What kind of things do you put in Christmas stockings?

[curiousgeorgie]

We never had Christmas stockings growing up (huge sacks of presents in the living room instead!) and I'd love to start doing them for my DD's...

I've ordered personalised stockings but is it literally an orange, satsuma and the general sort of crap you get in a party bag?

What do you put in yours and how old are your DC?

[DesperatelySeekingSedatives]

My DC are 2 and nearly 6. They get any of the following:

sweets
socks (always characters)
pants (ditto)
bubble mix
bouncy ball
character soap
magic face cloth
stickers
wind up toys for like £1
nail varnish
hair accesories
Used to get dummies when they were little babies (I'd have bought them anyway after all)
pens
crayons
tiny little notebooks
satsumas which they always forget about in favour of sweets
story CDs bought in ELC sale
toy cars or little collectables like Sylvanian Families, or little characters they like (again I only get cheaper stuff for the stockings so it'll be really little bits)

They never get any old crap, its always chosen carefully with what they like in mind. I actually like shopping for the stocking things but finding stuff for DD seems a lot easier than for DS there seems to be more options for little girls.

[50shadesofknackered]

Mine get selection boxes, chocolate Santa's, choc coins, basically all their Christmas choc and some presents. They have pillowcases for stockings, so need plenty of stuff in there to fill it.

[50shadesofknackered]

Mine get selection boxes, chocolate Santa's, choc coins, basically all their Christmas choc and some presents. They have pillowcases for stockings, so need plenty of stuff in there to fill it.

[ohforfoxsake]

No item costs more than a fiver absolute max, and then only one or two at that price. I shop at Dotcomgiftshop through the year, and get a lot in the summer sales. Sports Direct can be quite good. The Book People for books (obviously!), pencil cases, water bottles. I try to keep it useful or entertaining. I steer clear of party bag plastic tat. Sweets and chocolates go in the stocking.

Mine get a woolly stocking on the bed. They get a sweetie trail from their beds to the Christmas tree and this sack direct from Santa there. (Sorry on phone so can't link).

m.notonthehighstreet.com/harrowandgreen/product/personalised-christmas-sack-letterpress

I go completely OTT. I have four DCs, 11, 10, 8 & 6. I don't intend to ever stop doing it. It's completely crazy here on Christmas morning and I love it!

[50shadesofknackered]

Sorry, don't know why it posted twice.

[LifeIsSoDifferent]

Pants
Socks
Jokey presents (but still useful)

[LifeIsSoDifferent]

Favorite sweets
I have been known to put batteries
iPhone charger

[ohforfoxsake]

Tescos usually do a buy 1 get 2 free on selection boxes. B&M do the same sweets at Selfridges at a fraction of the cost.

There are active Christmas bargain threads on here now - well worth a look. I started planning in May. I am embarrassed by that.

[onehellofaride]

My DC are 7, 6 and 4

Story cd
choc coins
hair things
bath bomb
magic flannel
toothbrush
Satsuma
watch
stickers
underwear
socks
small book
little toy (DS is having finger whips)
Whittard hot choc
times table cube
Balloons
Also any 'grown up' things they are not usually allowed such as wax, nail polish, lip gloss, kids purfume
etc

I also do DH a stocking!

[attheendoftheday]

My dds are still little (2.2 and 5 months). I try to get a lot of their stocking things second hand while I can still get away with it. Last year I put in

Little set of In The Night Garden books
Baby musical instruments
Plastic animals to go in the bath
Bath crayons
Tiny dog soft toy
Felt tips
Bubbles
Box of raisins
Satsuma

This year I will put some choc in!

[LadyLech]

My children (9 and 6) get mostly things they need, a few things they ask for and a few things they'd like.

They always have sacks, and in them, they tend to get:

• Clothes - an annual supply of vests, socks, pants, any slippers or dressing gown they may need plus any other clothes I pick up for them.
• a new gym leotard
• a new CD and new DVD
• a box set of books to read
• a big box of chocolatey cereal (they normally do not get this)
• a big pack of bubble gum (they're not allowed this usually)
• anything they need for their hobbies
• often a new game, board game or jigsaw puzzle etc
• any replenishables they need (like stickers, new pens or paints etc)
• any cheap toys I see reduced during the year and think they would like.
• a chocolate selection box
• three items they request specifically from FC.

So whilst I spend a lot on their sacks, actually the overwhelming majority of it is made up of things they would have got anyway (pants, vests, gym leotards etc), so I'm not wasting my money, but they get a huge pile of presents and very little tat.

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Mine are DS (will be 14) and DD (will be 11.6)

We do the Christmas Eve Hamper to calm them down to prepare (that's the theory)

Then the stockings in the bedroom (we make DS sleep in DD room on Christmas Eve- his room in downstairs so it keeps them busy and lets DH and I have a few more minutes sleep)

Everything is super-wrapped with equal amounts of paper and sticky tape.

