Gifts for New Mums: Are Flowers the Way to Go?

The question of “can you take flowers into a hospital?” comes up a lot.

Well, sending flowers to a hospital requires plenty of planning, and your bouquet can actually be turned away depending on the hospital and department. Due to infection control, allergies and safety concerns, some wards won’t accept new bouquets–so we’d recommend checking with the hospital before bringing any flowers in or attempting to send any deliveries.

Another key consideration is the amount of space that is available in these wards, new parents may actually find there is nowhere to store or display your flowers meaning they won’t benefit from any beautiful blooms until they are back home anyway. 

Feeling overwhelmed after birth is natural, so it can actually be better to wait and send your flowers to your recipient once they are home. This will give them time to adjust and rest, and will mean they can display your flowers wherever they want to, rather than being stuck in a small hospital ward.

Flowers are a safe present for a new mum gift but an important thing to remember is that after birth, both mums and new babies will be recovering, meaning their immune systems will be more sensitive to allergens such as pollen. 

Because of this you want to choose hypoallergenic flowers that are low pollen and have very mild scents. Some flowers also have heavier pollen that sticks to the plant itself and isn’t dispersed into the air, which makes them a good option for low pollen flowers.

High levels of pollen can lead to sneezing, watery, itchy eyes, and a pretty unhappy infant. As mentioned, hypoallergenic flowers are the safe option for any new baby bouquets. 

Some flowers also have toxic properties when digested, so it’s better to keep them away from any tiny, curious hands. So what should be avoided in an arrangement?

Lilies

Many varieties of lilies are highly toxic to both children and pets, so it’s best to steer clear if your recipient has any cats or dogs in the home. You can even shop for lily free bouquets specifically to make sure your flowers are pet-friendly. 

Lilies also have a strong scent which can be overwhelming to new babies and possibly trigger sensitivities to their still settling immune system. If you’re really keen on them, hybrid lilies can have minimised pollen for allergy sufferers. 

Sunflowers

Known for their bright and cheerful nature, sunflowers are better to gift to those without pollen allergies. 

Sadly, sunflowers are full of pollen, making them  particularly problematic for new baby bouquets.. If you really want to include sunflowers in your bouquets, look for hypoallergenic varieties or request your florist remove stamens and anthers as this can prevent airborne pollen from spreading. 

Daisies

Avoid any flower arrangements with daisies when purchasing new baby flowers. While they’re lovely to spot when outside, daisies are huge pollen producers so bringing them into a home with a newborn can irritate their sensitive immune systems. 

Baby’s Breath

Baby’s breath are a lovely addition to bouquets, adding a delicate mix to compliment the other flowers in your bunch. However, a lot of fillers and wildflowers such as these can trigger pollen allergies, so aren’t the best choice for homes with newborns. 

Chrysanthemums

Chrysanthemums tend to have a higher concentration of flower heads. This means they give off more pollen and are more likely to trigger allergies. They can also cause contact dermatitis (an irritation of the skin) if they are handled a lot so should be avoided when gifting people with pollen sensitivity. 

So, what flowers are hypoallergenic?

There are still options when it comes to new parent bouquets–you just need to look for low pollen options that will be more friendly for sensitive immune systems! And luckily, there are plenty of beautiful blooms that double as allergy safe. 

Roses

A classic option for bouquets, roses are self pollinating, meaning they don’t produce airborne pollen. This makes them the perfect option for any new baby flowers. 

Most roses also have a mild scent to them, so they won’t overwhelm any sensitive noses when brought into a home. 

You can choose from plenty of different colours to convey different meanings with your bouquet. For example, a yellow or white rose can be perfect to symbolise new beginnings, purity and friendship, rather than your classic red rose which is more linked to romance. 

Tulips

Tulips are a great option when looking for low pollen flowers. Their pollen is heavy, so it won’t become airborne and stays stuck inside their tube shaped petals. 

Again, you can choose different colours of tulips depending on your relationship with the new parents, or the feelings you want to share. Yellow tulips are very cheerful, while pink exudes happiness for the new baby. 

Carnations

Carnations are considered safe for new parent gifts as they are mildly scented and won’t trigger any allergies for sensitive immune systems. 

Red carnations symbolise feelings of love, white can mean purity and new beginnings while pink can be perfect baby girl flowers if that’s your chosen colour scheme. 

They are also a very long-lasting flower, so parents will be able to enjoy them for a longer time than other bouquets!

Orchids

Orchids have a sticky pollen that stays within the flower, making them perfect for reducing pollen in a home. 

An elegant flower, you can give these to represent wishes for strength, endurance and luxury for your recipient. 

Hydrangeas

Blooms of hydrangeas are very popular because of their fluffy appearance. They are also safe for new babies because of their minimal pollen.

They symbolise abundance and heartfelt feelings. Available in both pinks and blues, these can be an ideal option for flowers for baby boys. 

Peonies

There are plenty of options when it comes to peonies from creamy white to bolder pink bouquets. These blooms have layers of soft petals, making them beautiful to display and trap any pollen from becoming airborne. 

Snapdragons

Snapdragons have tube shaped petals which keep the pollen inside them, it makes them  great for any new baby bouquets. They come in a range of colours and can add some height and visual intrigue to a bouquet, meaning they stand out from the crowd.

Because of their hardiness, snapdragons can be used to symbolise strength, grace and resilience when sending them to someone. 

Irises

Usually in shades of purple and blue, irises are a beautiful, delicate flower to add to a bouquet. They also have a unique shape which means their pollen stays stuck inside them. 

Petunias

Petunias have large petals that limit their pollen release, making them perfect for allergy sensitive bouquets. 

In some cases, they are used to represent healing from an argument, but they don’t always have negative connotations. You can also use these to send feelings of calm and comfort to any new mums and dads. 

Geraniums

Geraniums are ideal low pollen flowers for new babies. Available in a wide range of colours from white to bold pink, these blooms symbolise joy and good health. 

When it comes to flowers for baby boys or baby girl flowers, you don’t need to stick to set colour schemes. There are plenty of floral displays that can symbolise different meanings and express what you’re wanting to. 

- White flowers symbolise innocence and new beginnings–ideal for celebrating a newborn baby.

- Yellow flowers can communicate feelings of happiness, cheer and joy for the families’ new addition.

- Green flowers will give feelings of nature, energy and growth. 

- Orange flowers are the main symbol of happiness, energy and celebration. Bright and colourful, they’re the ideal colour for wishing someone well. 

- Purple flowers will symbolise feelings of peace and elegance, and can be great to add a sense of calm to a busy family home.

- Pink flowers, along with red bouquets, are the perfect symbols of love and showing someone you are there for them. 

- Blue flowers are a more unique shade and can give feelings of peace, calmness and tranquility when used in a bouquet. 

Outside of colour choices, you can also match your bouquet to the babies’ zodiac. Each star sign has their own birth flower associated with it, as well as a flower for each birth month. You can incorporate these into your bouquet to add another layer of thoughtfulness to your gift.