Does anyine else not get in to buying necessity items fro christmas (such as toothbrushes!)

[ShamefulPlaceMarker]

I'm looking through lists other posters have made on another forum! for both dc and dh, I keep thinking that I don't have much for mine.
I have 1 for dh and 3 each for dc. But then I realised that most of the presents on other people's lists are things like toothbrushes, boxer shorts, shower gel etc. Mainly as stocking fillers.
I actaully don't see the point! If they need a new toothbrush then surely just buy them one and let them use it now? It's the equivalent to dh buying me and wrapping up a box of tampons

Am I alone on this?

[GastonsChestHair]

My 8 year old son has asked for new socks. He doesn't need new socks but nevertheless he will get them. If he hadn't asked, no I probably wouldn't have bought him socks but seeing as he did, I'm not going to persuade him to ask for a toy instead. It's about what he wants and what makes him happy.

[recklessgran]

We do buy everyday essentials as stocking fillers but these are always a more luxurious version than one would normally buy e.g. Molton Brown shower gel instead of Original Source etc.

[CinnamonStar]

You can get fun toothbrushes though, with characters on, or character shaped handles, it's not quite the same as tampons.

I don't actually buy toothbrushes to put in stockings, but I'll put a few useful things in there - pants or socks or something. I wouldn't get plain ones, I'd get ones with characters or a fun design, maybe a Christmassy design. Same with shower gel, I'd get something a bit unusual.

I have bought DD some tupperware-type boxes to go in her stocking, which perhaps comes under the heading of necessary stuff, but they are cool designs and I think she will like them. If I was just buying them as a necessity, I would get cheap, plain ones; because they are a present, I have spent more on them. Hopefully when she uses them she will think of Santa!

[YouMakeMyDreams]

I buy what are essentials as stocking fillers too but instead of a bog standard toothbrush did got a musical 1d one a couple of years ago. Not something I would ususally buy her. And character bubble bath and shower gel. Fancier non usual versions of the every day stuff. It's nothing like a box of tampons. It's a few little bits that wouldn't normally be in the bathroom .

[AndNowItsSeven]

Dd4 has a barbie battery operated toothbrush , hello kitty toothpaste and doc mc stuffing glitter shower gel. She will love them as they are not big standard toiletries.

[AndNowItsSeven]

Bog

[trixymalixy]

Ha ha, my Mum used to wrap up tampons for me and my sister at Xmas!

[ShamefulPlaceMarker]

But gaston if he has asked for new socks then surely you just but him new socks and give them now?

[ShamefulPlaceMarker]

Haha reckless original source is luxury in our house :)

[ShamefulPlaceMarker]

In get things like perfume & smellies from lush or that come with a nice gift box.
I buy my dc a character toothbrush whenever they need a new toothbrush, and usually character underwear when they need them.
Dunno, just seems odd to me but each to their own

[ShamefulPlaceMarker]

Another I've just read is work wear for her dh & a razor

[GastonsChestHair]

Why? He doesn't need them. He has loads of plain socks but he wants some with cool prints on. He's asked Santa for them. And Santa won't disappoint him

[jamtartandcustard]

would never buy a toothbrush yet I have this year. but that's because its a fancy, all singing all dancing electric toothbrush for dh, not like a £1 job that we usually have.
I do fill stockings with socks and pants though. strangely enough kids can get excited about pants with their fave characters on, same with socks. well they seem more excited over them then the apple and orange in their stocking
and practical presents are much better then endless plastic tat

[Artandco]

It's the cost though isn't it and filling out stockings. Spending £30 on filling stocking with fun things is nice, but many won't have that plus £20 more to buy essentials. So it makes sense that the £30 to fill stocking includes those essentials.

Most buy slightly nicer than usual also. So nice socks, new tshirt, a toothbrush fills stocking alongside fun things.

[WhispersOfWickedness]

I suppose if you normally buy character/exciting pants, socks and toothbrushes, then it will seem a bit odd. I am the type of mother who stands in the sock aisle exclaiming "how much for a pair of socks?!?" and then buying the cheapest, plainest you can buy, so my DC are delighted to get character things in their stockings
The way I see it is that at this age, they love opening things and don't actuality care much what is inside the parcel, so if you can increase the present pile without increasing the level of tat they don't really need, everyone's a winner

[ShamefulPlaceMarker]

Well gaston if he's asked santa for them then fair enough

[ShamefulPlaceMarker]

You're right jam I hate needless tat. Maybe I need to embrace the character undies!

[RubberDicky]

Wait wait, you're forgetting that tampons are a luxury!

[ShamefulPlaceMarker]

whispers I'm like that in the sock aisle! My ds has some grey skeleton ones and lots of plain grey ones which are used for school and weekend.
My mil bought hom some spiderman ones for his birthday, they're the only character ones he has.
Right, I'm going to embrace the character socks in the stocking!
I guess kids just like opening things?

[ShamefulPlaceMarker]

Oh yes rubby It's razors which are essential!

[ItMustBeBedtimeSurely]

It's about not ending up with loads of useless tat. And most children live things like character underwear and bubble bath. So it's a win win. Plus, as someone else pointed out, not everyone can afford to spend more money on unnecessary stuff.

I try to have as much useful/edible stuff as possible in stockings to cut down on clutter.

[trixymalixy]

Yes kids just like opening things, so I also try to have mostly useful/edible things in their stockings so they have stuff to open that's not going to clutter the place. e.g. a new character water bottle for school as the lids have gone missing for the existing ones.

[ShamefulPlaceMarker]

That's why dc have only 3 presents and a couple choc/sweet things in their stocking. I've gone the other way to avoid tat, but nit really thought about the fact that they have very little to open!

[Tokoloshe]

DD (8) gets some 'necessaries' and gets excited about them. I get her one big present (last year a tablet), and she has some smaller ones from family and friends. The basics make the present opening longer, and she goes from basics, to small stuff, to the big one - it makes it more of an occasion. If she was 'blah' about the basics I wouldn't bother turn them into presents, and just get anyway. But then there would still only be the one big present from me.

[NotCitrus]

I've just ordered socks for dp! Nice ones, though - bamboo sweat-absorbing ones. We're getting a few token things for each other and some major house projects.

Dd has been wanting a new toothbrush despite her current one being fine (chose it, then decided didn't like the character after using it), so I told her she might get one for Christmas. And some new clothes for the kids - we don't buy much during the rest of the year. They seem to appreciate new stuff more if it turns up as a 'present' rather than just in their drawer.