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Picking out the perfect gifts for tired parents can be tricky. Gift boxes and gift sets run the risk of adding to the barrage of clutter that comes along with having kids. Experience gifts like zoo and museum passes are nice, but they can sometimes make already overwhelmed parents feel like they have yet another thing to cram into a busy schedule (and they’re not exactly gifts for the parents, anyway). And while a gift card to a couples’ favorite restaurant is certainly a thoughtful gift, they’re probably going to have a hard time using it if you’re not also offering to babysit.
The smartest move is a practical gift that will still feel special because it’s something they might not think to buy for themselves. I know this because I’ve been a tired parent for eight years, and I also happen to know a thing or two about shopping. So whether you’re looking for something in the stocking stuffer price range or you’re feeling much more spendy, here are the 24 best gifts for tired parents and caregivers to buy in 2023.
An insulated, spill-proof coffee mug
Coffee is a necessity for most tired parents, but rowdy kids and hot coffee can be a dangerous combination. This insulated mug from BrüMate won’t leak if it gets hit by a flying foam football, and it will keep coffee hot should a parent get distracted by, say, stepping on a Lego (the actual worst!).
Coffee and espresso at the push of a button
Professional-style espresso machines are nice, but getting interrupted seven times before you can even pull a shot kind of takes the fun out of having one. What parents need is quick access to good coffee and espresso. At my house, that comes from a Nespresso Vertuo—a Mother’s Day gift from my husband that I’ve used every day for years. It makes a great cup of coffee as well as espresso-style shots with the push of a button. Other than keeping the water tank filled and descaling it once every six months or so, it requires absolutely no cleaning or maintenance.
Instant coffee that’s actually good
Haven’t you heard? Instant coffee is good now. Or at least some of it is. The folks at Intelligentsia even figured out how to make espresso-style coffee in a packet. Each box of this Instant Espresso Black Cat Classic contains five individual servings of freeze-dried, direct trade emergency coffee to help perk up a tired parent at home or on the go. All they have to do is add hot water or milk.
A stylish way to fake looking put together
Keeping small kids in clean-enough clothes is hard, but sometimes it’s getting the adults in the house dressed that’s the real challenge. A stylish lightweight robe makes it easy to look and feel a little more put together on those days when it’s impossible to change out of a t-shirt and sweatpants, even if it’s just for a trip to the mailbox.
Dishwasher-safe cutting boards
It’s difficult to quantify the amount of cutting and chopping that happens when feeding babies and toddlers, but trust me when I say that it's a lot. Also a lot? The constant need to hand-wash wooden cutting boards. These colorful alternatives from Material are made of plastic scraps and renewable sugarcane, but the most important part (at least for tired parents) is that they’re dishwasher safe.
TV headphones
When I was nursing babies, I had to work really hard to stay awake at night. Scary documentaries and action-packed dramas were the most effective programming, but I had to keep the volume so low I could barely hear what was happening (and closed captioning was no match for my bleary eyes). A set of hard-to-lose, over-the-ear bluetooth headphones with a TV transmitter would have been a game changer. I also would have felt a little less guilty about subjecting my infants to the creepiest episodes of Unsolved Mysteries even though I know they didn’t understand the words.
An easy-to-clean humidifier
Humidifiers are magic during cold and flu season (which can last 12 months a year with little kids). They’re also a pain to clean. This humidifier from Canopy has dishwasher-safe parts and doubles as an essential oil diffuser in case the adults in the house want to pamper themselves with a little aromatherapy. If you're feeling spendy, consider gifting the version with a filter subscription so the tired parent in your life doesn't have to remember to re-order.
A packable tote bag
Parents should always have a packable tote or three handy for snacks, toys, wet clothes, and more, and this super-soft ToteAlly bag is my absolute favorite. It’s lightweight, compact, durable, 100% machine washable, and the best part: it has pockets. It’s so nice that the parents in your life will want one to keep in the diaper bag, another for the car, and one for the bottom of the stroller.
A life-changing floor cleaning device
Parents of human babies and fur babies alike will love you forever if you gift them a vacuum cleaner that is also a mop. The Tineco Floor One S7 pro came out on top in my mop vac product testing earlier this year, and it cleans hard floors better than a vacuum cleaner and mop combined. For an even more hands-off floor cleaner, give the gift of a self-emptying robot vacuum cleaner that heads back out to mop after it’s done sucking up crumbs and debris.
