The Best Mother’s Day Gifts for Every Type of Mom

If you need fresh gift ideas for Mother’s Day this year, this is your episode. This week, Wirecutter gifting expert Samantha Schoech brings a range of ideas that go far beyond a bouquet of flowers and brunch.

Instead of generic ideas, we’re approaching gifts by personality type—from the exhausted new mom to the outdoorsy adventurer. Samantha also shares her core gifting philosophy (including what not to give), plus thoughtful, sometimes surprising picks that actually make people feel seen.

This episode covers:

• Why you shouldn’t add to someone’s to-do list. One of Samantha's strongest rules is to avoid gifts that create work. That means no high-maintenance plants, complicated projects, or aspirational hobbies the person didn’t ask for.

• Why the best gifts are things they wouldn’t buy themselves. If someone needs socks, they can buy socks. A good gift is something slightly indulgent or unnecessary—like elevated basics or small luxuries—that feels special precisely because they wouldn’t justify spending money on it.

• Why “giving mom a break” is often the most meaningful gift. Instead of another object, Samantha emphasizes the value of rest—like helping them carve out uninterrupted time alone or booking them a night in a hotel. It’s a way to acknowledge the workload of motherhood, not just gesture at it.

Products we recommend:

For the new mom:

• Le Bon Shoppe Balloon Pants (women’s) ()

• Gap High Rise VintageSoft Relaxed Joggers (women’s) ()

• Soft Services Buffing Bar ()

• Lansinoh Lanolin Nipple Cream ()

For the first-time grandma:

• Gldn Handwriting Necklace ()

• Aura Carver Digital photo frame ()

• The Grandmothers () by Doris Lessing

For the empty nester:

• Kuretake Gansai Tambi Watercolors 48Color Set ()

• Libro.fm Credit Bundle ()

• Books Are Magic Book Club ()

• Inside Joke Don't Ask Me What's For Dinner Hat ()

For the outdoorsy mom:

• Rumpl Everywhere Mat ()

• Mira Blackman Hand Dyed Chunky Beanie ()

For the mom who loves sparkles:

• Maria La Rosa One Ribbed Laminated (women’s) ()

• Quince 14K Gold Pave Diamond Mini Huggies ()

For the crafty mom:

• Unwind Studios Needlepoint Kits ()

• Kate Wyatt Embroidery Kits ()

• Joyn Block Printing Kits ()

For the foodie mom:

• Emile Henry French Ceramic Fruit Storage Bowl ()

• Fishwife mother’s day gift basket ()

For the “don’t get me anything” mom:

• Senteurs d’Orient Fleurs d’Oasis The Oil ()

• UrbanStems ()

Sam loves:

• Evry studio underwear ()

Additional reading:

• The 42 Best Mother’s Day Gifts ()

• The Best Places to Buy Jewelry Online ()

• The Best Online Flower Delivery Service of 2026 ()

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