The Best Gifts for People With Insomnia in 2025

Our Favorite Relaxing Gifts for Anyone That Struggles to Get a Good Night’s Rest

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If you or someone you love has insomnia, you may already know the struggle of managing day-to-day life on top of chronic sleep deprivation.

"Insomnia is a very common sleep disorder marked by trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking up earlier than intended," says Angela Holliday-Bell, MD, a board-certified sleep specialist and practicing physician at the University of Chicago. "It can cause feelings of tiredness, delayed reaction time, confusion, and mood disruption. It can also impact memory and concentration."

One of the most important strategies to combat insomnia is to reduce chronic stress, which Holliday-Bell says is often the main cause of both short-term and chronic insomnia. That’s why she recommends a relaxing, predictable, and consistent bedtime routine. "Signaling the body to sleep at a certain time can be done with the use of a pre-sleep routine," advises Courtney Scott, MD, an addiction medicine specialist and the medical director of Momentous Recovery Group. This routine should include:

  • Relaxing rituals: Both physicians recommend activities like meditation, deep breathing exercises, reading, drinking herbal tea, journaling, or taking a warm bath (depending on your loved ones' preferences) as key components of a bedtime routine to help you wind down after a long day.
  • Limiting blue light exposure: "Melatonin (the sleep hormone) is greatly inhibited by blue light from phones, tablets, and televisions," says Scott. "At least an hour before your normal bedtime, substitute everyday screen time with activities like reading, stretching, or listening to calming music."
  • Creating a sleep-friendly environment: "Keep your bedroom cool, dark, and quiet," says Holliday-Bell, "and reserve it for sleep and intimacy only. Incorporate light, breathable fabrics like cotton to help regulate your body temperature and keep you cool while sleeping."

There are some handy products that can help you build your nighttime routine, too. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of some of our editor's favorite items that we know can help you — or someone you love — create a calming nighttime routine. And pro tip: these items make for excellent gifts for any loved one who struggles with sleep.

Get Grounded With This Comfortable Yoga Mat

Retrospec Solana Yoga Mat Half-Inch Thick With Nylon Strap

$24.99 at Amazon
You or your loved one may just be one Sun Salutation away from waking up refreshed. Being kept up at night by racing thoughts is no fun, and getting grounded with some before-bed yoga might provide some much-needed relief. Whether you already have a yoga practice or you’ve never tried it, looking up some online yoga exercises for sleep is easier than ever, and this yoga mat could be what you need to get started. It’s extra thick and comfortable, so it’s easy on the joints, and it’s made from non-slip material to keep you safe and supported during your practice. Sleep easy knowing that it’s BPA-free.

Soothing Magnesium Bath Salts to Melt Away Your Worries

Ancient Minerals Magnesium Bath Flakes

$12.30 at Amazon
$12.95Now 5% Off

Give yourself or someone else the gift of blissful relaxation. Taking a hot bath before bed can relax tired muscles and send you off into a peaceful slumber. These soothing magnesium bath salts sourced from an ancient seabed can give your bath an extra dose of anti-inflammatory goodness. Light some candles for a soothing home spa experience.

Block Out the Noise and the Light With This Sleep Mask With Headphones

MUSICOZY Sleep Headphones

$29.99 at Amazon
$39.99Now 25% Off
You’ll be all ears for this gift. Sleeping in a dark room and minimizing blue light and background noise, say from a spouse’s late-night television habit, 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 to listen to soothing music or meditations while you sleep. The headphones can play for 14 hours on a single charge so that you can listen in peace without interruptions.

A Dreamy Nightcap With Melatonin, Magnesium, and L-Theanine

Moon Juice Magnesi-Om

$39.60 at Amazon
$44Now 10% Off
Magnesium is a key mineral with hundreds of roles in the body — potentially helping you relax and improving sleep quality.

This powdered drink mix is designed to be taken before bed, and it combines magnesium with plant-based melatonin and L-theanine — both of which may also help with sleep and relaxation.

With this bedtime blend your friend with insomnia may be toasting to better sleep each night.

Read Without Waking Your Partner With This Cozy Reading Light

Hooga Book Light

$12.99 at Amazon
Feeling blue because you or someone else can’t sleep? According to Holliday-Bell, blue light from screens and harsh overhead lights can affect your circadian rhythm or your body's natural sleep-wake cycle. "Avoid electronic devices at least one hour before bedtime," she says, "as blue light disrupts melatonin production." This reading light is available in warm, blue-light-free colors like amber and red. With it, your loved one can comfortably read, journal, or doodle at night without compromising their circadian health with screens or disturbing their partner with bright lights.

A Weighted Blanket That Feels Like a Gentle Hug

Baloo Weighted Blanket

$218 at Amazon
For many people, a weighted blanket is a life-changing sleep tool that helps them sleep more comfortably and wake more rested, and there's even some evidence that weighted blankets are helpful for anxiety.

 But these blankets can be expensive, making them a great splurgeworthy gift for someone you care about. I use this blanket every night, and I love that it's 100 percent cotton and machine washable.

