Best Care Packages to Support New Parents Who Are Physical Distancing

We love this care package for anyone with a sense of humor. If you know a parent who enjoys succulents and puns, this box has what they need (it comes with a real succulent!). It comes with different sizing options to also include things like a candle, matches, stemless wine cup, lip balm and a handmade soap and bath bomb. Keep in mind: Your succulent may arrive looking a little dry and sad, but that’s just from the shipping. Give it a little sun and water and it’ll look fresh and healthy in a couple days.

Spas are closed, but that doesn’t mean you can’t give a new parent a well-deserved spa day. Complete with bath essentials like natural soap, bath bomb, body oil, scented soy candle and more, this lavender-themed care package creates a welcome opportunity for relaxation and self-care. You can even personalize the box with a name! Keep in mind: The majority of items in this care package are scented with lavender, so be mindful of any allergies.

We think parents are strong, brave, heroic people—especially during these difficult times—and this care package helps you tell the new parents in your life “You’re my hero.” With chocolate truffle bars and truffle candies, this package doesn’t just taste good, it also does good—five percent of profits are donated to Mary’s Place, an organization in Seattle, WA dedicated to helping women and families out of homelessness.

Is there honestly anything better than comfort food? In a time when new parents might not be getting the pre-made dinners they could usually expect from friends and family, Spoonful of Comfort is creating care packages that give exactly that in the form of delicious soup, dinner rolls and cookies. Choose from five kinds of soup (in a whopping 64 ounces) and four kinds of cookies. They also offer additional comfort items like socks, candles, books and, in case baby wants to join in, these sweet bibs.

Thanks to Changing Hands, a small, independent bookstore in Arizona, there’s a care package especially for book-loving parents too! You can pick your own book to send, or make a magical moment by letting the booksellers create a surprise package—just pick what kind of reader you’re buying for and what genres they like. They’ll also include a few surprise (themed) gifts like a candle, a notebook, a pair of socks, generally comforting things to create a cozy, curl-up-with-your-new-book atmosphere.

Snacks abound! This gift basket is perfect for creating a special picnic right in your own backyard (or living room, if you prefer to stay indoors). Gourmet options like cheese, fruit preserves, olives, English tea and more will have parents saying “yum!” before they even open the packages. (And the basket, by the way, will make great nursery storage when all the food is gone). Like a little wine with a picnic? We love this gift basket with a trio of California wines.

Some new parents swear by coffee as their secret to making it through the long nights with a newborn. The coffee connoisseurs at Bean Box are really good at finding unique flavors from small brands, and we’re willing to bet that there are some flavors here that the coffee-loving parent in your life hasn’t tried (yet). Choose whole bean or freshly ground for eight gourmet coffees, and paired with eight handmade biscotti cookies, this package will make any new parent’s caffeine habit feel truly cared for.

If you want a drink that really cares for someone’s soul, go for the tea. Sips by offers a wide variety of teas in one comforting little package—all you have to do is put on the kettle. Choose from caffeinated, caffeine-free or a mix as well as all loose leaf or a mix of loose leaf and bagged teas. The best part about this care package: it’s enough to make 50 cups.

For a lot of people, baking is a comforting, therapeutic activity (especially given the sweet little reward at the end). Red Velvet is well-loved for their baking kit subscription, but for a one-off gift, their store has a lot of delicious and varied options, like matcha swirl cookies, gluten-free flourless chocolate cake and coconut macaroons. Each kit comes with most of the necessary ingredients; the baking tools will need to come from their own pantry (as well as eggs, if the recipe calls for them).