Things to Do for Someone Who Is Having a Baby
What You Should Really Bring Someone Who Only Had a Baby
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I never really understood how important information technology is to feed friends who've just had a baby, until I had a infant myself. I always thought bringing a meal was a squeamish gesture, but it'southward actually manner more that. It's a lifeline, a blessing in the truest, deepest, not-just-a-flippant-hashtag kind of way.
The standard "new babe repast" is a casserole. It'southward easy to make, easy to serve, and makes good leftovers. But you want to know the truth? Information technology might not exist what a new mom really wants or needs to eat. Here'due south what you should bring instead.
Rules to Alive by When Bringing Food to New Parents
ane. Brand it completely hands-off.
There should be no prep of whatever kind required to eat what you've brought — no cooking (plain), but also no chopping, no mixing, no supplementing with what they might or might non have. This is gear up-to-consume, farthermost. Foods for new parents should require the apply of a hand or fork, maybe a few minutes in the microwave or oven, simply that'south it.
If that all sounds similar a fleck much, it'southward non. When you're frayed on all edges, even the smallest task can feel like a huge hurdle, and so the kindest thing you tin practise for your new mom friend is to make eating your food as easy every bit possible. I guarantee if you drop off a agglomeration of whole vegetables so she tin make a wonderful salad for herself, those vegetables will rot in the refrigerator. Instead chop and gather all the ingredients in a gallon-sized zip-meridian bag (leaving the dressing on the side), then all she has to do is dump it out and eat.
2. Don't pester them with preference questions.
I know this may be controversial, simply here goes: A lot of people recommend asking a new mom what foods she's peckish or fugitive before bringing over a repast, simply I say no — don't practice this. The last matter a new mom has time or brain infinite for is to respond to all her friends asking her what she wants, or doesn't want. Over again, the indicate is to provide your friend with the path of to the lowest degree resistance, and not having to cocky-clarify whatever more necessary is role of that.
What about food sensitivities? Some new moms avoid dairy and other gas-producing foods similar onions, garlic, and broccoli if they feel it's passing through their milk and bothering their newborn. The majority of new moms I know accept had no such restrictions; however, if you'd similar to be on the safe side, confirm with a partner or a family member (go out the mom in peace), or simply avert those ingredients in your repast.
iii. Drop it off and get out.
At that place'southward a time to talk and coo over the new baby, but that time is not in the outset few days or weeks. When y'all bring nutrient to new parents, don't linger. Drop off the food, give them a hug, tell them yous love them and are and then happy for them, and and then leave.
Even improve? Don't require that they see you at all. As i Kitchn reader put it, "I literally drop [food] off on the doorstep when I bring meals, and so I text them a few minutes afterwards to say I left a little something on the porch."
5 Foods to Bring New Parents As well a Casserole
1. Fruit.
Many moms I know craved fruit in the first few weeks after having a babe (I did as well). It's then refreshing, easy to eat, and fights constipation, which is a common side effect afterward giving nascence. Give your friend a big container of blueberries or strawberries, make a fruit salad in a jar, or gather a big ol' bowl of chopped fruit and acme it with a sweetness vinaigrette to help keep the fruit from browning.
What Kitchn readers say well-nigh information technology:
"I'one thousand a starting time-time mom (belongings my 3-week-old strapped to my chest right now) and if someone would simply bring me lots of cut-up fresh fruit and washed-and-cut crudite, I'd die of happiness. Fruit and veg are the first things to go when you lot're tired and drastic."
"My friends are normally more than than covered with offerings for dinner and lunch, so I often bring over a big bowl of mixed fruit (blackberries, strawberries, nectarines, grapes, etc.) with a lilliputian bit of mint sugar to have for breakfast, dessert, or snacks. Non only is it good for a quick bite, it doesn't upset the baby's tummy (like onions and/or dairy) and information technology helps with Mom's digestion."
"Yes to the fresh foods. All I wanted in the world the outset month or two with both of my children was fresh fruit and veggies and something to drink. Things that are filling and easy to swallow with ane manus."
"New moms, me certainly, adore fresh fruit and veg particularly if they deliver in the summertime. So refreshing with hormone flashes and nursing taking a lot out of yous."
two. Hydration.
Hydration is an frequently-disregarded office of feeding new parents, but it's a wonderful care for — not to mention essential for nursing moms. Smoothies, fresh-squeezed juice, lemonade, and sparkling water would all exist wonderful drinks to bring a new mom, while a little common cold beer or a bottle of wine could help them feel like regular man beings over again.
A Few Ideas
What Kitchn readers say virtually it:
"As a newly breastfeeding mom, I craved diluted juice. Someone who would have brought a bunch of apple and cranberry juice would have been my favorite person!"
"When I was a new mom I LOVED that people brought me beer and wine in addition to nutrient. I'one thousand not a huge drinker, just beingness able to drinkable after months of non doing so made me feel like my own person and non merely a mom."
3. Nutritious snacks.
Total-on meals that fill up the freezer and provide leftovers are great, just what a new mom really needs are nutritious snacks she can eat with one mitt, at any time of solar day. Things like cheese cubes, hummus, granola confined, muffins, snacking cookies, roasted nuts, crudité with dip, or even a loaf of crusty breadstuff, abrupt cheese, or a container of meatballs are all perfect.
A Few Ideas
What Kitchn readers say near it:
"In add-on to casseroles and other freezer-friendly meals, I *really* appreciated having homemade snack nutrient on mitt since my husband and I found ourselves up at all hours of the night during those starting time couple months. Homemade muffins, quick breads, and cookies were merely the perfect affair to eat to give me the footling boost of energy I needed at three:00 a.thou.! (And equally whatever breastfeeding mama will tell you, yous are incredibly HUNGRY during those early weeks!) I really appreciated having some lighter food options in addition to all the heavier foods in the freezer."
"As a relatively new mom myself, anything you can swallow one-handed is crawly. So, puree that soup, make wraps, burritos, or sandwiches, customize some trail or snack mix, or put together a wholesome relish tray that can be picked at throughout the afternoon (or late evening)."
iv. Breakfast foods.
Nigh people call up about lunch and dinner recipes, but non breakfast — merely breakfast may be the most important repast of the day for new parents! They're likely exhausted and starving from a long, sleepless dark, so it's splendid to provide something tasty and nutritious they can eat first thing in the morning.
Homemade granola, Greek yogurt, frittatas, quiches, muffins, banana bread, bagels, and breakfast burritos are all great options here. Also, oatmeal is thought to exist an fantabulous galactagogue, so a pot of oatmeal would also exist dandy, and information technology would last all week. (Y'all could also make your new mom friend a calendar week's worth of single-serving oatmeal in jars!)
A Few Ideas
5. Ane-handed meals.
Equally we wrote here, one-handed snacks meals make it piece of cake for a new mom to become nourishment while she'southward feeding her baby. The ultimate one-handed meal is, of class, the burrito — and bonus that information technology'south so freezer-friendly! A box of ready-to-eat burritos or wraps stuffed with nutritious ingredients, like roasted vegetables, beans, lentils, or meat, would be a tremendously helpful gift for new parents.
A Few Ideas
What meals or foods do you like to bring a friend who just had a baby? What practice you wish someone had brought yous?
Things to Do for Someone Who Is Having a Baby
Source: https://www.thekitchn.com/what-you-should-really-bring-someone-who-just-had-a-baby-220209