Thoughtful and Unique Birthday Presents for Mom

Make Mom's birthday truly special with the perfect gift

Co-authored by Dev Murphy

Last Updated: November 15, 2022

On Mom’s birthday, you want to show her how much you care for her and how much you appreciate everything she’s done for you. Finding the perfect gift can feel pretty overwhelming, but there are loads of wonderful presents out there that your mom is sure to love and cherish for a long time. We’ve made a list of the best and most thoughtful gift ideas to give your mom for her birthday. Expect a “#1 Daughter” coffee mug when your own big day rolls around!

Things You Should Know

Get Mom a thoughtful personalized present like a mother-daughter necklace, mug, or tumbler.
Or get a laugh and buy her wine glasses with a funny saying printed on them!
Give Mom a birthday present that will help her unwind, like a foot massager, a new bathrobe, or a scented candle.

1

Scented Candle

Give Mom a candle to add a little lift to her day. A fragrant candle will help her relax after a long day. Yankee Candle and Bath & Body Works are tried and true candle-makers, but there are likely plenty of unique local options your mom will love as well!
- Get her a scented candle that smells like her favorite florals, opt for a fresh scent like clean linen, or go for something musky and earthy.
- Scented wax melts are also a popular alternative to candles, and they come in a variety of great-smelling fragrances.

2

Family Portrait

Give Mom a photo of her kids she can look at whenever she wants. A family photo, a photo of just the kids, or a photo of you and your mom together is a great birthday gift idea. Either take a photo Mom loves and get it framed, or treat Mom to a photo shoot with you and have a fun day out together.^{[1]
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3

Fresh Flowers

Celebrate Mom with a vase full of fragrant flowers. Make her feel special with a fresh bouquet of her favorite blooms. Flowers are a great way to liven up a party—and keep the place livened up even after the party is over.
- Roses, lilies, and tulips are classic flowers for saying "I love you, Mom."

4

Cookware

If your mom likes to cook, give her a gift to celebrate her passion. A decorative platter to display her famous home-baked cookies on, a new Bundt pan, or a classic Pyrex casserole dish will be appreciated by the mom who bakes. If you get a pan or a dish, go the extra mile and hide a surprise gift inside the dish, like a cookbook or an oven mitt—or cupcakes you baked yourself. (Hey, Mom doesn’t have to do all the cooking.)^{[2]
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- Go practical and update cookware she hasn't gotten around to replacing yet, or go funky and original with something like novelty chocolate molds.

5

Wine Glasses

Get the party started with elegant wine glasses. At the end of a long day, there’s probably nothing Mom needs more than a glass of red. Show your appreciation for all her hard work with some classy crystal, or go the humorous route and buy her a glass with a funny phrase on it, like “Mom, since I could be the reason you drink, the least I could do is give you this glass.”^{[3]
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- If you’re of age, consider throwing in a bottle of her favorite vino as well!

6

Tumbler

Is Mom more of a coffee drinker? A tumbler is perfect. Get her a tumblr to carry her hot and cold drinks, from iced coffee to hot tea. You can get her a mom-themed tumbler with a cute floral design—or get one that says, “Mom: no matter how hard life gets, at least you don’t have ugly children.” Either way.

7

Ring Dish

If Mom wears jewelry, she’ll need an attractive dish to store it in. She can keep her rings or necklaces safe while she showers or sleeps, or, if she’s not much of a jewelry wearer, she can keep the dish by the door and store her keys there for safekeeping.
- You can buy beautiful ring dishes or get crafty and make one yourself out of ceramic.

8

Potted Plant

Brighten up Mom’s living space with some beautiful foliage. While a bouquet of fresh flowers might be pretty for a week, an indoor herb garden or a Meyer lemon tree will keep Mom’s home lively and green for a long time—and if you go the herb garden route, expect some delicious additions to dinner now and then!^{[4]
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- If Mom doesn't have a green thumb, there are great plastic plant options, as well!
- Peace lilies, ferns, and pothos are great plants for a busy mom: they're lovely, and they're also fast-growing and low-maintenance. (But avoid peace lilies if Mom's got pets!)
- Orchids can be a bit of a challenge to take care of, but their beauty is worth it!

9

Cutting Board

If Mom likes to cook, she’ll appreciate a cutting board. You can go traditional and get her a handsome bamboo cutting board, or get a decorative cutting board she can hang on her wall, like a mom-themed cutting board or a cutting board shaped like your state.
- Is Mom a cheese-lover? Consider a new cheeseboard for her birthday. And don't forget to supplement it with fancy cheeses and fruit!

10

Chocolate

Can’t go wrong with a little cacao! Treat Mom to the good stuff—get her a bar of quality chocolate or a box of tasty truffles. Whether she’s a checkout aisle Snickers-buyer or doesn’t usually indulge much, for her birthday, make sure you get her something out of the ordinary—something she wouldn’t ordinarily buy for herself.^{[5]
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- Consider chocolate-covered strawberries, pretzels, or peanuts, artisanal hot cocoa powder, or just a classic box of assorted chocolates.

