WIRED’s Tried-and-Tested Best Gifts for Sleep

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Featured in this article

• An Effective Melatonin Spray

  • Photograph: Molly Higgins

  Onnit

  Instant Melatonin Mist

  If you know someone who’s a fan of sleep aids, particularly melatonin and its propensity to help sleepers get to dreamland, Onnit’s Instant Melatonin Mist was a hit with WIRED reviewer Molly Higgins. It comes in two flavors—mint and lavender—and each serving contains about 3 milligrams. This amount of melatonin is right where medical professionals we’ve spoken with like to start when recommending it, and Molly found it very effective from night one of testing.

• For Sleep Schedule Biohackers

  We all have one person in our lives who will go on for hours about how they’re unlocking new levels of health and wellness through biohacking and other obscure methods. Sleep is ultimately the best way for your body to recover, and the Oura Ring 4 is a top-tested sleep tracker that can monitor how well you’re sleeping. WIRED reviewer Adrienne So found that this little device tracks tons of information, like sleep efficiency, REM cycles, and nap auto-detection. These factors are all mapped and contribute to a holistic read on your sleep quality.

• A Soundscape Sleep Mask

  

  Photograph: Louryn Strampe

  The Manta Sound Sleep Mask is not your average sleep mask. While it offers the removable, flexible eye cups and adjustable headband Manta is known for, the real callout is the Bluetooth-synchronized speakers. The speakers are contained within the headband and sit right over your ears, eliminating the need for earbuds or headphones. Whether you’re at home or on the go, you can sync it to your smart device or a Bluetooth-compatible white noise machine. Whether your loved one prefers being lulled to sleep by their carefully curated ASMR playlist or needs complete darkness as they fall asleep to white noise on loop, the Manta Sound Sleep Mask achieves both things at once. If you have someone who frequently travels and has to nap in between meetings, or is a night owl who likes to listen to podcasts when you’re trying to sleep, this is the ultimate gift.

• For Someone Who Needs 24/7 Noise

  Adaptive Sound Technologies

  LectroFan Micro2 Portable Sound Machine

  This is another sleep device that takes a two-in-one functional approach, making it usable both day and night. The Micro2 is a tiny sound machine that barely takes up any space in your bag or on your bedside table. Its top speaker lies flat when not in use, and swivels upward to project sound when you need it. It syncs with your smart device to play your preferred noise. While I wouldn’t use it as the go-to speaker for poolside hangouts or background noise at a party, I love it for playing music to get ready and creating an ideal sleep environment for when I travel.

• A Major PJ Upgrade

  

  Courtesy of Eberjey

  Eberjey

  Gisele Tencel Modal Slouchy PJ Set

  Gifting pajamas is an excellent idea for someone who needs the nudge to retire their ratty old high school band shirt and gym shorts in favor of something much more elegant and comfortable. WIRED reviewer Boutayna Chokrane has high praise for Eberjey’s pajamas, particularly the Gisele Tencel Modal Slouchy PJ set. Tencel is derived from temperature-regulating eucalyptus, and Boutayna says this set is exceptionally lightweight for all-season use. Looks-wise, they toe the line between pajamas and casual loungewear—so you can make the call on whether you’re wearing them to bed or to run errands.

• For the Anxiously Inclined Sleeper

  

  Courtesy of Bearaby

  Weighted blankets originated as a therapy tool. Nowadays, they’re renowned for their cozy approach to helping sleepers feel calmer. But it’s light pressure you want to be swaddled in, and not excess heat. Bearaby’s Tree Napper weight blanket comes in 10, 15, 20, or 25 pounds, but the open-knit design keeps it breathable. It also uses Tencel lyocell fiber that lends a light, cool-to-the-touch feel. For your friends and family who are often frazzled and don’t sleep well because of it, this may be a gift that keeps giving in spades for their sleep and nervous system. It also doesn’t hurt that the storage bag the Tree Napper comes in looks akin to a sack holding gifts on Santa’s sleigh.

• Cozy Sheets They May Not Splurge on Themselves

  • Courtesy of Boll & Branch

  Boll & Branch

  Cozy Flannel Sheet Set

  Every once in a while, you just want to gift something super nice to someone (or yourself!), especially if they’re going to someone who would never splurge on them for themselves. In terms of decadence, WIRED reviewer Nena Farrell deemed Boll & Branch’s cozy flannel sheets to be the most splurge-worthy flannel sheets of them all. They’re softer than soft, and keep you at the right degree of toasty-warm (not stifling) thanks to breathable organic cotton.

• For Someone Who’s Always Cold

  Photograph: Louryn Strampe

  Bedsure

  GentleSoft Heated Blanket

  A heated blanket is the ideal present for someone who’s always complaining about the room being too cold. Meanwhile, you don’t want the electric bill to run too high from cranking up the heat. Heated blankets are an excellent solution that delivers comfort and coziness. As soon as temperatures dip below 60 degrees, I dig out my Bedsure GentleSoft heated blanket. I bought this as an affordable option to have on hand, and it’s used daily at my house.

• A Weighted Stuffed Animal

  Hugz

  Weighted Stuffed Animals

  Many kids have a beloved “stuffy” that they bring to bed with them, whether it’s a teddy bear or a more contemporary Squishmallow named Diane. The Hugz Weighted Stuffed Animals are a fantastic option for gifting to kids and those young at heart. Each stuffed animal is 3.8 pounds to offer kiddos a soothing weight to cuddle up to. WIRED reviewer Louryn Strampe tested this and found it effective in a way similar to a weighted blanket, but a lot cuter. And, being more portable, it can be put in the microwave for soothing heat or in the freezer for sick nights and hot summer days.

• For Waking Up With the Sun

  Looking at your phone first thing in the morning to see the time can be harsh on the eyes, and alarm clocks can jar your eardrums. The happy medium is the Hatch Restore 3, a combination sunrise alarm clock and sound machine tested by WIRED reviewer Nena Farrell. While you will need your phone to customize your bedtime routine (and we highly recommend getting the monthly Hatch+ subscription for even more programming), the buttons around the top and sides make it manageable to use sans blue light at bedtime.