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Original poster

Ideas for what to put in an Xmas Eve box?

22 replies

BumbleNova · 12/12/2019 11:32

What do you put in yours? My DS is 14 months so I've got a book, some PJs and then I'm stuck?!

I know it's not for everyone but I really want to create new Christmas traditions for us as a family. I lost my mum this time last year so Christmas is really hard - please don't post if you have nothing kind to add.

OP posts:

HoHoHoik · 12/12/2019 11:37

Book, pyjamas, hot chocolate (although probably a bit young for that at 14m), special plate for Santa's mince pie and Rudolph's carrot, magic key to hang up next to the fireplace so Santa can get in.

moodolph · 12/12/2019 11:40

Aww Dd 14 months here as well op, on Christmas Day. Another one trying to make happy traditions this year for different reasons. I'm sorry for your loss.

We have pyjamas and dvd. Then will have same night before Christmas book every year, and same Santa plate for carrot etc.

We got lion king this year. Dh has a tradition he watches a film with niece and nephew so wants to carry that on.

I suppose going forward I might add a sweetie.

Just little things.

Sandaled · 12/12/2019 11:43

I would invest in a festive santa plate with the space for a carrot, mince pie etc that you can reuse every year, aside from that I think for his age along with the book and PJ's that's enough. Perhaps a soft toy he can keep if you wanted something else, and then maybe add stuff every year as he grows and enjoys different things.

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ToTheRegimentIWishIWasThere · 12/12/2019 11:43

At 14 months, I'd probably leave it there to be honest. Maybe a decoration for the tree (write the year on it.) Or a cuddly toy. But I'd save the fun stuff for when he understands a bit more which will only be next year. Get a copy of TTNBC and the first Christmas if you're religious, the Rod Campbell one is lovely.

My DS is just turned 3 and he'll have his PJs and the Father Christmas plate. A
Our twas the night before Christmas book and the nativity story (but we read that most nights anyway!) A little tube of bird seed (I just took the sticker off an empty pot of oregano!) for reindeer food. And I might pop a bath bomb in there. And his stocking. Everything is reused and recycled and will continue to be. (the stocking was mine and is 30 years old!)

ToTheRegimentIWishIWasThere · 12/12/2019 11:44

And I'm so, so sorry for your loss OP

HoHoHoik · 12/12/2019 11:46

One thing I also do is a ribbon, the spool lives in the Christmas box. Each year I measure my DC with the ribbon and snip off a piece that is their height. I write their name and the year on the ribbon with a pen, roll it up, and put it in an envelope. I've got a record of how tall each of my DC has been at each Christmas.

One of my gifts from DH this year is a bewutiful blown-glass bauble and I'm going to put my pieces of ribbon into it to keep them safe and then I can hang them on the tree every year.

HoHoHoik · 12/12/2019 11:47

*beautiful

Original poster

BumbleNova · 12/12/2019 11:49

Ooh I like those ideas! Thank you! He will probably just chew it but a magic key is lovely.

OP posts:

RhymingRabbit3 · 12/12/2019 11:50

A DVD of a short christmas film e.g. The Snowman or Stickman. They're only 30 mins so easier for little ones to watch, although a 14 month old may still get bored halfway through!

Original poster

BumbleNova · 12/12/2019 11:52

Getting a plate to leave out for santa is great too.

Thanks everyone!

OP posts:

RJnomore1 · 12/12/2019 11:55

You need a little chocolate treat op.

bengalcat · 12/12/2019 11:59

Lovely idea and ongoing tradition . My DD is 18 but will be leaving Christmas Eve to spend Christmas day at her Dads so having heard about Christmas Eve boxes a while back and thinking " what the hell is that all about " I've ordered a reusable one to fill so she can have some stuff from me/us Christmas Eve . Haven't yet decided whether I give it to her to take down on the train or can catch him in the City to hand over on the day yet .
Putting cat paw socks , a llama card game , infused oil sticks etc in it .

moodolph · 12/12/2019 12:37

Gosh @HoHoHoik the ribbon idea is just lovely, thank you for sharing that. I won't have last year but she was probably to curled up to measure and just tiny.

Crawley65 · 12/12/2019 12:43

Buy a new Christmas decoration to put on the tree each year.

TheCanyon · 12/12/2019 13:56

We do pyjamas, new duvet set, sweet cone and dvd/book.

ReginaGeorgeous · 12/12/2019 14:28

Sorry for your loss OP. My children are four and seven months, I've put in a pair of matching pj's for them both, a Disney DVD and chocolate reindeer each for my eldest, myself and DH (Aldi Lindt knock offs).

Thestrangestthing · 12/12/2019 14:29

Christmas book
Pjs
Socks
Hot chocolate
I used to do dvd but can now stream everything
Was thinking of a hot water bottle this year but decided against it as they will never get used.

WhatsInAName19 · 12/12/2019 14:40

I'm usually a bit "bah humbug" about stuff like this because Christmas nowadays just seems to be an exercise in marketing and one upmanship BUT the Christmas Eve box is one new tradition that we actually really love and find worthwhile for our family. It's basically stuff that my parents would have got me when I was little anyway, but the kids do find it exciting having it all in a special box.

Ours has new PJs (slippers this year because they don't need PJs), a book, bath bomb, some treats (chocolate or gingerbread), hot chocolate and this year one of those microwave lavender warmies shaped like a teddy.

We always do something outdoorsy on Christmas Eve to give adults a break from housework/cooking and basically to make sure the fresh air knocks the kids out at bedtime 😁 So it feels very Christmassy to come home, excitedly open boxes, go for a bath with their bath bombs, change into new PJs, watch something like Julia Donaldson or The Snowman on TV and munch their treats under a blanket, followed by bed with their new book. It's lovely.

Itsashame · 12/12/2019 14:43

What I would say is keep it simple. In years to come you don’t want to be adding a load of cost onto the gifts you’re giving as Santa the next day.
So what pp said about giving things that are needed anyway like pyjamas makes sense. I know people for whom the Xmas eve box has become so expensive on top of everything else, crazy

Original poster

BumbleNova · 12/12/2019 17:18

@WhatsInAName19 yes - that's why I'm keen to start! It might also diffuse some of the over-excitement in years to come.

Thanks for all your kind words all. I don't know what I would have done without my DS. Got to keep going.

OP posts:

Ellegeebee · 12/12/2019 17:37

Reindeer food (make your own bird and animal friendly one, loads of recipes on line). Sorry for your loss, “firsts” are particularly hard.

Whiskeylover45 · 12/12/2019 17:59

I'm planning on doing one for DS for the first time, hes 2.5. This year everything will be new, however in coming years I'm going to reuse dvds/books ect.

I'm including sweets, hot chocolate, pjs, night before xmas book, a christmas dvd (not sure which), a santa teddy and his stocking to hang at the end of his bed.

Like you I want to create new traditions, and I'm sorry to hear about your mum. I lost my granny last year who was like a mum to me, and christmas was difficult. Sending

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