Stockings, advent calendars and Father Christmas... oh my!

[Namechangeaholic]

Thought I'd combine it all in one thread so here goes:

1. What do you put in stockings from F.C? We usually do undies, toothbrush, chocolate , any batteries needed and something small and fun to occupy the time between getting out of bed with a stocking and opening the rest. This year we'll have a few months old baby joining us - who WILL need a stocking otherwise there will be questions from suspicious DS as to why F.C forgot about her.

1. We have those fabric advent calendars with tiny pockets for our family. What can I fill them with? Last year I did small chocolate things but ideally don't want anything chocolatey as there's already so much of it. Ideas needed for 5yr old boy, me and DH. Not too expensive! Last year I did nail varnish in some of mine but it ended up a bit rubbish.

1. What would F.C get a few months old baby (again for DS benefit)? We'll just be giving money and maybe a few little wrapped up bits that DS can open for baby. F.C brings one present in this house (something you ask for in your letter). We have all the toys and baby stuff from DC so there's nothing we really NEED.

For the first time ever I'm thinking I'll need to resort to purely online shopping so I don't have to wiggle in and out the shops with a buggy and a newborn. Having a meltdown in the shops when things are out of stock or someone is dawdling along infront and you can't overtake is part of the fun! 🎄🎅

Stocking usually have socks , chocolate , satsuma , maybe a bath toy or a surprise bag type thing , hairbands . Mainly useful stuff but seems to keep them occupied .

We have pocket advent calendars and I put in chocolate and then every 5 days and Christmas Eve put a small toy or surprise bag .

Stockings - we always have a new toothbrush, magic flannel and a big tube of chocolate then little presents like stickers, bubbles, yo-yos, fancy hair clips, blind bags, tubs of playdoh, pens etc
When DC3 was 9 weeks old at Xmas and we had to do a stocking for the others' benefit we put in a new dummy, carton of milk, a single nappy, small cuddly toy, pair of socks - things like that

Advent calendars - I fill ours with a mix of chocolate, candy canes, very small toys like I'd buy a bag of tiny plastic dinosaurs and split them over a few days, glow sticks, stickers, tattoos, rubbers, pencil sharpeners, bouncy balls - basically all the things from the party bag section in shops

Baby present - I'd get something the baby won't need till later in the year if there isn't going to be another present giving opportunity for a while like a shape sorter or a scout/Violet Bear, or maybe something like a light projector to attach to the cot DS2 loved his

FC would give a ridiculously cute Christmas outfit to a small baby. And if you don't have one, a soft jingly ball that could safely be used by a 5 year old who wants to play with the baby.

Stockings - we do underwear, socks, small craft things, stickers, new colouring pens/crayons. This year DC1 will be getting a box of coco pops.

Advent calenders – chocolate coins, hairclips, I will get some Christmas activity books this year and just leave a note in the calender as to where they are. Every few days I put a figure or 2 from our nativity crib in with a chocolate coin, so the DC can add them gradually. We also have "activity days" so a token for doing something we had planned anyway! Like the Father Christmas visit or Disney on Ice. My DSIS does a Christmas baking activity with them one day, so that's another token. Will find some Christmas craft/cooking things to do and put tokens in for those too.

For a baby, some maracas/small instruments, socks, ball (you can get flashy light up ones which babies love), pot of bubbles.

Stockings we do chocolate coins, tangerine, stickers, hair clasps/bobbles, toothbrush, bubble bath, crayons/pencils/other crafty type thing, one of those wee mystery toys in a bag, candy cane, socks.

For baby I'd do shampoo/bubble bath, socks, bibs, bath toy, weaning spoons of old enough, rattle, fabric book...that sort of thing.

I'm no use on advent calendars, I always have a kids' chocolate one still

Stockings for DD are underwear, a bottle of Matey bubble bath, a new toothbrush and toothpaste, new crayons, socks, hair clips etc.

For her first Christmas we got her little presents - Christmas dribble bibs, a soft rattle, a cute Christmas outfit, a Christmas pudding hat, a couple of soft toys etc.

Last Christmas, my son was 2 and his new baby brother was 4 months old.
I just wrapped up some of the toys that I'd put away in the loft from when ds1 was a baby. He hasn't seen them on over a year so had no clue they were once his
Incidentally, will be doing something very similar for DS2's birthday next week!

For baby's stocking.

A few packets of Wipes, nappies, new bib, teething ring, weaning spoons, bowl, plate, sippy cup (even if too young to be weaned, she will be old enough soon) a toy or 2 (second hand fine) Baby bubble bath/shampoo. (Even if it later gets used on big kids/adults) clothing? Muslin cloths?

For our DC we do some of the following: Pants, socks, character t-shirt or pj's, something for the bathroom (bubble bath, character flannel, crazy soap, soap on a rope, bath crayons etc), books, chocolate Santa or similar, sweets, Christmas novelty/tree decoration. Something to keep them amused till we open the main presents (toy, craft set etc) something they need (eg: colouring pens, new lunchbox, bike lights, bedding etc)

For the boys advent calendar, how about splitting up a lego model, so he gets the instructions on day one then 1 or a few pieces each (in instruction order,) so the model is finished on the last day.

When my second and third babies had their first Christmases I just wrapped up old baby toys that I'd put away in the attic. The older child(ren) couldn't remember them so didn't notice they were recycled and it was stuff that the baby was going to get anyway. I just couldn't face adding to the plastic toy mountain just so that the older child(ren) could see her/him getting something from FC.

For the advent some micro toy cars, motorbikes from poundland, mini lollypops or mini bags of skittles, sweets, stationery from flying tiger, mini colouring book, keyring,voucher for a day out

Lego people for advent calendar?

Stocking for baby - a baby book, a hat for winter, a photo in a frame of baby and 5yo for their bedroom wall - or better still in a plastic make your own snow globe. Some chocolate coins it can get by you eating them and it drinking your milk if bf.

My DM did my DS1 a wonderful stocking when he was 2 months old - weaning kit, sippy cup (impossible to have too many), teething toy, board book etc.