32 First Mother's Day Gifts That Are Extra Special

The day she became a mother changed her life forever. What follows is a year of her baby's firsts: first smile, first word, first step. What day comes as a close second in sentimentality? It's her first Mother's Day. Make this holiday especially memorable with either a purchased or handmade gift that she'll treasure for years to come. There will always be flowers and breakfast in bed—and maybe even a surprise activity or two—but an heirloom present lasts a lifetime. Any mom would love to unwrap personalized keepsakes like scrapbooks, baby boxes, framed handprints and foot tracings of baby, as well as memory quilts, sapphire-studded earrings, and baby-friendly accessories (luxury diaper bags do exist!).

If you're taking the DIY approach, heed this: Mothers make the most avid chroniclers, and her collection of illustrations, photographs, and objects tell her child's story: from the onesie that her baby arrived in at home to the first stuffed toy in the nursery. And yet with all of life's new adjustments as a parent, many new mothers find themselves without the time to store, organize, or make use of these mementos in a meaningful way. Help her celebrate those big milestones and Baby's "firsts" with fill-in growth charts, baby books, and libraries. They all capture each and every moment of a child's first year. Even everyday playthings—crayons, baby bottles, and little playthings—make for colorful, easy-to-assemble wall art. And if you want to purchase her a little special something? Take a self-care-forward approach and present her with restorative bath salts, a candle, a sleek pajama set, or shearling slippers—all of which are outlined on the slides ahead.

These kind of gifts promote the idea of heralding special occasions and everyday ones, too. Whether she's your wife, daughter, friend, or sister, these gifts will be the one that she remembers as she marks this major milestone.

Make sure she's just as bundled as her little one is for their early-morning walks with this three-quarter-sleeve quilted down jacket, designed by Martha.

Shop Now: Martha Stewart Women's 3/4 Sleeve Quilted Packable Down Jacket, $69.99, amazon.com.

Padding around in the middle of the night to hush a fussy little one is easier in these shearling slippers. 

Shop Now: Jenni Kayne Shearling Moroccan Slipper, $275, jennikayne.com.

Mark this milestone with a gift she won't forget. These sapphire-studded earrings are luxurious, but wearable; she'll pop them in and reflect on this major motherhood moment, no special occasion needed.

Shop Now: Anita Ko "Huggies" 18-Karat Gold Sapphire Earrings, $600, net-a-porter.com.

A framed shadow box like this one holds every precious trinket that she's collected over the last months from the first pair of shoes to first toys and photographs that captured every moment along the way, or a print copy of the newspaper from the day her baby was born.

Here's proof that a diaper bag can be stylish. This one comes in backpack form, so it's hands-free and adventure ready.

Shop Now: Dagne Dover "Indi" Diaper Bag, $195, nordstrom.com.

While she might not love her new sleep schedule (or lack thereof), she'll appreciate a new set of sleek pajamas. Bonus points if they nod to said night owl status, as this set from Karen Mabon does.

Shop Now: Karen Mabon "Night Owls" Short Pajama Set, $188, shopbop.com.

Utility meets luxury in this summer-ready woven tote, which can hold Mom's essentials, and baby's, too.

Shop Now: Loewe Medium Raffia and Leather Basket Bag, $490, modaoperandi.com.

As the family grows, so does the family tree. Capture the evolution of her family in a beautifully intricate wall mount such as this one.

Perfect for mommy-and-me bath time, she and baby will cozy up in these fluffy, fast-absorbing towels after a soak.

Shop Now: Boll & Branch Plush Bath Towel Set, $125, bollandbranch.com.

This botanical-printed lasagna pan will look lovely in her kitchen. It's a sweet homage to this season.

Shop Now: Martha Stewart Collection Floral Lasagna Pan, $50, macys.com.

She'll log all of baby's firsts with this aesthetically-pleasing rollerball pen.

Shop Now: Kaweco Rollerball Pen, $25, junehomesupply.com.

We love this depiction of mother and child—and she will, too, especially if she's a gardener.

Shop Now: Jamie Beck Day Sixty Small Poster, $35, jamiebeck.co.

If her baby (and Mom) are ready to part with that first blanket, offer to make a memory quilt out of it. Stitched together with scraps of fabric here and there, it's the perfect way to preserve a piece of those special items that are simply too precious to toss.

If she was a fan of HATCH Collection during her pregnancy, she already knows that most of their offerings work post-birth, too. These enveloping cashmere socks are no exception. 

Shop Now: HATCH Cashmere Socks, $72 for two pairs, hatchcollection.com.

Even if a picture's worth a thousand words, one of mother and child together only needs three: I love you. To emphasize the sentiment, copy one of her favorites and add a heart in bright embroidery thread.

She's a modern mom, which means she finds the majority of baby gear a bit too saccharine for her taste. If she falls into this camp, impress her with this neutral keepsake box, which won't look out of place on the nursery's curated shelves. She'll treasure it for years to come, too, since it tracks her little one's biggest moments (and stores important documents, like sonograms, via its interior drawers) up to age four.

Shop Now: Savor "The Library" Baby Keepsake Box, $84.95, maisonette.com.

For a modern piece of artwork that can be updated over the years, frame a paper silhouette of the mom and her baby together. In fact, create one for every member of the family and you have an heirloom-quality gallery wall.

