Gift guide · 12 ideas
Gifts for Mom
Moms are experts at buying for everyone else. These are the little luxuries she’d pick up in the store and put back.
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The best gifts for moms tend to be the things she’d call an indulgence: a nicer version of something ordinary, or something that buys her a little time and comfort. She’ll buy the practical stuff herself, so this is the chance to spoil her a bit.
Each idea comes with our pick from one of our top lists, chosen with her in mind rather than simply the top of the list: the slippers to leave by the bed, the frother that stands by the coffee maker, the picnic blanket that’s soft enough to double as a throw on the porch.
A mulberry silk pillowcase
She makes sure everyone else’s bed is comfortable before her own. A silk pillowcase is a little luxury she’ll use every single night.
ZIMASILK 100% Mulberry Silk Pillowcase (Standard)
$20–$30
Genuine 19 momme mulberry silk front and back, so it doesn’t matter which way up it goes on, with a hidden zipper and more than 35 colors to choose from. ZIMASILK says its smooth, low-friction surface suits curly, frizz-prone and color-treated hair.
What owners say: Owners describe it as luxurious and genuinely silk, say the zipper keeps the pillow from slipping out, and notice less frizz in the morning.
A closer look: Silk rewards a little care: wash it inside out on a cold delicate cycle in a mesh laundry bag, or by hand, with a gentle detergent, and dry it away from direct sun. Buying two means one can be in the wash while the other is on the pillow, which helps once it becomes the only one you want to sleep on.
- 19 momme mulberry silk
- Silk on both sides
- Over 35 colors
A heated throw
The first to feel the chill is usually Mom, and she’ll put on another sweater rather than complain. With a throw that warms itself, she can stay put on the couch instead.
MAXEVE Heated Sherpa Throw, Buffalo Plaid (50 x 60 in)
$20–$30
A red and black buffalo plaid throw with flannel on one side and sherpa on the other, eight heat levels from 86°F to 113°F, and a 19 ft cord that reaches an outlet across the room. U-shaped heating wires spread the warmth evenly, and it’s UL and FCC certified.
What owners say: Gentle, steady warmth across the eight levels and a size that’s just right for snuggling under, owners say. How long it lasts is the mixed point, with a few stopping within weeks.
A closer look: Start it on the top level to warm through quickly, as MAXEVE suggests, then drop it back once you’re settled. The controller’s display and three buttons are easy to read and press, and after a gentle wash with the controller unplugged, it can go in the dryer on low.
- 8 heat settings, 86–113°F
- 50 x 60 in throw
- Machine washable, low dryer
Sheepskin slippers for her
She buys herself a cheap pair every winter and wears them out by spring. Real sheepskin is the pair she’d never pay for, and the one she’ll reach for on cold mornings.
UGG Scuffette II
$75–$100
Real sheepskin inside and a fluffy sheepskin collar around the ankle, on a suede upper and a molded rubber sole: the pair to leave by the bed for cold mornings.
What owners say: Toasty all winter, soft against the skin and just like the photos, owners say. Durability is mixed, with some reporting the material coming apart, and the price divides opinion.
A closer look: Keep it well away from the washing machine. UGG’s own method is a damp sponge with its cleaner and conditioner, a light brush to lift the suede, and a day’s drying away from heaters and direct sun. It comes in whole sizes only, from US 5 to 12.
- Suede with sheepskin lining
- Whole sizes, US 5–12
- Fluffy sheepskin ankle collar
Heads up: Some find it runs small: if you’re between sizes, the larger one is the safer bet.
View on Amazon See our top 5 women's slippers →A cozy bathrobe
A soft, warm robe for slow weekend mornings and after a long bath. Most moms are still wearing one that’s seen better days.
Yurhap Striped Plush Fleece Robe
$10–$20
A fluffy, striped plush fleece robe that keeps the balance between warmth and weight, with a shawl collar, an adjustable belt and two side pockets. It reaches the calf, and a special dye keeps the color from fading in the wash, Yurhap says.
What owners say: Owners rave about the softness and like the look, and find it warm on cold nights without overheating; some find it roomy, others a touch large.
