We’ve Tested Over 400 Products This Year — These Are the Ones We’d Give to the Neurodivergent Loved Ones in Our Lives

There’s nothing worse than feeling hot while trying to fall asleep. This cooling mattress-topper from Silk & Snow is comfy, but it also helps regulate your temperature while you snooze. The price tag may feel like a splurge, but writer Grace Gallagher put things in perspective: “It’s a good price, especially when compared with buying a new mattress.” That’s a fair point, and it drives home the fact that this could be a fantastic gift for your loved one.

Slip shorts are a great invention. They can be worn under sheer skirts or short dresses to provide extra coverage. They can protect against uncomfortable skin chafing. You can even throw on a big shirt and sleep in them. But some common issues with slip shorts are them riding up or being made from material that leaves you sweaty and irritated. These cooling slip shorts from Thigh Society nix all the cons of slip shorts and leave you only with the pros — comfortable, breathable, “lounge-able” coverage.

Tori Martinet, RD, who tested these shorts for us, appreciated that they’re fitted but don’t ride up. “They also have extended sizing up to 6XL, and they make several types that are non-cooling and other varieties that might work for someone who runs cold or wants to exercise in them,” she said. We love all these options and are confident you can find the perfect fit for your person.

“These sheets are so incredible,” gushed our editorial director and tester Simone Scully. “They’re very soft and have kind of a slippery, silk-adjacent feeling. And they’re actually very cooling. I used to wake up sweaty — but not anymore with these sheets. I feel like they make me actually relax.”

As for the comforter, it’s sold separately but worth the added cost. Scully said that it’s “made with the same cooling material as the sheets, so that it kind of feels more like a top sheet, only with some extra weight. If you sleep hot, this is the comforter for you.”

Loud noises can be especially activating for the neurodivergent nervous system. These noise-cancelling headphones are sweat-proof, have removable and washable silicone ear cushions, are made of premium leather, and have an extra-long battery life of 50 hours. We also like that they’re wireless.

Writer Brittany Vargas, who tested these for us, celebrated their versatility. “[They] can be used while working out, but I’ll also be using [them] on flights, while working, or whenever I want immersive sound or don’t want to deal with earbuds,” she said. That solidified our decision to name these headphones the best gift for your loved one who wants some peace and quiet.

Some folks prefer to feel the ground under their feet, rather than having the entire sensation absorbed by the sole of the shoe. They also likely want something that keeps their feet cool, avoiding the dreaded sweaty shoe. The Primus Trail Flow shoe from Vivobarefoot could be a good fit, no pun intended. They’re lightweight, have a mesh upper to keep feet cool, and a responsive sole, so you can feel the ground. Plus, they’re great for traversing outdoor terrain while hiking.

“I love the concept,” Vargas said. “Barefoot shoes have no insoles, so you get a more-natural experience, like you are barefoot,” she continued. She also felt like she got a chance to sense and adapt to the ground, which was a real winning feature, she said.

This electric, heated blanket will be a warmly welcomed gift if your friend’s temperature-regulation issues run cold rather than hot. Writer and tester Marisa Olsen said it heats up quickly, and she appreciated the six different heat settings and four timer settings. We love the dozen color options, five size options, and how the blanket has a default shut-off after three hours. The polyester blanket has flannel on one side and sherpa fabric on the other. Best of all is the price; at under $40, it represents a great value.

Got a kid who prefers their foods don’t touch? The OmieBox Bento Box has compartments to keep foods separate. “I love that the Bento Box comes with a handle, a thermos food jar, and multiple compartments,” said Scully. “Pasta stays warm in the thermos and his food stays well separated.” We love that the rubber edging comes off for easy cleaning and that the lunchbox is top-rack dishwasher safe. “I love that there are a couple of customization options,” said editor Ashley Ziegler. “Plus, it's so cute!” It’s also leakproof, eliminating the need to constantly scrub lunchbox spills out of your kid’s backpack.

Some fidget toys can call attention to themselves, with bright colors and audible sounds. These memory gel stress balls are quiet and discreet, which makes them perfect for use during class or meetings. They’re well-designed, too. “I love how the outside of these isn’t as sticky as other squishes and doesn’t collect hair and lint,” shared Everyday Health editor Olivia Campbell. “I really appreciated the denser firmness of the minis, and the squishiness of the originals.”

A weighted blanket is known to be a big source of sensory comfort. But there’s something that’s even cozier to many: Let us introduce you to Turbobo, a weighted sensory stuffed-animal made with plush material. It weighs five pounds, and it comes with a hot/cold gel pack for its ear and some essential oil samples. It also comes with a cute picture book called Meet Turbobo.

Scully gifted this dog to her son. “He found the weight of it soothing, especially at night, because he said it felt like someone was sleeping with him and keeping him safe,” she said.

A common misconception is that every neurodivergent person does not enjoy scented products. “There is no monolith of preferences within the neurodivergent community as a whole, nor within more specific neuro-types,” Boscaljon says. She emphasizes the importance of honoring each individual’s uniqueness. The Vitruvi Stone Diffuser is a great gift for someone who wants to enjoy aromatherapy but at their own pace.

The great thing about diffusers is that you can control the scent level by simply adding more or less essential oil to the diffuser. Pro tip: See if you can sneakily find out any essential-oil scents that your loved one likes, and add them to your cart.

For many, kinetic sand is a meditative, satisfying, and creative sensory experience. The texture of the sand offers a nice tactile experience, since it can be squeezed and molded quite easily. The feeling of it can be soothing, but the experience of creating new shapes with it can also feel pensive.

This kinetic-sand kit from Grounded Labs is a beautiful and easy-to-use place to start. It features a rainbow light that gives the tray a colorful hue. It comes with a small ball that creates different patterns out of the sand. We like how versatile this is, ensuring there’s a special sensory experience for anyone who uses it.

A good fidget toy can be an excellent tool that’s both soothing and captivating for various neurodivergent folks. Editor Ashley Ziegler spoke to this: “I have one daughter with autism and another with ADHD, and the way they both gravitated to this thing is truly wild.”

She noticed that her daughter with ADHD will play with it while watching television or reading. Meanwhile, her daughter with autism will zone out and relax with it for long periods of time. “I figured it was a toss-up whether or not they’d like it, but I’m honestly blown away with their responses,” she said.

Some folks deal with a nervous system so sensitive that caffeine isn’t an option. This tea set from Traditional Medicinals focuses on soothing teas that encourage drinkers to slow down and lean into self-care. You can expect calming ingredients like lemon balm, chamomile, and lavender. If you want to really complete this gift, throw in a sweet kettle.

Our tester, writer Mary Sauer, enjoyed the flavors of these relaxing teas: “The teas were lovely. I think a tea drinker or someone who needs a little extra self-care would appreciate this.”

A card deck that encourages supportive emotional habits can be perfect for someone who best digests information in bite-sized pieces. Writer and therapist Riley Blanton said that this deck is equal parts practical and impactful: “It provides tangible examples in which a boundary might be helpful, helping you walk through the boundary-setting conversation without pressure.” She also said that the deck is of great quality, with the cards feeling strong and sturdy.

Folks who are stuck going to the office may be frustrated by the noise that comes with the office environment. Watercooler conversations, printers humming, the faint sounds from a conference call — it can all be maddening for a neurodivergent person.

These earplugs offer tons of options. There are four different sizes, offering a customizable fit. There’s an option to filter out background noise even more, giving the true sensation of putting the world on mute. It also removes the dreaded “blocked-ear sensation” when talking, making it much easier to have a quick side conversation without having to remove the earplugs altogether.

Many folks with ADHD struggle with food waste, because they forget about the fresh ingredients they bought or have trouble creating and sticking to a weekly meal plan. And people with sensory issues may have certain food textures or scents that they need to avoid. A meal-kit service can help address these needs by allowing you to choose the meals you want, and by sending you all the ingredients you need in just the right amounts for the meal at hand. Plus, there are tons of ready meal options.

After testing Blue Apron, Martinet said, “I really think the meal kits are stellar, the flavors are good, and the recipes are clear and well written.” Blue Apron recently moved away from a subscription-based model, making it much more gifting-friendly.

Who doesn’t love a good snack plate? The Easy Scoop Plates from Omie are perfect for munching on an array of snacks. Some folks have an aversion to different foods touching each other, so this is a great solution. 

The plate is technically made for babies learning to feed themselves, but Ziegler decided to give it a try with her daughter with autism, who is a selective eater and doesn’t like her foods touching. Turns out, it was a hit. “She absolutely loves this plate,” Ziegler said. “I like that the divider can be lifted to use as a snack tray, or set on the plate for a meal.” She also said that it quickly became her daughter’s go-to plate.