Cracked cuticles, flyaways, dry elbows and knees—she'll use this natural, botanical-based balm (it has the most energizing, subtly spearmint scent!) just about anywhere.

Shop Now: Jones Road Hippie Stick, $32, jonesroadbeauty.com.

If she's breastfeeding, she'll appreciate this ultra-soft, but supportive tank, composed of organic cotton covered in the daintiest floral print.

Shop Now: Arq Crop Tank in Yellow Calico, $36, shoparq.com.

Honor the powerful woman in your life—we'd argue there's no one more powerful than Mom—with this gardenia-forward candle, which lionizes the great Billie Holiday.

Shop Now: Harlem Candle Co. "Lady Day" Luxury Candle, $45, harlemcandleco.com.

She keeps her little one close to her heart—literally!—with this charm necklace. For an extra special touch, have the locket laser-inscribed with her baby's date of birth by a professional. Start by making a template for the photo: Press a piece of paper into the locket opening, and score around the edge with a pencil. Cut it out, slide it in, and resize it as needed. Print the desired photo on heavyweight printer paper. Use template to cut photo to size, then slide into locket. Add a jump ring, and thread with cord. For the card, choose an image that can incorporate the locket (such as by attaching it to a baby's hand or placing it on an artist's easel). Print it on card stock, make a hole with a micro punch, and tie the cord through it.

Shop Now: Gorjana Bali Antique Locket Necklace, $65, gorjana.com; HP Heavyweight Project Paper, $17.12 for 250 sheets, walmart.com.

Trays and mirrors are frequently found at tag sales and flea markets—but just as easily found at home. Combine a treasured memento with a photograph of the owner and you can create a whole heirloom collection depicting mother and child in her own gallery wall. 

We like the wide-based chamber of these white wine glasses—something she'll appreciate holding again after doing without during gestation.

Shop Now: Made In White Wine Glasses, $59 for four, madeincookware.com.

Instagram might be her go-to for taking perfect photos of her baby's most candid moments, but this plain canvas case is the perfect way to appreciate those captured moments in real life. Size a photo to fit on the pouch, keeping finished images at least 1/4 inch from the edge of the pouch. Print on cotton, and remove backing. Place scrap fabric between iron and your printout before ironing. Iron cotton to webbing. Cut photo to desired size. Remove the webbing's backing, and iron onto canvas case. Let cool; spray with fabric protector.

Shop Now: V V Prints Inkjet Printable Cotton Fabric Sheets, $17 for six, amazon.com. Paper Source Canvas Pouches, $20 for three, papersource.com. Thermoweb Heat'n Bond Light Weight Iron-On Fusible Interfacing, $3.78, amazon.com. Scotchgard Fabric & Upholstery Protector, $10, amazon.com.

A unique blend of epsom and mineral sea salts, plus detoxifying Brazilian white clay, breu branco, and vitamin C-infused camu camu, make these bath salts a winner for sore muscles and a tired mind. Chances are, she'll welcome relief for both.

Shop Now: Costa Brazil "Sal de Banho" Bath Salts, $125, livecostabrazil.com.

Turn her brief showers into a tropical retreat via this luxurious lather, which features floral notes with a hint of musk.

Shop Now: Jungalow x Native Paradise Flower & Amber Body Wash, $8, nativcos.com.

As a mom, cuddles and naps are just one of the many perks to the job. This plush throw pillow adds a personal touch to down time. Size the photo (if desired, leave a border for a framed effect). Print on linen; remove backing. To make fabric sturdier, back the linen with a piece of fusible interfacing. Cut it to the same size as the linen, and iron it to the back side of printout. Place scrap fabric between the iron and printout. Cut a piece of linen to the same dimensions as your printout before ironing. With right sides facing, sew around perimeter, leaving a 1/4-inch seam allowance. Leave a 3-inch slit at bottom. Turn right side out. Stuff with fiberfill, and hand-sew the slit closed.

Shop Now: Jacquard Belgian Linen, 6' by 42", $40, inkjetfabrics.com. Thermoweb Heat'n Bond Light Weight Iron-On Fusible Interfacing, $3.78, amazon.com. Scotchgard Fabric & Upholstery Protector, $10, amazon.com.

Grown locally in the Hudson Valley, this herbal tincture offers immune and inflammation support; one dropper-full alleviates physical pain, cramps, exhaustion, and soreness.

Shop Now: Treaty Recover Tincture, $90, at.land.

Here's a sweet idea: Trace her baby's hand over paper and put it in a beautiful frame. Tell the lucky mom to repeat this process over the first few months to document his or her growth.

Her mid-afternoon cup of tea just got a whole lot prettier, thanks to Tea Forté's new collection, which honors the spring sun that nurtures the fruits, flowers, and tea leaves of their finest blends. Come to think of it, that's a pretty apt metaphor for Mom, who brings sunlight and tender care to her growing family.

Shop Now: Tea Forte Soleil Collection, from $20, teaforte.com.

Help mom put all those photos to good use by printing out these easy-to-install, easy-to-remove wall statements for her. Design your own custom wallpaper through a service such as WeMontage.com, which lets you upload your favorite photos, create a custom photo collage, and print on large, removable wallpaper with adhesive backing. The final product comes on thick canvas-like paper with a matte finish that adheres to flat walls and textured surfaces without causing damage.

Junior is the perfect reason to finally collect all those family recipes. Start the book now and we guarantee it will make the perfect graduation present years later.