Know a Mom who is short on time and always tired? Don’t we all. This Mother’s Day gift guide is specifically designed for busy, stressed-out moms– superwomen who don’t have a lot of time to take care of themselves because they’re too busy taking care of others.
Because most Moms just want to chill and spend time with family on Mother’s Day, these relaxation gifts for Mom allow her to do both.
Whether you’re simply wondering what flowers to buy or looking to give your wife, mother, or friend a little rest and relaxation, we’ve got plenty of options for you.
All of the below relaxation gifts for moms can be purchased online, and we’ve included several budget-friendly options for those looking to buy thoughtful, useful Mother’s Day gifts moms will actually love.
Some of the products below contain Amazon Affiliate and Etsy Affiliate links for easy shopping. (As an Amazon Affiliate and as an Etsy Affiliate, we may earn from qualifying purchases, which is why we work our butts off to personally test everything we write about!)
Everything on this list was recommended and tested by a panel of diverse Moms. Below, we spotlight the best relaxation gifts for busy moms– thoughtful gift ideas that will make her life happier and easier. Enjoy!
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A Belt Bag (Essentially A Fanny Pack for Functional Fashion Lovers)
Whoever re-branded fanny packs at “belt bags” is a sartorial genius. The fact of the matter is, belt bags are as functional as they are fashionable, and they are definitely having a cultural moment.
Graf Lantz makes a lovely merino wool belt bag that is great for carrying the odds-n-ends of motherhood, from larger cellphones to snacks, teethers, pacifiers, and more.
It’s functional for when you need it to be, and also fashionably practical for when you don’t. Plus, it can be worn as a multitasking belt (as shown above) or over the shoulder like a traditional purse. Its zipper enclosures ensure that it’s spillproof (great for withstanding small, grabby hands!) and water-resistant (as life unfolds when you have kids, haha).
Libellula’s “Adopt An Olive Grove” Subscription
Regeneratively farmed olive oil with 3x-6x the polyphenols of regular olive oil would be an intriguing enough prospect for a olive oil subscription– but Libellula’s option to Adopt An Olive Grove and receive periodic shipments of high-quality olive oil is a lovely bonus for health-conscious, sustainability-minded food lovers.
With this olive grove adoption, you can choose between restoring 250 abandoned trees in the San Lorenzo Grove in the hills of Rome, planting 60 trees in the Giardinetto Grove, or converting 70 trees in the La Tenuta Grove to organic production.
All of this directly supports the restoration of land and unique olive trees in the Sabina region. And for your support, you’ll also receive a regular subscription of Libellula’s extra virgin olive oil (they call it liquid gold!). This includes two 375 ml bottles of Classico and Riserva extra virgin olive oil in a handmade wooden box with an adoption certificate and sleek gold pourer.
You can choose the frequency of donation (monthly, every other month, and every three months) and cancel anytime.
Either way, with your adoption, Mom can receive regular newsletters with stories from the land, the town, and the region. It’s a beautiful gift for wanderlust travelers, local food lovers, and culinary hobbyists, alike.
Drunk Elephant Skin Care (For Beauty Lovers)
Seemingly every Mom who is interested in clean eating is interested in clean skincare, but it’s sometimes hard to justify spending $80 on a small bottle of face cream.
Enter Drunk Elephant, a “clean clinical” skincare line that is beautiful, colorful, and effective– the perfect skincare gift for Mom.
DE is a cult beauty line that women of all ages love. (As a noted skin junkie, I adore their Lala Retro Whipped Night Cream, the T.L.C. Framboos Glycolic Night Serum, and the C-Firma Day Serum, which helps improve hyperpigmentation and elasticity. The C-Firma serum is also great for use underneath sunscreen.)
Anything from the Drunk Elephant skin care line will make a great gift for Mom, however– just make sure you know what kind of skin your mom, wife, partner, or mother has. The website will direct you accordingly to what specific classes of skincare products she might like best.
