This is what moms told us they actually want this holiday season

Moms are usually the ones who make the holidays happen. They buy and wrap everyone’s gifts, keep the family traditions going, bake the cookies and somehow remember the teacher’s gift card, too. Yet, the gifts they receive are often predictable (yet another robe or pair of slippers), or worse, they’re really for the whole household (a new vacuum, anyone?). As a mom myself, I know how true this is. So I put together a list of gifts moms will actually want, use and keep for themselves, from little indulgences to splurges that make everyday life easier.Selected.Our top picksBest beauty giftLearn moreBest apparel giftLearn moreWant more from NBC Selected? Sign up for our newsletter, The Selection, and shop smarter.Best overall gifts for momsIf there’s one sanity-saving gift every mom deserves, it’s this digital calendar. I have one and recommend it to all my mom friends, because it lets everyone in the family see what’s on the agenda, so you don’t have to play cruise director all day, every day. The 15-inch touchscreen syncs with the calendars you already use and color-codes each family member’s events, so soccer practice, dentist appointments and date night all live in one place. It sits on the counter with an adjustable stand or mounts on the wall, and swappable frames let it match any kitchen. The time it has given me back because I don’t have to stay on top of everyone about their schedules is invaluable. Sure, it’s technically a tool for the whole family (if you want it to be), but it’s truly a treat for mom since it takes something off of her plate.This travel set puts six full-size brush heads on palm-sized, weighted aluminum handles, so you get the same smooth blending you’d get at home from tools that take up a fraction of the space. The ultra-soft vegan bristles handle everything from foundation to smudged liner, and the sleek vegan leather case slips easily into a carry-on, perfect for the next trip, a gym bag or to stash in a work desk drawer.When you have a day of wrangling kids ahead of you, I can tell you that any caffeine will do in a pinch. But a really good cup of coffee makes the whole experience so much better. The Fellow Aiden makes it effortless. It automatically sets the ideal temperature and ratio for light, medium or dark roasts, and it even does cold brew. Brew a single cup or a full pot into the thermal carafe, which keeps coffee warm long after the first toddler interruption.BETABefore kids, I loved to cook. These days, most of my kitchen time goes to buttered noodles, scrambled eggs and sliced berries for my picky eaters. During my nightly scrollfest, I discovered Corre Larkin on Instagram and fell for how simple yet refined her recipes are — it is food even a tired mom can pull off. Her debut cookbook, Season to Taste, has nearly 100 recipes, including Spaghetti with Four Tomatoes to Flavor Bomb Roast Chicken, plus a whole chapter on potatoes. I’m treating myself to this book for Christmas and I know other moms who miss cooking real food would appreciate it, too.The Hatch Restore 3 is a favorite among experts and the NBC Selected team. It’s a great gift for the mom who deserves a gentler start to her day. Instead of a blaring alarm, its light slowly brightens from red to orange to white, and it doubles as a soothing reading light and sound machine at night. “The gradual increase of light in my bedroom lets me slowly transition from a deep sleep into consciousness,” says NBC Selected reporter Zoe Malin.Everyday jewelry can be tricky for moms. Wear anything that dangles too low and you risk it getting ripped off by sticky little hands. These two-tone hoops are fun and geometric but only about an inch long — so they make a statement but are small enough to avoid being grasped and look totally appropriate for school drop-off, the office or dinner out. The two-tone finish goes with both gold and silver jewelry, which makes getting dressed one less decision and the surgical steel posts are made for sensitive ears, so they’re easy to wear all day. NBC Selected senior editor Shalwah Evans loves her pair, she says she’s worn the earrings to weddings, work and date nights. “I like to mix metals so these are perfect because they sort of bridge the gap between my gold nose ring and permanent bracelets and my diamond and white gold wedding band,” she says. “They never feel heavy either, which I find happens with some fine jewelry.”Evans wears her Demarson Tina hoops to work and for other every day activities, but can also wear them for special occasions and formal affairs.Best beauty and wellness gifts for momsBiodance face masks are popular among NBC Selected editors, and this set lets a busy mom sample four of its most popular formulas. Each one targets a different concern, from hydration and calming to pores and dark spots, with ingredients like collagen, ceramides and niacinamide. Better yet, there’s no need to rinse: She can leave one on overnight and let it work while she sleeps. It’s the ultimate low-effort pampering.For tired moms, these cooling vitamin C eye patches with peptides and hyaluronic acid can help with dark circles and dryness. “They actually reduce puffiness under my eyes when I wake up and I look brighter and more awake after wearing them for 15 minutes,” says NBC Selected updates editor Mili Godio. “They’re also sticky, which means they aren’t slipping and sliding on my face as I wear them.”This LED mask can turn three minutes into a real self-care moment. That’s the shortest treatment time of any mask we recommend. It uses red light to target fine lines and blue light to fight acne, and she can use one color or both in each session. NBC Selected associate SEO reporter Ashley Morris tested it after the brand sent her a sample. She still uses it a few times a week, usually right after her morning shower. “When I use the mask consistently, my skin has a smoother texture and overall clearer complexion,” she says. It has also helped her with mild breakouts and the occasional flare-up.More beauty gifts for momsBest apparel gifts for momsPart ballet flat, part sneaker, these leather Mary Janes are the easiest way to look put together on a busy day. “They’re the ideal commuter