Gifts
Gift for a newborn and the mother: ideas that help both
Gift ideas that look after a new mother as well as the baby: practical clothes in the next size, comforts for her, and how Pakistani families give both.
The short answer: one for the baby, one for her
The gift that helps most after a birth is a pair: one practical outfit for the baby, in a size they will grow into, and one thing that is only for the mother, such as soft clothes to wear at home, a warm shawl, a cooked meal or an afternoon of help. It tells her that someone noticed she has just been through a birth too.
In most Pakistani families, gifts after a birth flow towards the baby. The mother, meanwhile, is feeding through the night, recovering, and often receiving a stream of relatives from her bed. A gift with her name on the card, rather than the baby’s, is rarer than it should be, and mothers tend to remember who thought of them.
For the baby: the next size, for the right season
Newborn-size clothes arrive in piles after a birth, and many are outgrown before they have been worn twice. Choose 3–6 months instead. At Zoha that size fits babies of about 62–68 cm and 6–8 kg, which many babies reach at around three months, just as the first wave of gifts runs out.
Then think about when the baby will be in that size. A baby born in October or November will wear 3–6 months through the cold weeks of January and February, so a long-sleeved two-piece makes sense. The Oatmeal Teddy Ribbed Top & Jogger Set has buttons on the shoulder, so it goes over a wobbly head without a struggle, and the Sage Waffle-Knit Henley & Jogger Set looks smart enough for visitors. A spring or summer baby will reach 3–6 months in the heat, when a short-sleeved romper or a light sleepsuit is more useful than anything knitted.
One good outfit is enough. If you would like to give more, our post on building a baby clothes gift bundle shows how to spread a few pieces across sizes and seasons.
For the mother: something that is only hers
Think about what she needs this month, not what would look nice in a photo. A few ideas that new mothers often appreciate:
- Soft clothes for home: a loose kurta that opens at the front, or a nightsuit with buttons, so feeding doesn’t mean undressing in a room full of aunties.
- A warm shawl or thick socks for a winter birth. Many families ask the mother to keep warm during the chilla, and a new shawl is a kind way to help.
- Food she can eat with one hand: dry fruit, a tin of panjiri, or a few home-cooked meals for the freezer. Ask first, as some families follow a particular diet after a birth, and some mothers have their own advice from a doctor.
- A large water bottle with a straw, which she can drink from while feeding.
- Something small and just for pleasure: a book, a favourite sweet, or an unscented hand cream.
- Your time: holding the baby while she bathes or sleeps, or taking an older child out for the afternoon.
Her gift before or after the chilla
Many families keep the first forty days after a birth, the chilla, quiet for the mother and baby, and who visits when varies a great deal from one family to the next. Message first and let the family choose the day.
The timing changes the gift a little. During the chilla, the mother’s gift matters most: food, warmth and help are welcome while she is still recovering. After the chilla, she may be going out again, and the baby will already be close to 3–6 months, so the outfit can be worn straight away. In some families the mother is given new clothes at the end of the forty days, often by her own parents; if you are close family, ask whether that is already planned.
When many relatives are visiting, keep the gift small and easy to put away: a set in a box and a shawl in a bag go straight into a cupboard. Hand the mother’s gift to her yourself and say “this one is for you”, or it can disappear into the baby’s pile.
A personal touch once the name is announced
Some families announce the name in the first days; others wait a little longer. Once it is known, a name embroidered on the baby’s outfit turns a practical gift into one that is kept. Name embroidery at Zoha starts from Rs 500, and you can arrange it through our custom orders page; allow plenty of time, and ask us on WhatsApp for current timings.
If the name isn’t out yet, give the outfit now and offer the embroidery later, or choose a small motif instead. If this is the family’s second or third child, see gifts for a second or third baby: the mother often needs help with the older children more than anything new.
Pairings that work
If you want a starting point, these pairs suit different families:
- Winter baby: a long-sleeved knit set in 3–6 months, and a soft shawl for her.
- Summer baby: a short-sleeved romper in 3–6 months, and a light front-opening kurta for her.
- Sent from another city or abroad: an outfit delivered to the family’s door, and a message to the mother that asks how she is, not only how the baby is.
Quick answers
What do you give a new mother in Pakistan?
Something practical and personal: soft home clothes that open at the front, a warm shawl in winter, food she can eat easily, or real help with the baby or older children. Handing it to her, as her gift, is what makes it feel thoughtful.
Which size should a newborn gift be?
Usually 3–6 months. Families receive plenty of the first size, and babies move out of it quickly. Choose 0–3 months only if the parents say they are short of small clothes or the baby was born small.
Is it okay to give money instead?
Yes. In many Pakistani families money for the baby is the usual gift, often in an envelope with the baby’s name. If you are close to the family, a small gift for the mother alongside it is a warm touch.
