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40 Fantastic Gifts for Mother-in-law (that she’ll love!)

Gifts for mother-in-law that will put a smile on both of your faces! Today I’m sharing The BEST gifts for your mother-in-law. Thinking up gift ideas for mothers and mothers-in-law can pose a few problems.  Gift Giving gets more complicated anytime you have a person who:

1) can buy anything they want for themselves

2) already has a lot of stuff

If you have a mother-in-law who you don’t know well (or don’t get along with) there are even more barriers to picking out the perfect gift.

I’ve compiled a gift guide for mothers and mothers-in-law that I hope can help circumvent all of these problems.

This post contains affiliate links. This means, if I will get paid a small commission (at no cost to you!) if you purchase products through my links. I always try to recommend products I have personal experience with and LOVE. I also read reviews and ratings to make sure that I am offering up the best possible gift option for you. You can read more in my full disclosure.

What is the best gift for a mother-in-law?

Mother-in-laws come in all shapes and sizes with all kinds of different likes and dislikes. If you are wondering “what gift should I give to my mother-in-law” I encourage you to think about the types of things she is interested in. Observe your mother-in-law, take notice of the things she keeps in her home, what she talks about, the things that she watches. If you are trying to figure out what types of gifts your mother-in-law might like be sure to enlist the help of your husband. Ask some questions about what his mom enjoys! 

Connection Gifts for Mother-in-law

Help your mother-in-law keep a close connection with her family and grandkids with these gifts that encourage interaction.

LoveBox Color and Note Messenger: I just bought one of these boxes for my own mom and my mother-in-law so I’ll give the full review after Christmas but I love everything these LoveBoxes stand for! They are a small wooden box with a pixelated heart on the front. Using an app, people can send messages and even photos to the box. When there is a message waiting the little heart swivels to let the recipient know! I’m hoping that grandkids and kids will send lots of love to their grandmas this way. There are several LoveBox options, we chose the color one so we can better send photographs. 

Friendship Lamps These beautiful lamps allow you to send love messages with light! There are 200 different color options, and if you choose to get a few different lamps for other family members they can all have a different color! Your mother-in-law will love to know you are thinking about her when she sees your color light-up her house. 

Echo Show or Facebook Portal I can’t speak to the Facebook Portal but we have an Echo show (as do my parents and in-laws) and it is a great way to connect! My kids can “drop-in” and see and talk to their grandparents. I love my Echo Show because I can watch shows, listen to music, find recipes and even create my shopping lists! It’s a great gift for your mother-in-law.  

DIY Grandkid Photo Wall

Photo and Memory Gifts for Mother-in-law

Mother-in-laws LOVE all things picture! Here are some creative ways to gift photos. 

This sweet heart shaped frame is voice-recordable. I love the idea of giving your mother-in-law a frame with your kids’ pictures and a sweet recording of their little voice saying, “I love you grandma!.” You could do one frame or a frame for each child.

This 10 inch Skylight Digital Picture Frame takes one minute to set up and will allow anyone you give a specific email address to send photos that will automatically upload to the frame. Your mother-in-law will love this gift because it will let her have new pictures of her kids and grandkids constantly showing up at her home or office.  

This leather heart shaped photo keychain holds two pictures inside for your mother-in-law. She’ll be able to carry her pictures with her always!

For Mother’s Day, we created this numbered grandkid photo wall for my mom and she LOVES it. You could also purchase a gallery picture frame set and do more of a traditional grandkid or family wall for a great mother-in-law gift idea. 

Hobby Gifts for Mother-in-law

I love to purchase gifts that help people explore or rediscover their favorite hobbies. Ask your spouse what kind of hobbies they remember their mom doing…and buy some gifts for that! Here are a few possibilities. 

Hosting Gifts for Mother-in-law

If your mother-in-law loves to host family gatherings, you could purchase some items that could add some flare to her hosting!

Marble Teak Serving Board: This gorgeous board is something your mother-in-law can pull out for a charcuterie board OR other uses! You could add this Big Boards For Families Charcuterie cookbook as well. 

Set of 4 Glass Carafes: These would be perfect for a family get together…enough containers for a variety of juices and punch.

Mason Jar Glasses with Lids and Straws: This is a set of nine handled drinking cups with lids and straws. The glass might not work with little kids, but these would be great for mid-elementary age kids and up! A perfect thing for your mother-in-law to pull out for family breakfast, lunch and dinners. 

Reading Gifts for mother-in-law

Many people LOVE to read. Consider purchasing gifts that will let your mother-in-law read, whether that is audiobooks, digital books or traditional books! 

An Audible plus subscription (and an Amazon Echo Dot to listen to it on!) or audio book you think they’ll like. 

Kindle Oasis E reader: I know a lot of people are die hard paper book people (so was I!) but when you experience how amazing and easy it is to get an ebook delivered directly to your Kindle it is LIFE CHANGING! We love getting ebooks free from the library. 

