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16 Thoughtful Birthday Gifts for Mom

16 Thoughtful Birthday Gifts for Mom

March 29, 2024 by Giving Assistant Editorial Team

While it’s great to let your mom know you think she is the best mom in the whole world, her birthday isn’t about being a mom, it’s about her being alive and how much you appreciate all she has done for you!

While keepsakes and cutting boards are great gifts, she probably has more than enough to last a lifetime. In fact, maybe your mom doesn’t like cooking at all and enjoys the outdoors or travel.

On her birthday, get her the perfect gift that says “I love you” and also tells her to take a break to enjoy herself.

The Best Birthday Gift Ideas for Mom for 2023

1. Olivia Garden Ceramic + Ion Thermal Hairbrush

style hairbrush

This thermal hairbrush styles hair as it dries for longer-lasting hairstyles. Create volume and waves, or use it in place of a flat iron to straighten. Plus its ergonomic handle and lightweight design make getting ready easier on your arm. Get it for 20% off at the time of writing (offer good until 10/22)! And if Mom already has a favorite brush, find something else perfect for her from Ulta’s 20% off sale on cosmetics, fragrance, skincare, and more.

Discover the best Ulta coupon codes when you shop with Giving Assistant.

2. Philosophy Amazing Grace Eau de Toilette

soft florals feminine scent

With notes of bergamot, muguet blossoms, and musk, Amazing Grace is described as a clean, feminine scent. Mom will love the subtlety of the soft florals. And she’ll be touched by the thoughtfulness of this timeless gift! We suggest layering with other products from the Amazing Grace range, like shower gel or body creme, for added lasting power. And at the time of writing, snag a free 6-piece gift for yourself (or Mom!) on any $50 Philosophy skincare or fragrance purchase. 

3. MVMT Champagne Gold Watch

MVMT Champagne Gold Watch

Pop open some Champagne for mom! The Champagne Gold Watch from MVMT offers excellent craftsmanship and the perfect color! This versatile piece can be worn casually as an everyday watch or paired with bangles to dress it up. This is more than a watch, it is the gift of time, routine and sophistication.

Savings Tip: Get MVMT coupon codes for the best deal.

4. Animoto Video Creator

Animoto Video Creation Tool

Create the perfect holiday gift for mom with help from Animoto! Join millions of people creating and sharing videos with our easy drag and drop video maker. No experience necessary. Holiday templates available!

Savings Tip: Find Animoto coupon codes for the best deal.

5. BloomsyBox Flower Subscription

BloomsyBox home page

BloomsyBox offers a farm-to-vase experience and has the best flower delivery subscription; bouquets are sourced from sustainable farms worldwide that ship for free. Choose from weekly, biweekly, or monthly subscriptions starting at $43.99 per month.

We recommend the NYBG Collection (inspired by the New York Botanical Garden). These handcrafted bouquets are $69.99 per month, plus Bloomsy donates a percentage from each purchase to support plant science and conservation.

Get BloomsyBox promo codes for the best deal in subscriptions and all other floral arrangements. Check out some more flower delivery services for mom!

6. Pregnant + Pampered Gift Set

The Honest Company Pregnant + Pampered Gift Set

Don’t miss 15% off plus free US shipping at The Honest Company to shop mom bod must-haves, made with safe, gentle ingredients for the bump and beyond. Indulge mom with the Pregnant + Pampered Gift Set to help keep her cared for during pregnancy and beyond. Use code MAMALOVE

7. Lenox stemless wine glass set

16 Thoughtful Birthday Gifts for Mom Image 1

For the mom who enjoys sipping on wine.

Does your mother fancy herself a premiere bartender when her friends are over? Or likes to cozy up with a good book and bottle of red? If so, this stemless wine gift set will be the kind of birthday gift she loves, but may never have gotten for herself. These can be used for fun cocktails, or a simple glass of wine, or even sparkling water. Try pairing this with her favorite bottle of wine or wine subscription!

Savings Tip: Find Macys’ promo codes for the best deal.

8. Vince Camuto Clear Tote

Vince Camuto Clear Tote

Talk about a birthday gift for mom that she is really going to love, this fashionable hand-carry bag is a head-turner and will make her feel like she stepped out of the pages of Vogue. The tote can accommodate her smartphone, wallet and other essentials.

Available in 3 color options, it has a unique design that features a clear PVC top and sides, a textured bottom and circular top handle design, which adds some modern vintage style.

Savings Tip: Find Nordstrom Rack promo codes for the best deal.

9. 10k Gold Birthstone Ring

Swarovski crystal with 10k round-cut ring

A thoughtful gift idea that celebrates her birth month, the 10k round-cut ring is set with a Swarovski crystal that represents her birthstone’s month and each stone is encircled by a rope textured frame.

An elegant and gorgeous gift, every time she looks at it sitting beautifully on her hand, she will think of you. And if she doesn’t love rings, it can easily be turned into a birthstone necklace by placing it on a chain.

