There are certainly more options to choose from when looking for kid’s gifts, but over the years I’ve learned to steer away from 1) lower-quality plastic items that break easily (and aren’t good for us or the environment ) and 2) toys/gifts that only facilitate one activity and get old quickly.
These are a few of the gifts I’ve found in recent years that have survived the durability test and that our children have enjoyed the most:
Does someone in your life love to cook (or eat)? These gifts make spending time in the kitchen so much fun!
Gift Ideas for the Grandparents
My parents live nearby and are involved in the kids’ lives. I always struggle with what to get them that somehow says “thanks for everything you did for me all of those years and thanks for being just as awesome with my kids!”
We usually give them something handmade from the grandkids, but these are some other ideas that have been a hit. (Some of these are also ideas for this year, so Mom, if you’re reading this… don’t read past here.
Amazon Prime Gift Card – The perfect gift for when you’re not sure what to get. Photo Frame – This photo frame was a hit a few years ago with my parents. No fancy motion detectors, wi-fi, Bluetooth, or anything else that can stop working.Kindle – My brother got my mom a Kindle a couple of years ago and she uses it quite a bit.Terracotta Plant Waterer – Perhaps not the fanciest of gifts, but very practical for anyone with house plants (I just ordered some). It upcycles a glass bottle to water a plant for weeks.Wine Subscription – If your parents are wine drinkers, they’ll love this wine subscription box of organic biodynamic wines.Alitura – Anything from Alitura makes a wonderful gift and I’ve been using their products for years. The Santal Black is great for any Dad and their face mask and gold serum make you feel like you just left the spa.Glass Electric Tea Kettle – For tea drinkers, this electric glass tea kettle makes tea available almost on demand.Instant Pot – The grandparents love it for all the reasons we love it- faster and more nutritious meals!The Grandparent Book Journal – A sweet way to encourage kids and grandparents to spend time together and a beautiful keepsake of family history.Pique Tea – My Dad is a big tea drinker and I like to make sure he’s stocked up for the winter.Mixbooks – I always make a photo book for each of my kids, but I also try to make one for my parents as well.Weighted Blanket – My mom sometimes has difficulty sleeping and a weighted blanket has been shown to help improve sleep at any age.Along the same lines as above, a new sheet set can be a great practical gift! I like the sets at Olive + Crate and have been really happy with the sheets that we have from them!
Or anything on the lists above that they’ll love!
“Just in Case” or Hostess Gifts
These inexpensive gifts are great to have on hand for when someone drops by with a gift or to take to party hosts. I keep several of these wrapped to give when someone brings a gift by unexpectedly:
Electric Wine Bottle Opener – A fun way to open up a bottle of wine.Wellnesse – Give a personal touch and bundle up some natural shampoo and conditioner or even hand sanitizer from my line of products. They won’t be disappointed!Bottle of Wine – We have a subscription to these delicious biodynamic wines, so I always have an extra bottle on hand. Add a beautiful set of wine glasses and you’re all set!Bag of Organic Coffee – Who doesn’t love coffee, especially when it’s organic and delivered fresh? Pair this with a hand warmer pottery mug – I love mine!Hario Mizudashi Cold Brew Iced Coffee Pot/Maker – I’m a big fan of cold brew coffee and this is a great way to make it.Plant Therapy Essential Oils – Check out their seasonal oils and kits!Mason Jar Solar Light – Add some beautiful ambiance to any room with these solar lights.Organic Bamboo Cheese Board – This is a great gift for anyone who regularly hosts and/or for that cheese and wine lover!Pique Tea – I love carrying these teas in my purse. They dissolve in cold or hot water and are great for gut health. Sure to please almost anyone!EcoScentials Candles – Made with 100% recycled and sustainable materials, natural essential oil fragrance, and a clean-burning coconut/soy wax blend. The hand-blown glass container is beautiful and easy to repurpose in decor around the house.
