Ellington

The best gifts for new moms are not necessarily cute little outfits or monogrammed bibs. Although most moms love opening tiny treasures at baby showers, the first few weeks of a baby's life is usually a blur of more practical concerns than coordinated socks and onesies.

Here are some useful gifts to help the new mom in your life.

• Diaper delivery. It is easy for a newborn baby to run through dozens of diapers and wipes before a mom even has time to take out the trash, let alone think about getting out of the house with a newborn to stock up on basic necessities. Before you stop by to meet the new baby, give your friend a call or a text to see if you can pick up a package of her preferred brand of diapers, wipes or diaper cream on your way. It might not be the most personal gift, but your friend will appreciate the gesture when she doesn't run out of diapers in the middle of the night.

• Healthy fast food. It can be extremely hard for a new mom to even think about preparing meals for her family, especially right after delivering a baby. Save your friend the time and stress of meal-making by bringing by a healthy alternative to take-out food. Bring easily freezable foods to eat later if your friend already has a meal plan for that particular day. Be certain to ask about dietary restrictions of your friend and her family, especially if she is breastfeeding and is avoiding certain foods.

• Helping hands. Even if you're operating on a tight budget, you can give your friend the meaningful gift of your time. Ask your friend when you can come by to help her start a load of laundry, wash the dishes, take out the trash, write thank-you notes or mow the lawn. These basic necessities can be overwhelming for new moms, who may feel tired and hormonal. A short gift of your time gives the new mom in your life a welcome respite from worry and can allow her extra time to rest or to enjoy her baby.

• Rest and relaxation. If your friend has a particularly fussy baby, she may not be getting the recovery time or sleep that she needs to function well, especially once her husband has to go back to work or her mom has to leave after helping out for a few weeks. Offer to take the baby on a stroll around the neighborhood or just to rock the baby in another room while your friend takes a much needed nap or soaks in the tub without worrying about her baby.

• Gift cards. You may not be able to resist purchasing a tangible gift for your friend. If not, think about purchasing a gift card for your friend. Babies can be expensive, and a gift card to a local retailer such as Rainbow Whole Foods Cooperative Grocery or your favorite children's consignment shop can help your friend stock up on baby clothes, baby gear or healthy food without breaking her budget. Or think about getting her a gift card to Lemuria Books, since babies might outgrow the cute tiny outfits, but nobody ever outgrows classic children's books.