Mulberry Silk Blocks Light Without Irritating Your Eyes

Blissy Silk Sleep Mask

$27.87 at Amazon
The eyes have it. A sleep mask can be truly helpful for creating a dark, sleep-friendly environment if your loved one doesn't have blackout curtains or if they travel often. This sleep mask from Blissy is also made from 100 percent mulberry silk. It effectively blocks light but is also luxurious, comfortable, and nonirritating, and it won't trap heat. It's available in 70 colors and comes in a cute, giftable box with a matching silk drawstring bag.

An E-Reader With Warm Backlighting for Less Eyestrain

Amazon Kindle Paperwhite

$159.99 at Amazon
If you can’t get a good read on what to get your loved one with insomnia, look no further. This e-reader is glare-free and easy on the eyes, making reading on it more like reading a physical book than reading from a tablet. It also features adjustable warm backlighting for reading at night that won't light up the entire room. As a bonus, it comes equipped with three free months of Kindle Unlimited, which features thousands of eBooks for no extra cost.

This Clock Helps You Drift Off to White Noise and Wake Up Gently

Hatch Restore 2

$169.99 at Walmart
$199.99Now 15% Off
Sound the alarm. The Hatch Restore 2 is a perfect double-duty alarm clock for someone trying to limit screen time before bed. It serves as both a white noise machine and a sunrise alarm. For some, the constant, soft noise from a white noise machine can help with better sleep (similar to the sound of a fan spinning). The sunrise alarm uses a gentle light that mimics a sunrise, rather than harsh alarm noises, to provide a more calm and peaceful start to the day. (By the way, I've used sunrise alarms before, and they are surprisingly effective. I never slept through the alarm, and even though I was concerned, I would not have a shrill noise to rouse me.)
bombas slippers

Give the Gift of Warm Feet With These Cozy Slipper Socks

Bombas Gripper Slippers

For me, cold feet equals no sleep. If someone you care about is similar, give them these Bombas Gripper Slippers. They're a hybrid between socks and slippers, providing the cozy warmth of fuzzy socks with the added benefit of some protection against slips and falls when padding around the house late at night. These slippers are available in several colors, but we love the neutral taupe best.

A Plush but Lightweight Robe for Lounging

Luxome Resort Bathrobe

$175 at Amazon
Comfort is a luxury worth splurging on. The Luxome Resort Bathrobe is the best robe I own, and it's perfect for lounging around late at night or early in the morning. The robe is made from a plush bamboo material that's breathable and lightweight but still thick and comfortable enough to provide the snuggle factor a good robe should. It's available in Pearl (white), Lily (soft pink), and Harbor (navy blue).

This Curated Tea Collection Radiates Chill Vibes

Traditional Medicinals Relaxation and Sleep Teas

$32.14 at Amazon
$35.99Now 11% Off
I’m spilling the tea. According to Holliday-Bell, drinking herbal tea each night can be part of an evening routine that primes your body and mind to prepare for a good night's sleep. This curated gift box from Traditional Medicinals includes six stress-relieving and sleep-promoting teas, including two of my personal favorites: Cup of Calm and Chamomile and Lavender. Pair it with a jar of local honey for a thoughtful, restful gift.
Easy-to-Use-Meditation-Apps-to-Help-You-Achieve-Zen-Calm-722x406

Drift Off With Doctor-Recommended Meditations

Calm App

“Om” is where the heart is. For people with sleep problems and anxiety, Scott highly recommends meditation. "It's proven to make getting sleep much easier," he says, "and apps like Calm and Headspace can be of great use for beginners." The Calm app provides guided meditations and sleep stories to listen to each night, as well as nighttime stretches and evidence-based sleep tips. Calm also allows you to gift annual or lifetime access to your loved ones.
woman holding purple pillow

Hug the Stress Away With This Weighted Aromatherapy Pillow

Quiet Mind Lavender-Scented Weighted Pillow

Your friend may already have a weighted blanket, but do they have a weighted pillow? Didn't think so. This weighted pillow from Quiet Mind is infused with lavender essential oil, offering a calming aroma — which Holliday-Bell says can be useful for nighttime relaxation. In addition, it provides gentle, weighted pressure wherever it's positioned.  According to Quiet Mind, many people like to hug theirs while sleeping or lounging — like a stuffed animal, but for adults.

Read It and Sleep — a Primer on Sleeping Better

‘The Sleep Prescription,’ by Aric A. Prather, PhD

$13.95 at Amazon
$15Now 7% Off
This book is a practical, step-by-step guide to holistically addressing sleep issues. It has 4.6 stars on Amazon, and 4.2 stars on Goodreads and a long line of emphatically positive reader reviews about how it helped tremendously with all sleep quirks. Our recommendation? Wrap it up with the Hooga booklight for a bookish friend who could use more z's.
blanket

Stay Cool but Comfy With This Breezy Cotton Blanket

Cotton x D.S. & Durga The Cool Calm Cotton Set

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 Holliday-Bell. This 100 percent cotton blanket from DS & Durga x Cotton features a bold stripe pattern (in neutral colors that will complement any decor). In addition, the gift comes with a Wild Brooklyn Lavender Auto Fragrance to extend the relaxing vibes to your daily commute.
8 sheep organic cream

A Skin- and Sleep-Friendly Bedtime Lotion

8 Sheep Organics Sleepy Lotion

Friends and loved ones dedicated to their nightly skin-care routine will appreciate this gift. This "bedtime lotion" is formulated with magnesium, which may absorb into the skin and help ease away tension.

