Finding the perfect gift for moms can be tough, especially when so many of them claim to already have everything they need. That’s sweet, but it makes it hard to figure out what might be on their wish list. Besides, this isn’t just about what she needs — it’s about giving her something that shows how much you appreciate her.
We rounded up the best gifts for moms from brands we’ve previously covered, along with some products recommended by Select staffers. As shopping experts, we also added gift ideas we think readers should know about. While not all of the gifts below are guaranteed to arrive before the holidays, we think they’re worth waiting for.
If you were too busy to shop this season or still have a few people to cross off your list, we also rounded up the best last-minute gifts to consider.
SKIP AHEAD Best meaningful gifts for moms | Best useful gifts for moms | Best self-care gifts for moms
Best meaningful gifts for moms
Aura Carver Digital Picture Frame
Moms take a lot of pictures of their kids but probably don’t have the time to print them or make scrapbooks. A Wi-Fi-enabled digital photo frame like this one lets her display her favorite memories with minimal effort. The Aura Carver has a 10.1-inch HD display and pairs with a companion app that allows you to add photos and videos you wish to highlight. It has built-in speakers to play sound from videos. It’s especially great for moms with grown kids who live in different locations — you can invite loved ones to add their own photos and videos to the device, according to the brand.
Ivy 2 Mini Photo Printer
For the mom who prefers physical photos, this mini printer is pocket-sized and lets her print right from her smartphone anytime she wants. No ink is required, and you can purchase sticky-backed photo paper so she can affix the images anywhere she wants.
Oak & Luna Inez Initial Necklace
Becca Delman, senior commerce photo editor, recommends Oak and Luna’s jewelry for moms because you can customize many pieces, like this necklace, with their children’s names or initials. The necklace is available in silver, gold, rose gold and white gold, and you can add up to eight initials to the adjustable chain, says the brand. You can also choose to add a diamond or gemstone for an extra special version.
Farmgirl Flowers Fun Sized Burlap Wrapped Bouquet
A flower delivery is a classic mom gift for a reason: a colorful bouquet she can display at home is always a welcome treat. Farmgirl Flowers offers a variety of arrangements that range in style, price point and size. The fun-size, burlap-wrapped bouquet comes with 15 fresh, seasonal stems and foliage that are ready to trim and place in a vase, according to the brand.
Here for the Burn Custom Burn
Candles, although loved by many, can sometimes feel impersonal. But with a Here For the Burn’s custom candle, you can make a cozy scented candle with a personalized message for your mom. You can add your special way of saying “I love you,” the names of her children or grandchildren or any quote she loves. The candle comes in a reusable 9-ounce glass vessel and has a burn time of up to 60 hours, according to the brand. You can choose from mango guava, Moroccan amber or spices and evergreen scents. Once your order is placed, just email the brand your order number and the details of what you’d like printed on the candle’s label.
‘Tell Me Your Life Story, Mom’ by Questions About Me
Moms often have lots of wisdom to share. Help her document her with this guided journal packed with more than 200 prompts to answer. The 122-page journal is organized into chapters based on your mom’s life stages, and she can pass it down to her children once it’s filled out. This highly-reviewed product has inspired lots of families to go down memory lane with their mothers.
Minted Heart Snapshot Mix Photo Art
For the Minted’s Heart Snapshot Mix Photo Art you choose 30 favorite photos, which are printed into mini Polaroid-style frames and organized into a heart shape. The print is available in sizes from 8-inch square to 44 inches square, and you can choose to have it come unframed or pick from one of 13 different frame styles for a ready-to-hang memory bank.
Shutterfly Gallery of Three Keepsake Puzzle
For a mom who loves doing a fun puzzle with loved ones, the activity is even more special when the puzzle displays meaningful pictures of family, friends, pets or even one of mom’s favorite places. You can personalize this puzzle with three pictures. It includes 50 pieces and is available in heart or circle shapes.
Artifact Uprising Photo Desk Calendar with Brass Easel
Give mom a daily reminder of her favorite people with this personalized calendar that can sit elegantly on her desk or a countertop to help her keep track of the days. Customize each month with a photo of a favorite memory. This calendar can start with any month you choose so you don’t need to wait until a new year to gift it. You can also personalize the design style, add a foil design and choose from two brass finishes for the base.
Letterfest Watercolor House Sketch
Add some sentimental decor to mom’s house with a personalized watercolor drawing of a special place like a childhood home. You upload the photo you want illustrated, and then an artist will capture the home in a sketch style, printed with any custom text you choose, ready to be framed in a 10x10 or 15x15 size.
Best useful gifts for moms
Beis The Diaper Pack
Instead of lugging around a large carry-all, moms who want to keep it light may like the compact Beis’ diaper pack, which they can wear around their waist like a fanny pack or as a crossbody bag. The diaper pack is designed with a large slip pocket, a removable changing pad and pouch to hold wipes. The interior pouch has slots to hold three credit cards, a key ring and enough space to store a couple of diapers. Beis offers a variety of bigger bags if you are looking for a bigger option.
