2020 has been a year of firsts for all of us. The change has been novel and, at times, overwhelming. But I dare to say that none of us have felt it more than those who became new and first-time parents this year.
We had to go without baby showers, sprinkle parties, and sip and see’s. And as difficult as it may be, we’ve had to socially distance our new bundles of joy when all we really want to do is show them off to the world. Not only does this leave us missing out on celebrating with the ones we love, but it can also leave us missing a lot of the things we would otherwise be gifted.
Now, the holidays are near, and loved ones are asking what I’d like under my virtual tree this year. I’ve been asked if I want baby gates, high chairs, playpens, and the like. While those things would be nice, none of them would have me waiting up for Santa all night. So in true 2020 fashion, I did some thinking outside the box, and my mom-brain came up with three totally useful gifts I can celebrate all year.
1) Shipt Membership
The one thing I could not have survived becoming a new mom in 2020 without is a Shipt delivery membership.
I started my membership in October 2019, soon after I found out I was expecting. I thought it would be convenient on days when I was too busy with a newborn to make it to the grocery store. Little did I know that within a few months, COVID-19 would hit home hard, and a simple Target run would be absolute chaos. Trust me, I love a good Target run, but ever since the pandemic began I’ve left the shopping to Shipt and couldn’t be happier. (I’m actually waiting on a Shipt order right now!)
Using the app is super easy, their customer service is incredible, and they offer a variety of stores, including Target, Petco, and CVS. You simply place your order on the app and your personal shopper will deliver your goods right to your door within hours- contact-free of course! It’s a gift any parent will love and now through 12/27/2020, you can gift a Shipt membership for 50% off!
My mom-tip-of-the-day is to utilize the daily deals featured on the app! It has not only helped me meal plan more efficiently, but it has also helped me to be more frugal and to try a few new things that are now staples in our house!
2) Hampr Membership
Becoming a new parent is hard. In my experience, it made everything else even harder.
This was especially true when it came to keeping up with housework. Sure, I had plenty of offers from loved ones to “take the baby off my hands” while I got all the housework done, but what I really needed was a hand in the housework and more time for me to bond with my new baby. This is something I wish I would have voiced earlier on in my parenting journey and why I wish I would have found Hampr sooner.
So, what is Hampr? Hampr is your personal on-demand laundry service that has a team of expert washers pick up, wash, fold, and drop off your laundry all within 24 hours! You can gift a yearly Hampr membership to your favorite mom-friend for only $39. That price includes “four custom-designed pop-up hamprs”, so all you have to do is fill your hampr and place it outside of your door- yes, contact-free!
One hampr equals one load of laundry and will cost between $10-15 per load, so I would suggest buying mama some “laundry credits” if you’ve got a little extra to spend in your holiday gift budget this year.
3) Zoosiana Membership
Want to shop local this holiday season and support a great cause? Consider becoming a friend of the Zoo of Acadiana!
The Zoo of Acadiana, or Zoosiana, has done a fine job at creating a safe place for its animals and its visitors. They have various COVID-19 precautions in place, such as making masks mandatory to enter and maintaining a strict social distancing rule. Once inside the zoo, you are allowed to remove your face-mask in open areas, which brings a nice sense of normalcy if just for an hour or two.
You can gift a Zoosiana membership for $29.99 per adult and $19.99 per child. Children two and under get in free! And your membership comes with all kinds of fun perks, such as discounts on “zoovenirs” from their gift shop, free admission to reciprocating zoos, and half-priced tickets for Zoosiana’s special events.
All memberships are 10% off till 12/30/2020, so go ahead and get one for you and your kiddos, too!
I hope these three gift ideas help! They’ve definitely helped me survive 2020 as a new mom, and I wouldn’t want to do 2021 without them! Do you have any other gift ideas that our fellow mamas will love all year round? No matter how you decide to show love to that new or expecting mama in your life, know that she appreciates it more than you know!
