19 useful and cozy gifts for grandparents this holiday season
Grandparents can be notoriously hard to shop for — we compiled some gift ideas they’ll appreciate.
Criterion Channel Subscription
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To compile the best gifts for grandparents, we rounded up some of our favorite products from past coverage, along with top-rated and bestselling gift ideas across various categories including wellness, kitchen, tech and more.
Gift your grandparents an easier sleep with this fleece-filled comforter that allows bedmates to adjust their respective sides. When unlaced, concealed middle ties split the comforter into two equal halves, according to the brand — perfect for cover hogs or hot and fussy sleepers (and the people alongside them). The comforter comes in queen and king sizes, along with a sheet set that includes one wider than typical sizing for extra wiggle room.
If your grandparents are anything like me, the perfect gift for them is cozy and convenient, like this silicone couch tray. The cup holder sits atop a table tray and the entire piece is anti-spill, anti-slip and weighted to ensure it stays fixed with minimal movement, according to the brand. Plus, it guarantees easy access to snacks, drinks and tech while binge-watching their favorite show — the perfect recipe for a relaxing day on the couch.
The Kindle Paperwhite is a Select favorite, and a sleek gift for grandparents who are also bookworms. With one charge, the lightweight e-reader can last for up to 10 weeks, and hold thousands of books with either 8 or 16 GB of storage, according to Kindle. It also includes accessibility features like text-to-speech, adjustable font sizing, color changes and access to Audible audiobook streaming.
If your grandparent wants to get better sleep, look no further than one of our favorite weighted blankets. This Select Wellness Award winner comes in both 10- and 15-pound versions and is made from 100% polyester jersey knit for a soft feel. Select associate updates editor Zoe Malin loves this blanket, saying that the open knit weaving makes it so breathable that “you don’t have to worry about overheating.” This style forward gift, available in cream and gray shades, can also double as decor in your grandparents’ home.
This Select Bed & Bath Award winner, made from 100% organic cotton, can be a soft and luxurious addition to your grandparents’ daily routine. Select updates editor Mili Godio enjoys the robe’s lightweight feel, while Select editorial projects manager Rebecca Rodriguez loves the cozy and absorbent material, and how easy it is to care for, since it’s also machine-washable. The robe is available in three neutral hues — Rose, Olive and Mist — and in sizes ranging from small to large.
We love Hoka at Select, and the Clifton 9 sneaker — a Select Wellness Awards recipient — is one of the best walking shoes on the market. The lightweight cushioning provides comfort while the rocker shape of the sneaker helps to push and propel your steps forward, making for a less strenuous walking experience, according to Hoka. Zoe Malin made these her go-to walking shoes because of the high-level support.
Aches and pains are inevitable for all of us, and even more so as we get older. This percussive massage gun is our choice for best overall handheld massage gun, and a great way to help your grandparents loosen up any sore and stiff muscles. It has three speeds that can go up to 3,200 percussions per minute, along with five attachments for different types of massage. The massage gun also has a rechargeable battery that can last up to three hours, and is both easy to use and relatively quiet, according to experts.
This uniquely-shaped pillow is one of the best travel pillows for long trips — perfect for keeping your grandparents comfortable on their way to visit you. It comes with a hidden inner support that’s fully adjustable, and can hold your head and neck in any position that’s most comfortable for them. The pillow’s fleece exterior is filled with mesh fabric and is also machine-washable, with a 4-star average rating from over 32,545 ratings on Amazon.
Cadence’s magnetic containers are handy organizers for medications, toiletries and more. This set includes three Flex Medium and three Flex Small Capsules, all of which come with tile-shaped magnetic labels. The set is also leakproof, dishwasher-safe, BPA-free and TSA-compliant — plus, it’s available in eight colors, including Charcoal, Lavender and Eucalyptus.
The AeroGarden Sprout is one of the best indoor gardening systems for your grandparent with a green thumb. Holding up to three plants with automated 10W LED glow lights, this kit is well-suited for a range of skill levels — it has a one-button control, an indicator for when water needs to be refilled, and automatic reminders for adding plant food, according to the brand. It can fit easily onto small counterspaces, and also includes a seed pod kit for growing gourmet herbs like Genovese basil, curly parsley and more.
