Socialite Nicole Richie will be honoured with a parenting award - just five months into motherhood.

The Simple Life star - who gave birth to her first child, daughter Harlow, in January - will receive a Golden Pacifier Award from Babytalk Magazine, according to its editor-in-chief Lisa Moran.

Moran tells America's Ok! magazine, "Honouring Nicole Richie with a Babytalk Golden Pacifier Award might come as a surprise to some, but we felt that she deserved some recognition for her turnaround since becoming a mom.

"She's grown up a lot since the arrival of little Harlow, and her creation of the Richie-Madden Children's Foundation has demonstrated her efforts to set a good example by shining a spotlight on important issues affecting today's families."

Also to be recognised is former talk show host Ricki Lake for her 2008 documentary The Business of Being Born, which chronicles her home-birthing experience.