Finding out you need to go on bed rest while you’re pregnant can feel really daunting. When all you want to do is work on the nursery, or if you have other kids to care for, you may instead be confined to your bed at home or the hospital for a myriad of reasons and conditions. Even though this can be hard to get through, it’s absolutely possible with a little help and support along the way. While physically being there to help a pregnant friend or family member on bed rest may be the best gift, another great way to show you’re thinking about them is to create a pregnancy bed rest care package.
How To Choose an Appropriate Package
Pro Tip: Before choosing a bed rest care package for the mom-to-be, check with her to see what her activity restriction level is. According to the Cleveland Clinic, there are three main levels that vary in activity:1
- Activity restriction: This is the most commonly used term for bed rest and involves reducing activities and avoiding prolonged standing or walking. It can also include restrictions on lifting things or using the stairs.
- Partial bed rest: Also known as modified bed rest, this level allows for some mobility and independence. It typically involves sitting or lying down for most of the day, but it also allows you to take short walks and do some light housework.
- Full bed rest: This is also known as “strict bed rest.” This level requires spending most of the day lying down or reclining. It involves avoiding any activities that require standing or sitting upright for extended periods.
Depending on the mom-to-be’s level of bed rest, choose the gift you believe is best for her needs while considering her limitations.
Best Gifts for a Pregnancy Bed Rest Care Package
So, what do you put in a bed rest care package? There are tons of things that can be helpful. We’ve narrowed it down to the top 18 most useful and fun items to add to a pregnancy bed rest care package:
1. Body Pillow
If they don’t have a pregnancy body pillow yet, now is definitely the time to get them one. Pregnancy pillows make lying down a million times more comfortable, which is necessary when you’re on bed rest for weeks or even months.
2. Self-Care Kit
Make them feel a little brighter with a little freshen-up kit full of self-care products. Grab a bottle of their favorite lotion, lip balm, baby wipes (get her collection started!), a hairbrush, body oil, and, most importantly, some dry shampoo! If she doesn’t use the dry shampoo now, she certainly will after the baby arrives!
3. Magazines
This may be a little old school for some, but there’s something really satisfying about picking up a physical magazine and reading through it, cover to cover. Grab the latest issue of her favorite magazine and add it to the care package, or gift her a subscription. You can also gift her magazines that she can view on her Kindle!
4. Audible Subscription
Audible has a massive selection of audiobooks, perfect for women who want to multitask while on bed rest. Believe it or not, it can also be hard to hold books or Kindles while you’re lying down since the blood can rush from your hands quickly. Grab her an Audible subscription or gift card so she can let her favorite books play in the background. Or, add a pair of headphones to the care package so she can listen solo!
5. A Pregnancy Journal and Baby Book
For moms stuck on bed rest, this can be the perfect time to work on a small project. Grab her a baby book to start documenting her pregnancy and baby’s first year. One day, her little one will love to read through the story. It’s also a wonderful reminder of everything she did with this baby if she gets pregnant again in the future.
6. Insulated Mug or Water Bottle
When she can’t get up every hour to add more ice to her water or throw her decaf coffee in the microwave again, having an insulated mug or water bottle can keep her drinks cold or hot for hours on end and be a huge help.
7. Blanket With Pockets
Another fun, useful item to help her through pregnancy bed rest? A wearable blanket with pockets! This might be something every mom should have because what mom doesn’t want to curl up in a blanket on the couch and not have to get up to grab anything? Add lotion and chapstick to the pockets for an extra touch, especially if she will be in the hospital for bed rest, where the air can cause a lot of skin dryness.
8. A Dinner Tray/Lap Desk
She can use a lap desk as both an eating tray and a desk for a laptop. These are great for making mealtime and working easier and more convenient. For an extra measure of convenience, look for a lap desk or tray with a place to hold a cell phone upright. She’ll love it!
9. Manicure Kit
Let her glam herself up a bit with an at-home manicure kit. You can check your local nail salons to see if they sell mani/pedi kits, or build her one yourself with just a nail file, nail polish, an exfoliator, and lotion! If you know that mom is feeling sensitive to stronger smells — like that of nail polish — grab a nail art kit or nail stickers instead. Etsy has a ton of cute options to choose from that are easy to apply.
10. Crochet Kit
Crocheting is a fun and calming activity to do from bed and a great way to pass the time. Grab her a crochet kit with instructions, like this one from Woobles. With these kits, she’ll learn how to crochet and make something sweet for the baby!
11. Adult Coloring Books
Let her act like a kid again with an adult coloring book! Coloring is a great way to reduce stress, improve sleep, and simply take your mind off of things.2 There are so many benefits of coloring that are wonderful for her, especially during this (most likely) stressful time.
12. Puzzles
Puzzles never go out of style and are an easy way to pass the time. For a little something extra, grab her a 3D puzzle! She can place the puzzle pieces on a tray in her bed as she tries to put them together. Puzzles are also great for stress management and more!3
13. Activity Books
You’re pretty limited with what you can do from the lying down position. If she’s tired of some of the activities listed above, she can try an activity book! Books like these often have sudoku, dot-to-dots, word searches, mazes, and more. She’ll be able to keep her mind and hands busy with these.
14. Entertainment Subscription
If she hasn’t subscribed to a streaming service, grab her a month’s subscription to Netflix, HBO, or Disney Plus so she can see all the must-watch shows and movies. This is the perfect time for her to catch up on all the shows she’s been wanting to see.
15. Massager
Laying down or staying in the same position for extended periods of time can be hard on the body. A massager is a perfect bed rest gift because it will loosen her muscles and help bring blood flow to the muscles she hasn’t been using. Being sore is common while on bed rest, so a massager can help tremendously!4,5
16. Grabber Tool
We thought this gift would give her a chuckle. But it’s also practical because, sometimes, things drop. Since she might not be allowed to get out of bed very often, having a grabber tool like this can help her get anything that’s out of reach or falls to the floor. While it’s funny, it’s definitely a tool she’ll use!
17. Organizing Caddy
It’s helpful to keep all your essentials within arm’s reach when you’re on bed rest. If she doesn’t want to clutter up her bedside table or nightstand, a caddy could be the perfect gift! This will give her a spot to organize all her must-haves and keep them close by.
18. Robotic Vacuum
Lastly, if you’re going for the ultimate care package and have no price limit, a robotic vacuum could be a massive help for a mom on pregnancy bed rest (though it is pricey). She’ll be thrilled that something else will be working to keep the house a little less dirty.
Being on bed rest can really suck. But receiving one of these gifts lets your recipient know that you’re thinking of her and that you want her to be as comfortable as possible. She will be so grateful! 🙂
