These are the gifts my team has ACTUALLY given our parents, in-laws, and grandparents. The ones that got used, loved, and sometimes even brought a few happy tears!
If your parents are anything like ours, every single year they say, “We don’t need anything!” And every single year, we still want to give them something special.
So I asked my team which gifts were real winners with their parents and in-laws. Some are sentimental, some are little luxuries they’d never buy for themselves, and some are just plain practical.
You’ll see notes from all of us throughout. These are the gifts for parents that didn’t get politely tucked away in a closet!
Sentimental Gifts for Parents + Grandparents
FAMILY GARDEN WATERCOLOR. I got this for my mom from Good Luck Greeting Co. on Etsy, with a flower that represents each of her grandkids. She loves flowers, and this was such a special gift!
STORYWORTH. I got this for a woman who has been like a grandmother to our family. Her husband passed away a few years ago, and this gave her a sweet way to spend her time writing down her memories of him. It’s such a meaningful gift for any grandparent with stories to tell.
PERSONALIZED CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS. Lindsay listed out all of the grandkids on both sides of the family and got one of these for each set of parents. They LOVED them!
GRANDKIDS PHOTO CALENDAR. Lauren and her four siblings take turns making a calendar with pictures of the grandkids from the year. One hangs at the house and the other goes to her dad’s office!
DAILY PHOTO CALENDAR. Katy’s pick! A new family photo every single day of the year. Grandparents will love flipping to a new one each morning.
TIN CAN PHONE. Lindsay is getting these for the grandparents this year so her kids can call them whenever they want to chat. How sweet is that?!
Gifts for Their Travel Era
CASHMERE WRAP. Laura’s parents are in their retirement travel era, and her mom is ALWAYS cold, so she got her this to bring on planes. Cozy, polished, and it packs so easily!
QUINCE COMPRESSION PACKING CUBES. Laura’s parents both love using these on their many trips. She even grabbed a set for herself!
OWALA WATER BOTTLE. Laura’s parents weren’t up on the water bottle trends, and they were blown away by how great the Owala is and how easy it is to travel with.
LULULEMON EVERYWHERE BELT BAG. Lindsay got this for her mom to hold her phone and keys on walks, and now she takes it EVERYWHERE.
LIFE360 TILE. Lindsay gave these to her parents as a stocking stuffer last year. Clip one on a keychain or tuck it in a wallet, and no more lost keys!
Little Luxuries They’d Never Buy Themselves
FANCY SOAPS. We got these for my mom last Christmas because it’s something special she’d never buy for herself, but she loves pretty things and things that smell good. It’s so fun to spoil your parents with simple things that make their lives a little prettier!
VUORI PONTO HALF ZIP. Laura’s dad kept seeing her brothers and all the young guys on the golf course in Vuori, but it’s something he’d never buy himself. Laura and her siblings got him one, and he’s fully converted! Lauren got her dad the same one, so it’s a double winner.
QUINCE LEATHER SHOULDER BAG. Lauren wanted to get her mom the purse our whole team loves, one that will last for years.
BONDI BOOST HEATED BRUSH. Every time Lauren and her sisters are home, their mom asks them to help curl her hair. This is an easy tool she can use on her own to get that blowout look!
JO MALONE ORANGE BLOSSOM COLOGNE. Courtney says this is the BEST perfume, and her mom wears it every single day now. It’s the classiest clean, fresh orange scent!
PRESERVED FLORAL GLASS MUG + CAPRI BLUE SPICED AMBER CANDLE. Courtney’s go-to no-brainer gift is a beautiful mug and a candle. Pair them together and you’ve got an easy, pretty gift any mom or mother-in-law will love!
QUINCE MULBERRY SILK PILLOWCASE. Lindsay got this for her mom and sister, and they both love it. Such an easy upgrade that feels so luxurious!
MICHEL DESIGN WORKS HAND SOAP. Katy’s pick! Pretty holiday packaging that looks beautiful by the kitchen sink.
Cozy Gifts for Parents
FOOT MASSAGER. My father-in-law kept borrowing mine, so we got him his own! It’s been such a hit.
OOFOS SLIDES. Courtney’s parents LIVE in these at home. And her dad is a podiatrist, so these come with professional approval!
MINKY COUTURE BLANKET. Katy’s pick! These blankets are SO soft and come in tons of colors and sizes.
UGG ANSLEY SLIPPERS. A classic, cozy slipper that’s easy to slip on and off around the house.
BOMBAS FAIR ISLE SOCK GIFT BOX. These come already packaged in an ornament gift box, which makes gifting so easy!
Wellness Gifts for Parents
MEGELIN RED LIGHT THERAPY BELT. Lindsay’s dad deals with arthritis every day but always says he doesn’t need anything for Christmas. 😉 The belt is flexible enough to wear on his lower back or wrap around his knee, and he’s noticed a real difference. It’s still a splurge on sale, but Megelin has a great holiday price matching policy!
VIBRATION PLATE. Lauren’s dad is up on all things wellness, and he loved adding this to his routine.
Practical Gifts for Parents
COSTCO MEMBERSHIP. Lindsay calls this the annual gift that keeps on giving!
CAR WASH SUBSCRIPTION. Lauren loves this one because it makes it so easy for her parents to get their car cleaned regularly.
LETTERFOLK TILE MAT. Katy’s pick! A customizable doormat they can change out for every season and holiday.
COFFEE TABLE BOOKS. Katy loves gifting a beautiful coffee table book that fits their interests. A couple favorites are Hiking America’s National Parks and Ralph Lauren: A Way of Living.
Our parents might say they don’t need anything, but the right gift still lets them know how much we love them!
Whether it’s a sentimental keepsake or a little something they’d never splurge on, these are the gifts that actually got used and loved.
