What Moms *Really* Want for Mother’s Day? Survey Says…

What Do Moms Want for Mother’s Day: A Survey

Mother’s Day is right around the corner, and instead of getting your mom/wife/partner another bouquet or brunch, this year, you can give her what she REALLY wants. That’s because we went and asked her!

Happiest Baby surveyed over 240 moms on what they really desire for Mother’s Day (and what they feel just “meh” about, too). The results may surprise you:

Sleep for the Win!

The #1 one thing moms want for M’s Day is sleep. A whopping 52% of survey moms told us “yes please, more sleep!”

Of course, this doesn’t come as a great surprise. We recently polled over 1,000 new moms, and 90% said they feel tired or exhausted on most days. That’s a lot of yawning mamas! (And, exhaustion leads to less energy to do meet your family’s needs, more car accidents…and even a harder time maintaining a healthy weight.)

Next to sleep (and not so far afield), moms just want to relax or have fun. Having a spa day came in second (44%) in our survey and a great day out with family (43%) scored third place.

A Window into the Mind of Mom

In addition to selecting from a list of Mother’s Day activities in our survey, participants described their ideal day…and said they would let us email their dream day to the person planning their festivities. Over 50% took us up on it! (Which tells us...they really want you to know!) Here’s a sampling of what these moms said they want:

Sleeping in, having the house to myself for a good chunk of the day and then having a fun low-key evening with family.

For my baby to sleep through all naps, on schedule...and for my hubby to take over 1 day. That's all I'm asking for!

Sleep in. Get coffee in bed. Ride bikes to the park and picnic. BBQ at home for dinner. Not do any dishes—not one.

While we didn’t present this specific choice, “having dads step it up” was a very popular write-in. So, guys…take initiative on Sunday!

Diamonds Are NOT a Mom’s Best Friend...

Well, at least not on Mother’s Day. Jewelry ranked the lowest of all the gift ideas—only 6% of moms said it’s what they want, and 47% told us they feel “meh” about it.

Other stuff that makes mom shrug? An M’s Day shopping spree or romantic dinner come up next on our meh-o-meter. And the old favorite, breakfast in bed, really seems to be just that...an OLD favorite (29% of surveyed moms report feeling lukewarm about it).

Gifts for Sleep-Deprived Moms

It’s hard to put a bow around more sleep...but it’s worth a try! Here are some gift ideas for sleep-deprived moms...

• Lavender Eye Pillow: Research indicates that lavender helps us feel relaxed and could help boost sleep. A lavender eye pillow can be used at night to help Mama lull off to dreamland—or she can heat it up and use it to soothe clogged ducts.
  
• SNOO Bassinet: SNOO might be the ultimate gift for new moms. Not only has our responsive baby bed added 1 to 2+ hours of sleep a night for thousands of families, it’s also like an extra set of hands, ready to help Mom by expertly soothing Baby. Plus, because our unique swaddle clips into SNOO to keep babies on their backs during sleep, it’s also like giving Mom peace of mind!
  
• SNOObear: SNOObear harnesses the sleep-boosting white noise sounds of SNOO in the shape of a cuddly teddy bear. It’s great for babies that have transitioned out of SNOO, toddlers...or for tired parents. 
  
• Shower Steamers: Few new moms have time to linger in the tub with a bath bomb and a book. It’s an unfortunate truth that once you become a parent, showers stop feeling like a utility and start feeling like the ultimate luxury. So lean in to that feeling and make Mom’s shower a place where she can truly unwind (even if she’s just rinsing off for five minutes). These shower steamers use organic essential oils so momma’s can get the spa experience right at home. 
  
• Luxe Lounge Wear: Even if R&R is hard to come by, when she does get some time to chill, should do it in style—and as comfortably as possible! 
  
• Coffee Machine: When you are short on ZZZs a cuppa Joe can go a long way to make you feel human. Go ahead and splurge on the gift that might just help her shake her zombie state, whether it’s a fancy espresso machine or a no-frills French press.
  
• Baby Swaddle: Sure, this sounds like a gift for Baby...but Mom benefits, too. Swaddling is one of the best ways to soothe, and help calm fussy babies. And when Baby sleeps, everyone sleeps! (We’re partial to our 5-second Sleepea swaddle, which makes swaddling a snap!)
  

What to Get Your Expecting Partner for Mother’s Day

Looking for a gift for your expecting partner or an expecting mom? Check out these list of Mother’s Day gifts for expecting moms. 

• Cozy Body Pillow: Help Mom find the elusive comfortable sleeping position with a snuggle-worthy pillow.
  
• Lounge Set: Whether pregnant or postpartum, an extra-cozy lounge set is a spot-on gift, helping mom-to-be embrace pregnancy and new-parenthood with comfort and style.
  
• Comfy Robe: Bring the spa to Mama with a fluffy, hotel-caliber robe. Bonus: Robes are wonderful for lounging postpartum because they make breastfeeding a breeze!
  
• SNOO Bassinet: The Tesla of baby beds is truly the ultimate gift for a pregnant person. This bed uses modern technology with research from Dr. Harvey Karp to gently soothe babies...boosting sleep for the whole family!
  
• Belly Butter:  A belly balm helps improve skin elasticity for the growing bump, and reduces stretch marks. Plus, it’s a nice part of Mom’s self-care routine. 
  
• The Happiest Baby on the Block: The book every new mom needs. Dr. Harvey Karp’s bestselling book has been helping expecting moms learn the ins-and-outs of baby sleep for 20 years! 
  
• Supportive (but Stylish!) Shoes: Whether you opt for cozy house slippers, or a pair of cool slides, the mom-to-be will appreciate having a pair of kicks that aren’t just fun to wear...they’re comfortable, to boot. 
  
• Foot Massager: Pregnancy is rough on the mom-to-be’s pups. While, as a partner, it’s your duty (yes, duty!) to deliver foot rubs on demand, you can occasionally outsource the job to a foot massager. 
  
• Compression socks: Not the sexiest gift (so make sure you pair this one with flowers and chocolates), but one that can make standing infinitely more comfortable. 
  

Final Thoughts: Mother’s Day Gifts

Go ahead, make Mom’s day! You can shell out a couple of C-notes on a spa day—but chances are she’ll just be catching some ZZZ’s on the massage table, anyway. Of course, that’s good, but she's made it pretty clear that she’d just love lounging in bed.

So, this Mother’s Day, think about giving that special woman what she really wants: A little downtime and…the gift of sleep!

Disclaimer: The information on our site is NOT medical advice for any specific person or condition. It is only meant as general information. If you have any medical questions and concerns about your child or yourself, please contact your health provider.