10 Special Mother’s Day Gifts

Mother’s Day is fast approaching, but it’s not too late to get the new mom or mom-to-be in your life a little something special. (If you’re the one who should be receiving a gift, feel free to forward this on to your loved ones.) Here are ten presents that will pamper, make life easier and delight all around. Ready, set…give.

My Daughter Fragrances

The hand-bottled scents ($85 each) by My Daughter Fragrances represent what many women want out of beauty products these days: healthy formulations that still manage to feel luxurious and special. (My Daughter nixes parabens and phthalates and uses ingredients from Grasse, France, the world’s perfume mecca). Choose from Joyful, an optimistic floral of sandalwood, orange flower, grapefruit, rose oil and lime blossom, and the more seductive Always Loved, featuring Bulgarian rose oil, Turkish rose, bitter cocoa, vetiver and cedar. A third scent is set to debut this fall. mydaughterfragrance.com.

 

Fast Food Sports Bra by Boob

We work out (a lot). We breastfeed (a lot). We learned quickly that finding a sports bra that can support both is no easy task. Then we tried the Fast Food, ($89) by Swedish brand Boob, and pinched ourselves (it is that good). Performance fabric dries quickly, independent holes for each breast and easy-to-open clasps make feedings ridiculously simple and the sleek design—our size medium worn for a B cup looked refined and kept things fully supported and in place—is a winner. boobdesign.com; nordstrom.com.

 

Pointe Studio Mama Box

The new Mama Box ($48), by Pointe Studio—designer of grip socks used for Pilates, barre classes and yoga—is an endlessly cheerful gift for moms-to-be that also happens to be practical. The four pairs of Pointe Studio socks in an assortment of patterns (color themes include green, indigo, pink and fuchsia) can be worn in the hospital, where walking around requires either grip-bottomed socks or shoes; Smith’s Rosebud Salve, a super-versatile staple, can play every beauty role, from lip balm to nipple cream; and colorful Kitsch hair ties keep locks in line. pointe-studio.com.

 

Shiffa Pregnancy Body Oil

While preventing stretch marks isn’t always possible (genetics and hormones play a large role in whether or not they appear), paying extra attention to pregnant skin is never a bad idea. The pregnancy body oil ($81) by Shiffa, a brand with an exotic edge that comes at beauty from the perspectives of both science and nature, is a luxuriously packaged treat, rich with evening primrose and avocado oils, Chilean rosehip, and mandarin and tangerine essences that aid in firming and refining skin. The scent? Calming chamomile. Bliss. shiffa.com.

 

Zeel: Book a Massage

There are times when going out for a massage just seems too…involved. The app Zeel, however, brings first-rate bodywork right to you. Log into the charmingly animated app, choose the type of massage you want (Swedish, deep tissue, prenatal), the gender of therapist you prefer and the duration of the visit (60, 75 or 90 minutes), Submit your coordinates and a therapist—licensed, certified and vetted through Zeel—will come to you, with a massage table in hand, as early as 8 A.M. or as late as 10:30 P.M. The app currently serves New York City, the Hamptons, Miami and Palm Beach, Los Angeles, northern New Jersey and the San Francisco Bay Area. zeel.com.

 

Asics GEL-Fit Sana

The GEL-Fit Sana ($80) by Asics—a studio training shoe that functions equally as well sprinting around town—is as light as they come and fits like a dream. Its Flexible Fit system features stretchy bands that go from heel to forefoot, kind of like a hammock for the sides of your feet, and the minimal construction (the entire shoe weighs in at just 5.6 ounces) has a comfortably snug, sock-like fit. (Though there isn't much room in there for an actual pair of socks.) The colors are cool, too. asics.com.

 

The Amazing Make-Ahead Baby Food Book

The goal of The Amazing Make-Ahead Baby Food Book (Ten Speed Press), by Lisa Barrangou? To lead you through the production of three months' worth of homemade infant eats in a mere three hours. The surprise? It’s not as hard as it may seem. Illustrated with beautiful photographs, the book (Barrangou is a former corporate food scientist) is filled with not only recipes using the likes of fruits, vegetables, grains, lentils, legumes and yogurt, but tips on combining flavors, tidbits on nutritional guidelines and advice on when to introduce what foods. This one’s a keeper. amazon.com.

 

LookBooker: Book a Beauty Service

With all the planning that goes into preparing for a new baby—and all the energy expended when the little one arrives—wasting time making appointments for beauty services can be a drag. LookBooker, an online beauty booking service operating in New York City, changes that, allowing you to browse a database of top-notch salons, barbers and spas before booking a service online. Search by neighborhood or what you want done—everything from waxing to haircuts and color to facials to eyebrow work to manicures and pedicures—show up and let the magic happen. lookbooker.co.

 

Mama Boxes

For moms-to-be, the little things count—big time. Which makes Mama Boxes, trimester-specific care packages ($23 each) containing ten full-size products, so much fun to receive. The featured items change routinely. Newly pregnant? Expect treats like candies for morning sickness, prenatal vitamins and healthy snacks. In the second trimester? Lip balm, stretch mark cream or body scrub might come your way. Entering the home stretch? Enjoy stationery, deodorant, baby products or personal-hygiene items for the hospital. mamaboxes.com.

 

Bübi Scrunchable Bottle

A foldable, collapsible, colorful water bottle that is BPA-free, resistant to mold and useable for both hot and cold drinks? Such a think exists and it is called the Bübi ($17). Perfect for everything from outdoor workouts to travel, this little something is fun and functional. bubibottle.com.