If you know a woman who’s turning 90, you might want to get her a nice 90th birthday gift, or throw a special milestone birthday party. Whether it’s your grandmother, mother, great-grandmother, or a friend, a 90th birthday is a big deal, and should be celebrated! These are a bunch of things that I found when I was looking for the best 90th birthday gifts for women, plus some birthday celebration ideas, from invitations to party favors.
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Why are milestone birthdays important?
Milestone birthdays are the ones that have been put in the “notable” bucket depending on where you live. Most countries celebrate any birthday that ends in a zero because that’s an obvious “new decade/end of an era” birthday. Some countries celebrate sweet 16s, while others put the same importance on 15th or 18th birthdays. 21 is another big one, and starting the teen years at 13 is another one.
For adults, the birthdays that end in zero are usually the ones that make people take notice, because they’re natural times to look back and reflect on the previous decade. They also make you realize that you’re getting older because suddenly you have a new number in front of your age. This is also true for the birthdays that end in 5, but it’s the 0s that will get you. Then once you’re past 80 or 90, every birthday is a milestone!
It’s important to celebrate milestone birthdays to show the birthday person that they’re supported and cared for, especially when people get a lot older. If you have an elderly relative who’s in a nursing home or other care facility, remembering them on their birthdays will show them that you think they’re important, but you should also make sure to see them as often as you can on a non-birthday day! Birthdays should just be a little more special.
What kinds of gifts to give someone who’s turning 90.
Remember that there’s a wide range of health and mobility in the 90-yr-old age group, so plan accordingly. My inlaws were both in their 90s when they moved to an assisted living facility near us, and they were both pretty mobile, but a lot of people there weren’t. My husband’s uncle was 97 when he passed away, and he lived in his own house by himself until he died, so he was very independent.
When you’re deciding on a gift, keep the person in mind and don’t get them something generic. That’s good advice anyway, but at 90 people don’t need more “stuff” unless it’s more personal to them. My husband’s uncle loved bluegrass music, so I got him a book about bluegrass musicians who were popular when he was in his 20s or 30s, and he said it was the best gift he’d ever received. Get specific and personal, because those are the gifts that someone will enjoy the most.
I would also try to avoid health-related gifts unless it’s something that’s also kind of fun. Nobody wants to get a walker for their birthday present even if they need one, so keep that kind of thing for another day. Make this about their likes and hobbies instead of their health needs.
Personalized handmade soap gift box.
Botany Barn makes handmade soap gift sets
that can be personalized with a short message for the recipient. Give a fun shout-out to the 90th birthday by getting a message on the labels especially for her.
“Gifts that go away.”
The soap above is a good example of this…It’s a gift that they can use and enjoy, but it goes away and you don’t have to store it long-term. Here’s an article with a list of things like that, since some people like gifts that they don’t have to keep forever.
Unique pet portrait.
Mariella Felts creates custom pet portraits using the unique art of 2D needle felting. All custom portraits are created using a submitted photo, so you can give a birthday gift that’s a portrait of a favorite pet.
For an article about gifts for pet owners. click here.
Custom name art.
Get sentimental Mom wall art from Susan Newberry Designs. This is a nice design that a 90 year old would love to have to remind her of you when you’re not able to be with her.
Personalized Mom gifts on Zazzle.
Get personalized gifts for Mom on Zazzle…Click the listings to see what sales and discounts are being offered this week.
Clip-on earrings.
Clip-on opal earrings are nice for someone who never got her ears pierced, or who stopped wearing earrings for pierced ears. These are an elegant choice that would be appropriate for any birthday, including a 90th.
A custom photo mug.
A custom mug with a favorite photo in a heart-shaped template is a cute gift for anyone. Add a photo of a favorite pet or person and she’ll love using it.
To see the full directory of all of our verified members, click here.
Personalized journal.
For someone who enjoys writing or journaling, our customizable notebooks are unique and better than a regular notebook. They’re pretty and would be a nice gift for a 90th birthday. Get them in the Artisan Shopper Designs shop on Zazzle.
A cute photo block.
This photo block can be customized with two photos and a phrase that you choose. It can be used as a shelf decor item or as part of a photo gallery with family photos.
Something for “me time.”
Natural Body Comfort’s eye masks are nice gifts that the birthday girl can use for both hot and cold spa treatments at home. They come in different colors and patterns, so you’ll be able to find one that coordinates with your taste.
Housecleaning!
If you can arrange to have someone come in and do a good cleaning in her house (and she’s open to it) it could be a very helpful gift. If she isn’t comfortable with someone coming in and cleaning, offer to come vacuum and do laundry once a week. My relatives who were in their 90s had a hard time doing some of their basic housecleaning chores, and I would go help them out occasionally.
Some people aren’t going to want you to do this, though, so you might have to accept a “no” if you offer. Don’t push it, but if they let you help out it would be a great gift for them!
A shopping spree.
If your person is like my 90+ year old relatives, they’ve stopped buying new things for themselves, even if you try to get them to. My mother-in-law wasn’t able to get out shopping too often but if I took her she would go and had a good time. If you take them out and make it a fashion show where you’re both trying clothes on, or just take her out to get a few new shirts or sweaters, it will probably be something they enjoy and appreciate, even it they resist at first.
Get a customizable mug with her monogram or name on it to personalize the design.
Customizable mugs.
Click to see our customizable mug designs on Zazzle, and check to see what discounts and sales are being offered this week:
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A party with friends.
Getting friends together for a celebration can often be the best gift. Get some personalized invitations on Zazzle, either printed and sent to you or downloaded and printed by you after you customize them, then make a reservation at a restaurant and have fun!
If you have an old photo of your guest and a newer one, get this cute “before and after” invitation that you can customize with the photos.
Custom throw pillow with grandkids’ photos.
A personalized grandchildren pillow cover with the grandkids’ photos makes a nice decor item.
For more gift ideas for older parents, click here.
A customized trinket tray.
Personalize a pretty tray with her name and photos of wildflowers. This could come in handy to corral items in the kitchen or bathroom, or to keep small items in one place int he living room.
Stylish glasses chains.
Kalx Designs makes pretty eyeglasses chains that will help a busy mom keep track of her readers or sunglasses. They’re stylish and are nicer than a standard cord strap. They come in gemstone, blingy, and acrylic styles.
A list of gifts on Amazon.
Click here to see my list of some gifts that you can get on Amazon for a woman who’s turning 90.
Garden art.
This unique stained glass garden art can be hung on a shepherd’s crook in the garden to create some movement and visual interest. It’s a unique piece that’s handmade by Tina of Bello Glass, and any 90-yr-old who’s a gardener will love it.
A pretty pop-up card.
Get a pretty birthday card that pops up into a scene with flowers and butterflies on it. She can keep it as a piece of decor after her birthday.
Hair accessories.
Else and Co makes cute hair accessories, including these twisty hair bands. Get a few different styles for a woman who’s turning 70 and still wears her hair long for an accessory update.
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