Also, it may go without saying, but all Drunk Elephant products are silicone, paraben, SLS, and fragrance-free. Everyone loves the cute packaging!
Related: 5 Beautiful Affirmation Decks for Those Seeking More Peace.
Mood Light Essential Oil Diffuser & Humidifier (Create a Spa-Like Environment at Home)
Asakuki’s wildly popular eco-friendly essential oil diffuser and humidifier initially won fans over with it’s color-changing “mood lights”, which allow users to change the color according to 7 different tonal settings.
This combination essential oil diffuser and humidifier uses LED lights and it’s BPA-free (good for pets and babies with wandering tongues).
An essential oil diffuser might sound like an obscure mother’s day gift, but it can work wonders to lift someone’s mood.
This diffuser-humidifier combo also has four different timers, a mist density control option (for those who want more or less moisture in the air), and an auto-off safety switch that uses low voltage current to conserve energy.
As a result, it’s one of the most thoughtful diffusers on the market today.
A Weighted Blanket (To Ease New Mom Nerves)
Research shows that weighted blankets improve sleep, stress, and anxiety. Accordingly, I strongly recommend weighted blankets for new mothers suffering from postpartum anxiety, or even the baby blues.
Gravity Blanket’s original 20 lb blanket is perfect for sleep-deprived mothers who want to make their rare moments of rest extra-restorative. The weight activates the body’s sense of proprioceptive input, also known as “deep touch pressure stimulation.” This creates a sense of soothing comfort in the brain, akin to a huge.
There are many different weighted blankets on the market today, but I like Gravity Blanket’s line the best. They have the most comprehensive research I’ve seen, and they’re also available to ship quickly on Amazon!
Yeti Rambler Mug (For Coffee Lovers On-The-Go)
Colorful, durable Yeti ramblers are all the rage these days amongst coffee drinkers on the go. They don’t leak even when knocked over, and they keep hot beverages hot for a freakishly long period of time– up to 8 hours in some cases!
Whether you’re a camper or an urban dweller, Yeti ramblers and mugs are so durable and effective that everyone– not just Moms– seems to love them.
Yeti also makes coolers that are so effective at keeping cold items cold that you can literally use them to bring ice cream to a picnic. (Incidentally, if a Yeti Rambler is a good Mother’s Day gift, a Yeti cooler would make a great Father’s Day gift.)
Theragun Massager (The Ultimate Relaxation Gift for Mom)
It took all of about 5 minutes for the Theragun Massager to gain a cult following on the Internet. Now, it has almost 3,000 5-Star reviews on Amazon!
This simple hand-held device does exactly what it sounds like: it delivers an intense, therapeutic-grade massage to any area of the body.
It’s great for runners, people with chronic shoulder and neck tension, and people who spend a lot of time standing, at a desk, or in a car.
Best of all, the entire device costs less than a single massage with tip!
Reusable Bowl Covers (For Zero-Waste Enthusiasts)
Marleys Monsters Reusable Bowl Covers are the cute, washable answer to plastic wrap– without the carbon footprint!
These adorable environmentally-friendly bowl covers are ideal for eco-friendly moms and people trying to create less trash and plastic in the world. (My mom and I are both obsessed with them.)
They work well for topping fruit bowls, salads, and more either inside or outside of the fridge. Plus, they come in a variety of sizes, colors, and patterns.
Best of all, they’re easy to clean. Simply wipe them down and throw them in the washing machine after each use.
Each bowl cover comes with a cinch tie to ensure a snug fit on any size bowl. The outside is made from soft flannel while the inside layer is a white BPA-free, waterproof and food-safe PUL fabric.
Ultimately, they’re as charming and playful to look at as they are functional to use. We love the cactus, feather, and fox prints. (Seriously, my mom can’t get enough of them, and neither can I!)
Plus: this same brand also has machine washable, reusable sponges, which are equally adorable.
Revlon One-Step Hair Dryer Brush (For Quick Styling)
Worth the hype, Revlon’s One-Step Hair Dryer Brush is an easy way to blow dry hair without the need for a brush. There’s a reason why this 3-in-1 brush, blowdryers + volumizer has such a cult following.
Whether you’re in a time crunch or just have sore wrists, this hair drying and styling brush works efficiently and effectively to dry and style hair at the same time.
It’s not exactly a relaxation gift for mom, but it saves a lot of time. (Julien Farel also makes a great salon-quality hair dryer that’s not as expensive as it could be.)
We love the ergonomic handle and compact size, but mostly we love the amount of time it saves when you get out of the shower and need to be somewhere fast.
(^ FWIW, My mother-in-law, who is herself a hairdresser, swears by this and introduced me to it. My sister-in-law who has two young children is also a fan. 🙂 )
Silk Pajamas (For Restful, Luxurious Sleep)
Carol Cao New York’s cute silk pajama sets are comfortable, stylish, affordable, and they have a cult following on Etsy. As far as Mother’s Day gifts go, this one’s a classic.
Silk pajamas are a great gift for wives and new moms looking to optimize comfort and utility in their clothing.
Sleeping in silk helps lower body temperature during critical sleep hours when moisture and temperature can have a profound effect on the quality of sleep.
Ideally, body temperature should drop during the REM cycle in order for the body to enter into its deepest sleep. Silk can facilitate by cooling the body through passive ventilation.
Silk is also naturally anti-microbial, so it also doesn’t need to be washed as often as cotton t-shirts or pajamas.
Plus, silk is gentle on the skin and feels cool to the touch, so it’s the ideal sleeping material for people with eczema, psoriasis, or itchy legs. This is a great gift for moms who need more restful sleep!
Arc4Life Neck Traction Sleeping Pillow (For Those With Neck Tension)
Pillows are a great relaxation gift for Mom. It sounds crazy to pay up to $125 for a hand-stuffed pillow, but if your Mom is someone who experiences a lot of neck tension (and really, don’t we all?) then this pillow is the perfect gift.
The Arc4Life Neck Support Sleeping Pillow is a game-changer. The pillow has built-in traction that gently eases neck discomfort, whether you sleep on your back, your side, or your shoulder.
My husband and I both struggled with chronic neck and shoulder tension for years, but both of us found lasting relief after we started sleeping with these pillows, which take a few days to break in. Now, we recommend Arc4Life to everyone we know. (When my husband has neck pain, he often rests his head in his traction pillow to “reset”.)
Don’t think of Arc4Life as simply a pillow; think of it as a cervical traction tool for someone who has no time to get a professional massage every week.
Silk Pillowcase (For Beautiful Hair and Skin)
Dermatologists, plastic surgeons, hairdressers, and other beauty experts recommend sleeping on silk because it reduces friction on skin and hair, which causes frizz and “pulling” while you sleep.
I swear by the Illuminage Copper Pillowcase, but we also like Slip’s Pure Silk Pillowcase, which is a luxuriously glossy pillowcase that comes in a variety of pretty colors, like milk pink and navy blue.
All silk pillowcases are anti-aging, anti-sleep crease, and anti-bed head, so it’s worth shopping around based on your budget. (Amazon has lots of good options, which we’ve linked to above.)
Silk pillowcases are great for busy moms who have no time to fuss with bed hair.
Etsy also has several colorful options!
Instant Pot for Fast Easy Meals (For Those Obsessed With One Pot Meals)
No Mother’s Day gift guide would be complete without an Instant Pot! This is the one appliance Moms actually want!
In case you haven’t heard, the wildly popular Instant Pot has a cult following online. People love this appliance and I certainly love mine; it cooks EVERYTHING perfectly– meat, vegetables, rice, eggs, oatmeal– in a matter of minutes.
Most importantly, it’s super easy to use! Forget slow cookers or crockpots. You don’t need them if you have an Instant Pot, which is capable of cooking everything from one-pot meals to yogurt and everything in between.
An Instant Pot is a great gift for someone who likes to cook but who doesn’t have a lot of time (like most Moms). It’s also the single best appliance for preparing healthy meals, fast. It can even cook frozen chicken in 15 minutes or less!
