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Mother’s Day is fast approaching (it falls on May 12 this year), so it’s time to think about a gift for Grandma. For this story, I FaceTimed with my grandmother to ask her what types of gifts she likes to receive. She replied that all she wants is to spend more time with me, which was charming and sweet but not exactly helpful (sorry, Grandma). Shopping for grandfathers is easy enough (a nice pair of Argyle socks and books about past presidents or retired athletes tend to go over well), but finding the best gifts for grandmothers is a bit more challenging — especially if they’re anything like mine.
To find the best physical gifts to buy for someone who only wants to smother her grandchildren width love, affection, and food, I spoke to my grandma and others between the ages of 52 and 89, as well as a couple of granddaughters who have found success in shopping for their own picky grandmothers. I also dug through our archives, consulted our seniors survey for standout products among our readers ages 65 and up, and handpicked some items for every type of grandma. And, if you’re shopping for Mom, be sure to check out our Mother’s Day gift hub here.
Under $25
New grandmas can reflect on their first moments with their grandchildren in this journal full of prompts. Donne Davis, founder of the GaGa Sisterhood (a community for grandmothers who go “gaga” for their grandchildren) liked hers so much that she gifted one to a fellow grandma.
Here’s a cookbook–slash–board book full of kid-friendly recipes that Grandma and grandkids can enjoy reading and whipping up together.
Grandma and (slightly older) granddaughters can bond by recording special events and drawing pictures in this shared journal.
This is similar to the one above but for grandmothers and grandsons. With space to write, draw, and reflect, it’s a special way to record memories to look back on.
With this picture frame, Grandma can store up to 50 pages of finger paintings and doodles from the grandkids. Kelly Walters and Judy Hall, founders of Grand Connections (an organization that encourages quality time spent between grandparents and grandkids), say it pairs well with a brand-new piece of art.
For creating artworks together, gift a coloring book and colored pencils. This one’s intricate for Grandma to enjoy on her own, too.
Swap out a deck of cards on family game night with Dutch Blitz, described as “very energetic solitaire.”
If her daily breakfast includes toast, consider these delightful duck tongs.
And if eggs are on the menu, this is the only egg poacher that actually works.
The National Audubon Society’s field guide is a handy pocket book full of facts and photos for the bird-loving grandma.
If your grandma likes to bake, gift her a custom apron and oven mitts with her name on them. Davis says if you really want to go the extra mile, get one to match with her.
Under $50
My grandmother has had a set of painted plates from my sister and me displayed on her kitchen walls for nearly two decades. This comes with everything a child needs to make their own personalized gift for their grandmother, and it could double as a quality-time activity.
A practical (but nice-looking) gift for the grandmother who perpetually misplaces her phone.
Speaking of practical: This ultrasonic cleaner will have Grandma’s jewelry and glasses sparking in just three minutes.
Kate McLeod’s body stones make the mundane task of applying lotion feel like a little luxury. Gift her a set of the minis because they’re easier to grip and come with the brand’s three best-selling scents — the Daily, Sleep, and Grounding.
Upgrade her plain drugstore compression socks with a cheery pair from Vim & Vigr. They come in both mild to moderate compression (15–20 mmHg) and medical-grade compression (20–30 mmHg).
If you don’t know which seeds to get the grandma who’s into gardening, a gift certificate for Park Seed lets her pick from a selection of vegetables, herbs, plants, and flowers.
Make a candle a bit more personal by picking one that reminds you of your grandma. I’ve considered gifting this Nest Ocean Mist & Sea Salt one to my own as a reminder of our annual family beach trips.
Under $100
The overwhelming consensus from grandmothers I spoke to is they can’t have enough photos of their grandkids. Framebridge lets you choose from a wide variety of high-quality framing options to match Grandma’s interiors.
Thanks to the support of this “padded scarf,” your grandma can fly in to visit you well rested.
Clothes are a hard gift to get right, but the amount of Senior Survey participants who liked these Athleta pants was overwhelming. They’re breathable and wrinkle resistant and have a subtle rib-knit waistband for a dressier look without sacrificing comfort.
If comfy shoes are more her speed, Oofos are easy on the knees, ankles, and joints. And they now come in pretty pastels in time for spring.
Grandma can frame or scrapbook all of her most recent grandbaby pictures with this portable Bluetooth printer.
Under $200
Here’s a digital frame that allows your grandma to see more than one family photo. It also has cloud capabilities, so you can easily send her pictures and videos instantly.
If Grandma’s an avid reader, the Kindle Paperwhite is comfortable to hold for long periods of time, is easy to read in the sun or the dark, and has a long-lasting battery.
This solar-powered smart bird feeder livestreams avian friends straight to Grandma’s phone.
If her feet could use some TLC, Miko’s Shiatsu foot massager is equipped with five pressure settings, heat, and two wireless remotes, so she can make adjustments while relaxing on the couch.
Over $200
For the grandma who’s a fan of The Great British Bake Off, let her know this is the exact mixer used by the contestants. She’ll appreciate that tidbit and the ease of using a stand mixer for baking with the grandkids.
For the grandma who never misses her morning strolls, gift her an Apple Watch for tracking things like steps, heart rate, and other health metrics, in addition to keeping track of birthdays, emails, and incoming calls.
If Grandma’s interested in cookbooks, magazines, and other types of media — like YouTube videos and scrolling on social — she would probably like an iPad instead.
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