 It also contains natural ingredients like mango butter, coconut oil, essential oils, and beeswax for a rich and luxurious sensory experience that's free of artificial additives and fragrances. It's available in Vanilla, Lavender, or Unscented.
tea filter cup

Infuse Loose Tea and Keep It Toasty With No Mess

Plum Deluxe Perfect Tea Mug With Infuser and Lid

This gift can help you “steam” line your bedtime routine. Tea can be a cozy part of the nightly ritual that both Holliday-Bell and Scott recommend for better sleep. Your loved one with insomnia will surely appreciate this 2 cup capacity mug equipped with a tea infuser and a lid. The infuser has a wide opening and rests perfectly on the mug's rim, so it's less messy and easier to use than a tea ball for loose tea. The mug is made of durable clear glass, so while it's stylish on its own, it will also complement any aesthetic. Pair it with the Traditional Medicinals Self-Care Set or a gift card to a local tea shop for a superbly thoughtful gift.
green sleep journal

Write Your Way to Better Sleep With This Journal

Papier Colourblock Sleep Journal

Be the author of your own sleep destiny. According to Scott, journaling is a great way to relieve stress and help you wind down in the evening. This thoughtfully designed sleep journal can be part of a relaxing nightly routine with blank space for notes and reflections. But it's also a guided sleep tracker that helps your loved one document their journey to better sleep.

Stretch the Stress Away With This Helpful Stretching Aid

CastleFlexx Sport Mobility and Full-Body Strengthening Device

$199 at Amazon
Stretching is an excellent way to relieve tension and relax your body, according to Scott. Even if you're not flexible, this unique tool can help you get a better full-body stretch by giving you more leverage and extending your reach. It's also lightweight and portable, perfect for keeping active and flexible on the go. A CastleFit membership unlocks more than 100 classes using the CastleFlexx device, including dozens of lying stretches that can be performed in the bed.
deep sleep spray

This Spray Turns Your Pillow Into an Aromatherapy Device

Rowe Casa Organics Deep Sleep Pillow Spritz

This gift makes “scents.” Lavender is a deeply relaxing smell, and it's featured in several sleep products to provide aromatherapy benefits.

 "Aromatherapy has been shown to improve sleep quality," says Holliday-Bell. This Pillow Spritz features lavender along with earthy cedarwood and dreamy chamomile, also known to help support sleep and stress relief.

A spritz or two of this may be just what your loved one needs to relax when their head finally hits the pillow truly.

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SaVanna Shoemaker, MS, RDN, LD

Author

SaVanna is a registered dietitian and health writer.

As a registered dietitan, SaVanna has worked with pregnant and postpartum women, infants and children, people with chronic kidney disease, and people who are critically ill. She is particularly interested in culinary and functional nutrition for weight loss and female hormone health.

She's currently a contributor for Forbes Vetted, Sports Illustrated Showcase, Mashable, and Carb Manager, and her work has also appeared in Greatist, mindbodygreen, and Bicycling Magazine, among other outlets.

SaVanna lives with her husband and three kids in Little Rock, Arkansas. She enjoys cooking, baking, gardening, and weightlifting.

Alexandra Klausner

Author

Alexandra Klausner is a freelance health writer and editor with over 10 years of journalism experience. Prior to going freelance, she worked as a reporter and editor at the New York Post for eight years covering everything from health and wellness to features and breaking news. Before that, she covered multiple beats at the Daily Mail Online for three years.

Alexandra graduated from Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs with a bachelor's degree in theater. As a New York City native, she is also a grant-winning playwright, actor, freestyle singer, catchy-hook writer, and podcaster. She loves yoga, 5 Rhythms dance meditation, and running.

EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
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  2. Arab A et al. The Role of Magnesium in Sleep Health: A Systematic Review of Available Literature. Biological Trace Element Research. January 2023.
  3. Cruz-Sanabria F et al. Melatonin as a Chronobiotic With Sleep-Promoting Properties. Current Neuropharmacology. March 30, 2023.
  4. Hidese S et al. Effects of L-Theanine Administration on Stress-Related Symptoms and Cognitive Functions in Healthy Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Nutrients. October 3, 2019.
  5. Eron K et al. Weighted Blanket Use: A Systematic Review. American Journal of Occupational Therapy. March–April 2020.
  6. Kass L et al. Effect of transdermal magnesium cream on serum and urinary magnesium levels in humans: A pilot study. PLoS One. April 12, 2017.
  7. Luo J et al. A critical review on clinical evidence of the efficacy of lavender in sleep disorders. Phytotherapy Research. June 2022.
  8. Hieu TH et al. Therapeutic efficacy and safety of chamomile for state anxiety, generalized anxiety disorder, insomnia, and sleep quality: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials and quasi-randomized trials. Phytotherapy Research. June 2019.