Its a Father Christmas Stocking issue I'm afraid :)

[TheCountessRoyalofBlood]

Right so I have dd (4) at xmas and ds (18mon) at xmas, now we have done the FC thing with the 4yo, and last year we re-gifted to ds all the baby toys we had in the loft and have done so for his birthday as well, but we are getting to saturation point and I have a few puzzles but literally 2 with some missing pieces , the question 1. I am going to have to do a FC Stocking aren't I for the sake of dd?

1. What do I put in it that makes it look really good to her, but is cheap and cheerful and not full of huge cheap toys that will take up space!

Help - I need to get organised as my Mum is v ill and I want to make sure I have done something decent before I get overwhelmed by hospital and Dr appointments with her. (She is hopefully going to be fine but I am having to do all the driving for her and my dad )

I am really sorry your Mum is ill hope you all muddle through, and she gets well soon.
Yes, you absolutely have to do a stocking for you little one
I would put in it
a jack in the box
a small soft ball
a small soft toy (charity shops will have loads)
a book
new socks
new toothbrush / flannel
new sippy cup thing
cutlery
hat/gloves
satsuma and chocolate!

Hope your Mum gets better soon.

Tickler's done a great list - the only things I would add are some necessary clothes that you would have got anyway and call them the 'Christmas Clothes'. We always had Christmas Clothes and never twigged they would probably have been bought anyway. In fact we raced to wear them and feel special

So xmas jumper? Shall I start a tradition last year I bought him a reindeer jumper from Jo jo's! I might see what else they have! And yes he really needs clothes as he is growing so fast.

Brilliant ideas - see you see far more clearly when someone else is telling you what to get!

I would also add some nice new hairclips or hairbands if you use them, and a children's magazine.

Definitely check out charity shops, they are usually very good for children's books.

Mine get 10-15 things of no more than £1 in their stockings.

So I raid the pound shops!

They get pens, colouring books, toy car, packet of sweets, socks, little lego men, stickers etc. All things that will keep them entertained with a limited input from me on Christmas morning whilst I am doing other bits and pieces or trying to get an extra hour napping

dd is sorted - got some sticker books, hair clips already and will probably get a few bits from one of supermarkets with their half price toys on (sylvanian family box babies which are about £4 at the moment!)
(managed to get the sylvanian windmill yesterday for £25 instead of £50 and its her bday soon so will add to that!)
She isn't at that age yet where she wants a big present just lots of little things to open so think FC might be nice and m and d do nothing at all - she won't notice

To add to the ideas list for baby:

"christmas" bib for christmas dinner
slipper socks
matchbox car
musical instrument eg harmonica/maracas etc

...and what tickler said :-)

It's a good time to start some 'traditions' for what they get in their stocking, which will save you some headaches in future years. How about:

• A new bauble each for the tree (assuming you were going to buy at least two new ones anyway)
• A net of chocolate coins and a satsuma
• A branded bubble bath or body wash each
• Christmassy socks/ pants/ hairclips

Once they start to get used to getting the same things year after year, it will make it a lot easier to shop for - and there'll be fewer squabbles on Christmas Day. You can then 'top up' with little toys to whatever amount you want to buy.

All my underwear, toothbrushes and colouring pencils came from Father Christmas when I was a child, and I quite liked knowing that I would get them. It was always nice to find the unexpected toy as well though.

Traditions with stocking are brilliant mine are already talking about them and their Christmas pj's . Amazing as they are 23 20 19 18 and 14 !! Sock undies toiletries chocolate are top of their lists . So merry Christmas and good luck

hi, were did ya get sylvanian families on offer?? after some bits for my god daughter, she is in love with them. my dd is too young yet lol

Sainsbury's have half price Sylvanian families - some of them anyway - worth a look but probably not for much longer - you can do click and collect as well.

Brilliant so the following will be purchased (possibly)

Toothbrush and Toothpaste
PJ's
Bib for baby
Jumper
sippy cup for baby
bauble (was already doing this so this is great!)
slipper socks for baby

All things that are actually required for us anyway and would have to be purchased - actually remembered that I bought a melamine set in the sale some time back. Was thinking of some threading beads for dd too - grown up ones.