Robot vacuums can alleviate some physical strain from your grandparents’ cleaning routine, and iRobot’s Roomba i3 EVO is one of the best. This relatively affordable vacuum is top-rated and packed with smart features like intelligent mapping and navigation. On its initial startup, the machine will automatically map your space and you can then set restricted zones, create a cleaning schedule and more using the iRobot Home app.
This mini Bluetooth speaker comes equipped with Amazon Alexa, so your grandparents can use the voice-activated assistant to easily play music, set timers, receive weather updates and more. The Echo Pop can also help ease them into other smart devices by doubling as a control hub for lights, plugs and thermostats.
This digital picture frame is made to connect loved ones with a simple touch — after uploading photos to the frame via the companion app, just tap the wooden frame and any paired device will change its color, according to the brand. Once paired, these frames are a fun and thoughtful way to let your family know that you’re thinking of them. You can even assign a different color light to each person you’re connected with — the app has over 200 shades to choose from.
If your grandparents can’t start their days without coffee, they’ll love this curated sampler subscription from Bean Box. Each month, they’ll receive four new, expertly-selected, freshly-roasted coffee samples that can include blends, single origins and more, according to Bean Box. Each box can also be customized to include either whole bean or freshly-ground coffee. The subscriptions are available in one, three, six and 12-month increments, and (aside from the 1-month plan) include free shipping within the U.S.
Ancestry’s top-rated DNA kit tests against genetic markers from over 2,300 global regions and provides ethnicity estimates with specific geographical regions, historical insights into events that may have affected your ancestors, and DNA matches with new relatives who have also used the service, according to Ancestry. Once purchased, activate the kit online and send your saliva sample in a pre-paid package to the lab, which returns the results in six to eight weeks. The kit has a 4.7-star rating from over 81,460 reviews on Amazon, and you can enhance your experience with an additional subscription service.
This adorable beaded bracelet is handcrafted with plated brass hardware, and purple and clear-white crystals twined around an elastic stretch bracelet, for comfortable and adjustable wear. Its ID tag can be used to connect to Nice Nation’s online community, and comes with a lifetime warranty against damage. There are also multiple bracelets that permit custom text.
If your family is anywhere near as book-obsessed as mine is, your grandparents will love this Book of the Month subscription. Each month, the service offers a curated shortlist of 5-7 new hardcovers and audiobooks for subscribers to choose from, according to the brand. If your giftee doesn’t love the monthly options, it’s no problem — subscribers are also given the option to skip a month, or add up to two extra books to their box each month. The subscription is available in 3, 6 and 12-book memberships, and can also be enhanced by using the companion app to engage with community polls, reading challenges and more, according to the brand.
Calling all movie lovers — the Criterion Channel is renowned for its specially curated collection of films, making this a great gift for your cinephile grandparent who enjoys re-watching the movies they grew up with and discovering underappreciated gems. This subscription is available for $10.99/month or $99.99/year, and grants access to over 1000 films, both classic and modern, along with special features including a monthly film school, guest-curated collections and thematic spotlights, according to Criterion. Subscribers can also access exclusive premieres and original interviews, which offer a fun and engaging add-on to their next movie night.
Treat your grandparents to the gift of a new hobby, skill or interest with a subscription to MasterClass, an online service that offers over 180 virtual classes across 11 categories including food, writing, business and wellness. Whether it’s learning to cook from Wolfgang Puck, or how to create films from James Cameron, each class includes on-demand videos, online student communities, and a workbook with optional assignments, plus the subscription can be activated up to a year after purchasing. MasterClass also offers Individual, Duo, and Family subscription options, so you can choose the plan that fits best for your grandparents (or even the whole family).
Ashley Morris is an associate reporter at NBC Select and a journalist who regularly covers beauty, home and lifestyle. For this guide, she compiled products included in previous coverage and researched best selling products from top-rated online retailers.
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