A question or two for those who do Christmas Eve hampers

[Pinner35]

So, I'm hoping to do a hamper for my DD's (aged 4.7 and 2.7). Firstly, do you use an actual hamper or could I improvise with a box (the only hamper I have is quite small)? And, since this is the first one they'll have, when do I tell them /give it to them? Do I do it in the morning, or wait until its time for an early bath?

TIA

[MrsHoarder]

My plan is to have a few itns that come in the Christmas hamper. So stocking, Night Before Christmas book and if I get around to making it a Christmas blanket (Boxing day onwards we're in the car a lot visiting people). Then add 1 treat to have after tea and put everything in a wrapped up box (nicked from Lidl). It will appear magically whilst we're at the Christmas Eve family crib service.

So its not extra consumption really, just those things which only come out on Christmas Eve.

[mummy1986]

I have
2 bags of reindeer food, (2 dd's)
Xmasy Pj's (For all 4 of us!)
Twas the night Before Christmas
Father Christmas dvd (Co-op bargin!)
Sweets for watching Dvd with.
Ive wrapped a Boot box up and put them in there wrapped it up and put a big bow on top and put Love Holly the Elf on the label!

[Marne]

I have bought the dd's a build a bear for christmas eve (on the black friday deal), so they have a penguin each, they will come in their boxes so will put pj's and a book with them, will probably give them to them late afternoon x-mas eve, so they can take their teddy to bed with them, read their new books whilst wearing new pj's.

[Clothilde]

I think of the hamper as more of a way of planning ahead for activities and being organised on Christmas eve in a way that is fun. Most of the contents are reused from previous years or stuff we have anyway. It's really a way of getting children very enthusiastic about bath/dinner/letter to Father Christmas/bed.

[RobinSparkles]

We got this book on Christmas Eve last year. My DC loved it!

It's a really lovely book with a Santa's sleigh that you pull back and it travels around tracks in the book. It's probably aimed at younger children, mine were 4 and 10 months last year.

[Doitnicelyplease]

I love the idea of a hamper but IMHO there are those that go overboard buying more and more making it more elaborate than it needs to be.
In ours they get new pjs, new movie, other than that it is just stuff we have in the house anyway, popcorn, hot chocolate, and we read a Christmas book we already have. I put it in a Christmas gift bag

[fakeblondie]

we put reindeer food in our hamper too. when dc have sprinkled the sparkly food DH puts saved up empty jars all up either side of the drive with a tea light in each. . . About 30 ! When dc look out of the window last thing they see is the landing strip for Rudolph ! It's lovely .

[TellMeLater]

First year for us doing the hamper but we've always done Xmas eve presents like pjs and hot choc

Contents this year
Home made chocs/sweets - they each get their favourites - even dh! I'm buying my own.
Christmas mugs with some kind of hot choc mixture.
Pjs
Bath bombs for Xmas eve bath
Board games
Christmas book/poem
DVD- maybe one we already have!
Tree decoration

Will put it in a wrapped box to be opened mostly after the bath - except for the bath bombs.

Yes they get plenty on the big day, but I've always enjoyed Xmas eve much more than the main event.

[mumstonic]

This is such an excellent idea!

I've already bought some of the above, so easy enough to put together. New bubble bath, PJ's and a DVD is exactly what my DD's need to get them settle their inevitable excitment.

I bought a pile of books from Redhouse the other day so will put in the Jolly Christmas Postman which I was planning on giving early DD2 anyway. Link Here Half the price of Waterstones and free delivery over £15!

[Pinner35]

Ooh, I like the idea of the hamper appearing after a walk. Thanks for all your ideas.

Chaos...see you in bed then dahling ;)

[bondigidum]

*turned off fire. Don't want the chocs to melt of course

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

WRT the Hamper.
I bought boxes from Homesense/ TKMaxx (they keep them to store crap bits and pieces in.

PJs
Slippers
Hot chocolate sachet (they got mugs last year)
Marshmallows for DD
Some mini biscuits
An annual or book for winding down (we watch a film after our walk)
A bath bomb (Lush)
A jar of sweets (one each, they get a selection box in the Christmas stockings)

We take them for a walk after lunch. I get everyone outside then have to "just pop back in the make sure the back door is locked" and put them in front of the fireplace.



It's not really a load of extra presents IMO, it's things they would have anyway.Just spreads it out a bit and gives then the Bath/PJ/Read/Drink & Biscuits wind down.

The stockings are the little fun or useful things to keep them busy in the morning.

[bondigidum]

We read Laura's star and The Night Before Christmas.

For Christmas Eve hampers I was going to buy like a postal box each and wrap it but I'm not sure now because they're all so tiny they really will have no clue. I think i'll just fold up their new pjs, put their choc coins and marshmallows on top and stick them in 3 individual piles by the fire.

[everydayaschoolday]

we have this book. Absolutely gorgeous. 4YO DD loves it.

www.amazon.co.uk/Night-Before-Christmas-Clement-Moore/dp/023075029X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1353881461&sr=1-1&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Liz79 I had for many years a Night Before Christmas book from M&S but the illustrations were a bit cartooney IYSWIM.
This year I bought one from Waterstones (Buy One get One Half Price sale) . I went for the Christian Birmingham version, the pictures are more traditional (the text is all the same).
My DC are 10 and 13 but still love to read it before bed on Christmas Eve.

[timeforachangebaby]

It has to be the official "night before christmas and all through the house" but tbh it goes ovee DCs heads a little, this year I have this

animal tales is absolutely stunning and there is always a free delivery code

and an other book I am not sure of yet.

[Liz79]

which night before christmas book do you recommend?

[timeforachangebaby]

MrsDeVere I have a template if you would like a copy, I use it for when elves arrive as well, printed on thick cream paper from Hobbycraft.

[ChaosTrulyReigns]

Sigh.

You konw I do it in bed.

[timeforachangebaby]

mmm maybe a new toothbrush and bubbles and they can have them pre bath, like that idea.

[timeforachangebaby]

I use felt bags with their names on, they arrive with the Elves on the 1st December, then they disappear with the Elves after being emptied on Christmas Eve.

They contain, a letter from Santa about how good they have been, pyjamas, slippers and new dressing gowns, 2 christmas books (1 each) and a new Christmas DVD, they are left on their beds as a surprise for post bath.

I am bursting with excitement already, and am in a dliemna as I dont know what my new baby is and it needs to have a little felt bag as well but I cant get the name onto it, my lovely aunt has cut our girl name letters out but we dont know what we are going to call a boy.

[Pinner35]

Yes, thank you everyday....that's exactly how I see it. They get so much on Xmas day, that its nice to spread it out. Plus, we all get to snuggle up, eat popcorn and watch a lovely film, what's not to like?