The one thing mums of Reddit all agree makes a great gift? Food, food, food. There's barely time to eat, let alone cook, in those first heady weeks of newborn life.

We love local services like DabbaDrop – the East London meal delivery subscription that’s a true lifesaver. Or give them the freedom to choose a few different meals when needed with a simple Deliveroo or UberEats gift card. And the best bit? They get to eat foods they weren't able to over the past nine months, like fresh sushi.

If she's a fan of M&S food, this one's going to shoot you straight to the top of the list as best gifter/friend. This letterbox-sized bundle of joy contains three of their coffee blends – Jump Start, House Blend, and Italian – paired with a handful of sweet treats, from carrot cake to chocolate biscuits and indulgent millionaires shortbread.

The first few trips out alone with a baby can be daunting. Starting with small, local trips – like to a nearby coffee shop or bakery – can help. If you're not able to join your new mum friend for moral support, sending a coffee shop gift card from afar is a thoughtful touch. You can present it as a way for her to find her rhythm, establishing a habit of getting out of the house and doing something enjoyable for herself – with or without the baby.

I loved taking coffee breaks with my daughter after our park walks – it became our little tradition and made me feel proud that I was still able to do some of the things I did before, but with her.

This gently foaming shower gel smells like tuberose and orange, leaving skin silky with apricot oil. The scent will quickly turn a two-minute shower into a spa-like experience, giving her a little dose of self-care amid a stressful day.

If you saw the words 'natural deodorant' and thought 'that's the last thing she needs', hold up a second. AKT's award-winning formulas hit different, thanks to beautiful subtle scents and a creamy texture that keeps you feeling dry and fresh. It's a comforting, sensory treat for managing postpartum body odour (yes, that's a thing).

Frequent nappy changing means frequent hand-washing, which can mean dry, sore skin. Enter Nursem: a brand developed by paediatric intensive care nurse Antonia Philp who developed contact dermatitis from hand washing and sanitising at work. Nursem's signature hand cream contains manuka honey, allantoin and plant oils to restore the protective barrier that keeps skin hydrated – a bedside table hero.

Putting together a hamper of postpartum essentials tailored to their birth and recovery experience is a really thoughtful gift. If you're not sure where to begin, this bundle from Mum Bub Hub is a practical and thoughtful set designed to support recovery after an uncomplicated vaginal birth. You could add in items like disposable underwear and nicer sanitary towels, which are now much easier to come by than in the past. FridaMom offer a postpartum essentials kit for £44.99, while Lansinoh does the full works for £110 - ideal to gift before she gives birth, too.

This would make a super practical gift – alone or as part of a hamper to get her through the busiest newborn days and nights. The set features two of Living Proof's popular dry shampoos – their original and advanced formulas – which feature a clever cocktail of conditioning agents to make hair feel fresh but still soft.

The best new mum gifts are those that give her maximum choice. Some new parents won't want to leave home for a bit, so a voucher for an at-home spa treatment is perfect. With Urban, you can load up a gift card with any amount, and then they get to choose what treatment to enjoy and when, including pampering facials and nail treatments.

Alternatively, browse local spas near you to treat them to a trip out of the house. A nail appointment is great because the results last a long time and help you feel polished, plus it gets you out of the house for a good amount of time. You can even offer to help organise it to take the admin off her list!

You never appreciate clothes and hair accessories quite as much as when you become a mum. Being able to throw on a nice hair band or sunglasses before leaving the house helps you feel put-together, even when you feel anything but. Scrunchies, Alice bands and headscarves all fit the bill – and keep hair out of baby hands! – avoid gifting pendant earrings for the same reason.

Nice underwear is another way you can feel a bit more yourself while navigating life as a new parent, whether that's through soft bamboo maternity underwear or something fancier a few months in. A gift voucher for a lingerie brand is a lovely way for her to treat herself, and even go and get measured if her bra size has changed.

Umbrellas lose their usefulness when you've got a buggy to push, so a decent raincoat is essential for new mums in rainy climates. Rains' coats are machine washable at 40 degrees and lightweight too – handy for throwing in the buggy just in case.

One of the most thoughtful gifts you can give a new mum is simply offering your time and help. Small acts of service, like dropping off a homemade meal, doing a quick food shop, or tidying up her space can make all the difference without feeling intrusive.

My top tip? Give her specific options for her to choose from rather than keeping the offer open ended. For example, don't say "let me know if I can help!". Instead, say "I'm free between 1pm-4pm and can either come over and watch the baby while you shower, or do a quick clean around the house for you – which would be most helpful?".

Take a load off her mind, literally, by gifting door-to-door laundry care. Companies like Laundryheap and I hate ironing make it easy for a pile of washing to be magically whisked away, cleaned, pressed and returned a couple days later.