Care Package Ideas: What To Put In One And Why

Care package ideas

A good care package is not a hamper. It is four or five things that solve a real problem for someone who has no energy to solve it themselves.

Below: what to include by situation, what to leave out, and the practical bits of posting one in the UK.

Start with the card

Blank inside, designed in house, posted first class.

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The basic formula

  • One thing to eat that needs no cooking.
  • One thing that smells good - a candle, soap, hand cream.
  • One thing to do - a puzzle book, a quiz, something to read.
  • One thing that makes them laugh.
  • One handwritten card. Never skip this bit.
  • Keep it to five items. More becomes a chore to unpack.

For someone who is ill

  • Lip balm and hand cream - hospital air and medication dry everything out.
  • Squash or cordial, because water gets boring fast.
  • Easy snacks that survive a bedside table.
  • A puzzle book or quiz for low-concentration afternoons.
  • Comfortable socks. Unglamorous and always used.
  • A card they can prop up where they can see it.

For grief

  • Freezable food, portioned for one.
  • Proper tea or coffee for the endless visitors.
  • A candle for the quiet evenings.
  • A notebook, because grief admin is relentless.
  • A sympathy card with the person's name in it.
  • Nothing that requires them to write thank you notes.

For students and new parents

  • Students: instant food, stationery, stamps, a card from home.
  • Students: something for their wall that is not a poster from the union.
  • New parents: one-handed snacks. Everything is one-handed now.
  • New parents: something for them, not the baby. Nobody else does this.
  • New parents: a meal that reheats in ten minutes.
  • Both: a card saying you are thinking of them specifically.

What to leave out

  • Anything that needs cooking from scratch.
  • Strong scents for someone having treatment.
  • Alcohol, unless you are certain.
  • Anything requiring assembly.
  • Long books when concentration is low.
  • Anything so nice it creates an obligation.

Posting it in the UK

  • Royal Mail small parcel rules are generous - 45 x 35 x 16cm, up to 2kg.
  • Nothing liquid unless it is sealed and bagged.
  • Write the card first and put it on top.
  • Send tracked for anything you would be upset to lose.
  • Warn them it is coming if they are away or in hospital.

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How to write it so it lands

  • Always include a handwritten card. It is the item people keep.
  • Solve a problem rather than filling a box - unused nice things become clutter.

Where to shop next

Frequently asked questions

What should be in a care package?

Something to eat, something that smells good, something to do, something funny and a handwritten card. Five items is plenty.

How much should you spend on a care package?

Twenty to thirty pounds covers a thoughtful one. Spending more can make the recipient feel they owe you something, which defeats the point.

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