Gifts for an Active Outdoor Lifestyle
One thing we all need for Christmas… less time inside and more time in nature! Here are some gifts that are sure to spur adventure:
Biostrap – For those who are active and love to track everything, the Biostrap is very useful in tracking your sleep, recovery, heart rate, HRV and also has the option to track your workouts. (Use code wellnessmama for 10% off)Gasper 4 Knife – Really high-quality multi-use knife. It’s made in the U.S.A. and also backed by a Lifetime Warranty!Beekeeping Course – This is the one I secretly want this year… This course teaches everything from buying bees to harvesting honey. The gift package also comes with a beekeeping workbook and completion certificate and gift, all by mail.Camping Tent – I’ve searched for a long time for the perfect family tent, and in my opinion, this is it. The hinged door saves many arguments over who left the door open and let all the mosquitos in. The attached screen room also gives kids a bug-free hangout (and a place to store smelly shoes!). Kids’ Hydration Pack – This lightweight pack designed for kids is so much easier than a water bottle (and it has pockets so they can carry their own “treasures”). You could also fill the pack with some fun and practical camping gear (or a coupon for a day hike or camping overnight).Flight Log Book – Know someone who’s always dreamed about flying an airplane? Slip a gift certificate for a flying lesson into their very own flight log.Scratch-Off Travel/Adventure World Map – My favorite travel map to record our family trips, simply because it’s so nice to look at. Bonus, one less wall I have to worry about decorating!LMNT – This salty electrolyte drink is a must-have for any outdoorsman, runner, hiker, Crossfitter, etc. My favorite? The citrus salt or raspberry! For an added gift, pair this with a Hydro Flask Surefire Flashlight – High quality and super bright pocket flashlight.Gardening Book – The most practical, easy to follow garden book I’ve ever seen. Simple enough for beginners with plenty for experienced gardeners too. Add some easy to grow cut flower seeds. For the active person in your life, the Myobuddy offers self-massages that helps with recovery and deep relaxation.
Funny Gifts for Dirty Santa and Funny Gift Exchanges
These are some of my favorite funny gift ideas for Dirty Santa or white elephant gift exchanges. Sure to get lots of laughs!
Toilet Light – For those nighttime bathroom trips.Nap Sack Prank Box – Take a nap anywhere with this hood.Prank Pack Crib Dribbler – A fun prank for someone with a baby.iDrive Prank Pack – This is just hilarious!“You Parked Like An Idiot ” Cards – I know a few people who would actually use these!
Bathroom humor – Nothing says potty humor more than a roll of toilet paper and these are definitely worth gifting for a laugh. This Bathroom Guest Book (don’t forget the pen!) is also sure to make the bathroom visit more fun.
The Obsessive Chef Cutting Board – For the OCD chef.Animal Paw Socks – These socks were a hit last year! Which animal would you choose?Pooping Pooch Calendar – Yep, it’s exactly what you picture… perfect (or awful?!) for the dog lover in your family!Banana Slicer – If you’re going to eat bananas, why not slice it correctly?Cards Against Humanity – These are incredibly irreverent, but will have you on the floor laughing for hours.Maybe Swearing Will Help Coloring Book and Markers – For the potty mouth (or clean mouth?) in your life
Family Gifts
If you’re like us and often choose family gifts that the whole family can enjoy (or enjoy better health because of), you might love these options. This list also includes outdoor activity gifts that we use and love.
Sauna – This is one gift that will have long-lasting health benefits. It isn’t an inexpensive gift, but one that family can enjoy all year. If space is limited, using a sauna blanket is a great alternative!Joovv Light – Like the sauna, this gift also brings health boosting benefits. Red light therapy is well-studied for its skin and mitochondria benefits and this is one of my favorite parts of my daily routine.Rapid Release – Like a chiropractor and a massage therapist built into one. This device is designed to release muscle tension and it works! I love this thing.Wholetones 2Sleep Music – Uses soothing music with targeted sound frequencies to induce health benefits like stress reduction and better sleep… and yes, it works even for kids!Organic and Natural Mattresses – This was my gift to myself one year and I love my mattress. We have one from My Green Mattress , but also saved up for the Organix Bed from IntelliBed .
Natural Cookware – I got some of this cookware for Christmas years ago and have been using it since then!Matching Organic Jammies – Switching to organic PJs is one way to reduce chemical exposure from clothing by half. These organic jammies are our favorites.Backyard Bags (also called Cornhole) – This is always a fun game for the backyard. Whether you have guests over or it’s just the two of you, this has been a family favorite in our house.Trampoline – Not just for kids when you consider the lymphatic benefits of jumping!Swing – Our kids love this backyard swing and they can all fit on it.Slackline – Like a balance beam and trampoline in one. It encourages balance and coordination and is hours of fun.Ninjaline – Like monkey bars but tougher. A lot of people use these for Ninja Warrior training, but my kids just think it’s fun!
Natural Beauty, Health and Home Gifts
I love making my own DIY Christmas gifts, but there isn’t always time! Thankfully there are so many great companies now making safe and natural personal care products (for example this excellent company … ahem!).
