The Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Perfect Push Present

The arrival of a new baby is a time like no other. A child is a joyous, wonderful gift in and of itself. The constant cuddling, those adorable little yawns, sometimes even a head of big, bushy hair…pretty much everything about them is heaven (except for maybe a sleepless night or two). And once baby arrives, a husband often wants to shower his wife with a tangible gift. This present is historically known as a “push present.”

“A push present is simply another name for a thoughtful baby gift given to your partner, specifically on or around the time of delivery,” says Diane Gottsman, national etiquette expert and owner of The Protocol School of Texas. “Traditionally, a new dad gives the new mom a gift as a sign of love and appreciation for bringing their new bundle of joy into the world.”

Welcoming a new baby into a family does not always involve a traditional birth, however. “Surrogates, adoption, and foster care are all beautiful ways to bring a child into your home, so the word ‘push’ does not always apply or feel comfortable to use when gifting mom,” Gottsman says.

Push present, baby gift, new mom acknowledgement…whichever term you choose, bestowing kindness and love is something your significant other will remember forever, she says.

We asked Gottsman some frequently asked questions about push presents including etiquette. Here’s what she told us.

Q: How much should you spend on a push present?

A: “It depends on what you can afford,” Gottsman says. In other words: Don’t blow your budget for a push present, but it’s OK to splurge if that’s what works for your family.

Q: When should you give the gift? A: Timing is important, Gottsman says. Wait until after the baby is born, and the excitement of bringing a new child into the world has worn off a bit. And definitely don’t do it during or immediately after labor. “When things have settled and you both are in the room together – either alone or with your new bundle of joy – is a good time to give your partner the thoughtfully wrapped gift and a handwritten card,” she says.

Q: What is the best type of push present? A: Like all gifts, make sure you think of the recipient. Imagine them opening the present and what their reaction will be. You may want to choose something that is comforting to a new mom, Gottsman says, such as a spa treatment, gift certificate to her favorite hair salon, or fluffy robe.

Jewelry, too, is always appropriate. And when it comes to jewelry, expensive isn’t always better, Gottsman notes. “A thoughtful piece of jewelry, inscribed with a baby’s name, is a nice gift,” Gottsman says.

15 push present ideas

Next, we asked Gottsman to help us curate a gift guide filled with all sorts of push present ideas that a new mom would surely treasure. And, boy, did she deliver (get it?).

Jewelry

Pampering gifts

Floral gifts and gifts for the home