The Wirecutter Show

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.


• Why your time and attention still matter most. Across every category, Samantha comes back to this: a gift lands best when it’s paired with genuine effort—whether that’s a handwritten card, quality time together, or simply showing that you’ve paid attention to what they actually like.

Products we recommend:

For the new mom:

• Chic, lightweight harem sweatpants: Le Bon Shoppe Balloon Pants (women’s)


• Well-priced, super-soft fleece sweatpants: Gap High Rise VintageSoft Relaxed Joggers (women’s)


• A scrubby bar for smoother body skin: Soft Services Buffing Bar


• Actually, it’s a lip balm: Lansinoh Lanolin Nipple Cream

For the first-time grandma:

• Handwritten necklace: Gldn Handwriting Necklace


• The best digital photo frame: Aura Carver


• The Grandmothers by Doris Lessing

For the empty nester:

• A luscious, affordable paint set: Kuretake Gansai Tambi Watercolors 48-Color Set


• For audiobook lovers: Libro.fm Credit Bundle


• A delightful way to discover new titles:  Books Are Magic Book Club


• A hat that understands: Inside Joke Don't Ask Me What's For Dinner Hat

For the outdoorsy mom: 

• Best picnic blanket for roving picnickers: Rumpl Everywhere Mat


• Beanie baby: Mira Blackman Hand Dyed Chunky Beanie

For the mom who loves sparkles:

• Party-trick socks: Maria La Rosa One Ribbed Laminated (women’s)


• Classic hoops: Quince 14K Gold Pave Diamond Mini Huggies

For the crafty mom: 

• Needlepoint kits that will make you want to needlepoint: Unwind Studios


• Unique and gorgeous embroidery kits: Artist Kate Wyatt


• Simple and straightforward block printing kits: Joyn

For the foodie mom:

• A fruit-and-anything-else bowl for counter clutter: Emile Henry French Ceramic Fruit Storage Bowl


• A basket for a tinned fish lover with a cute bandana: Fishwife mother’s day gift basket

For the “don’t get me anything” mom: 

• Full-body glow-up: Senteurs d’Orient Fleurs d’Oasis The Oil


• Stylish and reliable flower deliveries: UrbanStems

Samantha loves: 

• Cotton undies: Evry studio underwear

Additional reading:

• The 42 Best Mother’s Day Gifts


• All that Glitters: The Best Places to Buy Jewelry Online


• 21 Great Gifts for Book Lovers of 2026 


• 20 Best Gifts for People Who Love to Sleep in 2026


• The Best Online Flower Delivery Service of 2026


• 13 Best Boxed Chocolates of 2026

We independently review everything we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more›

Wirecutter Social and Website

Instagram: /wirecutter

Threads: /@wirecutter

Twitter: /wirecutter

Facebook: /thewirecutter

TikTok: /wirecutter

LinkedIn: /nyt-wirecutter

Website: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/

Newsletter: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/newsletters/

The Wirecutter Show is executive produced by Rosie Guerin and produced by Abigail Keel.Engineering support from Maddy Masiello and Nick Pitman. Episodes are mixed by Catherine Anderson, Efim Shapiro, Rowan Niemisto, Sophia Lanman, and Sonia Herrero. Original music by Dan Powell, Marion Lozano, Elisheba Ittoop, and Diane Wong. Wirecutter’s deputy publisher and general manager is Cliff Levy. Ben Frumin is Wirecutter’s editor-in-chief. Hosted by Rosie Guerin, Caira Blackwell and Christine Cyr Clisset.

Find edited transcripts for each episode here: The Wirecutter Show Podcast

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.