Related: Make this Stress-Busting Instant Pot Popcorn for your next family movie night.
Freshly-Foraged Face Cream (For Natural Skincare Lovers)
Catskill Botanicals makes a beautiful collection of all-natural “forest-to-skin” face cream that’s great for new moms sharing lotion with infants or those with mature skin. Helmed by herbalist Lauren Raba, each jar of Catskill Botanicals face cream is handmade from locally sourced and wild-harvested herbs grown in the Catskill mountains of New York.
Each jar of face cream contains a unique blend of ingredients you can pronounce, like white pine needles, calendula flowers, eucalyptus leaves, local beeswax, aloe vera, rosemary, rosehip seed oil, and more.
It’s a lovely vision of how thoughtful skincare can be: handmade feel, no plastic packaging or chemicals, gentle ingredients sourced from nature, and formulas that harness the power of plants to heal body, mind, and spirit.
Related: Make this Calming DIY Lavender Body Butter.
Ethical, Non-Plastic Yoga Mat (For Yoga Lovers)
There are so many chemicals in yoga mats! And these chemicals can leach when exposed to heat and sweat, as most are.
Fortunately, Manduka’s eKO Superlite Yoga and Pilates Travel Mat was designed over three years by yoga teachers who wanted a durable, non-toxic yoga mat that didn’t harm the environment.
Today, it’s one of the best eco-friendly yoga mats on the market– a great Mother’s Day gift idea for yogi Moms.
It comes in a variety of pretty colors, and is made from non-Amazon harvested natural rubber. This means that every yoga mat is free from PVC, toxic plasticizers, and harmful dyes that can get into the bloodstream and harm small children.
The mat weighs just under 2 lbs (great for travel!) and comes with a no-flake guarantee.
Related: 15 Delightful Yoga Gifts (Stylish + Eco-Friendly!)
Canon Selphy Square Compact Photo Printer (For Picture-Loving Moms Nostalgic For The Polaroid Era)
Canon’s Selphy Square Compact Photo Printer is perfect for people who loved polaroids, especially moms who love getting printed pictures of their kids!
This compact, portable printer allows you to print pictures directly off your phone onto square photo paper that reminds us of a polaroid in the best way. It uses a WiFi-powered app to connect to your phone and bring color photos to life, instantly.
For a cool Mother’s Day surprise, try printing several photos in a series and hanging them on the wall using clothespins and string; it’s great party decor for birthdays, holidays, and more. You can also use it to make sticky photos, as well.
The printer itself comes in several cute colors (pink! seafoam green!) in addition to standard black. But, the paper is sold separately, so be sure to purchase together.
LuluLemon Align Leggings (Because Who Couldn’t Use More Leggings?)
Another great Mother’s Day gift idea for active moms: Lululemon’s Align Leggings are a popular ankle-length legging for everyday wear. Because they don’t *look* like workout pants, they are popular among Moms who don’t want their leggings too tight or warm, either.
According to League of Moms, these Align Leggings are a perfect “mommy” pant for sculpting thighs and flattening the belly.
These leggings wear like butter, and their velvety soft finish keeps you cool and dry whether you’re chasing your kids around the park or taking an actual yoga class.
They come in a variety of styles and colors, too, with a high-waisted top that lies flat under shirts and won’t show the dreaded underwear line. They’re also great for pregnancy, postpartum, and beyond.
Cold Globes for Under-Eye Bags (Another Great Relaxation Gift for Mom)
The perfect gift for multitasking moms, cold globes are a popular eye de-puffing tool that is often used during facial treatments at spas.
They’re also good for quick headache relief and sinus pressure. (It’s an ideal relaxation gift for moms who have early morning meetings.)
Think of cold globes as a more targeted version of those trendy jade rollers that all the celebrities are using to de-puff their face in the morning. Cold globes fill the delicate under-eye area, so that you don’t have to “roll” and “pull” the sensitive under-eye skin to achieve the de-puffing effect.