A fun way to stay connected
Psychotherapist Esther Perel is the foremost authority on relationships and her game in a box, Where Should We Begin, can help bring people closer together by prompting them to tell stories they might not have shared befpre. It's perfect for when date night can only happen in the living room, but like Trivial Pursuit, there's no reason tired parents can't just pull out a card or two when they have a few minutes of precious alone time.
An easy way to stay hydrated
Caring for others sometimes means letting self care go, but at the bare minimum, parents need to stay hydrated (especially if they’re breastfeeding). An insulated, dishwasher-safe tumbler in a color they can spot across the room will make that part a little easier. It even has a handle and a straw so they don’t need two hands just to get a freaking drink of water already.
A countertop oven that does the thinking for them
When parents are too tired to even think about cooking, the Breville Joule Oven Air Fryer Pro countertop oven does it for them. There’s so much to love about this smart countertop oven, but the presets alone (pizza, air fry, reheat, toast, slow cook, roast, keep warm, etc.) make it nearly impossible to mess up dinner, and the control panel is intuitive enough that once kids are old enough to read and reach the knobs, they can use it, too.
A shortcut for putting away leftovers
Sometimes after a long day, you’re just too tired to transfer leftovers to a food storage container (yes, really). These stretchy silicone lids from Gir make it easy to cover just about any dish or cooking vessel and stick it in the fridge for later.
A super-soft baby carrier so new parents can use their hands to eat
This wrap-style baby carrier is my go-to baby shower gift. When I was newly postpartum, it allowed me to snuggle my little one and still use my hands to shovel food into my mouth. I once even wrapped my son in it, walked a mile to a restaurant, ate an entire lobster dinner, and walked home—and he slept the whole time! First-time parents might find the wrapping a little intimidating at first, but the Solly Baby website has plenty of video tutorials and even offers free babywearing consultations. After a few tries, moms and dads will be able to tie this thing in their sleep (that is, if they’re actually getting any sleep).
The gift of not cooking
Look, we all love to cook around here, but sometimes after a long day of fish sticks and chicken nuggets and mac and cheese and buttered noodles, the last thing we want to do is step into the kitchen. So give the gift of a meal nobody has to cook (or clean up after) with a restaurant delivery gift card. And don’t forget dessert: energizing lactation cookies are a great twofer.
Something that will make them feel like themselves again
General-use gift cards are always appreciated, especially with a new baby in the house, but don’t overlook the gift of a more specific gift card, either. Giving a card for a specific store or service—and preferably one that has nothing to do with diapers, groceries, or cleaning supplies—gives a tired caregiver a chance to buy something for themself. A gift card for a spa day also gives them an excuse to get out of the house. Even if it takes them months (or years) to use it, there’s comfort in knowing it's there when they’re ready.
A place to keep their secret stash
There are so many good reasons for anyone to have an extra beverage fridge, and even more good reasons for parents to have one. It can be a place to keep beer and wine at the ideal temperature and separate from the family’s food. Or a place to stash snacks and soda they don’t want the kids to see. Breastfeeding and pumping moms might even appreciate having a mini fridge by the bed for quick access to cold water and snacks, as well as a place to store milk that gets pumped in the middle of the night. While a customizable light-up fridge looks like it belongs in a nightclub, it’s also incredibly practical for middle-of-the-night nursing because the dim, warm light is exactly what you need to keep the baby drowsy enough to (hopefully) go right back to sleep.
An easier way to document milestones
When I was a new mom, I spent more time than I’d like to admit on Etsy searching for the perfect baby book to document my new baby’s milestones. But I was too tired to DIY anything and the longer I waited, the less I wanted to do it. At some point, I realized I could just use photos from my phone to create a little book every year (or, um, every couple years) and I wished I’d thought of it earlier. Not only are the little books perfect keepsakes for me, I can print multiples and they make great gifts for my parents, in-laws, and other family members. Now that I’m a seasoned mom, I love sharing this wisdom with new parents—along with a gift card to Artifact Uprising, where they can easily print their own high-quality memory books.
Looking for more holiday gift ideas and Christmas gift guides? Check out our gifts for moms, gifts for dads, and so much more.
