The arrival of a new baby is a time like no other. A child is a joyous, wonderful gift in and of itself. The constant cuddling, those adorable little yawns, sometimes even a head of big, bushy hair…pretty much everything about them is heaven (except for maybe a sleepless night or two). And once baby arrives, a husband often wants to shower his wife with a tangible gift. This present is historically known as a “push present.”
“A push present is simply another name for a thoughtful baby gift given to your partner, specifically on or around the time of delivery,” says Diane Gottsman, national etiquette expert and owner of The Protocol School of Texas.“Traditionally, a new dad gives the new mom a gift as a sign of love and appreciation for bringing their new bundle of joy into the world.”
Welcoming a new baby into a family does not always involve a traditional birth, however. “Surrogates, adoption, and foster care are all beautiful ways to bring a child into your home, so the word ‘push’ does not always apply or feel comfortable to use when gifting mom,” Gottsman says.
Push present, baby gift, new mom acknowledgement…whichever term you choose, bestowing kindness and love is something your significant other will remember forever, she says.
We asked Gottsman some frequently asked questions about push presents including etiquette. Here’s what she told us.
Q: How much should you spend on a push present?
A: “It depends on what you can afford,” Gottsman says. In other words: Don’t blow your budget for a push present, but it’s OK to splurge if that’s what works for your family.
Q: When should you give the gift?
A: Timing is important, Gottsman says. Wait until after the baby is born, and the excitement of bringing a new child into the world has worn off a bit. And definitely don’t do it during or immediately after labor. “When things have settled and you both are in the room together – either alone or with your new bundle of joy – is a good time to give your partner the thoughtfully wrapped gift and a handwritten card,” she says.
Q: What is the best type of push present?
A: Like all gifts, make sure you think of the recipient. Imagine them opening the present and what their reaction will be. You may want to choose something that is comforting to a new mom, Gottsman says, such as a spa treatment, gift certificate to her favorite hair salon, or fluffy robe.
Jewelry, too, is always appropriate. And when it comes to jewelry, expensive isn’t always better, Gottsman notes. “A thoughtful piece of jewelry, inscribed with a baby’s name, is a nice gift,” Gottsman says.
15 push present ideas
Next, we asked Gottsman to help us curate a gift guide filled with all sorts of push present ideas that a new mom would surely treasure. And, boy, did she deliver (get it?).
Jewelry
1. 14k Gold Diamond Halo Ring
For the ultimate push present, give her a ring that shows the significance of the occasion. This particularly beautiful gold bauble is perfect for stacking. One for each child who arrives, perhaps?
2. Engraved Sterling Silver Heart Locket with Diamonds Necklace
Engrave this necklace with your new child’s name, and put a photo of mom and baby inside. Sterling silver makes it so mom can wear it every day, but the diamond accents kick it up a notch. Your partner won’t forget this one.
3. Pavé Heart Necklace
For a treasured gift that says how excited you are about your new bundle of joy, a sparkling pavé necklace in the shape of a heart will speak volumes. This version is made with CZ stones, making it just as gorgeous as the real thing but friendlier on the wallet. Now you can spend more on baby’s essentials — and there are a lot of them!
4. Mama Necklace
For the mom who doesn’t want something uber sparkly but is nonetheless excited about becoming a mom (especially for the first time), a sweet golden necklace with the word “Mama” is perfect. She can wear it layered or on its own.
5. Love You To The Moon And Back Earring Set
Three sets of gold-filled earrings with a celestial vibe are just right for the proud mother who believes her role was written in the stars — or just for a woman who adores earrings. She will love the simple style of these, and you’ll love that you got three pieces of jewelry to celebrate her!
Pampering gifts
6. Embroidered Luxury Ivory Fleece Robes
You can almost feel how soft this robe is just by looking at it. If your new mom can’t get enough of cuddling with her bundle of joy, she will love a fleece-y robe to wrap herself in while feeding her child or for after the bath when she has a chance to luxuriate (for, say, a whole 15 minutes!).
7. Tea Forte Wellbeing Gift Set
Sometimes moms just need a moment to refresh, and for a lot of them, a cup of hot tea does the trick. With this gift, she can choose from five Tea Forte blends – Defense, Invigorate, Purify, Radiance, and Serenity – that offer antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties (not to mention are delicious).
An added option of an essential oil diffuser gives her the chance to choose which fragrance to fill the house with on any given day.
8. Denarii Lavender Spa Gift Basket with Wine
A spouse or partner, Gottsman says, often will bestow a spa gift certificate or basket of spa essentials on the new mom. This one is full of calming lavender-scented items, including body lotion, body scrub, body wash, and essential oil, plus an exfoliating towel, a wood-handled pumice stone, a bath mitt, and a white mesh sponge.
And now that the wee one is born, mom can rest easy knowing she can enjoy that glass of wine she’s been craving – included here are two bottles of red. Cheers to this amazing blessing!
9. Family-Style Italian Meal
You know your wife best. She may love to cook, but with a new baby, sometimes the most welcome gift is dinner on the table for the two of you, or your growing family. This Italian feast of two kinds of pasta, rosemary bread, and green beans will please everyone and nourish a nursing mother. Just add a salad, and maybe a glass of white, and you’re in business. Don’t worry about dessert either: The package includes tiramisu. Buon appetito!
10. H&D Fruit Subscription Box
The sweetest gift (pun intended) you could give as a push present is fresh fruit. Having nature’s candy delivered right to your door every month — and at its absolute peak, no less (the fruit is chosen seasonally) — will provide her with a consistent supply of healthy food a new mom needs. For a larger family, choose the 12-Month Fruit-of-the-Month Club Signature Classic Collection.
Floral gifts and gifts for the home
11. Engraved Waterford Classic 8x10 Silverplate Frame
Splurge on the new mom and buy her a large silver-plated Waterford frame with a picture that expresses your love for her and your new one — perhaps one of your partner holding the new baby or from baby’s first photo shoot. This gift will capture a heartwarming memory she will look back on for the rest of her life.
12. Magnificent Roses® Preserved Domani Blue Hydrangea
This beyond gorgeous preserved hydrangea will wow anyone who receives it — especially as a push present. This arrangement can last over a year and is elegantly presented in a beautiful ceramic container. (Bonus: no stems to cut and nothing to water!) While the blue color works for any gender baby, if you prefer pink, order preserved pink roses instead.
13. Max Brenner New Baby Tin
Present this metal lunchbox to the mom who doesn’t want a big deal made over her or is a chocolate lover. If you don’t think she’d like the mini suitcase design, you can always get the Max Brenner Chocolate Delight Small Gift Tin.
14. Bloom of the Month Club
For the ultimate push present — and a reminder of your love all year long — sign her up for a monthly flower delivery. As a bonus, her blooms will arrive every month in a glass vase, which is important because most new moms are too busy to trim stems or even remember where the vase is to put their precious flowers.
15. Butterfly Snow Globe
For a unique mom gift once baby arrives, this special hand-painted snow globe featuring a butterfly on a tree of cherry blossoms is something she will cherish. The treasured gift is heirloom quality; hand it down to your child to give to theirs. And babies just love a snow globe: Shake it to reveal floating, glittery snow and cherry blossom petals, and you will get some joyous coos from the little one.
AUTHOR
Elizabeth Craig Wells is a former senior editor at Real Simple magazine, where she focused on the life, style, and simple solutions sections. Wells holds a B.A. in French and B.M. in flute performance from Northwestern University. She lives with her three children in Connecticut, where she coaches soccer and tennis and is working on a series of contemporary novels.