Selection Box (medium sized when they are on BOGOF)
Lindt mini-figures
New underwear (nothing too trendy for DS, got him M&S Autograph 'trunks' )
Bra/pants sets for DD
Socks (boring but they need them)
A toy- usually Hawkins Bazaar type
Book- paperback (they have an annual in the C.E.H)
Lynx for DS
Bubblebath (the Superdrug Fruity ones are nice) for DD
Keyring for DS
Earrings / Charms for her bracelet for DD


A couple of years back she was collecting Sylvanian Family.I bought some tiny dolls house things (cutlery, glasses) from Hobbycraft for her.Put in tiny decorated boxes.

[curiousgeorgie]

Thanks everyone! I can't wait to do it... I wish it was December now

[everydayaschoolday]

I was in Poundland today. I got a 3 pack of Tatty Teddy toothbrushes and a tatty teddy toothpaste (mild mint). (They also had a Hello Kitty design in strawberry flavour).

A toothbrush and toothpaste are a christmas tradition in the stocking in our house (indicates how many sweets and chocs santa brings!).

Card Factory had some nice bits as well - 6pk 'Hugs' design badges (v cute) for 99p and 9pk 'Hugs' design magnets (can be played with on the fridge) also 99p. My 5YO DD will love these.

I concur with all the suggestions of other posters as well

[BadRoly]

My dc are 12, 10, 6 and 4. They ALWAYS get:
novelty toothbrush
Toothpaste
Magic flannel
Mini novelty shower gel
Rubber duck
Selection box
A CD (story for younger 2)
A DVD
PJs

If they all need them, they also get slippers and dressing gown. But this isn't every year.

Last year they each got a pillow pet. The year before they each got a Sing-a-ma-jig.

I start collecting bits through the year and already have a drawing pad and PJs for each of them!

[xalyssx]

Mine get something to eat, something to drink, something to read and something to do. Last year my son got some chocolate biscuits, a fruit shoot , a Christmas story book and some rubber ducks with a little boat. He's not allowed to come in until he has done everything!

[StupidFlanders]

Fancy school supplies (pens etc), DVD, matchbox cars, chocolate. Not too much, the bulk comes from me not Santa!

[lunar1]

Mine get things they
Need anyway.

Pants, very important ds1's school uniform is very strict so they apparently compare pants! I think it will be spiderman this year. He will be 5. Vests are equally important.

Flannel
Bubble bath
Chocolate orange
A book
Swim shorts if needed
Plus a couple of Lego mini figures for ds1 and moshi monsters for ds2

[lunar1]

Oh and I meant to add I'm steeling the trail of sweets idea!

[MerrieMelodies]

Why are you talking about this on potentially the hottest day of the summer?! Bonkers

[Youhaventseenme]

Top Tip

Buy two stockings exactly the same, fill one up as you go along.

Then put out the empty one at bed time and replace in a matter of seconds with the full one.

No chance of getting busted.

[hippoherostandinghere]

Not here Merrie. It's bucketed down all day .

[craftynclothy]

I have two girls, 6 and 3 (will be 4 before Xmas).

They are getting a doll (soft, small-ish), small purse, craft kit, popcorn holder, flannel, soap, nail varnish. There will probably be sweets too. I also stick in any envelope (money/vouchers) presents from anyone else. I will also sometimes fill the stocking up with small presents from others.

Have in the past put in (and might also get this year):
socks
knickers
toothbrush
toothpaste
colouring pencils/crayons/felt tips
notepads
hair bobbles/clips
cheap necklaces
dinosaur eggs

[MrsCosmopilite]

Not done a stocking for DD yet (she's a bit young to 'get it') but have done for niece and nephew in the past (and for an adult sibling).

Chidren
Small bag of sweets they like OR bag of chocolate coins, opened & shaken in
Bubbles
Hair elastics/bobbles/fabric hairband (as appropriate)
Comic/magazine (rolled to fit)
Jacobs ladder/whoopie cushion/other silly toy
Pencils
Pens
Rubbers
Notebook/Flip pad
Key ring/key chain
Socks
Earrings
'Boyish' bracelet/neckchain

Adult
Miniatures of any of the following products: Face cream, night cream, lipstick, hand cream, toner, cleanser, perfume, after save (you know, all those free sample thingies)
Lip salve
Hair grips/clip/gel (whatever seems appropriate)
Chocolate/toffee
Nail polish/manicure set (clippers etc)
Pocket diary
Knickers/pants
Magazine (rolled)
Small bottle bubble bath/shower gel/shave foam
And any of the above "Children's" that may be fitting.

This year's stocking for DD is going to be knickers, knickers and knickers (we're potty training!)

[MrsCosmopilite]

*can't spell - typing fast - sorry!