Mums are often there for the most important times in our lives. But sometimes, when it comes to buying for those special mums, it can be hard to know what the best gift is to get her. It doesn't always have to be an oversized or extremely expensive gift to be sentimental or something they'll enjoy. Small gifts for mum can make a huge impact if you're looking in the right place. From stocking fillers to birthday gifts, or even just a little something to say thanks, small presents can put a big smile on their face.
Whether you're buying for a mother-in-law, mother of your children or your mum, here are our favourite small - but thoughtful - gifts to buy for her.
What should I buy for a mum?
There are loads of gift options out there for women and mums. Firstly, you'll want to think about something they'll really enjoy and can use in their everyday lives. The worst gifts are those that will not be used, or will just be stored away in the back of a cupboard. Need some tips? Here's our best advice when gift-giving for mums.
Hobbies and activities are a great tip
If she's constantly cooking or gardening, that can be a good indication of what to invest in for a gift. Do your research on the things she likes the most. There are lots of gifts out there for creative skills like painting or writing, as well as things like wellness and self-care that she'll really be able to get use out of. Just make sure she'll actually be able to use these things.
Think about what she'll use
Is she an avid beauty fan? Does she like collecting perfume? Does she non-stop drink a certain brand of tea? These can also be hints at what she'll love in a smaller gift. It doesn't have to be anything hugely extravagant if you know she's going to use it every day.
Don't go overboard
The beauty of buying small gifts is that they can be even more thoughtful than larger gifts. You don't have to go all-out crazy if you know it's something she's going to love. Don't overdo it and buy tonnes of things she won't use or doesn't need.
The best small gifts for mum
Best small flower gift for mum
www.serenataflowers.com
You can never go wrong with flowers for Mum. We love this Bali Hai bunch from Serenata Flowers - under £30 for a bright and beautiful bunch of exotic orchids. If that's not something your mum would like, they have loads of options that can be delivered right to their door.
Best small necklace gift for mum
www.notonthehighstreet.com
This necklace is thoughtful and comes in sterling 925 silver, so she'll be able to keep it forever. Linked with two infinity circles, show her how much she means to you. Sweet and simple but something she'll love.
Best mug git for mum
www.notonthehighstreet.com
We all know how hard our favourite mums work and there's nothing like a good cuppa to relax with. Treat her to this sweet and hilarious mug, with 'just another manic mum-day' text on.
Best skin care small gift for mum
Every Mum deserves a good skincare collection to keep them feeling pampered. No7 is a great go-to brand and this discovery set has everything including day cream, night cream, face polish, cleaner and serum that they can top up their collection with.
Best book gift for mum
Pinch of Nom is loved by many home cooks, and we love this comfort food recipe book. Jam-packed with loads of delish recipes, this is a great one for any foodie mums out there.
If your mum constantly loses her lip balm at the bottom of her bag, the Carmex keyring set is the perfect present for her. She can attach the hoop to her keys or the side of her bag, keeping it in easy reach, or she can wear it as a wristband when she's on the go.
Reviewed by Arabella Horspool, our Commercial Content Writer: "As far as keyrings go, the Carmex Limited Edition Keyring Set is definitely the most practical and makes a great gift for anyone. Once the strawberry tube runs out you can simply swap it with any other flavour you like by attaching it to the lid (which is metal, meaning it's less likely to break)."
Best small gin set for mums
www.johnlewis.com
Got a mum who loves a tipple or two? The Lakes Distillery mini set is perfect for a small tasting gift set. They'll be able to taste a variety of gins including an elderflower liqueur, pink grapefruit and classic gins too.
Best candle gift for mums
www.boots.com
Candles are a perfect small gift if they love homeware and wellness. Champneys Spa always has great gift sets and this smaller option includes their iconic spa scents. Light up their day with this candle collection.
Best for self-care
Inside the box you'll find 52 cards with rituals and tasks to carry out to hopefully encourage and create a positive mindset. There's also a stand to display them on.
Reviewed by Arabella Horspool, our Commercial Content Writer: "Most of the tasks are simple to do. Each card is nicely decorated and I like that there's one for each week of the year. It would make a lovely gift for someone."
Best socks small gift for mums
www.johnlewis.com
Cashmere is seriously indulgent and these John Lewis socks are pretty in pink whilst also being super soft. Make her toes cosy with these lovely socks, also available in a bunch of other colours.
Best small plant gift for mum
Bonsai trees are a great small but useful gift. With this kit, they can make their own bonsai trees grow from their own home. All you need to do is sow the seeds and wait for them to blossom. If you want to make this gift even better, you can buy some special plant pots to put the bonsai trees in.
