Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

Original poster

Welcoming our elf & Christmas eve hamper

52 replies

BankerMommy2010 · 13/10/2013 08:48

Im trying to think of ways to welcome our elf... do I just hide him before I go to bed so hes waiting for ds to find on dec 1st do I sit him next to ds advent calendar? I have the elf on a shelf dvd should I start letting him watch that in nov and reading him the book so he understands what the elf is (ds is 3, 4 in feb)

I have started putting together his Christmas eve hamper and its looking great:
So far it includes:

Christmas dressing gown
Christmas pjs
Christmas slipper socks
Bubble bath
Christmas cup
Sweets in an elf shape jar
Christmas dvd
Christmas story
Key for santa
Christmas chocolate lolly
Santa stop here sign to hang on his bedroom door before bed
A letter from his elf
Reindeer food

Is that everything or has anybody else got ideas?

OP posts:
amistillsexy · 13/10/2013 08:55

If you give him all that lot on Christmas Eve, it'll be New Years before he's finished doing everything to 'prepare'!
Don't you think he will be better served by a nice calm Christmas Eve reading the Nativity story and snuggling down quietly for an early night? Christmas Day will bring excitement enough.

littleoaktree · 13/10/2013 08:55

Last year was the first time we did the elf and I got a little red suitcase which I sprayed with a bit of fake snow, put the elf inside with a little blanket and a letter for ds1 and put it in the fireplace for ds1 to find on 1 dec. my idea was that as Father Christmas comes down the chimney it made sense for his elf to do so as well. Ds1 was 3.7 last christmas and I'm surprised that he remembers how the elf arrived as he was talking about it the other day when we mentioned christmas so it obviously made an impact on him Grin

We don't do the Christmas Eve hamper so can't help on that sounds like you have loads in it though.

nicename · 13/10/2013 09:01

Oh lawkes, I can't remember where I stored ours froml last year! It was one of those from the US that had the letter of introduction from Santa!

Does anyone have the web address of the NASA (?) site that tracks santas sleigh?

I love chrimbo bit looks like we'll be stuck here again with a very low key affair (boo hiss humbug).

Original poster
BankerMommy2010 · 13/10/2013 09:03

What do you mean? Bubble bath is for his Christmas eve bath, he will wear the pjs, dressing gown amd slippers, watch dvd & eat his goodies, leave Santa his key and stop here sign go upto bed and have his stories (which are nativity and Santa's workshop)

OP posts:
Original poster
BankerMommy2010 · 13/10/2013 09:04

Its all stuff I have bought for him in previous years, but its akl just been put away ready for when we needed it on xmas eve, this way it makes it a little bit exciting x

OP posts:
deepfriedsage · 13/10/2013 09:05

I think that's ott personally. New pj's a nice story and warm milk with nutmeg or hot chocolate is lovely.

Original poster
BankerMommy2010 · 13/10/2013 09:06

Love the suitcase idea. .. I have a little elf door that im sticking to our skirting board.... maybe I could sit him outside the door???

OP posts:
Original poster
BankerMommy2010 · 13/10/2013 09:07

Maybe ott but he'd have had everything fir xmas eve anyway,he will have the milk Iin his cup and a story obv

OP posts:
SoupDragon · 13/10/2013 09:07

My idea is just read The Night Before Christmas, hot drink, bed. Job done.

hermioneweasley · 13/10/2013 09:09

Few brunches have found their way on this thread. Sounds perfect OP, I don't think you need anything else.

hermioneweasley · 13/10/2013 09:09

Brunches = grinches

Guitargirl · 13/10/2013 09:15

The only difference I would suggest I think is maybe get the Elf to bring the Christmas dressing gown at the beginning of December so your DS gets good wear out if it. Seems a shame to only wear a Christmas dressing gown for a couple of days?

SoupDragon · 13/10/2013 09:17

Nope, can't see any Grinches.

amistillsexy · 13/10/2013 09:18

what do you mean?
I'm suggesting you might be over-egging the pudding just a tad.
When little children have a big day ahead, with an early start, lots of excitement and possibly many people around, a big meal, lots of noise...it's all overwhelming.
The big build up the night before could lead to him being over-excited, and not being able to sleep, which could lead to him finding it hard to get through Christmas day without a tantrum/crying due to being over tired.
I'm sure he'll enjoy receiving all the things in his 'hamper'. I'm sure he'd enjoy a new pair of pjs, and a quiet, normal, bath, story, bed routine as well.