Keep cold globes in the freezer or fridge for quick relief when needed. (I used them on my wedding day when I had to get up at 5:30 AM to start getting ready and didn’t want to have eye bags in the photos.)
Whether you suffer from migraines or simply want a quick way to look less tired, this is a handy tool to keep around.
Ultrean Air Fryer (For Busy, Health-Conscious Cooks)
Simply put, Ultrean’s super-popular 4-quart Air Fryer has a cult following on the Internet.
Moms love the quick-action, zero-oil-required cooking function, which perfectly roasts everything from brussels sprouts to sweet potatoes in minutes.
Like the Instant Pot, the wild popularity of this healthy kitchen staple gained traction via word-of-mouth. You can fry fish, you can cook sausages without oil… you can cook anything in it, really. Think of it as the next generation Foreman Grill.
If you know someone who owns an air fryer, they’ve probably already told you how great it is. People love this appliance.
Most quality air fryers cost around $65, max. Even the cheaper ones are great!
Massage, Facial, or Mani-Pedi (Default Relaxation Gifts for Mom)
You can’t go wrong with any TLC for Mom. Massages, facials, and manicures are the ultimate relaxation gifts for Mom that Moms don’t often buy for themselves.
Plus, gift certificates don’t take up any space, and most spas can process and mail gift certificates over the phone in a matter of minutes.
Accordingly, this is a great gift if you’re late to the game and want to get something in the mail, quickly.
For those who don’t know much about spas, Massage Envy is a spa franchise that offers a wide variety of reliable treatments. They have locations in most major cities and suburbs.
You could also get her a gift card to SpaFinder, which is treated like cash at spas around the country. (SpaFinder’s website can help her find a spa in her zip code.)
Related: 5 Lovely Prenatal + Pregnancy Safe Facials in Washington, D.C..
Thermomix All-in-One Kitchen Appliance (For Those Who Want to Impress)
What critics are calling “the next level Instant Pot” is a cult-favorite all-in-one kitchen appliance known as the Thermomix.
The Thermomix is the ultimate mother’s day gift because whose reputation precedes it: it costs over $2000 (literally!) but the people who own it, love it.
I know, the price is nuts. But this is an amazing mother’s day gift for those who can afford it.
The Thermomix literally does everything: it’s a blender, instant pot, stir-frier, air frier, yogurt maker, slow cooker, and food processor all in one.
Plus, it’s entirely digital, so the interface operates like a smartphone, and it comes with thousands of recipes.
If you follow the simple instructions on the screen, you can make advanced dishes like butter chicken– you just have to add the raw ingredients like chicken, onion, and spices, etc at each step.
Meanwhile, the Thermomix will boil, sauté, and simmer everything to perfection according to what the recipe calls for.
It’s truly amazing, and a great all-in-one gift for Moms who are looking to simplify their kitchen appliances and their cooking routine all at once. It’s pricey, but we cannot recommend this product enough.
When In Doubt: Choose the Right Flowers
Every Mom appreciates a good bouquet– this is why flowers are the classic Mother’s Day Gift. However, one way to make your bouquet of flowers even more thoughtful is to understand the symbolism of which flowers you buy.
Roses represent romantic love, but peonies are better for “Mom,” because they represent feminine energy and maternal strength. Plus, peonies are in season in May, so they will be at their most beautiful and fresh.
Other flowers to look out for on Mother’s Day include pink lilies, tulips, hydrangeas, chrysanthemums, and snapdragons. Try curating a bouquet around these unique plants to give Mom a gift that tells her just how much you love her.
Ultimately, for style and price, you can’t go wrong with any of these flowers in your Mother’s Day bouquet. These tiny details go a long way!
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Related: A Gift Guide for Busy, Stressed-Out Dads.
Want more relaxation gift ideas for mom? These 25 Helpful Gifts for Stressed Out People are research-backed and affordable, too.
Thanks for sharing our comments on the Align Pants! Your list looks awesome, a few that I have my eye on!