Mark and Graham Small Travel Jewelry Case
Moms on the go will appreciate this vegan leather case with a soft linen lining and compartments for rings, necklaces and earrings. Choose from a variety of colors, and there’s the option to add her monogram to make it personalized just for her.
Lo & Sons Small Wallet
Lo and Sons — one of our favorite AAPI-owned businesses — makes a small wallet that’s perfect for a mom who’s looking for a compact design that fits in almost any sized purse. The wallet has a zip closure, plus four card slots, two hidden slip pockets, two pockets for bills and a coin pocket with a snap closure. It’s available in saffiano leather, embossed croc leather, cactus leather and nappa leather, and you can choose from a variety of different colors.
Cozy Earth Bamboo Jogger Pants
Moms want to be comfortable, but they want to look good too! This supersoft pair of pants lets her have the best of both worlds — they feel like pajamas but are perfect for running errands. They come in five different colors and are available in both regular and tall sizes, XS to XXXL.
Bala Bangles
Bala Bangles are associate updates editor Zoe Malin’s personal favorite fitness accessory. They add weight to any workout moms manage to sneak in at home or at the gym. She can wear the 1-pound weights on her wrists or ankles. They’re made with adjustable elastic bands that have Velcro on the ends so you can secure them in place.
Hatch Restore
For the tired mom whose nights are spent taking care of kids, the Hatch Restore can make waking up a bit more pleasurable. The smart device helps you ease into morning with its gradual sunrise light and sounds like morning birds, meditative flutes and relaxing chimes instead of loud alarms. In addition to the sunrise alarm clock, the Hatch Restore is a noise machine that connects to a companion app, through which you can browse content channels to access music, dreamscapes, guided rest exercises and sleep stories.
Ullowine Glavss Decanter
This lead-free, hand-blown crystal decanter is a great option for wine-drinking moms who love to entertain. The wide base provides enough surface area to boost the flavor of red wine, and the wide neck makes it easy to pour, according to the brand.
Aerogarden Gourmet Herb Seed Pod Kit
Help a mom find her inner green thumb and spice up her recipes with this indoor hydroponic gardening system. The AeroGarden kit comes with a 20W LED grow light system, power adapter, one bottle of liquid plant food, and a pod seed set including Genovese basil, curly parsley, dill, thyme, Thai basil and mint.
Baggu Horizontal Zip Duck Bag
The perfect bag for moms on the go. Baggu’s horizontal zip duck bag has a zip top closure to keep all her things safe and can fit up to a 15-inch laptop. It’s made of a lightweight recycled cotton canvas and is machine washable. The bag has an adjustable strap as well as top carry handles.
Via Citrus Meyer Lemon Tree
If your mom is looking for some indoor plants to add some green to her house, this Meyer lemon tree can grow indoors if there’s daily direct sunlight. The fragrant white flowers will make any room smell amazing, and the tree produces delicious lemons for mom to enjoy.
Ember Heated Coffee Mug
Sometimes moms are so busy they don’t even have time to drink their coffee before it gets cold. Enter this Ember mug, which will keep her cup warm and waiting for her for almost two hours. The smart mug allows you to choose your preferred temperature. Because of the built-in battery, the mug is not dish-washer safe and will need to be hand-washed, according to the brand.
Calpak Packing Cubes Set
These pouches are beloved for staying organized while traveling. The set of five various sized cubes, including a water resistant envelope pouch, will help any mom prepare for a trip and know where things are when she gets there. She’ll appreciate the pop of color they add to her suitcase as well.
Dan Pelosi’s Let’s Eat Cookbook
If your mom usually prepares all the family meals, a new cookbook can give her some new recipe ideas and bring her joy while she cooks. Author Dan Pelosi shares his own family history in his book of Italian-American recipes that will warm her heart.
Souper Cubes
A bestseller among NBC Select readers, these are the perfect gift for moms who love to cook. This practical food prep tool is made from flexible silicone and, depending on the model, has compartments that hold up to a half cup, 1-cup or 2-cups of leftovers, food prep or frozen items. The design allows Mom to pop out one serving at a time without using the rest, while the lid prevents spills from happening. It’s oven-safe up to 415 degrees Fahrenheit and is also dishwasher- and freezer-safe.
Best self-care gifts for moms
Foreo Luna 4 Go
Mom can bring the spa with her wherever she goes with the Foreo Luna 4 Go face-cleansing brush. Rebecca Rodriguez, Select editorial operations associate, owns one of the brand’s brushes: She said it helped her get rid of dead skin cells, and she noticed that her skin better absorbed the skin care products. The device offers eight adjustable massage intensities so you can use it to cleanse skin or massage your face.
Jade Leaf Ceremonial Matcha Starter Bundle
This starter kit helps Mom build the perfect cup of matcha she can enjoy in the morning. The bundle comes with everything she’ll need: ceremonial grade matcha powder, an electric whisk, steel sifter, scoop and a matcha handbook with instructions, tips and recipes.
