NEW YORK CITY — A homemade card, the traditional breakfast in bed option or a well-planned activity can go a long way towards making Mother's Day successful. But for a new first-time mom, it's time to bump the inaugural celebration up a notch.
New moms will get plenty of visitors who just want to hold their new baby and coo at it, but what they really need is a reprieve from the anxiety of those first days and weeks.
If you're looking to treat a mom who's just had a baby, think about options that give her a break, indulge her senses and are a treat for her — not just a gift for the baby.
Here are options from shops around the city:
Personalized Initial Jewelry from Catbird
Stacking Alphabet Rings, $96
Alphabet Earring, $32
Personalized Heart Necklace, $98 or $216
Catbird
219 Bedford Ave., Williamsburg
Catbird's stackable alphabet rings are handmade in Brooklyn with 14 carat rose gold. Choose the initials of your new baby or just a simple heart if the name is still tbd. If mom has more than one child, she can stack the initials.
For moms who don't want jewelry that's too showy — or significant others who want to spend a little less — a simple and dainty initial earring is a good option. Also made in Brooklyn, the earring can be ordered in rose gold as well.
Keep baby's initials closer to mom's heart with either a silver heart chain necklace for $98 or a gold heart necklace for $216. Twenty percent of proceeds from the necklace go to the UN Foundation's Girl Up campaign.
Three Months of Fresh Unique Flower Arrangements
Three Month Flower Subscription, $225
Flower Girl NYC
245 Eldridge St.
or Turnstyle, 57th Street & Eight Avenue
Everyone tends to focus on the first days and weeks after a new mom gives birth, as these are generally the hardest. Acknowledging that challenges persist a few months out will mean a lot to the new mom in your life. This subscription delivers one unique and seasonal flower arrangement — a specialty of Flower Girl NYC — to her doorstep each month. So your new mom have something to look forward to after the initial rush of help has dwindled. For those with more to spend, there are also six month ($450) and twelve month ($810) subscriptions as well.
Heaven in a Box Treat Sampler from Mah Ze Dahr
Heaven in a Box: Mah-Ze-Dahr Sampler, $60
Opening Soon at 28 Greenwich Ave., West Village also online
Etiquette calls for never arriving at the home of new parents empty-handed; in addition to that homemade soup or lasagna, bring a treat just for the new mom. If you're not sure what she's craving, this bakery's sampler has a little of everything — Mah-Ze-Dahr bars, dark chocolate brownies, shortbread, chocolate chip cookies, ginger snap cookies and peanut brittle.
Vegetarian or Meaty Dinners from Babeth's Feast
Meat Entrées Best-Seller Sampler, $55
Soup Best-Seller Sampler, $14.99
Vegetarian Entrées Best-Seller Sampler, $43.00
Babeth's Feast
1422 Third Ave., Upper East Side
309 Amsterdam Ave., Upper West Side, opening Summer 2016
New moms get hungry, especially if they're breastfeeding, and so delivering a stack of hearty meals that require nothing more than heat will be appreciated. From leek, kale and ricotta quiche to carrot and coconut soup, there's something for every palate and dietary restriction.
The company is offering free macarons with any $50 purchase in honor of Mother's Day.
At-Home Massages from The Ritualist or Zeel
The Ritualist, massages starting at $145 for 60 minutes
Zeel, massages starting at $120 for 60 minutes. Monthly subscriptions are also available.
With baby's arrival, making long subway treks and just getting out and about may seem daunting to a new mom. Give her a spa gift she can use right away by bringing the services to her home.
The Ritualist offers in-home massage services and the price includes tip and service charge, so she doesn't have to worry about having cash on hand.
With Zeel, you can gift a single massage or a couples massage or a very generous subscription for a year.
Essentials Bathing Products for Mom and Baby
CAP Beauty
238 W. 10th St., West Village
Baby Bundle 1: New Mom Essentials, $98
A new mom will likely have already stocked up on basics like diaper cream and infant soap, but she'll appreciate this all-natural bundle of soothing remedies she might not have in her arsenal yet. The bundle comes with calming calendula and chamomile lotion, mandarin, chamomile and lavender body wash, cradle cap salve, baby powder, diaper salve and also with nipple balm for mom. A special extra is the "First Aid Kit for Kids" potion that promises to soothe an infant or baby upset by teething, vaccines or a tantrum.
If the $98 price tag is too high, you could go with the Mama's Ritual Aromatherapy Bath Soak for $34 or the Mama and Baby Butter from Honey Girl for $22 that's suitable for both mom and baby.