A closer look: Check the size chart before ordering, as Yurhap notes its hand measurements can be out by an inch and the fit is loose. The plush is warm but not heavy, so it works from fall evenings right through to spring mornings.
- Plush fleece, calf length
- Machine washable
- Two side pockets
A Wi-Fi digital photo frame
Thousands of family photos live on her phone and hardly any make it onto the walls. A frame on the kitchen counter shows them every day, and the family adds new ones from wherever they live.
Skylight Frame 10-inch Wi-Fi Digital Picture Frame (black)
$100–$150
Each Skylight gets its own email address, so relatives can send a photo from any phone or computer without installing anything, and it turns up on the frame within a minute. The 10-inch touchscreen shows 1280 × 800 pictures, and the frame keeps playing the photos it has stored if the Wi-Fi drops.
What owners say: Photos from family across the country just appear, often as a nice surprise, and owners say anyone can use it. They praise the sharp picture, though a few think it costs more than it should.
A closer look: Choose the frame’s email address during setup and share it with the family: anything attached to an email lands on the screen. Gift Mode lets photos go on before the box is even opened, and because it stores what it receives, the slideshow keeps going through a Wi-Fi outage.
- 10 in touchscreen
- Photos by email or app
- Photos arrive within a minute
Heads up: Videos and captions need a paid Skylight Plus plan; photos sent by email or the app stay free.
View on Amazon See our top 5 digital photo frames →A reed diffuser
She buys her candles at the grocery store; this is the scent she’d try in a boutique and put back on the shelf. A reed diffuser scents the room all day with nothing to light.
NEST New York Bamboo Reed Diffuser (5.9 fl oz)
$50–$75
NEST’s Bamboo: flowering bamboo with white florals, green notes and a hint of citrus, in a refillable glass vessel with eight natural rattan reeds. NEST puts it at about 90 days from the 5.9 fl oz of oil, and the formula is vegan and free of phthalates and parabens.
What owners say: Owners love the fragrance and say it fills a room without overwhelming it, and that it lasts. Not everyone thinks it smells of bamboo, strength divides them, and a few found it gave them headaches.
A closer look: Flip the reeds once a week, or more often for a stronger scent, as NEST suggests, and stand the vessel somewhere steady and out of drafts. When the oil runs out, the glass vessel can be washed and refilled, so it’s worth keeping.
- 5.9 fl oz, 8 reeds
- Lasts about 90 days
- Refillable glass vessel
Heads up: It’s a strong scent, so start with half the reeds in a small room and add more once you know how it suits you.
View on Amazon See our top 5 reed diffusers →A sunrise alarm clock
On dark winter mornings she’s up before anyone else, with her phone’s alarm doing the job as it always has. Waking to a slow sunrise instead feels like a treat.
Odokee Sunrise Alarm Clock and Sound Machine (H03)
$50–$75
A soft fabric-covered clock that works through the whole night: 25 sleep sounds from white and brown noise to rain and waves, a 5W Bluetooth speaker for podcasts, and a sunrise you can stretch from 5 to 60 minutes before the alarm.
What owners say: Owners like how gradually the room brightens before the alarm, say setup is straightforward with no app, and use it as a night light and Bluetooth speaker too; one credits it with getting them up through dark winter mornings.
A closer look: Pick one of the three wake modes: light and sound together, the light alone for a silent start, or just the alarm. The sunset shade on the night light makes a soft glow for reading at bedtime, and the sleep timer turns the sounds off once you’ve dropped off.
- Sunrise lasts 5–60 minutes
- Built-in Bluetooth speaker
- Sunset shade for reading
A garden kneeler seat
For years, an old cushion has been her kneeler in the flower beds. A proper one is the garden treat she’d walk past at the store.
OFFICEJOY 2-in-1 Garden Kneeler and Seat with Tool Pouch
$30–$50
The classic folding kneeler: kneel on the foam pad and use the frame’s handles to push yourself back up, or flip it over to sit while pruning or picking. It arrives ready to use, weighs 6 lb and folds flat to hang on the garage wall.
What owners say: Owners find it sturdy and comfortable whichever way up it’s used, and say it makes getting down to the ground and back up again much easier. Several use it indoors as well as out.
