Gift ideas for new mothers – What do husbands in Singapore give their wives?

There are some strange phenomena going on in the world of millennial parents. One that is becoming increasingly popular is the novelty of giving “push gifts” or “push presents.”

What is a push gift, you ask innocently?

It is a gift that husbands give their wives to thank them for bringing their child into the world. Despite the name, mothers also receive one when they are cut up during a Caesarean section.

Push gifts are usually jewelry that commemorates the important milestone of the birth of a child. For example, Beyoncé received a sapphire ring from Jay Z for the birth of Blue Ivy.

It can also be a little more unconventional, like when Pink received a motorcycle from her husband Carey Hart.

via GIPHY

So, come on, let’s Subscribe what Singaporean wives get from their husbands!

Push Gift Ideas in Singapore

I’ve collected some of the push gifts people receive by trawling Dayre, a microblogging platform with a large number of moms as its user base. These are some of the things Singaporean moms have been getting and their associated price tags.

It seems that a Chanel handbag is the most popular push gift at Dayre. Ouch, that’s expensive.

But there are also practical mothers. A blogger from Dayre asked for a Dyson Supersonic hairdryer. Okay, okay, definitely not cheap, but certainly not as expensive as a Chanel Boy.

How to buy a push gift

So, men, let’s get this straight, a push gift is not a must! I don’t have much respect for women who ask for this when the family is struggling financially, but if giving gifts is something you and your partner enjoy doing on a regular basis, then we shouldn’t deny that a gift is a great way to show appreciation.

I’ve looked into the experiences of new mothers in Singapore with their push gifts and put together a few tips for buying a push gift. All the quotes you see are from personal blogs but I’ve refrained from mentioning names.

1. A push gift should reflect the significance of your child’s birth

If you’re giving your wife a birth gift to thank her for having your child growing in her belly, it should be something that reflects the significance of this event. If you’ve ever accompanied a woman in the delivery room, you’ll probably agree that it should be worth more than the usual birthday gift you give each other.

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2. Choose something useful or practical

“I hope he buys me a MacBook Air if there is no Celine bag,” blogged a mother whose little daughter is named Celine.

Well, we hope she got the MacBook Air, because naming a bag after your child (or is it the other way around?) is a bit cheesy and will make a lot of women think about naming their kids after Chanel and Rolex.

But don’t reach for significance. You can also go for something practical, like an iPad, a Macbook or a Dyson product that is high quality but still practical.

A Tula baby carrier or a Jujube diaper bag may be helpful for your wife immediately after birth.

3. Know your wife and understand her needs

It doesn’t matter what you see on social media or what other women have gotten from their husbands, everyone is different. The last thing you want is to give in to peer pressure (or pressure from your wife) and end up with credit card debt or having to take out a personal loan for a baby shower gift. Don’t do it!

From what I have read, many Singaporean mothers on Dayre would prefer a practical (but quality) gift over an expensive luxury handbag or jewelry.

One mom blogger said: “Personally, I think a Dyson hairdryer makes me happier. I’ve seen a lot of ladies given a Chanel as a gift, but how often do they use it?”

Another person who received an iPad said, “If I wish for diamonds or bags, where and when will I ever use them? I’m super undemanding and don’t even use makeup.”

What When How you should give this birth gift is entirely up to you. Some people give the gift a few days before their wife gives birth, others do it within the first month.

Is your wife expecting a push gift?

If she’s not social media savvy (lucky you), there’s a good chance she doesn’t know about it.

But even if that’s the case, that doesn’t mean she expects one.

In fact, on Dayre there were many mothers who did not want a push gift.

One blogger felt that financial support from her husband was sufficient. She said, “He pays the bills and I know the fees are not cheap, so I decided not to push him for a gift.”

Some mothers even bought themselves gifts for the birth to commemorate this special event.

One mom who bought an iPad with a Logitech keyboard wrote, “Nah, my husband doesn’t know what a push gift is. I’m fine with that. I don’t need a push gift, I just need him to treat me well.”

But if your wife’s love language is gift giving and she enjoys luxury or premium items from time to time, then it could be a token of appreciation that makes her happy. Of course, make sure you can actually afford it.

Many mothers said they were not expecting a push gift but were grateful when they received one.

Someone who received a Chanel Boy as a gift was overjoyed and jokingly blogged when he received it: “I really deserve this HAHA …”

And what happens if your wife Is Are you expecting a push gift? If it is within your power to make your wife happy, you can also make the effort and write a handwritten card.

However, if you find it difficult to buy what she asks, tell your wife and ask for her understanding. You can also offer your support in other ways, such as spending more time with her and doing her nice favors… like offering to feed her more often at night.

The best credit cards for purchasing your push gift

For expectant fathers who have decided to pamper their wives, it is worth using credit cards that give you the highest cashback when shopping. Here are some of our recommendations for cashback cards:

• OCBC Robinsons Credit Card: 5% for shopping at Robinsons, Marks & Spencer, Zara or Royal Sporting House

• American Express True Cashback Rewards Card: 3% unlimited cashback (first 6 months up to $5,000)

• HSBC Advance: 3.5% Discount if you are an HSBC Advance customer (credit salary of $3,500 per month and expenses of at least $2,000 per month), up to $125

Happy wife, happy life? What are some of the craziest push gifts you’ve heard of? Share them with us in the comments below!

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The article “Gift ideas for new mothers – What do Singaporean husbands give their wives?” first appeared on the MoneySmart blog.

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