Book Seat book holder: Whether your mother-in-law is reading on a Kindle or a hardback book, this book holder will make it more comfortable. 

Consumable Gifts for Mother-in-law

Think about things your mother-in-law uses on a daily basis and make it special by buying a fancier or more unusual version! A Tea Subscription Box a Hot Sauce Making Kit, an herb garden starting kit  would all make great gift ideas for your mother-in-law. 

Luxury Beauty Tool Gifts for Mother-in-law

Every woman loves to feel pampered! You could purchase one or more luxury beauty tools and gift it to your mom-in-law!

Throw these beauty balls into the freezer and then use them to soothe and depuff your skin. These are amazing for headaches or migraines too!

Every woman should have a luxurious silk pillowcase. Not only is it a delight to sleep on, but it helps reduce face wrinkling and hair breakage. 

A facial steamer will help your mother-in-law feel like she’s in a spa and help soften and hydrate her skin.  

Useful Gifts for Mother-in-law

Maybe you are looking for gifts you know your mother-in-law will actually use…here are some useful gift ideas she is sure to love. 

These re-usable trolley bags are a useful (and cute) gift for your mother-in-law especially if she lives somewhere that charges for plastic bags. 

A Shiatsu Foot Massager may fall more under luxury but would be very useful for sore tootsies. Your mother-in-law would love this! This is a higher priced option but there are less expensive ones that you could try as well. 

Bluetooth Sleep Mask: Having sleeping problems isn’t uncommon as you get older. This bluetooth sleep mask will allow your mother-in-law to listen to music, meditation or sleep sounds to help her get rest! 

Grandma Swag Gifts for Mother-in-law

If your mother-in-law is also a grandma, you can help her show off with this grandma swag!

Personalized Grandma Necklace: These necklaces are so beautiful! They include a birthstone and an initial for each grandkid. Your mother-in-law will love this personalized gift!

Personalized Grandma Blanket: Your mother-in-law can snuggle up under a blanket made specifically for her. You can specify the grandma name in the middle (Nana, Gigi, Grammy etc), and then add the grandkids names as well! There are several different colors available. 

Grandma Tote Bag: Nothing says Grandma like a giant tote bag! Especially when there are mints or butterscotch inside. 😉 There are several different colors and options and the reviews of this bag are fantastic. Great size, great quality. 

Grandma’s Sippy Cup: Not only will mother-in-laws appreciate an insulated cup to keep her beverage of choice cold or warm, your kids will also think it is hilarious that Grandma has her own “sippy cup.” 

This Grandma Belongs To…keychain: Another adorable piece of Grandma Swag…this can be personalized with a grandma’s name, and each pendant has the grandchild’s name and birthstone. 

Blessed Grandma t-shirt: Let your mother-in-law show off her grandma status with this beautiful t-shirt. Lots of colors and sizes to choose from. 

DIY Gifts for Mother-in-law

I love to make gifts for my mom and mother-in-law

If you want a DIY Gift for your kids to help with, these easy kid crafted hand stamped dish towels are adorable, easy to make (your kids will love doing it!) and will make a treasured gift for your mother-in-law. 

You could also go with a Book Club gift like this, and help your mother-in-law start a family or friend book club!

I hope that this gift guide inspired you with some great gift ideas for your mother-in-law!

Happy Gifting!
Steph

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Angela

Sunday 24th of June 2018

These gift ideas are all really neat! As a working mom I would also say subscription boxes make great gifts as well. Currently I'm using Birch Box and this sock company I stumbled upon https://wovenpear.com/ and I love it, we don't really think of going out and purchasing sox and it's the one thing we use the most!

ShootingStarsMag

Wednesday 22nd of November 2017

The 100 Books to Read in a Lifetime is such an awesome gift idea! I like that it feels a bit personal too.

-Lauren

The Gifty Girl

Wednesday 22nd of November 2017

Thanks Lauren! I know I would love to get it! ;)

Wanda @ From House To Home

Monday 20th of November 2017

Hi Steph...I love the Book Club in a Box idea...My mother would LOVE that! Thanks for the great ideas!

The Gifty Girl

Wednesday 22nd of November 2017

Thank you Wanda! And thanks for stopping by!

Valerie@Occasionally Crafty

Monday 20th of November 2017

I love these ideas- that 100 Books one is a GREAT idea!

The Gifty Girl

Wednesday 22nd of November 2017

Thanks so much Valerie! I hope you can use it for someone on your gift list. :)

Patti

Monday 20th of November 2017

Hi Steph,

These are all such fun ideas and gifts that I would love for myself. I really like that Family Tree art !

The Gifty Girl

Monday 20th of November 2017

Hi Patti! Thank you, I love that Family Tree art too (and I would totally take the 100 Books haha! :) ) Thanks for stopping by!

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