A closer look: Kneel with a hand on each upright and push down on them to stand, rather than pulling yourself up. Flipped over, it’s a seat about 19 inches high, right for weeding a raised bed or deadheading low shrubs, and the removable pouch keeps the pruners and gloves to hand.
- Kneeler and seat in one
- Handles to push up on
- Folds flat to hang up
A rechargeable milk frother
If she treats herself to a latte at the coffee shop now and then, this lets her have one at home every morning, in her own mug and her robe.
CIRCLE JOY Rechargeable Milk Frother with Stand (black)
Under $10
A slim rechargeable wand with a 13,000 rpm motor and a double-ring whisk that turns warm milk into dense foam in seconds, with hardly any splashing. It stands upright on its own steel stand by the coffee maker, so it’s always to hand.
What owners say: It’s strong enough for real foam and stirs powdered creamer in quickly, owners find, and it feels sturdy and rinses clean in seconds. Most say a charge lasts for weeks.
A closer look: For the thickest foam, tilt the cup a little and keep the whisk near the top of warm milk. To clean it, dip the whisk in warm water and run it for a couple of seconds, then stand it back up to dry. The USB cable is in the box but the plug isn’t, so charge it from a phone charger.
- USB rechargeable, handheld
- Steel stand included
- Hardly any splashing
An embroidery kit
Something just for her, away from screens and the to-do list. Embroidery is easy to pick up, and a hoop and a few threads fit in a bag.
Bradove Classic Embroidery Learning Kit
$20–$30
The videos start before the first stitch, with how to fit the hoop, split the thread and tie a knot: the things most kits assume you already know. The stitching order is numbered on each fabric, so there’s never any doubt about where to start.
What owners say: Complete beginners find it fun to learn with and well stocked, with plenty of stitches to try. The videos are the dividing line: easy to follow for many, no help at all to others.
A closer look: Keep the seam ripper handy and don’t be shy with it: unpicking a wobbly stitch and redoing it is how everyone learns. Iron the finished piece face down on a towel so the stitches don’t flatten.
- Teaches 26+ stitches
- Video and booklet instructions
- 8-inch bamboo hoop
An e-reader
For the mom who loves a book but never gets to finish one. An e-reader slips into a purse, and most have a light for reading in bed without waking anyone.
Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (16GB)
$150–$200
A 7-inch screen, an inch bigger than entry-level e-readers, with warm light for bedtime and quick page turns, and it’s waterproof enough to read in the bath.
What owners say: Battery life impresses owners, one of whom says it hardly ever needs charging. It’s comfortable to hold through long reading sessions and slips easily into a purse; a few feel it does less than they’d hoped.
A closer look: Amazon’s 12-week battery figure assumes half an hour of reading a day with Wi-Fi off, so longer sessions mean charging more often. Audible books play through Bluetooth headphones or a speaker, and listening runs the battery down faster than reading does.
- Sharp 7-inch screen
- Waterproof for the bath
- Fast page turns
A picnic blanket
For Mother’s Day picnics, summer concerts in the park and Saturday soccer on the sidelines. It can live in the trunk, ready for whatever the weekend brings the family.
PortableAnd Ultra Soft 3-Layer Picnic Blanket (59 × 71 in)
$20–$30
Soft to sit on: a fleece top over a cushioned middle layer and a waterproof PEVA backing, yet it rolls up small with carry straps and weighs about 1.6 lb. Two can sit on it with the food spread out between them.
What owners say: Owners love the check pattern and how soft it is, and find it roomy for two, quick to fold and easy to carry by its handle.
A closer look: Being hand wash only, it’s best spot-cleaned with a damp cloth as soon as something spills, before it soaks into the fleece. At home it doubles as a lap blanket on a cool evening on the porch, soft side up and the waterproof backing against the chair.
- Measures 59 × 71 in
- Waterproof backing
- Rolls up with carry straps
Heads up: PortableAnd says hand wash only and air dry, so keep it out of the washing machine.
View on Amazon See our top 5 picnic blankets →Choosing for Mom
- Think about what she’d call “too much” to spend on herself. That’s the sweet spot.
- Anything that gives her time or comfort tends to beat another ornament for the shelf.
- If brothers and sisters are going in on one gift together, the photo frame or the e-reader makes a nice joint present.
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