The Gift Mums Actually Want This Mother’s Day? An Extra Hour In Bed (Which Could Be A Challenge In 2025!)

Forget flowers and chocolates—what Mum really wants for Mother’s Day is a lie-in.

A poll by Bensons for Beds found that 62% of mums would rather have an extra hour in bed, compared to just 38% who said they want flowers and chocolates.

The bad news? That elusive lie-in might be harder to come by this year, because Mother’s Day (Sunday 30th March 2025) falls on the same day as Daylight Savings Time — stealing a whole hour of precious sleep.

And as if parents weren’t sleep-deprived enough! Bensons for Beds’ survey found over 1 in 5 parents are woken up by others at least three times a week, whether by their kids, pets, or significant other. It’s mums who are getting the short end of the stick — twice as many women as men reported being woken up by others six times a week or more.

It’s no secret that sleep takes a hit when you become a parent — 69% said they lost at least three hours of sleep per night in their child’s first year. And while dads certainly feel the impact (62%), it’s mums who suffer the most — 77% said they lost at least three hours of sleep per night.

What about the occasional lie-in — does it actually help? Dr Sophie Bostock, Resident Sleep Expert at Bensons for Beds, said: “Waking up at the same time every day helps our internal circadian rhythms, or body clocks, to stay in sync. Consistent wake up times have been linked to better quality sleep, more energy and lower rates of heart disease. However, if a weekend lie-in is the only way to get enough hours of sleep, experts agree that it’s better to take advantage of the opportunity for catch up sleep than to keep building up a sleep debt.”

So how do we make the golden lie-in happen this Mother’s Day, especially with the clock change working against it?

Bank extra sleep if you can:

On average in the UK we lose more than an hour’s sleep on the weekend of the Spring clock change. Research shows that we cope better with sleep loss and recover more quickly if we’re well-rested in the first place. Sleep banking refers to deliberately getting extra sleep in the nights leading up to a sleep challenge. In an ideal world, we’d spend an extra hour or two in bed during the week, but for most parents, this is wishful thinking.

Adjust bedtimes gradually:

You could lessen the impact of the clock change by shifting your sleep-wake pattern a few nights in advance. This strategy could be particularly helpful for teenagers, and anyone else who follows the sleep-wake pattern of a ‘night owl’. Night owls have a delayed internal clock which means they naturally want to go to sleep after midnight, and struggle to wake up before 9am. It can be particularly difficult for people with this chronotype to adjust to waking up an hour earlier in the mornings.

To ease the transition, shift your bedtime 20-30 minutes earlier for a few nights before the clock change… So, for example, if you usually go to bed at 11pm, and wake up at 7am:

• Thursday, bedtime 10:40pm, wake up at 6:40am
• Friday, bedtime 10:20pm, wake up at 6:20am
• Saturday, bedtime 10:00pm…

This means you’ll be better able wake up at 6am, which becomes 7am on the Sunday after the clock change. To make it easier to feel sleepy earlier, also move the timing of your evening meal earlier, and dim the lights before bed.

Enjoy the sunset the night before:

While too much blue light exposure can disrupt your production of the sleep hormone, melatonin, the light from a sunset has the opposite effect. A 2020 study found that long wavelength orange and yellow light (typical of a sunset) can help your sleeping patterns because it “stimulates the cone photoreceptor inputs to specific neurons in the eye that regulate circadian rhythms.”

Sunset on Saturday 29 March this year is around 6.30pm.

Swap a harsh alarm for a gentler wake-up:

You might assume that a shouty klaxon or beeping tones will improve morning alertness, but a 2020 study found that these non-melodic alarms have the opposite effect and can make you feel groggier for longer. More melodic alarms, whether that’s birdsong or gentle music (researchers suggested Good Vibrations by Beach Boys or Close To Me by The Cure), can “help us transition into a waking state” more effectively.

 Breakfast and cuddles in bed:

A Mumsnet poll found over half (53%) of mums make their Mother’s Day breakfast themselves, despite hoping their partner (64%) or kids (23%) will take responsibility for it. Breakfast in bed means mums can stay relaxed (though awake) while the responsibility of making it is shouldered by other family members. Following this up with cuddles releases oxytocin, a ‘happy hormone’, which can help you feel calm, relaxed, and better able to cope with stress.⁹

If you want to go the extra mile, a few thoughtful gifts may help Mum get even better sleep. Here’s how:

1. Turn her bedroom into a sleep sanctuary: Make sure Mum feels well-rested with comfy bedroom buys like a mattress topper, protector, or new plump pillows. Emma Beck, Buying and Merchandise Manager, at Bensons for Beds, explains: “Neck pain, stiff necks and even persistent headaches could simply be the result of not having the right pillow support while you sleep, while mattress toppers offer increased support and comfort.”
2. A massage or spa voucher: What better way to treat Mum this Mother’s Day than with a massage voucher? There’s a growing body of evidence showing that massage can improve sleep. 

1. Lavender-scented products: Paired with good sleep hygiene, lavender scents can improve sleep quality. 

1. Breathable pyjamas: Nightwear made from natural fibres like bamboo, cotton, or linen allow your skin to breathe and help regulate your body temperature while you sleep. 

1. A silk pillowcase: Silk is hypoallergenic and can help to reduce skin irritation. That’s not only because the fabric’s fibres are very smooth and prevent it catching on hair and skin, but also because it repels dust.

If you’re looking for the perfect Mother’s Day gift, an extra hour of sleep might be just the thing she’s been hoping for. And if that’s not possible, at least make her breakfast in bed – and let her drink her tea while it’s still hot.

Find out more on the Bensons for Beds website.