Out of all the jobs I have held, being a mom has been the most rewarding one by far – and the hardest. Moms need everything from household gear to self-care treats to stay afloat.
When you’re buying gifts for a mom, ask yourself: how will this make her life easier? Is this something your mother will actually use, or will it end up in that forlorn box of macaroni jewelry you made her while first discovering your fine motor skills? This gifting strategy applies to virtually all types of moms, from new moms to grandmothers. This isn’t to say your gift should be devoid of emotion, but hopefully it helps her with something like home storage, stress relief or better sleep.
Below are 14 mom-approved gift ideas for every maternal figure in your life this holiday season, tested and vetted by yours truly.
Budget-friendly gifts for mom
Stanley IceFlow 2.0 Flip Straw Tumbler
Whether she’s breastfeeding and requires the extra fluids, or has forgotten to take a sip in hours after busy errands, the mom in your life needs to stay hydrated. This Stanley tumbler did not leave my side during my first year of motherhood. It features a massive 30-liter capacity so I rarely have to refill it, a no-spill straw that’s comfortable on the lips, and a handle for easy carrying. Here’s a mom hack: thanks to its extra-wide mouth, I used to fill it with ice water and pop bottles inside for safe, on-the-go milk transport in hot weather. Thank me later.
Cozy Earth Adjustable Bamboo Sleep Mask
You can’t put a price on good sleep, but you can offer it to mom at a surprisingly fair one. I refuse to go to bed without wearing my beloved Cozy Earth sleep mask made of temperature-regulating bamboo. Not only have I been free of night sweats for the last three years since owning it, but it’s never slipped off my head, thanks to its novel Velcro strap that doubles as extra padding. So long, flimsy airline sleep masks that disintegrate with tossing and turning!
Le Creuset Stoneware Heritage Pie Dish
If you’re not looking to spend hundreds on an enameled cast-iron baking dish to prove mom you care, offer her this equally elegant 9in pie dish with great heat distribution and a festive red hue. I bought one for my sister last year and got so jealous I promptly went back to the store the next day to grab one for myself. Since then, so many artisanal bakery-grade pies have been baked and devoured.
Gifts for new moms
Mommy & Me Snowflake Print Red Off-Shoulder Open-Shoulder Sleeveless Dresses
Allow the new mom in your life to usher in the holiday season in a matching set. While the one I got from PatPat for my newborn photoshoot has spring-like floral motifs, the brand offers numerous festive options, such as this formal winter-themed set, to help mom and baby celebrate their first holidays together in style.
Hatch Restore 3 Sunrise Alarm Clock
I almost didn’t sleep my first few months of motherhood, but the Hatch Restore smart alarm clock changed that. With gentle sleep sounds to lull the family to sleep, white noise to block out evil construction sounds from the street, and gentle alarm melodies for an easier time rising, the Hatch promises both mom and baby extended periods of restorative rest. What’s more the clock’s minimalist face looks chic in both a primary bedroom and a nursery, allowing her to easily repurpose it from room to room.
Lululemon New Parent Backpack 17L
What’s genius about this bag: I can use its back drop-in pocket to store either diapers or a laptop, depending on whether I’m working or not. More often than not, I’m using diapers as extra cushioning for my laptop, which is another mom hack I should probably reconsider publicizing. The bag’s material is durable and slick enough to repel inevitable spills, be it formula or something a little stronger. If the mom in your life has back pain from lugging around a tote bag, this backpack will evenly distribute weight across her shoulders for a pain-free day of taking on the world.
Gifts for moms who have everything
Aesop Reverence Aromatique Hand Wash
The mom who “has everything” actually does need something: a household essential she regularly buys anyway. For basics like those, she’ll appreciate a chance to upgrade. A perfect example: hand soap. Turn her hand-washing routine into a spa-like ritual with this Aesop soap featuring finely milled pumice stone to gently exfoliate the skin. My friends gifted me the bottle knowing I’m easily impressed by trendy things that seem actually worth the hype, and every time I use it, my skin feels baby-soft afterward. Plus its sleek design helps style a room that can typically benefit from some extra TLC.
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Vanity Fair March 1927 Cover Photo Album
Mom doesn’t need yet another decor item collecting dust on her open-shelving bookcases. Instead, this photo book acts as a meaningful display piece by housing decades of memories. It features a vintage Vanity Fair magazine cover while serving as a coffee table book. It also looks stunning paired with the other edition, the August 1929.
T3 Aire 360 Ceramic Air Styler Blowout Kit
As someone with the hair texture of a Brillo pad, this T3 ceramic air styler has become a daily staple in my busy-mom grooming routine. It uses nothing but air to create bombshell-worthy waves without the heat damage, leaving friends asking if I’ve just gotten my hair done professionally. It comes with several attachments to curl and straighten, but I prefer the standard brush that smooths, detangles and adds volume.
Gifts for pet moms
Litter Genie Platinum Pail
Some moms might be familiar with the Diaper Genie, a pail that makes diaper changes much more bearable. Consider this the pet parent equivalent, keeping nasty odors at bay. Since adding this odor-trapping tool to our litter box setup, ungodly smells no longer permeate the entire house. Trust me, she will thank you for saving her sanity and her nose.
Custom Pet Portrait
Before my sister became a mom to a cherubic human, she was a loving pet parent to a kitten named Winnie. I got her this personalized portrait to proudly display her second-most important child. It comes with a sage background and a walnut frame, and I bet it is something your mom would find sweet to hang above her cat bed or favorite reading nook.
Cat-e-Corner
Save the pillowy arms and luxurious upholstery of your mom’s couch from the wrath of her cat’s paws with this cat scratcher. My cats have scratched this thing to near shreds (thankfully sparing my couch), and I can replace the cat-scratching sisal pad at any time to keep it looking and feeling fresh for Freddie and Hendrix. Plus, it doubles as an end table for coffee and trinkets. Choose between sustainably sourced maple or black walnut wood to suit mom’s space, and be sure to measure the arms of her couch to determine if you will need a riser to cover its full length.
Luxurious gifts for moms
Baby Gold 14K Gold Diamond Pave Letter Necklace
When my initial push present, a vermeil gold necklace from Mejuri, was stolen, I wasn’t even mad about it because it had tarnished within two weeks of wear. Luckily its replacement, a 14-karat gold and natural diamond initial necklace from Baby Gold, is the gold standard of jewelry (pun intended). In the past few months, I’ve worn this light, everyday necklace while running a half-marathon, showering, sleeping (when I can), and otherwise going about my day, and it’s held up beautifully through it all. It is consistently my favorite part of my outfit, no matter what I’m wearing. Get this for the mom who wants to rock her child’s initial close to her heart.
Vintner’s Daughter The Ultimate Skincare Set
Yes, it’s pricey, but every time I use this three-step skincare set, I know I just got a day’s worth of spa treatments in one go. The cleanser double cleanses with both water-soluble and oil-soluble ingredients. The hydrating mist at once exfoliates, firms and brightens. Once mom gets to the final step, a serum infused with the likes of dandelion, sea buckthorn and calendula, she’ll get a lit-from-within glow that explains how on earth it earned that many beauty awards from outlets including GQ, Harper’s Bazaar and Glamour. Oh, and its aroma of freshly cut grass is to die for.
