• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to footer navigation
  • Skip to privacy navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Fit Mitten Kitchen

balanced baking and real food recipes

Subscribe to receive my FREE Healthy Nut Butter eBook!
Free eBook!
  • Recipes
    • Course
      • Breakfast
        • Egg Dishes
        • Oatmeal & Granola
        • Pancakes & Waffles
        • Scones
        • Smoothies
      • Desserts
        • Bars & Brownies
        • Cakes & Cupcakes
        • Candy
        • Cookies
        • Ice Cream & Frozen Desserts
        • PIes, Tarts & Crisps
        • Cinnamon Rolls
      • Healthy Drinks
      • Lunch & Dinner
        • Appetizers
        • Bowls
        • Salads
        • Sandwiches & Wraps
        • Sides
        • Soups & Chili
      • Snacks
        • Bars & Balls
        • Muffins & Breads
        • Nut & Seed Butters
    • Dietary
      • Dairy Free
      • Gluten-Free
      • No Added Sugar
      • Nut-Free
      • Oil-Free
      • Paleo
      • Vegan
      • Vegetarian
      • Whole30
    • Method
      • Food Processor & Blender
      • Freezer
      • Grill
      • Instant Pot
      • No-Bake
      • Oven
      • Slow Cooker
      • Stovetop
    • Protein
      • Chicken
      • Plant Based
      • Pork
      • Seafood
      • Turkey
    • Recipe Videos
  • About
    • Meet Ashley
    • Work with Me
      • Partnerships
    • Contact
  • Lifestyle
    • Real Talk
    • Travel
    • Workouts
  • Shop
Home Lifestyle Ways to Help New Parents

Ways to Help New Parents

Posted:9/19/20
Updated:9/17/20
ways to help new parents

When my sister welcomed her first baby into the family early this year, I reached out to my Instagram community for some of the best ways to help her out. There were so many good ideas shared! And now that Drew and I have officially welcomed our first little one into the world, I wanted to put together this guide to share with you.

this recipe

I saw a post from Taking Cara Babies the other day that was so true for me.

I couldn’t agree more. As a new mom, I didn’t really know what I needed or what would be the most helpful.

It’s not like someone can sleep FOR me, you know?

Not to mention I don’t often ask for help in general, even pre-baby. So once you have a baby and people ask you “How I can I help?” it can definitely become overwhelming.

So instead of asking the generic question, offer help in specific ways.

Lots of the ideas in this post came from the Fit Mitten Kitchen Instagram community.

Whether you’re expecting or someone you know is I hope you find this helpful!

Set Them Up With Snacks

  • One handed food – anything that can be eaten one handed like energy balls, bars, smoothies, mini muffins and more.
  • Healthy energizing snack bars like Larabars, Perfect Bar, GoMacro Bars, et.c
  • Prepped / pre-cut fruit and veggies for easy nutritious snacking.

I underestimated how many tasks I’d be doing with one hand, so anything that can be brought over that doesn’t need to be cut or prepared too much is super helpful in those early weeks.

Bring Breakfast

  • breakfast burritos or muffins– easy to freeze
  • pre-made smoothie packs
  • quiche or egg bake – great for reheating
  • egg muffins
  • baked oatmeal cups
  • mini muffins

Having breakfast ready to go was our favorite. I’d wake up starving in the morning. In the first couple of weeks when Drew was still home, he’d just heat those up, bring one up to the bedroom for me along with some energy balls and I’d eat while nursing.

Make Easy Freezer Friendly Meals

  • Soups and chili
  • pre-cooked prepared meat
  • lasagna
  • crockpot meals

We’ve got a great guide with tons of freezer meals! Not having to think about what’s for dinner, or running to the grocery store those first few weeks is beyond helpful.

Freezing the portions out in 2-4 servings is awesome as well.

Gift Cards

Once the parents are ready to start cooking again, gifting a meal subscription service is an easy way to help provide dinner.

Even easier? Gift cards to favorite restaurants that offer delivery.

In-Person Help

  • Watch baby if mom or dad needs a nap
  • Do laundry, clean, do dishes
  • Holding baby so mom can shower
  • Take the pets for a walk or if able, give mom (or dad) a break to do so and get some fresh air.

We were lucky in that Drew’s schedule was pretty flexible in the first couple of weeks. However, that is not the case for all families. Our parental leave in the U.S. is infuriating and parents deserve much better.

So if your partner has little to no parental leave for work, coming over to help with the baby in those first few weeks can help mentally and physically.

Postpartum Gift Baskets

Creating a postpartum gift basket with self-care products is another great idea that came from the FMK community.

Think:

  • Face cleansing wipes
  • Chocolate
  • Favorite snacks
  • Tea
  • Portable diffuser
  • Insulated mug to keep coffee hot
  • Large tumbler with straw for water
  • Postpartum care products like sitz bath spray

And no gift is too small – parents need all the help they can get when welcoming a little one into their world and even dropping off a package of diapers and wipes or just a meal is a huge gesture.

Would you add anything to this list?

What were some of the things that helped you most?

About Ashley

"Ashley Walterhouse is the founder of Fit Mitten Kitchen, based in the Greater Lansing Area of Michigan, AKA “the Mitten.” Ashley grew up as a picky eater but later discovered that eating healthy was actually easy and fun. She started FMK in 2015 as a way to share her newfound love of developing healthier recipes for all to enjoy."

Previous Post
Fall Kale Salad with Maple Tahini Dressing
Next Post
DIY Chai Spice Blend Recipe

Reader Interactions

Rate this Recipe Cancel reply

  1. Connie says

    9/20/2020 at 10:58 pm

    So many great ideas! Join or start a hand me down succession so you don’t need to worry about buying or selling your kids clothes. In my new mom gift basket I included pads for mom, a nasal aspirator (Nose Frida), baby Tylenol and Ibuprofen, diaper cream etc, things that you need right away and don’t want to go out to buy at 4 am. Oh yes, snacks are always welcome

    Reply

Primary Sidebar

More for you...

31 Holiday Cookies for Your Cookie Exchange

baked gingerbread bundt cake

Gingerbread Bundt Cake

bowl of pear salad with fresh pomegranates and candied pecans and orange poppyseed dressing jar

Pomegranate Pear Salad

Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese

overhead view of honey glazed carrots on rectangle baking dish with fresh thyme

Honey Glazed Carrots

stacked gingerbread truffles on green plate next to red gingerbread cookie cutter and red towel in background

Easy Gingerbread Truffles

pieces of cranberry orange baked oatmeal on oval plate

Cranberry Orange Baked Oatmeal

mocha mini cheesecake with whipped topping on black plate and dessert forks

Mini Mocha Cheesecakes

Free recipe ebook!

Subscribe and get a FREE healthy nut butter ebook!

Thank you for subscribing!
Trending Now
butternut squash, feta and kale salad in bowl Lunch & Dinner
chai latte in mug with cinnamon and star anise Cozy Drinks
banana peanut butter cinnamon rolls on small white plates with banana slices Cinnamon Rolls
As Featured On
  • Browse by Diet
  • Gluten-Free
  • Dairy Free
  • Vegan
  • Paleo
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
Exclusive Member of Mediavine· © 2023 · All Rights Reserved · Site Credits Designed by Melissa Rose Design Developed by Once Coupled Back to Top

Subscribe & receive a free nut butter ebook!

Thank you for subscribing!