Original poster
BankerMommy2010 · 13/10/2013 09:18

Phew. I was starting to think I was the only person doing the hamper, I got the idea off here and thought seeing as I buy most of the stuff every year anyway it would be nice to present it as a gift from his elf with a letter. Not sure what others think I am planning to do... hype him up into a frenzy is not my plan, in fact the hamper is part of my plan to curb the over excitement of Christmas eve,

Nice relaxing bath
New pjs
Downstairs for treats & milk whilst watching his Christmas Thomas the tank dvd
Leave out treats for santa
Upstairs to bed for his Christmas story and snuggles before sleepy time.... dont see the problem

OP posts:
amistillsexy · 13/10/2013 09:26

No grinches, simply people who understand that young children thrive when the adults around them consider how their choices will impact the child.

The OP has listed 13 items for the child to receive the night before he receives (possibly) many more new things. She then asked if anyone could think of anything else she could add. She says herself it's OTT. She is absolutely correct in that.

Original poster
BankerMommy2010 · 13/10/2013 09:27

Amistillsexy.... if I thought he couldn't handle it I wouldn't do it, guess we all know our own child best, its a small basket with a few bits set out for Christmas eve, im.not going to whip him into a frenzy when I present it, it will just be waitingon his bed when we go up for his bath. Guess we all have different ideas, I know he will love this litttle addition to our Christmas eve traditions.

The dressing gown is just plain red so he can wear it all year

OP posts:
Original poster
BankerMommy2010 · 13/10/2013 09:29

By the way... I didn't say it was OTT someone else did... bloody hell, wish I hadn't opened my mouth

OP posts:
amistillsexy · 13/10/2013 09:29

OP, you have contradicted yourself. In a previous post you said its all stuff you'd be buying anyway, this way it makes it more exciting. You now say you want to cut down on the excitement.
I think you've definitely done enough now. [Wink]

FruitSaladIsNotPudding · 13/10/2013 09:31

My goodness. People get worked up over Xmas eve hampers?

We're doing it - new pjs, the night before Christmas book (reused from year to year obviously), a horribly glittery bath bomb from lush, reindeer food, perhaps a DVD if we give it to them early enough in the day to watch it. I think it's a lovely tradition to start, and I'm all for Christmas being low key on the present front.

Wilberforce2 · 13/10/2013 09:33

I did the Elf for the first time last year (ds was just 4) and about 10 minutes before I knew we were going out I got DH to distract ds then set the Elf up on the doorstep with the book and a Christmas helium balloon that I had hidden in the car earlier. I then told ds to open the front door while I grabbed my bag which meant he discovered the elf! A few weeks before I planted the idea in his head and showed him the DVD so he was starting to wonder if he had been good enough for this elf to visit us! It was such good fun but I am a sucker for a Christmas gimmick!

I also do the elf bag and ds normally gets:

New pj's
Christmas book
Something to eat
Hot choc sachet
Bubble bath
Santa Key
Reindeer food

deepfriedsage · 13/10/2013 09:33

Look don't let us grinches spoil your fun, you have enough in your hamper. Have a nice Christmas.

the grinch stole Xmas, I was suggesting a more understated Xmas eve

Original poster
BankerMommy2010 · 13/10/2013 09:35

I meant the excitement of waiting for presents the next day, having a little treat might help. .. maybe not, maybe I have contradicted myself, but I wasn't expecting to habe to justify my actions to be honest, really though, why are you so bothered? Its a little gift... I want to do it as part of his Christmas gifts... does that make me a bad person

OP posts:
deepfriedsage · 13/10/2013 09:38

My teenage dc still get excited about their Xmas eve new pj's, we now go to a coffee shop for the luxury hot chocolate. It is lovely to have traditions. Some people think your ott, you do not just ignore.

deepfriedsage · 13/10/2013 09:39

I meant just ignore us, and do your own thing, don't get upset.

Swipe left for the next trending thread