shoe for someone who lives in a city like NYC where you ride the train to work, refuse to do it in your heels, but still want to look good,” says NBC Selected senior editor Shalwah Evans. These exact things also make them great for moms, who may need to run after kids but still want to look cute doing it.Ask any mom of little kids and they’ll tell you the goal of nearly any outfit is to look pulled together enough to be presentable yet comfortable enough to bend down to scoop up a crying toddler or chase after a little one on the playground. This top from Andie is recommended by NBC senior production manager and mom of three Rebecca Delman, and it more than delivers. The vintage-inspired rugby stripes go great with jeans and the looser fit makes it easy to move in. It is also made from a heavier knit pima cotton, making it a great option during the colder months.This two-piece set from Knix is cut from a silky modal-spandex blend that drapes beautifully, is soft against the skin and functional — the stretchy material lets you chase after kids easily. The relaxed button-up top and drawstring pants don’t stick to your body and look pulled together while staying comfy.This lounge set is made from an ultra-plush fabric that feels like what I imagine wearing a cloud would feel like, making it perfect for a mom who deserves some downtime. The relaxed V-neck top pairs with straight-leg pants that have an elastic waistband and a drawstring. It comes in 11 colors, ranges in size from XS to 3X and comes in tall options.More apparel gifts for momsBest tech gifts for momsFor the mom who loves crafting, Cricut’s StickerPix Print + Cut turns photos from her camera roll into custom stickers in minutes. It prints, laminates and then cuts custom shapes using a built-in fine-point blade, so you can go from a photo to a finished die-cut sticker in a single pass. That makes it easy to personalize water bottles, scrapbooks, party favors and labels for every bin in the pantry. The laminated finish holds up to water, scratches and fading, and it prints regular photos too. The bundle includes the machine as well as 18 sticker sheets, 18 photo paper sheets and one ink cartridge.The new 6-inch Kindle is a great gift for the mom who’s always trying to squeeze in a few more pages, whether that’s in the school pickup line or on the sidelines at practice. It’s Amazon’s most pocket-sized e-reader yet, with a flush-front design that’s light enough to toss into any bag. She’ll get 16GB of storage for a full library, up to six weeks of battery life and 30 percent faster book opening, so she can jump right back into her story whenever she has a spare minute. It’s also made with recycled materials and has a 100 percent recycled cobalt battery, a nice bonus for eco-minded moms.Apple’s new AirPods 5 are a great gift for anyone who wants noise cancellation without the bulk. They have up to 1.5 times more active noise cancellation than the last generation, and adaptive audio switches between noise cancelling and transparency mode depending on where you are. They’re also sweat- and water-resistant, and they come with hands-free Siri and real-time Live Translation. Evans tested a pair she received from the brand and found the open-fit design more comfortable than earlier models. “I was pleasantly surprised that these pods with no rubber tip didn’t budge,” she says. “I also love how crisp the ambient sound is when ANC is turned off, which is a huge plus for when I’m walking my dog and need to be aware of my surroundings crossing busy streets.”More tech gifts for momBest food gifts for momsI’m a huge fan of all things Flamingo Estate, and this olive oil and vinegar duo is an easy way to treat mom. You won’t find the brand at the grocery store, or even at most specialty shops, so it feels genuinely luxe and cool. The handmade persimmon vinegar is bright, a little sweet and a lot more interesting than traditional balsamic. The peppery California olive oil is perfect for dipping, drizzling and roasting. Spring for the gift box, which comes tied with a bow.For the mom who runs on coffee but never gets to finish a hot cup, Cometeer’s frozen concentrate pods make café-quality drinks with no brewer needed. She can make hot or iced coffee or espresso drinks in seconds, and the box comes with simple directions. Each bundle has blends from popular roasters across the country, and Cometeer’s team puts it together the week you order so the pods are as fresh as possible. This box includes 40 cups total, and you can pick from mixed, light, medium or dark roast, decaf or half-caff.Compartés’ Chocolate Covered Fruits Assortment is a treat mom won’t have to share (unless she wants to). California orchard fruits like apricots, pineapple, oranges and peaches are candied, then hand-dipped in dark and milk chocolate at the brand’s Los Angeles atelier. The selection changes with the seasons, and it comes in a gift box that’s ready to hand right over.More food gifts for moms Want more from NBC Selected? Sign up for our newsletter, The Selection, and shop smarter.How I picked the best gifts for moms in 2026To recommend the best gifts for moms, I drew on my own experience as a mom and researched highly-rated options across a range of interests, from self-care and beauty to food and tech. Every option on my final list comes from a brand we’ve previously covered or that our editors have personally tried.Some of the products were sent to us from brands as courtesy samples for testing, and others we bought with our own money. To evaluate each gift, I considered its quality, usefulness, durability and price, plus how well it fits into a mom’s busy life.Why trust NBC Selected?I’m a commerce editor at NBC Selected, where I cover lifestyle and more. I have worked on gift guides for more than a decade. I’m also a mom to an almost 6-year-old and almost 2-year-old, and everyone in our home has a packed schedule. For this article, I compiled a list of the best gifts for moms, including highly-rated options, NBC Selected reader favorites and brands that our editors (and myself) love. Catch up on NBC Selected’s in-depth coverage of tech and tools, wellness and more, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X and TikTok to stay up to date.