Christmas abroad for three year old

[ProveMeWrong]

We are visiting family at Christmas (expats) and this means Christmas this year has to be portable, as does DS's birthday presents as they both fall within a few days of each other. We are only paying for hand luggage as it involves cars, planes and trains.

I know he loves matchbox cars so that is something we can get, maybe a book or two. Any other ideas for presents that we can get that won't be massive to take back? Very worried what the grandparents and aunties will be buying! I really don't want him opening things and then having to leave them. I also don't really want him to have things left here at home as this will be the first year of believing in Santa for him.

So hard! I love Chirstmas and feel bad I'm depriving him of the excitement of a big box on his first Chirstmas where he is aware of what's going on but he gets to see a,l his grandma, grandad and aunties and uncles, cousins etc so that will be really nice.

There are plenty of small gifts that you can take, a book, some chocolate coins, transfers/stickers, whoopee cushion, finger puppets....

I think you'll need a plan to get gifts from other people home. If you're travelling with hand luggage only I can't imagine there will be any spare room.

Travel-sized Aquadoodle?
Dressing up outfit

My three year-old loves his kiddizoom camera. It comes in a ridiculously large box, but it's not that big and we take it as hand luggage all the time.

Or how about a trunki? Then you could pack his presents in it. One year we actually shipped stuff back, it was a special offer on parcel2send and only cost about £25.

This was us last year. We stressed over and over that presents should be small and portable and not too many.

Still ended up having to leave some behind. DH and I didn't buy any presents for our DC because we knew my family would and did overload them. Did feel a bit bad that we didn't give them anything, but they had too much as it was.

Maybe some edible presents? My DC would love things like fancy Christmas biscuits. Books are good. And the cars.

Little dinosaur or animal figures.
Stickers.
DVDs
Hand puppet
Colouring or activity books.
I guess you're looking for stocking-filler type things, really. I'm sure he'll love them - they don't worry about value at that age.

Some lovely ideas. The trunki would have been genius but he got it from his auntie last year and absolutely loves it!
I will look into the shipping link, thanks for that.
Great ideas especially dvd as he does need something new. And I would never have thought of the camera but I guess he is just about that age now which is exciting! Thanks again everyone.

Wouldn't it be good if Santa left the big presents at yours to be discovered when you return home, for even more excitement...?

We travelled over Christmas last year, and santa was very good and left gifts in two places- went down very well

I have 3 kids with Xmas and birthday close together. So lots all at once and not a lot for the rest of the year. At that age there is a lot of bigger toys, both indoor and outdoor that they would get a years worth of use out of instead of buying bits to travel with. I would probably do a stocking and say santa has sent you an email with a photo of a big thing unwrapped under your tree at home then a couple of other harder to transport things wrapped again in your house under tree. If he is getting presents on the day from family he won't notice only a stocking from you guys. They can get overwhelmed if too many presents.

We are always away at Xmas

We send a letter explaining this to Santa , with drawings etc and post it ( to grandma!!), and grandma replies on Xmas paper explaining how he will leave anything big at the house . Ds's are 3 and 4 and it's worked last few years

We basically take empty stockings and few small bits ie new mr men book ( small and thin), new Tshirt ( pack one less allowing for it), some pens and and this year mini new Lego ( the bigger box of Lego will be at home for return). Then once we land we buy some local chocolate/ satsumas etc to fill stocking out. Another note from Santa saying he's left something special back home.

When we last went abroad for Christmas we took only one small present each for the DC. Santa had gifts and sweets for the children staying in the hotel, and the holiday was splendid. Nobody felt they had missed out. We had the gifts on our return.

Oh I do really like that idea with the photo email of the tree at home with a big present waiting. Also like the idea of something exciting to look forward to when we get back! I can say the fairies let him in (we have a fairy door). Because I would like to get home some lego this year or a scooter. Thanks again