Best bracelet gift for mums
Dazzle her with this stunning Philip Jones bracelet she can wear everywhere. Made from Austrian crystals and silver-plated, she'll never have to take it off. We love that it has 'Mum' on, to make it extra special.
Best makeup bag gift for mums
www.asos.com
The Flat Lay Co. has perfect small gift options for any beauty or makeup fans. These bags close up compact but open up big and efficiently, making them a perfect option for someone who has lots of products but wants easy access. They come in lots of colours and fabrics so find the right one to suit who you're buying for.
Best gemstone bracelet for mums
www.notonthehighstreet.com
If she prefers gems on her jewellery, this Bloom Boutique personalised bracelet may be a great choice. You can choose the gems you want on the bracelet, and make up your family's birthstone. Something to add to her collection with real sentimental value.
Best practical gift for mums
uk.burga.com
Perfect for accident-prone mums, these tough, quality phone cases are not only practical, but they look amazing as well. With so many designs to choose from across most Apple and Android models, you can truly personalise it to their taste (and maybe pick one out for yourself at the same time!)
Best Pandora charm for mum
Pandora is a great popular option for sisters, girlfriends and mums alike. This charm is made for those mums out there, engraved with 'Love you Mum' on a heart-shaped charm with infinity symbols wrapped around it. She can add it to her Pandora bracelet or necklace and carry it around everywhere she goes.
Best for a chocolate selection
www.waitrose.com
This little box is filled with 13 delicious types of Tony's Chocolonely. Its small size makes it easy to wrap and the box is fully recyclable too. We love the colourful wrapping!
Reviewed by Arabella Horspool, our Commercial Content Writer: "The Tony's Chocolonely Tiny Tony's Christmas Box is perfect for those who can never decide which flavour chocolate to go for. With all of those flavours, you're in for a treat!"
Best crochet gift set for mum
www.very.co.uk
Creative gifts can come in handy for those smaller gifts, so if your mum likes to get her hands on crochet and knitting, you should grab her this DIY set. She can crochet her own cactus and keep it in her home when she's finished.
Best chocolate gift for mums
www.cadburygiftsdirect.co.uk
Who doesn't love a bit of chocolate? Cadbury's Dairy Milk does a whole range of bars made with mum in mind. Grab this 'Love You Mum' bar or even personalised chocolate for her. She won't be sharing this one.
Best beauty box for new mums
www.glossybox.co.uk
Beauty boxes always come in handy as gifts if you're unsure what to get. This one in particular is great for mamas to be. In this Tommy's partnership box with GLOSSYBOX, they'll find five full-sized products from Mama Mio and Mini Mio, worth over £80. Perfect for reminding them to take time for themselves.
Best jewellery box gift for mums
www.oliverbonas.com
Oliver Bonas does loads of small trinkets and jewellery gifts that you can buy. We love this peach-pink jewellery box she can store all her favourite rings, necklaces and earrings in.
Best inspirational gift for mums
www.notonthehighstreet.com
If they do with a daily reminder of how fab they are, this colourful, high-quality deck of positive affirmations will help to shift their mindset to a more positive one.
Best face roller gift for mums
www.oliverbonas.com
Face rollers have become huge in the wellness areas over the past year. If you want to get her something small that she can use every day for her skincare routine, this rose quartz face roller is luxurious and really cute.
Best bathtime set for mums
www.asos.com
LUSH have this bestselling trio set that your mum can enjoy on her self-care shelf. The 'discovery kit' includes a shower gel, bath bar, and bath bomb in the much-loved Snow Fairy scent.
Best night set for mums
Whether she's a new mum or just likes to relax in the evening, we all know mums deserve a good night's sleep. This relaxing night set is full of natural lavender and chamomile oils to send her to sleep and even includes a lush sleep mask.
Best garden small gift for mum
There's nothing better than topping up your garden with fresh new fairy lights or garden accessories. If your mum has green fingers, this light-up outdoor wind chime is a perfect gift that will make her smile,
Best wellness journal gift for mums
www.papier.com
Papier is known for their high-quality stationery and journals so if you're looking for a simple gift they can really get stuck into then grab them this wellness journal. Filled with space for daily check-ins, noting thoughts, feelings and habits, as well as a 12-week overview, this self-care journal has it all.
Best slippers for mum
www.bouxavenue.com
Sometimes there's nothing better than a pair of fluffy slippers. Boux Avenue do loads of slippers you can cosy up in, and we love this option that look like UGG slippers with pearls and without the hefty price-tag. Perfect for gift-giving.
Best tea gift set for mums
www.fortnumandmason.com
Fortnum & Mason is a great place for extra special gifts. This tea bag selection is made with those tea-lovers in mind, with their classic choices including traditional English Breakfast, Royal Blend, Earl Grey and more. Let her put up her feet and make a warm brew for her with this selection box.