Sleep gift ideas

Sleep gifts work because they get used every single night, which is more than can be said for most novelty presents.

The trick is to buy for the reason they are not sleeping - daylight, noise, a baby, a plane - rather than buying a generic wellness box.

For a shift worker

• An eye mask, because their sleep happens in daylight and blinds never fully work.
• Proper earplugs, ideally two pairs so one is always findable.
• A cheap timer plug for a lamp, so the room dims at their bedtime, not the sun's.

For new parents

• An eye mask each, so whoever is off duty can actually sleep through the lamp.
• A night light dim enough not to wake the room.
• The offer of two hours where you take the baby out. Free, and the best present on the list.

For someone who travels

• A flat-packing eye mask that lives in the bag permanently.
• A neck pillow they will complain about and then use every trip.
• A refillable water bottle - dehydration ruins more flights than turbulence.

For a student or house-sharer

• Eye mask and earplugs together, which covers the two things halls throw at you.
• A small candle for the wind-down, if the accommodation allows them.
• A funny card telling them to go to bed, which is what everyone's mum would send.

What to skip

• Expensive sleep gadgets that need an app and a subscription.
• Heavy scents for anyone who has never mentioned liking them.
• Anything that implies they are doing sleep wrong on purpose.

Shop bedtime eye masks

How to write it so it lands

• Buy for the cause of the bad sleep, not the word 'wellness'.
• Two cheap useful things beat one expensive gadget.

Where to shop next

• How to sleep better
• Self care gift ideas
• Pamper hamper ideas
• Gifts for someone who never sleeps
• Shop bedtime eye masks
• Bedtime eye masks guide
• All guides
• Planning the party? Birthday party ideas
• How to make a balloon arch
• Photo booth prop ideas

Frequently asked questions

How much should I spend on a sleep gift?

Ten to twenty pounds covers a mask, earplugs and a card, which is plenty for a colleague or Secret Santa. Twenty-five to forty builds a full wind-down set for someone closer.

Is a sleep gift a bit personal?

Not if you keep it practical. An eye mask is kit, not commentary. Skip anything that reads as advice about their habits.