If your friend has recently had a baby, you want to celebrate like it’s your own kid, especially if you’ve been in the same position as she has before. You know how stressful newborns can be, and although they are undoubtedly a bundle of joy, they still come with a lot of responsibility.

While you may not have the time to take on some of the parenting, you can still let your friend know how happy you are for them and their new family. If you’re unsure about the best ideas to celebrate and help out, here are six ideas to think about to help make your friend’s early parenthood journey a little easier.

Homemade gifts

Homemade gifts are always a fantastic way to show how much you care, so if you’re good at arts and crafts or love to knit, this is a great idea. Of course, you’ll need to start sooner rather than later, especially if you’re famously a little slow when putting together baby blankets or bonnets.

These homemade gifts are something the newborn can keep for as long as they need, and they can even pass it on to your friend’s next baby or keep it with them until their child is old enough to have kids of their own.

A Memento Box

If you don’t have the time (or the patience) to knit something, you can always put together a memento box that chronicles your friend’s pregnancy journey. You can start putting this together as soon as they make the announcement and give it to them once the special day finally arrives.

Their box can include a wide range of things that mean something to your friend and could even include something they can use after the baby’s born. If you want to add the finishing touches, a photo phone case is a thoughtful inexpensive gift that they can use all the time, and it will keep their phone safe from any baby-related accidents, too.

Shop for them or cook them some food

If your friend is a single parent, you can help with some of the more inconvenient chores and responsibilities around the house. After giving birth, they are likely to be too exhausted to cook, clean, and go shopping. Instead, you can cover all this for them when you have the time.

A home-cooked meal is always appreciated, especially as her cravings and food preferences should return to normal soon. Simply drop something by or check in to see if she needs anything picked up from the store the next time you’re there.

Donate old clothes

You might have boxes upon boxes of baby clothes that you know you aren’t going to use anymore. Instead of letting them consume space in the loft, you can donate them to your friend, as it’s better than sending them to a local charity shop or going through the hassle of selling them online.

Truth be told, there’s also a selfish benefit to this. Regular decluttering is always a good thing for your home, so you get to tick two boxes at once and save your friend some money on any clothes they might need for their newborn.

Be there to help

Your friend may need some time to relax and even come to terms with the fact that she’s a mum now. She should also have plenty of support from her family, whether her partner, mother, or sisters. You don’t want to feel like you’re intruding, but you can still be there to help.

All you need to do is let them know that they can call you if they need. As they should have lots of support from elsewhere, any requests may not be too common, but if everyone else is busy, you can make sure you answer the call.

Plan something for the future

Being away from their baby is the last thing on their mind right now, but there will come a time when their child is all settled in and they can arrange babysitting. When that day comes, arranging a day out is something they can look forward to.

Their priorities may have changed since becoming a mother, but that doesn’t mean they don’t want to have some fun. Get together with her friends and see what they think is best, and you can plan something that celebrates their child.

Celebration

Buying gifts can be tricky sometimes, especially when you consider a baby the best gift a family could ever have. These ideas can inspire you to celebrate a newborn and give your best friend the support they need while they adapt to being a mother.