"Practical luxury" may seem like an oxymoron, but the goose-down pillow proves the point: It's worth its weight in gold, and again in sleep. She probably wouldn't buy herself one, but you can. Down comes in a range of densities (soft, medium, or firm) and can include up to 25 percent feathers, though differences in manufacturers' standards make precise comparisons tricky. Do check the thread count: Two hundred per inch is the minimum to ensure the down stays where it belongs — inside the casing. If your choice is a down-feather blend, you'll want a count of at least 230; the last thing you need is for Mom to wake up with a quill in her eyelashes.

For those with no time to test pillows in person, the Company Store's Best Medium Density Pillow, $69, www.thecompanystore.com and its basic Down Slumber Pillow, two for $60, www.thecompanystore.com are easy winners. For allergic mothers, there is the Hypodown 600 pillow, $125 from Ogallala Down Company; www.ogallaladown.com.