Gifts for Insomniacs

Melatonin. Consider giving the gift of sleep. This naturally occurring hormone helps regulate your internal clock so that you fall asleep easy and wake up even easier. Though you may have some difficulty figuring out the right dose for the special person on your list, it's safe for young people and seniors alike. It may have some other benefits too, like strengthening the immune system.

Sleep Masks.
Our brains are very sensitive to light. Our eyelids are relatively thin membranes through which light can pass and keep us awake. If you know an insomniac whose bedroom just isn't dark enough, consider wrapping up a sleep mask for them and putting it under the tree. A sleep mask can be fluffy and fun, or sleek and elegant. Some of them even come with witty sayings embroidered onto them. But one thing is for sure. People who wear them sleep better.

Bed Time Snacks. Some foods can actually make us sleepy. So why not give the insomniac in your life a basket of night-time munchies? Cheese is high in tryptophan, a sleep-inducing amino acid. So are peanuts, hazelnuts and sunflower seeds. Find out which foods help people sleep, and you can wrap them up this holiday for that special person on your list.

Ambient Noise Machines. Sometimes soothing sounds and white noise can help relax a person's mind and put them to sleep. Consider buying Bed, Bath and Beyond's Homedics Soundspa Sound Machine. It has six natural sounds including ocean waves, rain, and a waterfall. It also comes with a timer so that it can switch off automatically long after the insomniac in your life has drifted off to sleep.

Silky Sheets. Experts advise that making your bedroom a sanctuary for sleep and romance is one sure way to ease your transition from wakefulness into a dream state. And there's one revolutionary product that might help you do that. It's called Silky Sheets, and it's a spray talc that not only infuses your bedroom with a soothing scent, but also makes your sheets crisp and luxurious against your body. It helps keep the heat off in summer, and makes for a very pleasant sleep experience. At less than $9 a bottle, it could make for a great stocking stuffer for the insomniac on your list.

New Sheets and Bedding.
Sometimes what's really needed to help an insomniac is a change from the every day. New more comfortable sheets or bedding can make a big difference. Too often, people wait to purchase a new pillow until the one they have has long since stopped being functional. Most sleepers don't even realize when their pillow no longer gives them support, or when their sheets have shrunk and now tangle around their legs at night. By making the bed a more welcoming place to sleep, you can help an insomniac get a few winks this holiday season.

Herbal Teas. Caffeinated teas will keep a person up all night, but herbal teas can be a real boon to an insomniac. By warming up the body, the hot liquid can make your favorite insomniac more than a bit sleepy. And if there are relaxing herbs in the tea like chamomile, they too will work their magic on getting an insomniac into bed.

Reading Light.
If all else fails, at least try to induce the special insomniac in your life into bed at a reasonable hour with a good book and a reading light. This way, even after the lights are out, the insomniac can read without disturbing anyone. You can choose either a traditional booklight or a light wedge. Either way, the result is the same. By establishing a routine of reading that gets your insomniac into bed, he or she may end up drifting off when they least expect it. And that's a present everyone can appreciate.