What goes in the stocking?

[Caspianberg]

Various people seem to put different types of things in the stocking. Some just odd nick nacks and food, some any main gifts that are small enough to fit.
If you put main gifts in, are they from Santa or you?

How much does it cost on average to fill? I was surprised how quickly it adds up ( not sure why, I know things cost £)

He will be 8 months. Have a little schleich reindeer, toy phone, small rag doll, stacking cups, small wooden peg puzzle.

Father Christmas fills the stockings only here. Certainly when mine were tiny I spent very little about £10. I've spent £20 on my 8yo's this year but £40 on my 13yo's as it includes a Zelda amiibo and a Costa giftcard. So I'd say make the most of being able to do it cheaply!

Ours have become more expensive as the children aged and we couldn’t get away with quite so little. It used to be mainly things we needed to buy anyway plus coins, a £5 note, comic etc.

We now get hints from discussions on the family WhatsApp chat. For the first time ever they won’t be here to open them and we are thinking of cutting back but getting kickback from the younger ones about the number of years they will have stockings for if we stop them all at once. Our eldest is working as a locus in the hospice, so it seems harsh not to save hers but then we’ll have to do arrange a stocking for her fiancé too.

Father Christmas does the stocking. It’s settled into a book, a magazine, tights or socks, underwear, scent, makeup or toiletries, jewellery or cufflinks, something silly, chocolate selection box, coins, £20, a bottle of something and a few bits and pieces such as a set of mugs, flutes, violin strings, scrum cap, pens,etc. Usually they get boots as well.

Stockings are always from Father Christmas and are generally “small” presents, admittedly not as cheap as I would like, but not all “tat” either.

This year my dc’s stockings will contain..
Tangerine
Chocolate coins (dairy free)
Metal water bottle
Toy car (ds)
Sewing kit (dd)

And probably a few other odds n ends too.

Oh I fully understand that the stocking is for dh and i amusement this year, not ds being that bothered. But it’s a first Xmas and photos and memories.

My top stocking tip is to make sure Santa brings a small gift or 2, like a book and a small lego kit, that will keep the DC occupied and happy for several hours until it's time to open the tree presents and nothing that requires parental assembly at 6 o'clock in the morning or while you are stuffing the turkey

For an 8 month old, what you have is plenty as they won't have a clue.

For older children we tend to put in little bits under £5each. Things like socks, chocolate coins, little toy, books. They're from FC.

Everything else is from whoever actually paid for it

I find it a bit odd that an old man would deliver underwear to kids
whisper: you do know he isnt real?

If they're young enough to believe in FC, they wouldnt have a concept of it being "inappropriate" and if they're any older, they would know they were actually bought by you anyway.

*I always wonder what people's definition of "tat" is. Is it anything plastic? Party bag stuff? Novelty Christmas stuff? All of the above?

My definition of that is anything which will be played with for one day and then thrown away (or kept for ages but not played with so might as well be thrown away). Things which come into this category include Happy Meal toys, cracker presents, party bag toys and anything which breaks on first use. Usually things you would find in the pounds shop.

However, DD age 3 got a flashing spinning father christmas for her first christmas which she still plays with regularly. I would have placed it firmly in the "tat" category so shows what I know!

We don't for 'tat' or 'practical' and have never included toothbrushes, deodorant or knickers etc. Nor have I bought total Christmas novelty stuff as I see in pound shops - antler head bands etc

We have a mid-teen now and tend to put all small sized presents into the stocking irrespective of cost. Over the years her ipod, phone and airpods were all in the toe of the stocking, not all the same year!

Santa brings all presents here, except gifts from family and friends which go under the tree, and we still come down to find them in the usual spot on Christmas morning! We have never, ever had a conversation about this...we just carried on year after year and will do until she leaves home (sob!)

This year she has things like:
Chocolate orange
Lindt Santa
Rococo Chocolate large coin
hot chocolate spoon
mug with her initial
beauty face masks
small cosmetics
Japanese snacks
Lush bath bombs
nail polish
Studio Ghibli merchandise

She will use / eat all of them and nothing will be left lying around or wasted.

We do stockings for each other too and have a similar approach to them, small luxuries!

@Wherearefoxssocks yes what I consider tat is stuff that is bought just because it's labelled as a "stocking filler". You see it wheeled out in supermarkets this time of year - they have a section with a bunch of small plastic toys that are sort of like the ones you get in christmas crackers. Very disposable seeming and not necessariily tailored to a child's interests. They really epitomise the "filler" part of stocking fillers.

But ultimately I consider tat anything you've bought that is solely bought to fill or bulk either a stocking or pile of presents. No matter what it is, if your child loves it and will get plenty of use out of it then it's not tat :)

At that age I put musical toys in, Happyland figures, hardback books

For my nearly 5 year old; a few sylvanian families bits, lol glitter thing, shopkins, toothbrush, bath bomb, chocolate selection box and an outfit for Christmas Day.

I think as others say 'tat' can be the novelty type of things you often get in the bargain shops. However with care it doesn't have to be tat. By that I mean if it is something your DC will actually enjoy playing with/using, if it is not easily broken and if it will be used for more than just that year. So for example we have had the reindeer antlers, the funny glasses etc. but they come out every year with the Christmas things and the DC have fun with them. I have got DD some festive rubber ducks this year but I know she will play with them all year round!

Stockings are from Santa and are the sock shaped ones. I don’t do practical stuff like socks, pants etc or ‘tat’( patty bag stuff).
I try and put in stuff they like and that has a use. I start buying bits in early Autumn and don’t have a specific budget.

DC 4 was 8 months last year and got a sensory ball, musical bits ( mini maracas, tambourine), space blanket, satsuma, and a small book.
This year is getting a chocolate Santa, mini Duplo fire engine, small chunky digger, mini wooden tractor puzzle, wooden trumpet, watering can for his bath toys, chunky colouring pencils and colouring book.
He has 3 older siblings and stockings are the best bit. DH loves his too.

Father Christmas brings them. Children are 2 and 5.

Holztiger animals
Schleich
Playmobil bits
Bath bomb
Chocolate coins
Satsuma
Bag of haribo
Toothbrush (because my dad always popped one in for me)
Hairslides and tights (dc2) Socks (dc1)
Lego bag
Magazine rolled up
Chocolate orange

Something relating to their main present. Dc1 is getting some knight playmobil to go with his castle and dc2 is getting 2 small cats, a cat basket and a baby to go with her Barbie stuff.

Then a book of some sort.

I try not to get things just for the sake of it, so no nick-nacks.

• Christmas is in summer here so things like bubble wands and chalk are great. You could get more indoor activities like colouring books if it's winter for you.
• Hair brush
• Hair ties, clips or bows
• Hats or beanie & gloves
• Lip balm
• New tooth brush
• Sunscreen
• Socks
• Candy

Also, Santa brings the stockings here.

Everything goes in ours- a Santa sack rather than a stocking

We put in smaller proper gifts and chocolate in the stocking - even some small-medium sized bits and books get leaned up next to - all from Santa.

All the presents that we buy are from santa, stocking and bigger gifts. Presents from other people are from those people.
The stockings are chocolates and any other gifts small enough to fit: top trumps, bouncy ball, kiddie make up and jewellery, hair accessories, toy cars.