Best Mother’s Day gifts for moms who aren’t into tech

An Apple Watch puts iMessages, social media, and payment options right on your wrist. For some, that’s overkill. Just released in April 2020, the Fitbit Charge 4 is the newest iteration of Fitbit’s best-selling fitness tracker. Steps, heart rate, daily exercise progress, and more are displayed on the touchscreen without maneuvering a million apps. Now that Spotify and GPS are built-in, she won’t have to bother syncing her phone.

Some moms find the nostalgia in everything. Thanks to our olfactory memory, that comforting recollection can sometimes be attached to a certain smell. Homesick candles capture traces of a place your mom wishes she was — perhaps with you if you’re far away, or with her mom if she’s far away. Choose a state (Washington smells like tea, rain, and maple) or a specific area like Long Island.

There’s just something therapeutic about puzzles. If your mom is one to break one out immediately on a rainy day (or during a pandemic), this geode puzzle poses more of a challenge than her usual landscapes. 1,000 pieces make up this massive piece of art, and Etsy customers are wowed by the vibrant colors. Overall, LaternPressArtwork has over 34,000 five-star ratings.

A massage appointment is a great gift. But if mom’s sore shoulders or feet need more frequent attention, a percussive massager that she can use whenever will be a lifesaver. These devices beat deep into muscles to repair fibers and enhance blood flow, both of which are crucial in pain relief and workout recovery. The Hyperice Hypervolt is one of the best out there, offering three speeds and a quiet, soothing experience.

It’s 5 o’clock somewhere. If your mom’s cocktail hour always involves an Instagram-worthy charcuterie spread, she’ll be itching to break out this swiveling cheese board. This multi-tiered wheel houses different layers that swing outward for cheese, meat, and other finger foods to get their own spot, plus a storage drawer for knives. When happy hour is over, the trays push back into a compact triangle for easy storage.

Yes, wine tasting counts as a hobby. A Winc Wine subscription brings a winery tour to mom, sending her a monthly box of three or four bottles starting at $13 per vino. Winc customizes flavors based on answers from the taste quiz, which your mom can take before her first delivery. If a blend is too dry (or not dry enough), Winc will use the info to make a better suggestion the next month.

Indulge your mom’s love for bird watching by installing this squirrel-resistant feeder at a nearby window. A weight-activated cage will force the feeding ports closed so the seed is only reserved for those lightweight birds that come by. Pair this with a birder book for her area and she’ll love keeping track of all her visitors. You don’t mind if she texts you photos of her new bird friends, right?

Le Creuset’s cast iron cookware is gorgeous, strong, and will take care of your food for years. So it’s basically the cookware version of a mom. (Pro tip: It’s one of those things that she’s been drooling over but would never splurge on for herself.) Hardcore Disney moms will gush over this subtle Mickey Mouse-themed Dutch oven, which is stovetop and oven-safe and can handle around four servings.

A robot mop is pretty tech-y, but when that means one less chore on her to-do list, we think she’ll let it slide. Like Roomba, the iRobot Braava 380t uses smart sensors to navigate and can tackle multiple rooms on one charge. Choose from wet mode for tile, hardwood, or laminate or dry mode to sweep up dust, dirt, and hair. Unlike the Braava Jet m6, the 380t doesn’t connect to a mobile app to schedule cleanings.

After an April full of unpredictable weather (and snow, in some areas), Mother’s Day often feels like the real first day of spring. Every weekend can be a beach weekend with these self-chilling margarita glasses. The freezable inserts keep drinks cold for about 30 minutes, with an insulted ring around the outside to prevent cold hands. There are also self-cooling pint, whiskey, and wine glasses available.

Snuggling is more than a motherly instinct — that closeness has been proven to decrease stress and anxiety. When mom is alone or having trouble sleeping, a weighted blanket offers deep pressure stimulation (the comforting feeling you get from a hug) and maybe some increased serotonin, too. Layla’s 15 to 25-pound blankets can provide a peaceful pause when she’s feeling restless and feel more velvety than other weighted blankets that are basically glorified comforters.

Hair tools on the counter can take a bathroom from organized to chaotic real fast. This wall-mounted holder is a genius storage solution for tools that are too hard to wrap up and shove in a drawer. It can keep blow dryers, curling irons, and straighteners within reach, and even doubles as wall art. 

If your mom’s favorite motto is “always be prepared,” then she’s going to really appreciate this thoughtful gift. Designed to accommodate four people for up to four days, this super lightweight and watertight kit includes a whole host of stuff that will come in handy for everything from camping to road trips, including bandages, aspirin, antihistamines, alcohol swabs, and so much more.

Everyone has that one skill that they’ve always wanted to learn but never got around to it. Whatever mom’s dream job (or hobby) is, there’s probably a MasterClass for that. Each class is 20 sessions, lessons are only 10 minutes long, and the only tech required is a laptop. Show her how to get set up, and she’ll be ever-so-grateful.

Mixers aren’t the only beautiful countertop appliances that KitchenAid makes. The vintage-inspired K400 blender creates a vortex to blend ingredients from nuts to kale, and has presets for crushing ice, making drinks, and smoothies. Most importantly, it comes in pastel blue and KitchenAid’s iconic bright red.

Aromatherapy utilizes the natural essence of plants and fruits to create a relaxing space. (For instance, lavender is typically used for sleep.) If nothing else, essential oils just make the room smell good. This matte stone diffuser by Vitruvi leaves the traditional rainbow LED design behind and takes on the look of a chic vase. Instead of the Bluetooth route, the Vitruvi simply uses a timer switch.

Now this is some technology that she’s sure to be familiar with. Instead of bitching about the radio’s Top 100 hits, mom can put her dusty Fleetwood Mac and Aretha Franklin to use with this floral and portable record player. It comes with two needles and can connect to Bluetooth if she’s in the mood for Spotify jams.