Gadgets Mommy Bloggers Want for Mother’s Day

We’ll admit: we’ve grown a bit wary of lists that attempt to prescribe gadget gifts for mother’s, mostly because they too often rest on sexist ideas that women value cuteness over everything else and have a greater need than man for simple gadgets. So, this year, we’re doing something different: we asked three of our favorite mom bloggers to tell us what’s topping their wish lists this Mother’s Day. Spoiler alert: none of them are in the mood for pink laptops.

The moms we interviewed were:

• Kimberly Blaine (TheGoToMom)
• Beth Blecherman (TechMamas)
• Cat Schwartz  (HiTechMommy)

Kimberley Blaine (author of TheGoToMom)

Sony DSLR-A330 ($549). We reviewed the big brother to this entry-level DSLR, the A380, and particularly loved its streamlined interface, strong dynamic range, and compact design. This one, which shoots at 10.2-megapixel resolution, gives users the option of shooting in Live View mode, something entry-level DSLRs don’t always offer. Best of all, the 2.7-inch LCD articulates (i.e., pops out and tilts), which makes it easier to shoot subjects– say, children and pets– from tricky angles.

D-Link DSM-210 ($259). Digital photo frames are a staple on mother’s day gift idea lists. Like other Wi-Fi frames, this 10-incher pulls photos you’ve posted on sites such as Flickr and Facebook. But it’s unique in its greenness: thanks to a motion detector, it turns on when you and your guests enter a room, and turns off when you all leave. So, while it’s relatively expensive up front, you can expect to keep your electric bills low by not having that LCD display going strong all day.

Blaine says she wants an electric wine opener. We like stainless steel as much as the next woman, but we suggest you save yourself some money, skip the $119 model sold at high-end retailer Williams Sonoma, and opt for the $40 model sold at Amazon instead (discounted from $100!). This one, by Waring Pro, is also made of stainless steel, and can remove a hangover-inducing 80 corks on a charge. It’s cordless, too, so you can bring it around your next dinner party with you, leaving the charging station on the kitchen counter.

More Moms:

• Kimberly Blaine (TheGoToMom)
• Beth Blecherman (TechMamas)
• Cat Schwartz  (HiTechMommy)