Gifts for Mum she wouldn’t buy herself
Mums are experts at buying for everyone else. These are the small luxuries she’d walk past for herself.
More ideas: Gifts for MumGifts for GrandmaMother’s Day gift ideas
The best gifts for mums are usually things she’d consider an indulgence: a slightly nicer version of something ordinary, or something that gives her time and comfort. She’ll buy the practical stuff herself, so this is your chance to spoil her.
We’ve mixed cosy things, pampering and a few thoughtful ideas that keep the family connected.
Photos are illustrative. We may earn a small commission if you buy, at no extra cost to you. How we pick · How this works.
A mulberry silk pillowcase
££ Mid-range
A little luxury used every night. Silk feels cool and smooth, and many people find it kinder to hair than cotton.
Our pick
9.0/10
ZIMASILK 100% Mulberry Silk Pillowcase
££ £15–£40
Genuine 19 momme mulberry silk on both sides: cool to sleep on, kinder to hair, and just the sort of luxury she’d never buy herself.
- 100% mulberry silk
- 19 momme, grade 6A
- Silk on both sides
- Standard UK size (50 × 75cm)
What owners say: Beautiful quality, lovely and cool to sleep on, and noticeably kinder to hair than cotton.
Available at Amazon – check today’s price See our top 5 silk pillowcases →A heated throw
£££ Treat
Warms her up on the sofa without heating the whole house. One of the most-loved gifts of recent winters.
Our pick
8.8/10
Mia&Coco Heated Throw (120 × 160cm)
£££ Over £40
Flannel on one side, sherpa on the other, and big enough to wrap right round her on the sofa. The one to get if she’s always first to reach for the thermostat.
- 10 heat levels
- Auto-off timer up to 9 hours
- Flannel and sherpa
- Machine washable
What owners say: Luxuriously soft and toasty, and owners say it lets them turn the heating down.
Heads up: A few owners find the lowest settings quite gentle, so it’s best on the middle levels.
Available at Amazon – check today’s price See our top 5 heated throws →Cosy slipper boots
££ Mid-range
Warmer than normal slippers, with a sole good enough for popping to the garden or the bins.
Our pick
9.1/10
EverFoams Women’s Bootie Slippers
£21.99 RRP
A warm, snug boot shape with a cushioned sole, so her feet stay toasty from the first coffee to the last episode.
- Faux fur ankle collar
- Fleece lining
- Cushioned insole
- Non-slip sole
What owners say: Warm and cosy, with owners saying they feel like walking on marshmallows.
Available at Amazon – check today’s price or compare other optionsA bath soak set
££ Mid-range
An excuse to take an hour for herself. Bath salts and oils get used up, so there’s no clutter.
Our pick
9.2/10
Nurture by Nature Pamper Gift Set
££ £15–£40
Six full-size treats rather than tiny samples, all vegan: everything for a proper night off in the bath.
- Bath salts and bath bomb bar
- Soy wax candle
- Hand cream, body scrub and soap
- Vegan
- Gift box
What owners say: A lovely, generous gift with a gorgeous citrus scent. Owners say it feels like a proper treat.
Available at Amazon – check today’s price or compare other optionsA Wi-Fi digital photo frame
£££ Treat
The family can send photos straight to it from their phones, so she sees the grandkids’ latest pictures without asking. Great if family lives far away.
Our pick
9.1/10
BIGASUO Frameo 10.1-inch Wi-Fi Photo Frame
£65.98 RRP
The family can send photos from their phones and they appear on the frame moments later, thanks to the popular Frameo app.
- 10.1-inch HD touchscreen
- Frameo app
- Photos and short videos
- Captions on photos
What owners say: Easy to set up and use, with a crisp screen. Owners love sending photos straight to the frame.
Available at Amazon – check today’s price See our top 5 digital photo frames →A new cookbook
££ Mid-range
For the mum who cooks for everyone. Pick a book by a cook she already likes on TV, or a cuisine she’s always wanted to try.
