Corrine StokoeQuick version: these are the best gifts for nurses after delivering your baby (or babies!).
In the years that have passed since I started having babies, gifts for nurses have become a thing. I really wanted to do something nice for my nurses and I totally loved the idea of bringing some small tokens of appreciation to all the people who helped us welcome our babies into the world! Lucky for me, one of my friends is the perfect resource because she's a Labor and Delivery nurse so she knows exactly what gifts nurses really like!
Today I'm sharing some of the BEST gift ideas for nurses to say thanks to the amazing professionals that help bring babies into the world every day.
In a hurry? Shop the gifts below:
Gifts for nurses: ideas from a L&D nurse
I reached out to my friend a few weeks before Millie was due and she helped me come up with some ideas for gifts for nurses like the socks and pens above. I also had big plans to do more, like bring yummy, healthy snacks, but since baby sister decided to come FOUR days early, the pens and socks were all I had ready!
It still put a huge smile on the face of every nurse who came through the door during our hospital stay. Since Millie did come early the first few nurses that took care of us didn't get their gifts from me, but I kept a list of their names in my phone and once Neil brought the gifts for nurses from home I coordinated with my nurse at the time to make sure they all got them!
We used this guide again when Harry, our 4th, was born back in May of 2020, and now for our 5th baby, Bobby. One thing I wish I would've thought of was to keep the gifts in my room instead of letting the first nurse that first night take it to the nurse's station, because the rest of the nurses who helped me during our stay didn't get to enjoy those gifts because they all were distributed by everyone working that first shift the day I was admitted. With previous babies I had the gifts in my room for any nurses who helped me, and I'd definitely suggest that if you want each nurse who helps you to feel thanked!
I'm going to let my friend spill the deets on all of her favorite gifts for nurses that she's received or that she thinks every L&D nurse would absolutely love!
Gifts for nurses after delivery
#1: Pens
Seriously, PENS! Nurses love good pens. We hoard them like squirrels. And these are the very BEST pens in the entire world. I've been using them since nursing school and they're my absolute favorite. They're so good, Corrine's doctor even took one!
#2: Socks
Most hospitals require nurses to wear a specific color of scrubs, so socks are one of the few ways we get to express ourselves. So most of us really, really love socks. Like, a lot. Corrine has loved adidas socks for years now, and these crew socks will help your nurses who are on their feet for hours to be a little more comfy!! These stance socks are also a great option.
#3: Diet Coke
One of my patients once bought me a 24-pack of Diet Coke after I delivered their baby and they still might be my favorite patient! Haha! Lots of nurses I work with share my addiction so this is a great easy and inexpensive gift!
#4: Water bottles
Another easy, budget friendly option is water bottles. Hospital water isn't always the tastiest and when you're walking 10,000+ steps per shift you need to stay hydrated! We nurses also really, really love reusable water bottles that'll keep hot drinks hot and cold drinks cold for hours. Because depending on the day you may get a few sips in the morning before you have to abandon your drink for hours! I'm completely obsessed with these S'well travel mugs. This is also a GREAT one from a brand we all know and love!
#5: Lotion
Using hand sanitizer a billion times a day and taking gloves on and off (and on and off) really does a number on nurses hands so we'll never say no to yummy lotion. Love these Philosophy Hand & Nail Creams. They smell amazing and they're the perfect size to throw into your bag or locker.
#6: Chapstick
Hospital air can also be really dry so we nurses are huge fans of good chapstick. I really love EOS lip balms.
#7: Healthy snacks
Patients love to bring nurses donuts and cookies and Nothing Bundt Cakes and we totally appreciate them and eat waaaaaaaay too many of them, but we really, really love healthy snacks. A basket of nuts, fresh fruit, cheese, beef jerky, pretzels, protein bars, trail mix or popcorn would be universally beloved.
#8: Small gift cards
Small gift cards (like UNDER $10) for Starbucks, McDonald's (for the Diet Coke!), In-N-Out, Chick-Fil-A or Sonic are always popular and appreciated gift for nurses.
#9: One of the best gifts for nurses: a letter
A letter to the hospital CEO or hospital administration thanking your nurses (by name if you remember them or keep a list) and talking about the great care you received and your positive experience having a baby with us! This is the best gift of all!!
Pens
Socks
Diet Coke
Water Bottles, Reusable Water Bottles
EOS lip balms
Lotion
Gift Cards
Thank You Cards
Gifts for nurses – because we love our nurses!
While it's not necessary to buy gifts for nurses, we hope this gives you some ideas if you're wanting to show appreciation to them without causing you any stress during this special time!
When do you give the nurses their gifts? At the end or when they first come in?
I didn’t have mine until the second day since Millie came 4 days earlier than I expected, but after that I had each new nurse take one right when they came in, and then I gave a list to my last nurse of the nurses I had my first day who I didn’t see again for the rest of my hospital stay. Hope that helps!
I’ve been a nurse for 15 years now and still working. And we don’t need gifts. A plate of cookies for the unit is a polite gesture. But we aren’t supposed to receive gifts. And I feel badly for the expectant mother to feel she needs to purchase items to bring into the hospital. You pay a hefty medical bill already to the hospital, no need to add to the financial woe. I feel bad that Heidi is making this a “thing”. I do my job because I love it and I don’t expect anything but courtesy and respect in return.
We can totally see where you’re coming from and agree that most nurses just love what they do and feel like it’s not necessary! But these are just some ideas for people who want to give a gift to their nurses and are looking for ideas 🙂
-Kourtney
thank you for this!! i wrote letters and sent pics to certain nurses with both my wonderful hospital births and this post made me feel SO guilty. and now i feel better 🙂 gah you nurses really do always know how to make people feel better!!
Hey Talia, Corrine here. I’m so sorry this post made you feel badly! That wasn’t my intention at all. I didn’t give any gifts to the nurses for my first two babies, so you did more than I knew or thought to do the first couple times. I honestly just wanted to give some ideas to people since Heidi helped me out, and otherwise I was just googling what to do. I think a letter and pictures is even more thoughtful than just a gift!
I love this idea of giving the nurses gifts. How many gifts should I plan on bringing? I can’t remember how many nurses I had when I had my son. And when do you give them their gifts?
Hey Katie! Heidi said to plan on 2 nurses per day, so usually about 6-8 nurses depending on how long your stay is! 🙂 Corrine had the gifts in her room (after delivery) and the nurses came and got them during their shift! Hope that answers your questions! 🙂 -Kourtney
This list is spot on!!!
We are so glad you agree!! 🙂 -Kourtney
I’m a nurse and this is true. We really don’t need gifts, we’re not supposed to receive them, and I have refused personal gifts that my patients tried to give me. But now that I just delivered my baby, I really wanted to give something to the nurses that took great care of me. I’m 3 weeks PP, and I am just now planning to send a box of doughnuts or probably cookies to give to the unit.
For expecting moms out there, don’t stress out on whether to bring one or not. Really, the best gift would be writing a letter recognizing those caregivers. Where I worked before, everytime we get recognized, we get an award with a star pin that we could put on our badge. The more stars, the more it says that my patients love me. So a simple thank you note would suffice.
How many nurses should I expect?
Hey Ashley! Heidi said if you’re buying individual gifts versus something the whole unit can share you want to plan on 6-8 nurses. Typically when you’re in the hospital to have a baby you’re there 2-3 days & have 2 nurses per day! Hope that helps! 🙂 -Kourtney