The category of “mom” encompasses a tremendous amount of variety. There’s moms like me, who are coming out of that first year haze of diapers and no sleep, and are slowly reclaiming their hobbies and free time. There’s moms who are balancing teenagers and threenagers simultaneously (and those mothers are stronger than I will ever be). And there’s moms who might have an empty next, but you’re still calling to ask how long you really cook chicken for. This guide has something for hopefully all of them, spanning tools that make motherhood a little easier, to thinks she can enjoy when the kids are finally in bed.

Looking for more true tools of motherhood to gift your favorite mom? We’ve got guides on everything from breast pumps and strollers to the best baby gear for that first year.

Updated November 2023: We’ve added

Adrienne So and other members of the Gear team have contributed to this guide in the past.

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