Best Gifts for Mom (2026): E-Readers, Digital Wall Calendar, Smart Bird Feeders
Moms give the best gifts, so it stands to reason that you should get the best gifts for Mom when you're shopping for her in
Moms give the best gifts, so it stands to reason that you should get the best gifts for Mom when you're shopping for her in any scenario. That includes Mother's Day, her birthday, Christmas, Hanukkah, or any other holiday in your family's life that includes gift-giving. I've made some additions for summer that are great for moms who have an upcoming birthday, or a mom you just want to treat with something nice for the warmest time of year. If you're worried you're going to give her a disappointing gift or something she already has, fear not: I've gathered the coolest things we recommend here at WIRED that just about any mom will love. From wellness gadgets that can improve her skin, a beach bag I can't stop using, or even a device that puts her digital calendar in an IRL device, moms everywhere can get a ton out of these gifts. Many of these items I've given to my mother, or other WIRED staffers have given to theirs, or it's at the top of my list as a mother of a 4-year-old. Updated July 2026: I've added a beach bag, sun hat, and linen-blend sheets as new gifts to this guide. My Favorite Summer Bag Photograph: Nena Farrell Save to wishlist Save to wishlist Mission Outdoor Cassi Beach Tote $69 Amazon $69 Mission Outdoor I've had this bag for a few summers now, and it's held up great. It's my go-to bag for the beach or pool, and the mesh sides make it breathable for sand and water alike. The slim straps have a ton of room to sling this bag over your shoulder or onto a wagon handle, and I haven't had any breakage even with all the towels, swimsuits, and more I stuff into it. The bottom is waterproof so it's perfect for sitting poolside, and the stylish colors make it a bag she'll love bringing. I prefer its look by a long mile to the bulky Bogg bags I spot at the pool, and it's better priced. Next-Level Skin (and Scalp) Care The must-have gadget for women of almost any age is an LED mask. These masks promise to use red light to erase wrinkles, brighten your skin, and keep acne at bay. I haven't seen much change in my wrinkles in my year-plus of regularly using a red light mask, but I can confirm it makes my skin brighter and calms down acne and scars much faster when I'm regularly treating my skin.
HigherDose is a favorite mask of mine because the three-strap design lets it hang on my head rather than squeeze it, making it one of the most comfortable masks I've worn. My other favorite LED tool actually sits on my head and also comes from HigherDose. The brand's Red Light Hat treats your head with red light to rejuvenate your scalp and hair follicles for better hair growth, and as someone with a sensitive scalp and a hair-pulling problem, using this cap regularly genuinely improved my scalp and hair. It's the healthiest it's ever been, and my scalp is the least itchy, too. I love that this hat also has a battery pack, so I can comfortably wear it anywhere while I treat my head. Chic Sun Protection Save to wishlist Save to wishlist Solbari Resort Wide Brim Sun Hat $79 Solbari I have managed to get two different scalp burns this summer, and I am seriously over it. My 4-year-old has me going everywhere from the beach to the pool to the county fair already this summer, and even sunscreen made for spraying into the crevices of my hair hasn't kept me safe. Enter: this Solbari wide-brim hat. It's soft and flexible, so it's easy to fold up and store in a beach bag or stroller, and the cotton-linen design keeps it pretty breathable, though you'll want to reverse it onto the white side for hotter days. It promises UPF 50+ to protect your head, and the 4-inch brim helps keep my neck safe, too. It's cute while still giving plenty of coverage, and a great pick for any mom who is going to be dragged into the sun all summer long. Her Google Calendar IRL My latest favorite family planning gadget is a digital wall calendar. These handy devices take the Google Calendar I live by (and just about any other digital calendar, if your mom isn't a Google girl) and put it on a physical device I can quickly tap into without needing to grab my phone or bark at Alexa. The Skylight Calendar 2 is my favorite, because it not only includes to-do lists, meal planning, and a recipe book but also doubles as a digital photo frame. That means it displays cute photos of my family most of the time, and then, with a simple tap, it opens the calendar or whatever page I was last on to show me what's on my family's schedule.
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