Barefoot Dreams® CozyChic® Throw, Cream, 54"x72"

Why it's worth it

The Barefoot Dreams CozyChic throw is the blanket people describe as ridiculously soft and then use every single night. At 54 by 72 inches it's a genuine full-body throw, and it doesn't shrink, pill, or wrinkle in the wash.

The Good Housekeeping Institute put this in front of a 500-person panel and it came out as the top comfort gift two years running, with the panel calling out both the softness and how well it held up through repeated machine washing. That second part is what separates it from the knockoffs. Cheap plush blankets feel great in the store and shed all over her clothes by February.

This is the easiest gift on the list to hand to someone whose taste you don't know. No sizing, no scent, no account setup, no batteries. Cream goes with any couch. It's light enough that she won't overheat under it in spring but warm enough for a drafty living room in January, which is why owners describe it as a year-round blanket rather than a winter one.

From our review of 8 gifts for mom

What we like

• +The Good Housekeeping Institute put this in front of a 500-person panel and it came out as the top comfort gift two years…
• +This is the easiest gift on the list to hand to someone whose taste you don't know
• +It also unwraps well, which is a real consideration when the gift is opened in front of people
• +If she already has a throw, this still works as an upgrade rather than a duplicate

What to know

• –It's a light knit, not a heavy one
• –The look is plain. It's a simple cream knit, and while that's part of why it goes with anything, a mom who decorates with…
• –It also needs a little care