On my fifth birthday, I was gifted a soft, pink blanket. Little did I know that I would end up using it every night for the next decade.
The blanket was a gift from a family friend, in an effort to help my poor parents after they had tried and failed — multiple times — to get me to sleep in my own bed. Though it didn’t help, it’s still my favorite gift I’ve ever gotten.
My older brother also received the same kind of blanket from our friend, except his was blue with stripes. He still uses his as well and even took it to college this past summer.
One of the reasons a blanket is a perfect gift is its durability. Mine has survived 10 years of daily use, countless cycles through washers and dryers and has served as both a bed and a battleground for my cats; yet, it still maintains its softness and comfort.
Aside from lasting forever, the blanket was also a practical gift. After all, who doesn’t appreciate a super soft blanket? It’s light enough that I can still use it when the weather is overly hot, but it’s also perfect to layer under other blankets for the colder months.
If you need a better reason to buy someone a blanket, here’s one: They work for all ages and types of people, and you can personalize them by buying different patterns. There’s even websites where you can get special messages embroidered on blankets, if you want to go the extra mile.
Most importantly, blankets are really cute. They invoke visions of cozy fall movie nights and cold winter mornings spent in bed.
Five-year-old me wouldn’t have even bothered with a new blanket had it not been pink and covered in butterflies. Rather than ending up in a closet to collect dust like many of my previous gifts, the blanket became a treasured part of my room.
