Gift guide
Mother's Day gifts that give her time back
Quick answer: A Mother's Day gift that gives her time back is hard to get wrong: a morning off, a job done for her, or a day with the people she loves. Give her a break from something she always does, a meal she doesn't cook, or an experience together, and add something small she'd never buy for herself.
In Australia, Mother's Day is the second Sunday in May. Ideas for any mum, a first Mother's Day, an older mum, and gifts that still work at the last minute.
Who is it for?
Pick the part that fits, or read on.
Your situation
- A first Mother's DayFor a mum with a new baby.
- A mum who has everythingGifts that aren't more things.
- An older mumGifts that make everyday life easier.
- Running out of timeGifts that still work on the day.
What do mums actually want for Mother's Day?
There's no single answer, so it's worth asking. Time to herself, a break from her usual jobs and time with family on her terms are good places to start.
That might look like:
- A sleep-in, then breakfast she didn't make.
- A day where nobody asks her where anything is.
- The house cleaned without her lifting a finger.
- Lunch out, booked and paid for, with the people she wants there.
Ask her partner, a sibling or a close friend if you're not sure which of these she'd choose.
What to buy mum when she has everything
Give her something she'll use up or experience, not something she has to find a place for.
- A clean of her home on a day she chooses.
- A morning or a day off: you take over her jobs for the day.
- A meal, at a restaurant she loves or delivered to her door.
- Flowers or coffee delivered regularly for a few months.
- A treat she'd never buy herself: a good perfume, a massage, a new book by an author she loves.
Gifts of time
Taking a regular job off her list is one of the most practical Mother's Day gifts, and one of the most appreciated.
- A cleaning gift card, so she can book a clean when it suits her.
- A month of a job done for her: the washing, the school lunches, the Sunday cooking.
- Childcare for an afternoon if her children are young, so she has time to herself.
- Help with a project she's been putting off, like the garden or a cupboard clear-out.
A cleaning gift card is credit towards a clean she books herself, from $20 to $2,000. Anything left after one clean stays on the card for the next.
Experiences to share
An experience together gives her the day and the memory.
- Breakfast or lunch out, with the booking made.
- A class together: pottery, cooking, flower arranging.
- A walk, a picnic or a day trip somewhere she loves.
- Tickets to a show or a concert.
Experience-gift websites sell vouchers for many of these, but choosing and booking it yourself shows more thought.
Gifts for a first Mother's Day
On a first Mother's Day, rest and practical help usually mean more than anything to unwrap.
- A morning to sleep in while someone else looks after the baby.
- Meals for the week, so nobody has to cook.
- Help around the house, now or once the baby is a little older.
- Something small to mark the day: a print of the baby's hand or foot, or a photo in a frame.
Our guide to gifts for new parents has more ideas for the first months.
Things she'll use up
Consumable gifts are easy to get right and never add clutter.
- Good coffee, tea or chocolate.
- Hand cream, soap or candles in a scent she already likes.
- A bunch of flowers, or a potted plant she'll enjoy.
- A hamper of her favourite treats from a local deli or bakery.
Last-minute Mother's Day gifts
If the day has crept up on you, choose a gift that doesn't depend on shipping: something you book, make, or send by email.
- A cleaning gift card by email or SMS, sent straight after payment, or printed at home and put in a card.
- A booking: breakfast, lunch or a class, with the confirmation printed out.
- A promise you'll keep: a written "voucher" for a job you'll do, with a date on it.
- Breakfast in bed, followed by you doing the dishes.
What to skip
Skip anything that creates work for her on her own day.
- A gift that needs assembling or setting up.
- Cleaning products or appliances, unless she's asked for one. A clean is a gift; a mop usually isn't.
- A family lunch she ends up cooking.
- Big decor items in a style you'd choose, not her.
Questions people ask
What is a good Mother's Day gift?
Something that gives her time back or a treat she wouldn't buy herself: a morning off, a clean of her home, a meal out, or an experience together.
What do you buy a mum who has everything?
Gifts she'll use up or experience rather than store: a clean, a meal, flowers delivered over a few months, or a day out with you.
When is Mother's Day in Australia?
The second Sunday in May.
Is a gift card a good Mother's Day gift?
Yes, when it's for something she'll enjoy or use, like a clean, a favourite restaurant or a shop she loves. Add a note about why you chose it.
What can I give for a first Mother's Day?
Rest and practical help: a sleep-in, meals for the week, help around the house, and something small to mark the day.
If cleaning is the right gift
Give her a clean home and a day off
Choose an amount, add a personal note, and send it by email or SMS, or print it to give in person. She chooses the clean and the day.
Want to see how it works first? How gift cards work
You choose the amount and how it arrives. They choose their clean.