the weather, and calendar with a flick of the wrist (literally). It also features health tracking data, such as sleep patterns and exercise.
Buy the Samsung Galaxy Smartwatch online.
Amazon Kindle Paperwhite
Price: $$$
The thinnest, most lightweight version of the Kindle yet, the Paperwhite comes with either 8 GB or 32 GB storage. It has a glare-free screen for outdoor reading, and is now waterproof for lounging in the pool or bath — two activities mom will hopefully find some time to indulge in!
Buy the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite online.
Best subscription push presents:
Audible subscription
Price: $ (monthly)
The perfect addition to the Kindle, an Audible subscription gives mom access to thousands of audiobooks (perfect for those long hours of feedings, walking, rocking, etc.). Sure there’s Netflix too — but babies start paying attention to screens at a surprisingly early age, so sometimes it’s nice to have audio-only entertainment.
BloomsyBox subscription
Price: $ (monthly)
To keep reminding mom of how special they are all year long, you can sign up to have hand-curated bouquets of fresh flowers show up at her door (starting with the hospital room).
Subscribe to BloomsyBox online.
Stitch Fix clothing subscription
Price: $ (monthly)
Many new mamas will tell you they are frustrated by the transition from “normal” to maternity clothing to postpartum and beyond. A Stitch Fix subscription provides boxes of personally chosen wardrobe pieces delivered every month or on demand.
It’ll feel good to be able to customize their wardrobe, adjust sizes, etc. — and feeling fabulous — while adjusting to mom life.
Subscribe to Stitch Fix online.
SpaFinder gift card
Price: any amount
Pregnancy and childbirth are hard on your body (kind of the whole reason behind this present, ya know?), so a postnatal massage, facial, or full spa package will be a wonderful way to give the gift of rejuvenation to your partner as they recover.