- You can help make a new mom’s first Mother’s Day one to remember with a thoughtful, useful gift.
- These 33 gifts are geared toward the needs and wants of a new mother, from baby clothes and sheets to aromatherapy balms and weighted blankets.
- We have plenty more gift ideas to shop for Mother’s Day and beyond.
Editor’s note: It’s likely that many families will be spending Mother’s Day apart this year due to the impact of coronavirus. Nothing takes the place of time spent together, but if you’re looking to send a gift to Mom in lieu of a visit, we hope this list will help you find exactly what you’re looking for.
Becoming a mother is exhilarating – in a strange way that wraps joy, fear, and a flurry of many other emotions all into one confusing jumble. When gifting a new mother, consider that she’s going through a lot right now as she navigates her new role.
Her first Mother’s Day is a time for celebration, but it’s also an opportunity to help her relax, indulge, and make her job a little easier. Some of these gifts are specifically related to the baby, while others are simply geared toward a mother who has earned her “me time.” New moms are among the busiest people in our lives, and they undoubtedly deserve these gifts.
The 5 best gifts for a new mom:
- A five-year journal, $13.59
- A comfortable and stylish maternity bralette, $35
- A trusted service to find a good babysitter, from $5
- Mom- and baby-friendly bubble bath, $6
- A long-distance touch lamp, from $85
A five-year journal
Gift the Q&A a Day for Moms: A 5-Year Journal, $13.59
Answer a different question in a few words every day. When the next year rolls around, answer the question again. She'll be amazed at how much has (or hasn't) changed.
A personalized T-shirt
Gift a personalized Fitted Crew at Known Supply, $32 + $10 monogram
A small, personal touch, like her name or nickname embroidered on a comfortable Pima cotton basic tee, is all that's needed to make her smile.
A selection of soft, high-quality baby clothing basics
Gift a Primary gift card, $25-$250
Shopping for baby clothing is a lot less stressful at Primary, which was founded by two moms. The adorable, colorful, and gender-neutral styles are classic and made from safe, soft fabrics. Even as her baby grows, she can continue shopping at Primary because it offers sizes up through age 12.
Merino-wool sneakers
Gift Allbirds Wool Runners, $95
Gift Smallbirds Wool Runners, $55
When you're on your feet all day, a pair of good shoes makes all the difference. Allbirds wool runners won't fail her - they're soft, comfortable, and machine washable. You can't go wrong with the originals but the new Tree line is similarly light and comfortable. While you're at it, get the Smallbirds version since their kid will be up and running in no time.
A variety of Korean sheet masks for an at-home spa day
Gift the Facetory 7 Lux 1-Month Gift Subscription, $19.90
She could try a different Korean sheet mask every day of the week if she wanted to. The unique sheets made with innovative ingredients are hard to find anywhere else - Facetory curates only the most interesting and most effective in the K-beauty world.
The best socks she's never tried
Gift a Bombas Gift Box, from $56
They may just seem like a basic, everyday accessory, but socks are among the most underrated gifts you can give. Bombas spent two years perfecting its gym socks, and we think the company got it right. With thoughtful innovations, like a blister tab and performance cushioned footbeds, her feet will notice the difference., Bombas also donates a pair to a homeless shelter for every pair purchased.
Adorable leather baby moccasins
Gift Freshly Picked baby moccasins, from $29
These 100% genuine cowhide leather moccasins have a soft sole to help children who are starting to walk. They're easy to put on, will actually stay on your kid's feet, and come in many stylish prints and colors.
A luxurious bathrobe
Gift the Snowe Bathrobe, $100
Deemed the best and most absorbent terry robe on the market, Snowe's bathrobe is super comfortable and fluffy. It's perfect for a mom looking for moments of relaxation during an otherwise hectic day.
A Disney+ gift subscription
Gift one year of Disney Plus, $69.99
The baby might be too young (for now) to understand anything that's really going on in the movie, but watching Disney and Pixar classics will still be a great bonding activity for the pair.