11

Gourmet Coffee

She deserves exceptional coffee today. If your mom's a coffee drinker, she probably starts her day with a cup of joe. For her birthday, get her something above and beyond her everyday blend—something she wouldn’t normally get for herself. Maybe get a pretty coffee mug to go with—and a French press or a pourover! Go nuts!^{[6]
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- If she likes bold, rich, chocolatey flavors, go for a dark roast. If Mom prefers a lighter, even fruitier flavor profile, opt for a light roast coffee.

12

Fancy Tea

Splurge on some quality loose leaf for mama's big day. If your mom is more of a tea drinker than a coffee drinker, tea makes a great birthday present. Refill her favorite blend, or get her a unique flavor of tea that you think she'd enjoy but probably wouldn’t buy for herself. She’ll think of you every time she takes a sip of her birthday brew, whether it’s traditional soothing jasmine or hairy crab oolong.
- If you go the loose leaf route and Mom usually drinks from tea bags, be sure to pair your tea with a strainer.

13

Tea Kettle

Loose leaf tea is incomplete without a kettle. For years to come, she'll hear the whistle of that tea kettle and remember her loving daughter and that oh-so-special birthday.^{[7]
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- Opt for floral and fun or monocolor. Or go electric for both convenience and style!
- If your mom already has a kettle, why not turn her birthday celebration into a tea party with an elegant ceramic teapot or even a full tea set?

14

Foot Massager

Help Mom feel great every day, not just on her birthday. A foot massager is the perfect way to accomplish that. Whether a spa foot bath or a heated shiatsu foot massager, you can’t really go wrong with this gift.^{[8]
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- Supplement this gift with body oils and lotions.
- Don't feel the need to limit yourself to foot massagers: Mom would surely love a massage gun to relax her shoulder and back muscles after a long day!

15

Wall Art

Give her a print to remind her of you. Whether she likes prints of the classics like Van Gogh or Klimt or contemporary prints of flowers or skyscrapers, a print of her favorite type of art is a great way to say “Happy birthday, Mom.” Better yet, paint your own masterpiece for her.
- Be sure to display her gift in a nice frame!

16

Coffee Mug

With a personalized coffee mug, she’ll start every morning thinking of you! You can get personalized mother-daughter coffee mugs created especially for your mom, or buy her a mug or teacup decorated in an elegant design. A personalized mug could have a photo of the two of you on it or simply a letter to her from you, telling her how much she means to you.^{[9]
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17

Pajamas

Give her something to keep cozy and relaxed in after the party is over. What's more relaxing than a new pajama set? Whether warm flannel for those cold nights or light, soothing silk, your mother will appreciate a brand new set of luxurious PJs.^{[10]
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- Give her a cozy robe to go with her new PJs! She’ll love the warmth of a thick terry cloth bathrobe or the gentleness of a smooth silky kimono covered in flowers.

18

Tote Bag

Give her a gift she can show off: a beautiful bag. You can get gorgeous tote bags at many stores, or make your own customized bag. Add a family photo or her favorite quote to give this gift a personal and thoughtful touch.
- And be sure to fill the bag with extra goodies, like candy and flowers!

19

Mother-Daughter Necklace

Celebrate your bond with jewelry. Every time she looks down at her pendant, she’ll be reminded of her daughter. Check out Loveable for beautiful mother-daughter jewelry.^{[11]
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- Also consider an elegant locket with a photo of the two of you in it or matching mother-daughter necklaces for you both to wear.

20

Essential Oils

Make Mom’s house smell good with fragrant oils. Popular scents include lavender, lemongrass, cinnamon, and vanilla. Your mom is sure to love the floral, fresh, or warm notes to these fragrances! A small collection of oils is the perfect way to celebrate Mom on her special day.
- If Mom doesn't have a reed diffuser yet, make sure to add that to your gift!

21

Kindle

If Mom’s bookshelves are bursting, it’s time for an e-reader. A Kindle is the gift that keeps on giving. Load it up with a few of Mom’s favorites or a couple books from her to-be-read list, and she can add to her digital library as she goes, saving major shelf space (and trees!).

22

Books

There’s nothing quite like a real book. E-readers are great, but there’s something about holding Jane Eyre in your hands and smelling the pages. Get Mom a book you know she’s been meaning to read, or, if you want to splurge a little, buy her a special edition of one of her faves.
- Not sure what to grab? Get her a gift card to her favorite bookstore.

23

Soap

Bath bombs, salts, seltzers—you can’t go wrong with soap. At the end of a long day, everyone loves to unwind in a hot shower or bath. Show gratitude for everything your mom does by getting her high-quality face cream or a locally-made bar of lavender soap.^{[12]
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- And be sure to add a loofah, and maybe some bath oil, too!
- Consider adding luxurious face or body lotion to your gift bag for an added treat.