Our pick
9.2/10
Ottolenghi SIMPLE TOO
£30 RRP
Yotam Ottolenghi’s follow-up to his hugely popular SIMPLE: big flavours, fewer ingredients and weeknight-friendly recipes.
- Hardback
- Quick, easy recipes
- Big-flavour vegetables and mains
What owners say: Brilliant and never disappointing, with recipes that are quick to make and properly tasty.
Heads up: It’s a new release, so there are fewer reviews than older favourites for now.
Available at Amazon – check today’s price or compare other optionsA cashmere-blend scarf
££ Mid-range
Soft, warm and a step up from her everyday scarf. Neutral colours go with any coat.
Our pick
9.0/10
ehsbuy Cashmere-Blend Scarf
££ £15–£40
A genuine pashmina and wool blend rather than a “cashmere feel” polyester, in a generous size that doubles as a shawl.
- Pashmina and wool blend
- Large 200cm wrap size
- Reversible
- Lots of colours
What owners say: Gorgeous colours, soft and warm, and it works as a wrap too. Great value.
Available at Amazon – check today’s price or compare other optionsA large soy candle
££ Mid-range
A bigger, longer-burning version of the candle she’d buy herself. Winter scents make the living room feel cosy.
Our pick
8.8/10
96NORTH Vanilla Three-Wick Soy Candle
££ £15–£40
Three wicks and a soft vanilla scent, in a smart gold-foil gift box, so there’s no wrapping required.
- Three wicks
- Soy wax
- Vanilla, cream and bourbon
- Gift boxed
What owners say: A strong, lovely vanilla scent and it looks far more expensive than it is.
Heads up: Let it burn until the whole top melts the first time, so it burns evenly.
Available at Amazon – check today’s price or compare other optionsA jewellery dish
£ Budget
A pretty spot by the sink or bed for rings and earrings. Cheap, but it gets used every day.
Our pick
9.2/10
Binoster Ceramic Leaf Jewellery Dish
£ Under £15
A small glazed leaf that gives rings and earrings a home by the sink or the bed, and looks far pricier than it is.
- Glazed ceramic
- Leaf design
- About 11cm long
- For rings, earrings and keys
What owners say: Looks expensive and beautifully made, and it’s perfect on a bedside table.
Available at Amazon – check today’s price or compare other optionsA garden kneeler seat
£ Budget
For the keen gardener: kneel on it one way, flip it and sit on it the other. The handles help with getting up too.
Our pick
9.0/10
Crystals 2-in-1 Garden Kneeler and Seat
£ Under £15
Flip it one way to kneel and the other to sit: kinder on knees and backs, with handles to help her up again.
- Kneeler and seat in one
- Padded EVA foam
- Handles to help you up
- Detachable tool bag
- Folds flat
What owners say: Sturdy and easy to set up, and a real help for anyone with a bad back or knees.
Available at Amazon – check today’s price or compare other optionsAn Audible membership
££ Mid-range
Audiobooks for walks, housework and drives. Brilliant for mums who love books but never get time to sit and read.
See options on AmazonAn indoor herb garden
££ Mid-range
Fresh basil, parsley and chives on the kitchen windowsill all winter. Useful and cheerful.
Our pick
8.6/10
Love Rustic Indoor Herb Garden (set of 3 jars)
£15.99 RRP
Basil, mint and coriander in three rustic jars for the windowsill, with everything needed to get started. Fresh herbs within reach of the hob.
- Basil, mint and coriander
- 3 jars
- Everything included
- Clear instructions
What owners say: Lovely presentation and a thoughtful gift, with easy instructions.
Heads up: The jars are small, so once the herbs are growing well, move them to bigger pots.
Available at Amazon – check today’s price or compare other optionsChoosing for Mum
- Think about what she’d consider “too much” to buy for herself. That’s the sweet spot.
- Anything that gives her time or comfort tends to beat another ornament.
- If siblings are clubbing together, a heated throw or digital photo frame makes a lovely joint gift.
Not quite right? Tell us who it’s for and we’ll pick from all our lists.
Try the gift finderBudget guide: £ roughly under £15 · ££ roughly £15–£40 · £££ over £40. Prices vary between retailers and over time.
