First year I'm doing stockings. What do you put in?

[CheddarIsNotTheOnlyCheese]

I've 3 kids. Ds 14 dd1 12 dd2 9. I've never bothered and up til this year neither were they. Both dd's asked for a stocking so I bought 3 off Amazon. I really don't know what to put in. Do you wrap stuff? Other than a chocolate orange each and a small gift (juggling balls, Rubik's cube and magic 8 ball) I'm stuck. Also my mum is staying and was thinking of doing one for her as a surprise. Normally I'd make them up a present of pj's, book/annual etc.

Oops pressed too soon. As they get older the present pile is smaller but dearer. Thanks for any ideas.

I have a stocking formula.

Bath bomb
Choc coins
Lip balm
Fancy pens
Small notebook
£1 tube of sweets
Bauble shaped bubble bath (usually from Avon)
Small novelty toy (like your juggling balls)
Choc Santa and teeny soft toy peeping out

Then I tend to put some small bits related to their interests in, likes Harry Potter wand blind box mini for dd2 and makeup for DD1

I LOVE doing stockings

This may help OP

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/Christmas/3420964-what-do-you-put-in-your-stockings

Hair bobbles , hair gel. Nail varnish. Silly glasses from Tiger. Bath bomb. Mini bag of Lego (make a little car etc ). Cinema voucher. Enough for one film. Socks. Pants. Hat. Facepack.

This year my DS's (10 and 8) stockings will contain:
Fortnite socks
Fortnite wristband
Head torch
Squishy toy
Beanie boo
Novelty lego men
Can of coke
Pringles
Chocolate coins

Ok so my mum did me a stocking til I was 20 😂 always wrapped. Over the years it included
New knickers
New socks
Fluffy socks
Nice conditioner (I have dry hair)
Shower gel
Chocolate coins
The big £1 tube of smarties
Pens
Pencils
Bobbles
Face mask
Mascara
Small diary for the new year
Bubble bath
Bath bomb
Cookie cutters
Craft stuff

Missed out a whole paragraph. No idea how.
Normally I'd make them up a present of pj's etc to be opened on Xmas eve. But now they're older they don't care about going to bed early so was wondering about making them up early and hiding them. Also where do you put them? In their rooms or by the fireplace?

Father Christmas always left mine at the end of my bed, even after I’d stopped believing. I love my mum.

Wow! Thank you all for such good ideas and fast replies. Looks like a trip to Boots,Claire's and Tiger is in order then.

This year I have special mouldable spray soap, joke toys, unusual stationary, a book, sweets, chocolate coins, bath bombs, magic flannels, a small soft toy. Mine are little so also bubnle mixture. A racing hamster each.

I've always done one for me too. Ex and I used to do one for each other and I didn't want to confuse them about father Christmas by stoping (and I like presents for me...). I have earings, nice shower gel and socks. I will also have edible things and a tin of gin and tonic.

I haven't done one for DS since we moved to Germany

I do a mixture of useful things and novelty things but they all have to be cheap.

Definitely some sweets - and an orange!
Socks are a good thing to put in and stationery.
DM used to put in a comic or cheap/small colouring/puzzle book to keep us busy so we didn't wake her up too early :) I like this idea.

And they are defo to be put in bedrooms. The empty stocking left on the end of the bed so you fill it when they're asleep. Stretching your foot out to hear the "rustle" of a filled stocking full of presents is BRILLIANT and the most exciting thing ever.

I'd start by setting a budget, then fill each stocking with relevant small gifts. Definitely the chocolate orange you mentioned, a small toy or game, some bath stuff or cosmetics, something useful like gloves, scarf, slippers or a tee-shirt and something Christmassy, like a decoration to hang on the tree or a spicy candle or reindeer mug.

Stockings are the best bit of Christmas!

In ours :

Fancy toothbrush
Shower gel / bubble bath
Book
Novelty toy eg fidget toy / slime
Small Lego set or similar
Hair accessories
Key ring
Water bottle
Gloves
Hat
Sweets
£1

Hat
gloves
iTunes voucher
Chocolate
Mug or cup
Nuts
Earrings

Usual everyday stuff really!

Yeah might put them at the end of the bed. Could be a new tradition for us. We were very poor and had a raging alkie to deal with so as a kid I barely got a single present to open. Stockings were something rich kids in films had. Dd2 asked me why she had never had one as all her friends did. Dd1 asked me for one outright. Her friends film themselves going through them and she wants to join in this year. Ds isn't arsed.

I loved doing the stockings and the ritual of them sitting on my bed taking turns to open them. When young it was all about little gifts to keep them amused Christmas morning as we open tree presents in the late afternoon. As they got older it was make up, stationery, knickers, socks, sweets etc. This will be the first time in thirty years I haven't done stockings as it's now time for grandchildren to enjoy them which is not my job.

@BerieBotts - damn, I feel guilty now. I never put their stockings on their beds as DS2 is such a light sleeper we'd never have got through the door, let alone filled the stocking. We hang ours around the mantelpiece and next monring when they come down, the stockigs are full to bursting and lying on the hearth beside half eaten mince pies and reindeer food.

I put DDs just outside her bedroom door so I don't wake her up when I put it in!!

You have to put a satsuma in the toe of the stocking!

Satsuma, Apple, walnut, shiny coins from the year are essential. Something sweet. Something to occupy them so they don't wake you too early. Little silly things. Nothing noisy unless you're foolish.

A sock is put on the end of the bed that Father Christmas magically changes overnight. Stockings may be opened as soon as you wake up - rest of the presents with family later.

I am 33. I fully expect Father Christmas to work his magic overnight on the 24th. Although Mrs Christmas will probably have prepared it earlier.

Lip balm, mini toiletries, toothbrush, playing cards or Top Trumps, mini notebook, stickers, socks

They are in the living room as they never slept

Don't think it really matters

Stockings are what santa brings

Other gifts from family and friends

Great ideas. Will definitely put fruit in as the kids will be baffled . Are items gift wrapped? Love the idea of dd2 filming herself unwrapping a beautifully wrapped Orange.

This will be the first time in thirty years I haven't done stockings as it's now time for grandchildren to enjoy them which is not my job.

Good for you for not trying to take over. Really nice to see. Nothing to say FC can't do a stocking for parents, he'd probably leave it with you to deliver though.