10. Athleta Balance Sweatshirt

Ahtleta Balance Sweatshirt

Let the pampering begin with this cozy and soft Athleta Balance Sweatshirt. Anything from Athleta is a win because they are B Corporation which means they believe in using business as force for good.

Super-soft and lightweight, the high-quality construction makes it a delight to spend hours in working from home, walking the dog, working out, or hanging out with friends and family. And you can mix and match with joggers, shorts or anything else Mom loves to wear.

Savings Tip: Find Athleta coupon codes for the best deal.

11. Glass Planter Bulb Vase

Mini-bulbs in wooden stand

The best gift for moms with a green thumb (or who think they have one), this beautiful DIY planter is great for home decor, with its vintage design that features three mini bulbs sitting in a wooden stand.

It is the best birthday gifts for someone who has always wanted a terrarium but never got around to doing it, and looks great on any home or office desktop. Her plush new desktop garden will make her very happy.

12. 6-Piece Organic Soap Collection

Six piece bar soap set

Great for every skin type, this 6-piece bar soap set is the ultimate gift. Designed to indulge the skin, your mom will feel like she just had an at home spa experience.

Her skin will get a huge dose of essential oils and moisture with African black soap, black coffee scrub soap, Dead Sea mud and green clay soap and three other amazing bar soaps that will hydrate, exfoliate, purify and rejuvenate.

13. Aromatherapy Essential Oil Diffuser

Aromatherapy oil diffuser

A great gift for a new mom who may be a little stressed, it moistens the skin, humidifies the air, relieves stress, helps improve sleep and neutralizes unpleasant odors. Create a relaxing atmosphere for mom with the Silent Ultrasonic Aromatherapy Diffuser.

There is no heat or flame involved — this stylish diffuser uses vibrating sound waves to silently freshen your air. Simply pour 7 oz. of water into the base and add a few drops of your favorite essential oil. 

14. Wine of the Month Subscription

Wine of the Month Club Gift Subscription

It’s hard to beat a good glass of wine and mom is the one who probably deserves this the most. It often serves as the best complement to a tasty meal or a relaxing way to unwind with friends and family. You can have a new wine shipped to your mom’s house every month with the Wine of the Month Club. However, this Wine of the Month offers much more than just a monthly wine subscription such as wine accessories that also make great gifts.

Get the best Wine of the Month best promo codes to help save the most!

15. Ancestry.com DNA Testing Kit

ancestry dna kit

AncestryDNA® ethnicity estimates are now more precise than ever. At Ancestry.com they have applied the latest cutting-edge science to AncestryDNA® ethnicity results. Give mom a chance to learn more about her ancestors and where they came from. This is a gift that will be cherished forever.

Savings Tip: Find an ancestry.com promo code for the best deal.

16. Give the Gift of Travel

16 Thoughtful Birthday Gifts for Mom Image 2

Let’s face it. Moms do a lot. And chances are she could use a nice little (or long) get-away to help her feel refreshed and appreciated! Why not treat her to some pampered time away from her usual busy life with a VRBO vacation? Pitch in with Dad, or with your siblings and give her a gift she (and maybe even you too) will remember!

Birthday Gifts for Mom Buying Guide

There are times when we can’t always give birthday gifts for moms that show how much we love them because of limits on our money, time, and imagination. Take back your time and money by focusing on birthday gifts that reflect your mom’s true spirit, some of which may cost little to nothing.

Look at your mom’s social media and see what she has been sharing, talking about, and liking recently for some clues on what she might enjoy, then take a look at the rules below for ways to turn that info into the perfect gift.

Practical gifts are wanted and a great way to show love

It may not seem exciting to you and it may be the opposite of what years of commercials have told you, but if she has asked you for it, she probably really wants it.

An arthritis pillow for her knees may not seem as loving as a picture frame, but please know that she really wants that pillow much more than the photo frame.

Expensive doesn’t mean better

This may not be true for everyone, but if your mom is a money-savvy mom, she likes birthday gifts that show your creativity and has a piece of you attached to it rather than a fancy crockpot that comes with monthly payments.

If you think she doesn’t have every keepsake and DIY picture frame you’ve ever given her, think again.

Guilt is a gift that keeps giving

She has a drawer of beaded necklaces, bangles and bracelets that she feels gutted about every time she puts on her Fitbit or Timex watch. So please, please don’t give her anything that she might feel bad about not using or wearing for the next 30 years!

Does she really want that Mediterranean cookbook or will it collect dust with the others?

She wants to use whatever you buy her so try to make sure it’s something you’ve seen her do, wear or use in real life.

Moms forget to relax

It’s sad but true, many moms don’t exactly put themselves first, which is why birthday gifts for them that help them detach from taking care of others will be greatly appreciated.

A gift box of goodies like slippers, chocolate, throw pillow and weighted blanket encourage her to take care of herself, instead of you.

More birthday gift ideas we think you might like: