We Found the 55 Best Holiday Gifts for People With Insomnia to Help Them Rest Easy

For a friend or loved one who struggles with overheating at night, a cooling comforter can be just the thing to help them get more restful sleep. This comforter is made with a unique material that stays cool to the touch to help prevent overheating and reduce night sweats. Editorial director Simone Scully highly recommends it “for anyone who has trouble staying comfortable and temperature regulated at night.”

The comforter is available in Twin/Twin XL, Full/Queen, and King/Cal King and four colors: white, navy blue, beige, and gray.

Is there any better gift than a luxurious, snuggly blanket? “There’s a lot to love about this blanket. For one, it’s very thick, and as a result, has kind of a weighted blanket feel because it envelops you,” says Scully. She explains that it’s also one of the softest blankets she’s ever felt, and it feels, moves, and shines like real fur. “It also comes with a bag that you can store it in during the off-season to keep it clean,” she adds.

I conducted an informal poll with some friends, who agreed that a nice blanket is the best cozy and relaxing gift. Better yet? “Light, breathable fabrics like cotton to help regulate your body temperature and keep you cool while sleeping,” says Dr. Holliday-Bell. “I love the texture and high quality of it,” says writer Morgan Bailee Boggess McCoy, MSW, CSW, who tested the Saatva Waffle Knit Blanket for us. “The waffle knit texture is comfortable and breathable, which makes it perfect for sleeping. The color also goes well with any color scheme.”

Keep your friends cozy in faux fur for under $75 with this thick, extra-plush reversible blanket from EverGrace. According to editor Ashley Zeigler, it’s perfect for gifting. “It’s something that most adults would enjoy because it’s a luxury a lot of us wouldn’t get for ourselves,” she says. It’s available in 12 colors and has a textured look that would elevate the aesthetics of nearly any living room or bedroom. It comes in three sizes — 50 by 60 inches (a cozy throw size), 60 by 80 inches, or 80 by 90 inches — so your friend can make any chair, loveseat, sofa, or bed into a cozy nest. Even better? It’s machine washable.

Sheets can make or break your sleep experience, especially if you tend to overheat or sweat during sleep. These SHEEX Performance Sheets are designed to stay cool and breathable throughout the night, and they can be a thoughtful gift for a partner who could use more comfortable rest. “If they want something lightweight, this is a good option,” says Zeigler, who tested the sheets.

The sheets are available in eight colors for all standard mattress sizes.

Know someone who sleeps hot to the point that it interferes with the quality of their rest? A nice, cooling pillow could be the perfect gift. This one from Helix is made with GlacioTex fabric, a unique, proprietary material that remains cool to the touch. According to Marschall, it’s also a “very comfortable pillow with good support.”

The pillow is available in standard or king size, and you can also choose between high loft (for side sleepers) or low loft (for stomach and back sleepers). Loft refers to the height of the pillow.

If you know someone who’s having issues with their current mattress but can’t afford to replace it, a mattress topper can be a thoughtful gift, if you know their firmness and cooling preferences. This two-inch mattress topper is affordable for what it is, especially considering that it’s made from organic materials. Writer Grace Gallagher says that it would be a thoughtful gift, “especially for a friend who is having hip or back pain at night, because it adds support.”

It comes in Medium or Firm and in a wide variety of mattress sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, and California King, with a removable and washable organic cotton cover and a 100-night trial.

If you know someone in dire need of sleep, this mattress from SweetNight might be the solution. It’s a hybrid mattress, so it has coils to provide the structure and support, and high-density memory foam for pressure relief. “It’s surprisingly comfy,” says Olivia Campbell, our writer who tested this mattress. “And it seems firmer when you’re lying still.” It comes in three thicknesses (10, 12, or 14 inches) and three sizes (Full, Queen, King), fits all bed frames, and comes with a 100-night risk-free trial.

Truuce Bedding is designed to stay in place — literally. The duvet zips to the flat sheet, which then zips to the fitted sheet, so you never have to worry about your feet getting uncovered during the night or a duvet that gets kicked to the floor. “I love how soft the sheets and duvet are,” says editor Katie Tuttle. “The sheets in particular are extremely soft and comfortable, and the linen duvet is a lovely muted color with a nice, tight weave.” While the sheets only come in white, the duvet covers and shams are available in six colors. Each system includes a flat sheet, fitted sheet, two pillowcases, a duvet cover, and two pillow shams, and comes in Twin, Queen, or King.

A smart ring can help your loved one track their sleep, steps, stress levels, and several other data points — and the QALO QRNT is one of the most affordable smart rings around. “This ring holds you accountable for many things,” says Swanson. “For me, it’s been huge with exercise and making sure I’m getting good sleep.” The original ring is available in Matte Silver, but you can order silicon covers to change up the appearance. There’s also a QALO QRNT Slim Smart Ring that’s available in Brushed Gold or Brushed Silver.

The Hatch Restore 3 is an alarm clock with a number of built-in features that can make it easier to fall asleep and wake up in the morning too. It functions as a sound machine, lamp, and sunrise alarm. The sunrise alarm uses light to mimic sunrise and wake you up in a more gentle, calming way than a standard alarm. “I love the sunrise aspect of waking up,” says Swanson. “It took a few days, but it did and does work.”

The Hatch Restore 3 is available in four neutral colorways: Cocoa, Greige, New Putty, and Slate. However, to use all of the features via the Hatch app it requires a monthly fee — something important to note if you’re gifting the device.

However, be aware that this device is expensive and the results aren’t guaranteed. It’s best if budget isn’t a consideration and the person you’re gifting it to is already considering something similar. “I tried it on my boyfriend,” says writer Maria Lalonde, “and he said he felt kind of calmed but wasn’t sure if it might be a placebo effect.”

The HeatPod 2 is a sauna blanket that combines heat and infrared light, making it a useful tool for exercise recovery and relaxation. At nearly $600, it’s definitely a splurge item, but it would be a great gift for a loved one who is dedicated to self-care and who loves using the latest wellness gadgets. “It’s a very thoughtful gift for someone who is always cold or sore,” says Lalonde.

The blanket is easily portable and comes with a travel bag. To use it, you zip the blanket up around yourself like a sleeping bag, and then power it on using the attached remote. For an extra fee, you can add a sauna towel that provides an extra layer between your skin and the sauna blanket itself, making it more comfortable to use.

Wondering what to get your friend who loves candles and diffusers and scents — but already has enough to open their own store? Check out the Aera Diffuser, a smart diffuser that comes with a variety of scent blends, including one called Pillow Plans, which smells like sage and lavender to create a calming sleep environment. “I think that this could be a great product for a friend, especially since there are scents for different needs,” says Scully. If the large Aera is out of your price range for gifting, consider its Mini Diffuser.

The Lunette is a guided breathing device that combines light, vibration, and aromatherapy to guide you through brief mindful breathing routines to help you relax or prepare for sleep. It’s a small, round device that you lay on your chest for a seven-minute session as you time your breathing to the vibrations and blue lights. A spritz of scent is released throughout the session.

The starter kit includes the Lunette device, a 30-day supply of scent capsules, a charging cable, a travel pouch, and a quick-start guide. If you’re not sure your giftee will like it, there’s a risk-free 30-night trial to test it out. I tried this device and really enjoyed the aromatherapy component, although the scents were a little strong for me (so it may not be ideal for someone who is sensitive to smells). 

Do you know someone who struggles to sleep without a little bit of white noise? This portable sound machine from YogaSleep is programmed with six relaxing sounds, including white noise, nature sounds, and calming melodies. It’s a small, round device that comes with a clip so you can hang it near a bed or attach it to something. “It’s marketed as a baby product, but could be great for adults who have trouble sleeping,” says Gallagher, who tested this sound machine. There’s also an adjustable night-light, sleep timer, and backlit buttons so it’s easy to navigate, even in a dark room.

You’ll be all ears for this gift. Sleeping in a dark room and minimizing blue light and background noise can help you or a loved one get better quality sleep. This eye mask blocks light and has built-in Bluetooth headphones to easily pair with any of your devices, so that you can listen to soothing music or meditations. “This sleep mask is breathable and comfortable, and the Bluetooth speakers are so thin that I can still comfortably sleep on my side,” says Tuttle.

Have a friend who likes to read in bed? The blue light from screens and harsh overhead lights can affect your circadian rhythm, or your body’s natural sleep-wake cycle, says Holliday-Bell. But the Loftie Lamp may help with that. This smart lamp has sunset options to help you wind down at night and wake you up slowly, as well as a reading light setting, says Scully. “This really did help me start calming down at night because I had a visual cue to start wrapping up work,” she adds. Plus, there’s a bedtime reminder, night light mode, adjustable brightness, and custom colors and gradients. There’s also a free app that you can use to set alarms and program different light settings.

“Om” is where the heart is. For people with sleep problems and anxiety, meditation can be very helpful, says Courtney Scott, MD, an addiction medicine specialist and the medical director of Momentous Recovery Group in Los Angeles. The Calm app provides guided meditations, sleep stories, nighttime stretches, and evidence-based sleep tips. Calm also allows you to gift annual or lifetime access to your loved ones virtually, making it an excellent long-lasting gift. “I used Calm for three weeks to see if its multiple means of meditation could help me reduce my stress levels as a busy working mom with five little kids. I was surprised at how much it helped me — and my kids,” says Alexandra Frost, who tested the Calm app for us.

Many teas that are made for sleep or relaxation contain chamomile, lavender, or other strong-tasting herbal ingredients like valerian. For people who don’t like any of these flavors, it can be difficult to find a relaxing tea blend for bedtime. “This chamomile tea is different,” says Scully. “It has chamomile with apple and spices, which makes it fruitier and, to me, makes it taste better.” She adds that it’s caffeine-free, making it great for evenings, and that she’d gift this tea to any of her friends who have trouble falling asleep.

This tea is available loose or bagged, and Palais des Thes offers several other specialty tea blends as well — some of which are available in gift-ready tins. (Note: L’Herboriste No. 46 isn’t currently available in a tin.)

This gift can help you “steam” line your bedtime routine. Tea can be a cozy part of the nightly ritual, which both Dr. Scott and Holliday-Bell recommend for better sleep. Your loved one with insomnia will surely appreciate this beautiful and functional kettle. It’s probably available in their favorite color too, since Caraway currently offers it in nine colorways. “This would make a good holiday gift because it’s exactly the sort of thing a person would admire but hesitate to get for themselves,” says Tuttle, who tested this kettle.

We’re spilling the tea: Drinking herbal tea at night can be part of an evening routine that primes your body and mind for a good night’s sleep, says Holliday-Bell. This curated gift box includes six cartons of herbal teas made with a variety of organic herbal ingredients, including Asian ginseng root, lemon verbena, and valerian root. “I think the fact that it is beautifully packaged is a big draw,” says Mary Sauer, our writer who tested this tea set. “It would be great for a boss, a teacher, or a wellness-focused friend.” Pair it with a jar of local honey for a thoughtful, restful gift.

Chirp Wheels are circular devices that can help you or a loved one work out tension in the back shoulders and neck. For someone who struggles to sleep because of pain or tension in these areas, a Chirp Wheel set could be an ideal gift. “These devices are smaller than a foam roller, so it’s a lot easier to store them and travel with them,” says Brittany Vargas, who tested them for us. “They work well at getting knots and kinks out of the body.” Each set comes with three Chirp Wheels: a 4-inch neck wheel, a 6-inch deep tissue wheel, and a 10-inch back wheel.

Magnesium is an important mineral that may help you sleep better, thanks to its relaxing effects. Natural Vitality Calm is a popular magnesium drink mix that can double as a soothing nightcap at the end of a long day. “This magnesium powder is tasty and gives me the magnesium I need without upsetting my stomach,” says Jen Sinclair, who tested this supplement for us. “I usually mix it in a warm mug of water and drink it like warm tea about an hour before I want to go to bed. It helps me fall asleep.”

For a coworker, boss, or friend who needs a relaxing pick-me-up, this gift set from Whispering Willow is an excellent choice. “If you like lavender — or its calming, relaxing benefits — this is the gift box I’d send,” says Scully. “Everything in it has been curated to help you relax and fall asleep. You can also include a message that Whispering Willow will handwrite for you, which is a nice touch. Everything comes in a pretty, giftable package.”

The gift set contains an eye pillow, body oil, linen spray, and hand salve, all lavender scented. The products are also made with natural and organic ingredients.

Shower steamers are similar to bath bombs but are designed to be used in the shower instead. While they won’t offer the same skin softening and muscle relief, they can be a great tool for unwinding with aromatherapy. “These are really great scents,” says Scully. “I particularly liked the lavender mint because it was great for your end-of-the-day shower to help calm your nerves and get you ready for bed. The scent wasn’t super aggressive, but definitely noticeable.”

The packaging also makes these shower steamers perfectly giftable. Scully recommends them as an ideal stocking stuffer or a “little add-on gift for a loved one.”

I tested this moisturizer, and I love that it includes magnesium and that it’s free of artificial fragrances. The lotion is thick, extremely moisturizing, and naturally fragranced with chamomile, clary sage, and ylang-ylang essential oils.

This trio of nighttime masks comes in a giftable cosmetic bag and is perfect for your skin care–loving friends. The Korean skin care–inspired masks are designed to be applied last in your nightly skin-care routine, and they can be used two to three times per week. “This set contains two of my favorite, go-to products,” says Scully. “The bouncy and firm sleep mask always leaves my skin looking refreshed and like I got a great night sleep, while the water sleep mask is great if your skin is feeling a little dry. I can’t wait to try the third mask.”

Give yourself or someone else the gift of blissful relaxation. Taking a hot bath before bed can help relax tired muscles and send anyone off into a peaceful slumber. “I always think bath gifts are nice because they aren’t the first thing someone would buy for themselves,” says Heyl, who tested this kit. The Sweet Dreams scent contains lavender and chamomile, so the included bubble bath, body oil, and bath salts will smell like bedtime bliss.

Cooling pajamas can be a thoughtful gift for a friend or loved one who struggles with sleep. These pajamas in particular are a good fit for people who struggle with overheating at night. “They actually do cool you down,” says Scully, who tested the pajamas. “The fabric is so soft and slippery and silk-like that you feel like you’re just wearing a breath of coolness. They’re loose and the fabric does actually whisk away your sweat if you get warm, so that you feel really, really good. I like that the pants have slits on the side too, to let in a breeze, and how breezy the fit is as a whole.”

The pajama set features a pair of pants and a sleeveless top in Midnight Blue or Champagne Gold. It’s available in sizes small through XXL.

Aromatherapy with essential oils like lavender may be an easy way to help you relax and unwind before bed. This diffuser not only looks nice on your countertop or bedside table — it also can provide up to eight hours of runtime. “It isn’t something I would typically buy for myself,” says Heyl, but she explains that it would be a very nice gift to receive. Consider pairing it with some relaxing essential oils, like lavender or doTERRA’s Serenity blend.

This journal features guided prompts, plenty of blank space for notes, and beautiful artwork and calming quotes throughout. “It would be a cute stocking stuffer,” says Heyl, who tested this journal. “It’s a simple, small, and kind gift.”

If you can’t sleep, there’s no reason to spend the night with cold feet too. These 100 percent wool slippers provide the warmth of fuzzy socks with the added benefit of a leather sole to help prevent slips and falls when padding around the house late at night. “I love that these are made from natural materials,” says Nicole Bonaccorso, who tested these slippers. They’re available in 12 colors, including Charcoal, Denim, Cranberry, White, Sand, and Forest. If you’re looking for an indoor-outdoor slipper, you can upgrade to sturdier rubber soles for another $35.

The Renpho Eye Massager is a multifunctional eye massage device that offers gentle massage and heat for your eyes. It can be helpful for undereye bags, headaches, and more. “This has slowly become one of my favorite self-care tools,” says Scully. “I use it whenever I’m stressed, when I have a headache or migraine, or when I have a cold or sinus infection. I also sometimes just use it when I can’t sleep.” It uses air compression to gently massage your eyes, forehead, and temples, and it features two intensity settings and two heat settings so that you can customize your experience.

Know someone who spends way too much time hunched over their smartphone or computer? They may need a “tech neck” remedy, like this neck wrap.“It can be used for both hot and cold therapy, so it’s good for soothing muscle aches and tension,” says Katie Mannion, who tested this neck wrap. “I also love that it has straps, which makes stretching my neck easier.” The neck wrap is filled with lentils (yup, the ones you eat), and you can pop it in the microwave for heat therapy or in the freezer for cold therapy. The fabric is a breathable, cotton-linen blend, and it’s available in different colors and patterns.