A comfortable and stylish maternity bralette
Gift the LIVELY Mesh Trim Maternity Bralette, $35
This bralette from the brand that's giving Victoria's Secret a run for its money (and was in fact founded by a former senior merchant at VS) is pretty, soft, and functional, with drop-down cups to allow easy feeding and strong straps for extra support.
A necklace that subtly hints at the unbreakable bond between mother and child
Gift the AUrate 14-Karat Connection Necklace, $380
This beautiful necklace, available in yellow, white, or rose gold, manages to be simultaneously elegant and bold. The company has ideals she'll support, too: Its ethical solid gold is sourced from conflict-free suppliers and it donates a book to a child in need with each purchase.
Crib sheets from an Internet-famous bedding startup
Gift the Brooklinen Mini Crib Sheet Set, $32
Adults love Brooklinen sheets, and now her baby can enjoy the soft and comfortable experience, too. If she doesn't yet have a set herself, include a gift that would help her sleep as well.
A beauty subscription box with full-sized products, not tiny samples
Gift a FabFitFun certificate or gift card, $25-$300
Beauty and wellness samples are always fun to try, but when you're a new mom, you simply don't have the time to experiment back and forth or deal with the inconvenience of samples that run out. For $49.99 each season, FabFitFun members get a box filled with eight to 10 full-sized, premium products across beauty, fitness, wellness, and home categories.
A long-distance touch lamp
Buy a set of two Filimin Long-Distance Touch Lamps, $85-$170
A new mom's life is busy and tiring, so she might not always be available to talk and catch up. When you want to let her know you're thinking of her and vice versa without actually saying anything, just tap the lamp to make the other one light up.
A modern baby book
Gift the Artifact Uprising Baby Book: The Story of You, from $99
With a sturdy fabric-bound cover (available in four color/foil pairings), this interactive journal is a beautiful way to focus on the everyday moments rather than typical milestones of a baby's life. The book includes 100 pages and a complimentary set of Everyday Prints.
A smart home device
Gift the Amazon Echo Dot (3rd Gen), $29.99
Hands-free music streaming, news and weather reports, phone calls, and messages are the way to go. Smart home devices like the Echo Dot and Google Home Mini further streamline tasks for the queen of multi-tasking in your life.
A versatile solution to a diaper bag
Gift the ToteSavvy, from $72
This water-resistant tote insert has an insulated bottle pocket, key clasp, changing mat, cell phone pocket, and flat pocket for paperwork, allowing moms to convert their usual handbag into a diaper bag, with little fuss. Even once she stops using it as a diaper bag, it's still useful.
A funny coloring book about the realities of motherhood
Gift Mom Life: A Snarky Adult Coloring Book, $8.99
Any mom knows that motherhood is not all rainbows and sunshine. This hilariously relatable coloring book is filled with illustrations that are not only relaxing but also entertaining to color.
A trusted service to find a good babysitter
Gift a UrbanSitter gift card, $5-$2,000
At some point, Mom will desperately need a night to herself but might have trouble finding a sitter. Nationwide service UrbanSitter is home to over 150,000 trusted babysitters and gathers mutual connections and recommendations from their community of fellow parents. A $34.95 one-month access pass (or $99.95 annual membership) allows parents to browse, interview, and book a sitter that meets their needs.
New, top-quality cookware she'll use over and over again
Gift the Made In Starter Kit, $259
The bundle from one of our favorite kitchen startups contains three stainless steel cookware essentials, a frying pan, sauce pan, and stock pot. Expect top-quality heat distribution and easy cleanup.
Dinner on the table in under an hour
Gift a HelloFresh Gift Card, from $60.93
With so many new parenting responsibilities to juggle, cooking a full meal may fall by the wayside. A HelloFresh meal kit means she won't have to stop by the grocery store for a week.