Wellnesse – This is my personal care brand and we have toothpaste, shampoo/conditioner, and hand sanitizer. It makes a perfect stocking stuffer….. or snag some for yourself!Lotion Bars – If you’d like lotion bars similar to my recipes, but don’t want to make them yourself, check out Made On. This small, family-owned company makes all kinds of lotion bars, soaps, natural baby products, and hair products that are up to my standards. If you use the code WELLNESSMAMA, you’ll get a 15% discount on your order!Alitura Skincare – Alitura uses organic botanicals and superfood ingredients to nourish the skin. This is serious skincare with the works: clay masks, intensive moisturizers, derma rollers, and more. Use the code WELLNESSMAMA for 20% off!Toups Organics – Heather of Mommypotamus introduced me to this line and they have an incredible line of clean cosmetics, lotions, and even a baking-soda-free deodorant for sensitive types.Crunchy Betty Facial Serum & Natural Deodorant : Mentioned before, but I can’t say enough about them.Branch Basics Cleaners – I know I’d be happy to find some all-natural cleaning products (I don’t have to make) under the Christmas tree.Vibrant Blue Oils – Wildcrafted and organic essential oil blends made to support specific health conditions. I love their Parasympathetic Oil blend!Magnesium Oil – Spray on for relaxation, detox support, and even deodorant! I also love this magnesium lotion (two birds with one stone!).Beekeeper’s Naturals – My absolute favorite bee products! Their Propolis Spray comes in handy when I have a scratchy throat or when I’m traveling and need an extra immune boost. But I also love their new cough syrup and B.Powered products.Kid-Safe Essential Oil Roll-Ons – For sleep, headaches, cold relief, and more, without having to worry about negative side effects. Plant Therapy also has an amazing Kids Safe line with blends for runny noses, ear pain and some holiday scents as well!SolOrganics Bedsheets – My favorite organic sheet set (and I’ve tested a lot of them!) to pamper a special someone in your life. We gave this to the grandparents one year and it was a huge hit! If you’re looking for a comfortable pillow to add, I love my Wakewell pillow .
Gifts for the Book Lover
If you’ve listened to my Wellness Mama Podcast interviews, one of my favorite questions to ask our guests is if they have a book that they would recommend. I’m an avid reader and I’ve enjoyed receiving new book recommendations from guests that inspire me. Below are my favorites – some inspirational, some fiction, and some educational.
Chef Junior – An amazing cookbook written by kids, for kids! And yes, I may have some Mom bias, but this is a great gift for kids who either want to learn how to cook or just want some fun and easy recipes to create.The Four Agreements – One of the most popular recommendations and one that I highly recommend for everyone to read.The Obstacle is the Way – Ryan Holiday’s books never disappoint and he takes some of the most important aspects of wisdom and success and how to apply them in our lives.Food: What the Heck Should I Eat? – Bestselling author Dr. Mark Hyman understands how confusing it can be to know what we should eat. He shares all the science and nutritional insights to set the record straight.Nom Nom Paleo : Food for Humans by Michelle Tam. This is not your average cookbook! It’s hugely entertaining with lots of narration by comic characters, and best of all, my kids have loved every recipe.Against All Grain by Danielle Walker . Over 150 delicious recipes, including a kid-friendly section and even healthy desserts! Full review here. 30-Day Guide to Paleo Cooking by Hayley Mason. A basic guide perfect for beginners about Paleo eating, plus a month-long meal plan and shopping list.The 4-Hour Chef by Timothy Ferriss. An unconventional but fun cookbook that teaches readers how to maximize their efforts in the kitchen.The Holistic Rx: Your Guide to Healing Chronic Inflammation and Disease by Madiha Saeed, MD – Dr. Madiha is a trusted source at Wellness Mama. Her book offers those with chronic health conditions easy-to-follow, evidence-based approaches to healing by targeting inflammation and its underlying root causes.Rising Strong: How the Ability to Reset Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead by Brene Brown. I like how Brene walks us through something that we all need to know how to do – being brave, falling, and getting back up.The Lion Tracker’s Guide to Life by Boyd Varty – This would be a great book idea for any guy on your list!The Nightingale – A fictional historical book taking place during World War II that will grab you from the beginning.For easy, entertaining reads, our team recommends The Last Thing He Told Me or Local Woman Missing: A Novel .
There’s probably a lot more that could be added to this list, but these are my current favorites. Many of these items go on sale Black Friday week, and I will list the best of those sales in this post . I hope this list inspires you and helps reduce your holiday stress .
What is on your Christmas and holiday gift list this year? What are you getting for friends and family?