Brooklyn Bedding Chunky Knit Weighted Blanket
Some of the best gifts for your mom are those that help her relax. Weighted blankets may promote better sleep, reduce anxiety and relieve stress, according to experts we previously spoke to. Brooklyn Bedding’s weighted blanket has a breathable, open-knit design, and it comes in cream and gray. , as well as 10-pound or 15-pound weights. The blanket, which is available with 10- or 15-pound weights, is stuffed with polyester filling, and the outer shell is made of soft polyester jersey knitted fabric.
Nodpod Weighted Sleep Mask
Nodpod’s weighted sleep mask applies pressure across the eyes for a calming, sleep-inducing effect, according to the brand. The strap-free mask can also be stored in the freezer for an added cooling effect. Select photo editor Kara Birnbaum gave this sleep mask to her mom who gets frequent headaches. Birnbaum said her mom loves using it, especially when it’s chilled.
Barefoot Dreams Washed Satin Tee and Cropped Pants Set
This satin lounge set with a scoop neck tee and cropped pants are perfect for sleeping or hanging out at home. For some extra luxury, you can pair it with a matching robe. The set comes in sizes small to extra-large and in two colors, black and feather.
Allbirds Wool Dwellers
Moms can pair their loungewear with Allbirds wool dwellers, slippers made of upcycled scraps from the brand’s wool shoes. The slippers have a cushy midsole to support feet and come in a range of sizes from small to XXL. You can purchase the slippers in five colors: heathered gray, natural white fluffs, natural black fluffs, buoyant pink, or tartan lux orange.
Saje (Be)Free Matte Black Diffuser
Candles can fill a room with fragrance, but they also can be dangerous to have around kids and pets. Saje’s (Be)Free diffuser is a cordless and rechargeable diffuser that uses 100% natural essential oil blends, according to the brand. The small diffuser allows you to fill your space with scent without lighting a match. Its cool geometric design makes it look like a piece of art, so mom can enjoy a beautiful object as well.
Dona The Breakfast Set
This set from Dona comes with products to help moms enjoy a peaceful and delicious start to their day. The gift comes with a bottle of Masala Chai concentrate — which moms can use to make iced or hot lattes, as well as cocktails and baked goods — and a bag of Chai streusel granola for a sweet snack. For an additional fee, you can have the set gift wrapped.
Inside Then Out Crocodile Leather Journal
Some moms enjoy having some time to write down their thoughts after a long day, and this elegant little journal made of vegan leather will help motivate her to do it. You can choose from bullet-style or lined paper, depending on her journaling style, and it comes with a ribbon bookmark to help keep her place.
The Recovery Bath Soak
This peppermint and eucalyptus bath soak was made in collaboration with principal ballerina Isabella Boylston at the American Ballet Theatre, who wanted a relaxing ritual after a long day of rehearsal. Moms will certainly appreciate the soothing product after their own tough days. Natural epsom salts and arnica extra help with relaxation, according to the brand.
Parachute Cloud Cotton Robe
Let your mom wrap herself up in comfort with a lightweight robe. This Turkish cotton version from Parachute has a relaxed fit, is available in six classic colors and sizes ranging from XS to 3X. Mom will remember she deserves to relax when she slips into this robe.
Dorai Home Bath Stone Mat
Make a mom’s bathroom feel like a spa. This bath mat, made of diatomaceous earth, dries instantly after you step onto it from the shower or bath, which helps prevent the bacteria and mold growth associated with traditional bath mats. This comes with a rubberized pad that prevents the mat from slipping, and you can c hoose from two colors, sandstone or slate.
Calm Subscription Gift Card
Give mom a gift that keeps on giving: a year’s subscription to Calm Premium, an app with a content library with over 100 meditations, daily Calm prompts, sleep stories, a Calm masterclass, and more. She can listen while she falls asleep or first thing in the morning to start her day, and she’ll appreciate knowing her mental health is a priority
Boarderie Ultimate Baked Brie Board
Moms deserve a little indulgence sometimes. This twist on a typical cheese board comes with four frozen, ready-to-bake bries with unique flavor pairings like truffle, fig and orange and chocolate, espresso and raspberry. Preparation is easy: pop into a preheated oven for 20 minutes, and they’re ready to serve.
BaubleBar Ombre Initial Custom Blanket
Customize a colorful, cozy blanket just for your mom. This blanket showcases your mom’s initials in a repeating pattern of rainbow colors, adding some brightness to any room she keeps. Moms will definitely appreciate that it’s machine washable in case of any accidental spills.
VT Cosmetics Cica Daily Soothing Mask
These single-use face masks are the perfect gift to help Mom relax and take some time to herself. They come recommended by NBC Page Hannah Fuechtman, who says they leave her skin feeling soft and hydrated. They work best on dry, dehydrated, combination and normal skin types, according to the brand. Your mom can leave them on for 10-15 minutes, the perfect amount of time for a quick self-care break in her day.
Theragun Mini
Give Mom unlimited massages at home with this Select Wellness Award winner for best massage gun. It’s the smallest and most portable massage gun the brand makes, with three different massaging speeds, three head attachments, a case and charging cable.
Catch up on Select’s in-depth coverage of personal finance, tech and tools, wellness and more, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok to stay up to date.