A women's multivitamin subscription
Gift a one-month supply of Ritual vitamins, $30
The founder of Ritual was herself pregnant when she started the company and formulated this multivitamin containing the nine nutrients women aren't getting enough of through their diets. These transparently sourced vitamins will keep Mom healthy and glowing as she navigates new motherhood.
A fitness app that lets her listen in on professional workout classes
Gift an annual membership to Aaptiv, $99.99
Flexibility is paramount for busy moms, but in-person workout classes don't offer that and are often expensive. Aaptiv is an audio fitness app that gives unlimited access to thousands of audio-based fitness classes led by certified professional trainers so she can sweat it out on her own time.
Smart leggings that act as a personal yoga instructor
Gift the NADI X Yoga Pants, $250
These Bluetooth-enabled smart yoga leggings have tiny haptic multi-node sensors embedded in the nylon layers in the hip, knee, and ankle. They vibrate when a pose is not in alignment, ensuring that avid yogis always have good form.
Stress relief in portable balm form
Gift the Scentered Aromatherapy Balm Sticks Gift Set, $33
Scentered's balm sticks come in five functions - Focus, Sleep Well, Love, Escape, and De-Stress - and help her relax wherever she is. Each non-greasy balm contains up to 25 essential oils and is formulated with a blend of moringa and moisturizing shea butter.
A book that helps new moms who are going back to work
Gift "Work. Pump. Repeat.: The New Mom's Survival Guide to Breastfeeding and Going Back to Work," $19.95
This book gives practical tips and creative ideas about how to breastfeed as a working woman. They're woven through the author's personal anecdotes of working and traveling in developing countries.
A 'floral' arrangement to satisfy her sweet tooth
Gift the Sugarfina Floral 2-Piece Candy Bento Box, $20
She gets all the important types of candy types in this variety box: sweet, tart, rich, melty, and gummy. This candy "bouquet" contains indulgent But First, Rosé gummy roses and Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Caramels.
A pair of embroidered makeup towels
Gift the Weezie Makeup Towels, $40
We've personally discovered Weezie's makeup towels are unexpectedly useful, and so will your recipient. These small, dark towels won't reveal unsightly makeup stains and they come in three cute embroidered styles.
A luxe shower cap
Gift the Shhhowercap, $43
Trust us, a shower cap isn't a strange gift - not when it's the stylish and fitted Shhhowercap made from premium nanotech fabric. She probably never puts much thought into this bath and hair accessory, but all she will know is that she won't be able to go back to regular, cheap ones.
A nightlight that will help her baby — and in turn, her — sleep well
Gift the Hatch Baby Rest Sound Machine, Night Light and Time-to-Rise, $59.99
Rest is a nightlight, sound machine, and wake-up alert that grows with children - from soft light and white noise for midnight newborn feeding sessions to a preschooler's nightlight. Parents can customize everything - color, brightness, sound, and volume level - or they can choose from presets recommended by sleep experts.
A reusable smart notebook
Gift the Rocketbook Everlast Reusable Smart Notebook, $27.12
Handwritten notes can help keep her organized and manage a seemingly endless to-do list. It's a $30 notebook, but surprisingly handy: it sends notes to the cloud and wipes clean with a damp cloth.
The gift of a memorable experience anywhere in the world
Book an Airbnb Experience
Whether it's right in her town or her dream vacation destination, Airbnb offers tons of unique experiences, from food and history tours to outdoor adventures. Find some inspiration here or browse the site directly to give a gift she won't forget.
Bubble bath made from plant-based ingredients
Gift the Hello Bello Bubble Bath, $5.98
Hello Bello, the new baby line from Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard, prides itself on making premium, plant-based products like body wash, baby lotion, wipes, and this bubble bath. The gentle formula is safe even on sensitive skin, so both mom and baby can enjoy a nourishing but playful time in the bathtub.
Check out the rest of our Mother's Day gift guides
