Gift Ideas for Mother-in-Law (MIL) and Father-in-Law (FIL)
My mother-in-law, like my own mother, is easy to shop for because they are both became artists after they retired and are quite talented and even selling their work and/or getting commissions! Gifting around a hobby is always an easy option but … what if your in laws don’t have hobbies that lend themselves to gifts?
Last year, I rounded up all the gifts I typically send my mother-in-law and mother. I ALWAYS give them same gift! Do you do that too? Seems safer somehow and it’s easy when they like the same things. Capability:Mom has a popular post from last year on gifts for father-in-laws. She updates her post here.
Practical and Helpful Gifts to Solve Problems
Zip-It, $22
A gadget to open sealed plastic packages. It would be helpful on Christmas day as well especially for toys!
FreeKey, $8.50
I hate adding keys or plastic fobs to my key chain because it’s so difficult to open up the key ring. FreeKey solves that problem for up to 5 keys.
KeyLite, $5
Another gizmo for the key chain is this nifty LED light that sticks on to your key to help you open your door when it’s dark.
Humio, $90
We need humidifiers for the dry winter air in New England even though we have radiators in our house. One issue is where to put the unsightly humidifier that stays out all winter (5 months or more!). I like the Humio for its space-efficient design and good looks. That it is also a night light is an added bonus!
Instant Digital Camera with a built-in printer, $160
It’s pricey but perfect for moms or mother-in-laws who are technology-challenged or just need a quick Polaroid for a project.
Stocking Stuffers for Moms and Mother-in-Laws
My mom would love these pocket mirrors, $12, for her purse from Felix Doolittle. It would be a great stocking stuffer for her if she were at my house for the holidays!
American Apparel has lovely lightweight circle scarves in a variety of colors, for $28.
Touch Screen Gloves, $19
Skin Care Sampler Kits
Celebrity facialist Ole Hendrikson’s Seven Skincare Sensations is a great way to try his line. 7 of his best-selling products for $50 (a $115 value!).
Clarins The It Kit is also nice! $50 (a $104 value).
Vintage Teacup Soy Candles
My blog friend Dagmar Bleasdale has lovely soy candles in vintage tea cups. Each one is unique and special!
This lovely trio is $36.
The vintage rose teacup, $20, would be perfect for my mom. Her name is Rose!
Book and A Movie
If you want to do a book and movie combination, try The September Issue, a documentary about Vogue’s biggest issue ever with Anna Wintour, the lunatic in The Devil Wears Prada. The takeaway from this movie for me was her genius fashion editor, Grace Coddington, a flame-haired ex-model who is the kind soul at Vogue as well as a creative styling genius.
Click on image to view more closely at associated stores.
The 12 Days of Shopping
Saturday, December 1: Make Your Own Gifts with granola two ways. Hers and Mine.
Sunday, December 2: Kids Make Gifts Craft, Clove Fruit and Crafts.
Monday, December 3: Personalized Gifts, Hers and Mine.
Tuesday, December 4: Father-in-Law/Dad and Mother-in-Law/Mom
Wednesday, December 5: Tutors/Teachers
Thursday, December 6: High Tech/Low Tech
Friday, December 7: Hostess/Doing Good
Saturday, December 8: Sanitation Engineers, Mail Carriers, Hairdresser, Delivery People, Babysitter, Cleaning People, Dog Walker/Dog Trainer
Sunday, December 9: Husband, Me (Our Own List), CapabilityMom’s List
Monday, December 10: Cats/Dogs
Tuesday, December 11: Quick Gifts from Whole Foods and Gourmet Food Store
Wednesday, December 12: ’Cause I Am So Together, Last Minute Home Made Gifts, Homemade Ornament Crafts for Kids and Capability:Mom’s Homemade Gift
Follow PragmaticMom’s board DIY Instead of Buy: Kids on Pinterest.
Follow PragmaticMom’s board DIY Instead of Buy on Pinterest.
My books:
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Food for the Future: Sustainable Farms Around the World
- Junior Library Guild Gold selection
- Massachusetts Book Award Long List
- Selected as one of 100 Outstanding Picture Books of 2023 by dPICTUS and featured at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair
- Starred review from School Library Journal
- Chicago Library’s Best of the Best
- 2023 INDIES Book of the Year Awards Finalist
- Green Earth Book Award Long List
- Imagination Soup’s 35 Best Nonfiction Books of 2023 for Kids
Amazon / Barefoot Books / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Amazon / Scholastic / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Excellent post, I’m actually spending christmas at my girlfriend’s place and I think I’ll go with some of these suggestions. That was helpful
A clueless guy 🙂
Hi Gael,
I’m glad the gift ideas are helping you out this busy holiday season! Let me know what you ended up getting and how it worked out! Thanks!
Love your gift ideas! The humidifier is a total find love the book and movie combo pack – great pics!
Hi Nancy,
Thanks so much! Love yours too! Father-in-Law is a tough gift category!
I like that humidifier! My husband likes to have one running for his instruments
I think it would also be fun to have that camera, so would me daughter!
Hi Ann,
Does your husband play guitar? My son needs to keep his tiny guitar humidified during the winter but I think he’s bad about remembering. We do run a humidifier in his room but not as sleek or stylist as this one. Ours is a big box and is an eye sore.
I think that scarf is great, but when I went to the site it was $28, not $22. Did you have a promo code to get it at $22?
Hi Twisterfish,
I’m so sorry. No, I didn’t have a promo code. I just checked and I think I made a typo! It’s $28 as you said. Sorry about that!
The camera with a built in printer. That is a great gift!
Hi Brian M,
I liked that there is a replacement for those old polaroid cameras … similar concept. My mom who is nearly 90 might find it handy. It caught my eye because I thought of her.
Where was this post last week, when I was combing through Amazon reviews looking for a decent humidifier?
Hi MaryAnne,
Oh no! Too late? Darn it! What else you need? I have the 12 days of shopping posts in the can, so I can tell you other products if you tell me what you need. I found lots of great stuff on The Daily Grommet.
I loved the sweet purse mirrors! Just ordered one for my mom!
Hi Dee,
Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU! My daughter is interning at Felix Doolittle and it’s a tough business to compete against very large online stationary company that also do personalized gifts. I love Felix’s watercolor artwork and the products are such high quality. One of my daughter’s jobs is to pack up the orders very carefully. They believe in exquisite packaging. She’s loving learning about commercial art and also now has acquired present wrapping as a skill that I will put to good use this Christmas! Thanks again for supporting Felix Doolittle!! I’ll see if my daughter can’t be the one to pack your order and ship it to you!