2022 Holiday Gift Guide for Grandparents

By Published On: December 16th, 2022

Whether they like presents that are sentimental, fun, techy, or just plain cute, there’s something on this list for every grandparent.

Any time I hear the line “what do you get the person who has everything?” my mind always goes to my parents and my in-laws. Both sets of my kids’ grandparents are happily retired and have the luxury to do just about whatever they’d like. If I am not presented with their respective gift wish lists, I am left scratching my head and stressing out over what to get them during the holidays.

I know that I’m not the only one who experiences this mini-panic over grandparent gifts, so I went ahead and documented my gift ideas this year to hopefully save you all some time and frustration when shopping for the grands in your life. From cute handprint stepping stones to personalized gifts to an electric blanket, here are some of my favorite products for grandparents this holiday season.

Custom Photo Puzzle

This great gift is the perfect blend of sentimental and fun. Upload a few family photos and pictures of the kids with their grandparents to create a custom photo puzzle. There are a ton of different designs to choose from, but I particularly like this 252-piece puzzle from Minted. It’s just the right amount of pieces to make the puzzle challenging, but not so challenging that it takes multiple nights to finish. $42

Hot & Iced Coffee Maker

How do your parents (or your own grandparents) like their coffee? With the Ninja Hot & Iced Coffee Maker, they can brew a cup of coffee just the way they like it every time. This is a perfect gift for every day, but they’ll be especially grateful for it when your kids spend a weekend at their house and wake up at 6 a.m. begging them to play. $160

Travel Book

If they’re looking forward to traveling, help them embrace their wanderlust with a fun travel book. Unforgettable Journeys: Slow Down and See the World is an excellent way to low-key encourage them to seek adventure. Or, if there’s a special place you know they’ve always dreamed of visiting, grab a couple of books specific to that area (you can always count on Amazon to have plenty of options to choose from). $20

Personalized Art

You can always count on Etsy when you want a super sentimental gift—and this personalized grandparent art does not disappoint. You get to customize it to match your family and can opt to have it delivered as a digital file or printed (giving you one less thing to do to get the present ready). There’s no doubt your kiddos’ grandparents will love this sweet, unique present. From $20

Handprint Stepping Stone

For the grandparent with a green thumb who loves to garden, this kids’ Stonecraft Mosaic Stepping Stone Kit is a fantastic gift. It comes with everything you need to make a cement stepping stone that features your child’s handprint, name, and gemstones. You can decide if you want to make the stone with your child before gifting it, or let it be a fun—albeit messy—activity they do together. Either way, it’s the perfect addition to any garden. $20

Pancake and Waffle Mix Sampler

I don’t know what your families are like, but my mom and mother-in-law love nothing more than cooking us a feast for every meal we’re together, and my kids’ favorite is always pancakes or waffles for breakfast. If your family is the same, this pancake and waffle mix sampler from Williams Sonoma is a cute gift idea. Have the kids wrap it up and say it’s from them, or tuck it into their stockings. $38

Handheld Massager

We all know that with age comes some very, very sore muscles (it’s not just me, right?). A massager is a unique gift that’s great for anyone, but especially for grandparents who are doing their best to keep up with your little ones. The Lyric Therapeutic Handheld Massager is super lightweight and has a range of frequencies and functions to soothe all kinds of aches and pains. $100

Smartphone Photo Printer

Help them free up some storage space on their phones with this quick and easy Sharper Image Smartphone Photo Printer. After snapping or saving a pic of a grandchild, grandma or grandpa can walk right over to this little gadget and print the picture right then and there, and then display it prominently on the front of the fridge. $170

Two-in-One Game Set

What’s better than one board game? Two board games. Level up their game nights with this two-in-one Deluxe Scrabble and Monopoly game from L.L. Bean. The set includes everything needed to play the two classic games, plus instead of a cardboard box, this game comes in a wooden box that is much prettier to display on a shelf. $179

Sommelier Set

Even grandparents enjoy a good glass of wine now and then—especially after spending a long day with their grandchildren. The Zwilling Sommelier Accessories Set from Anthropologie includes four pieces that will make the process of uncorking and pouring wine easier and, let’s face it, a little fancier. The set includes a corkscrew, decanter, drop ring, and foil cutter. $120

Electric Blanket

I know weighted blankets continue to be a big trend, but the winter months are cold, and the older someone gets the more they feel the frigid temps (ah, the joys of aging). Keep the grandparents in your life warm and cozy this winter with the Wicked Cozy Heated Throw from L.L. Bean. It’s sized just right for snuggling up on the couch or a comfy chair and it comes in three stylish colors. $119

Custom Canvas Print

If there is one gift I know will always be a big hit with my parents, it’s a canvas print of all of their grandkids together in one picture. A custom canvas print like this one from Shutterfly is not only a really thoughtful gift to give, but it’s also super easy because all you have to do is go online, upload a photo, and add it to your cart. Honestly, it will probably be the easiest gift you purchase this year—but one of the most meaningful. $100

Book of the Month Club

One thing I look forward to when I retire someday is having all kinds of time to read. Treat the grandparents in your life to this little luxury by gifting them a subscription to the Book of the Month Club. Every month, they will get to choose one book to read from a list of five to seven popular books spanning different genres and interests. (They also have the option to buy additional books if they can’t choose just one.) Gift subscriptions are available in three, nine, or 12-month packages. From $50

Tea Gift Set

If coffee is not their cup of tea, splurge on this gift box that comes with everything they need to brew up a different hot drink. Crate & Barrel’s Fellow tea set includes a high-end electric tea kettle, thermos, tea storage container, and a rose gold tea ball infuser. What’s extra nice about this gift is that you can buy all of the pieces or just one or two, depending on your budget and what you think your recipients will like most. $282

Keepsake Ornament

If there’s one gift that you just can’t go wrong with, it’s a cute ornament that features your kids’ smiling faces. Hallmark’s 2022 Grandkid Hugs Snowman Ornament comes in the shape of a—you guessed it—snowman and has a little space to insert a photo. The snowman’s scarf acts as a timestamp with the year 2022 written on it, and under the snowman reads, “Grandkid hugs warm the heart.” It’s just the right amount of cheesy sentiment every grandparent loves. $16

Photo Magazine Subscription

For the grands who never print the pictures they take and save on their phone, Recently Photo Magazine will do it automatically and deliver the photos straight to their door in the form of a beautiful magazine printed on luxurious, high-quality paper. Simply have them (or help them) download the free Recently app to their iPhone (or another iOS device) and it will select a collection of the best photos from their camera roll to include in their magazine. $12.99 per month for a monthly subscription; $14.99 per quarter for a quarterly subscription

Holiday shopping for the person (or people) who have it all doesn’t have to be so stressful. With grandparents, the best way to go is to lean into their life of retirement, their love of games, good food and drinks, and if all else fails, never underestimate the power of a picture of their grandchildren.

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