Looking for something different to give that mom-to-be in your life? How about the dad-to-be? Why not offer up some of these unexpected- guaranteed to be appreciated!- gifts?

• Netflix Membership: Many new parents will have a hard time leaving their little bundle of joy. Why not provide a easy way for them to enjoy a night at the movies? No babysitter required!
• One week (or one month!) of maid service: For new parents, an extra hand around to help with the never-ending loads of laundry and stacks of dishes will be a huge help.
• Couples’ Spa Treatment: You can purchase a gift certificate for Mom and Dad to be used as either a relaxing break after the baby is born, or to enjoy some pre-baby pampering (many spas now offer pregnancy massages).
• Precooked Meals: You can purchase a gift certificate to a local food delivery service, or, if you’re handy in the kitchen, prepare your own and freeze them. It’s an amazing discovery for new parents how draining it can be to cook a meal. An easy, healthy meal that merely needs to be popped in the oven is a fantastic way to ease this stress. If preparing the meals yourself, you can also include the recipe with the heating instructions.
• Magazine Subscriptions: A copy of Parents, Parenting, or Cookie ready in the mailbox is always a great surprise.
• Restaurant Gift Card: A night out is always a treat.
• Coupon Book: Books like Entertainment can be found with coupons specific to your area, saving parents hundreds of dollars. This is especially helpful if they already have little ones. These coupon books offer deals for many different places, including restaurants, amusement parks, bowling alleys, clothing stores… Some even have discounts on diaper service!
• “Old” Gift in a New Way: If you want to be sure that the parents-to-be still get what they need for the baby, but still want to stand out, try giving traditional gifts with fresh spins on them. Try Big Dot’s Baby Bottle Blanket Set, Hoagie Sandwich Gift Set, or Daddy’s Diaper Duty Device! All are cute, functional, and definitely stand out in a crowd. Check out the site for more ideas.

          In addition to these gifts, there is always the homemade coupon book. Offer a few hours of free babysitting or carpooling older siblings to soccer practice as a way to help out Mom and Dad. Any gift you give will be special, and meaningful, as long as it’s given with affection from the heart!

Posted by Jillian, a Dot-arilla Blogger