Fill your own advent

[ParentallyUnprepared]

Please could I have ideas for things to put in the pockets of an advent calendar for a 13 month old?

Trying to avoid chocolate things as someone will buy him an advent calendar.

So far I've got Christmas socks, some Christmas bath toy things from Dunelm and a book.

So, another 14 days to fill!

Thanks.

Finger puppets.
Fat crayons.
Stickers.
percussion things like shakers .
Mittens.

Etsy is good for little hand made things.

In primark and at supermarkets and places they sell packs of Christmas bath toys mini ones

Jingle bells to rattle along to songs

Christmas sponge/ flannel

Santa hat

Sorry I see you have bath toys 🤦🏻‍♀️

Now I love my Christmas traditions but … a 13 month old??? Surely they don’t understand what is going on.

at that age, my kids would have just wanted a big cardboard box, some weetabix to squished around the house and a remote control (real not fake!)

No but his 6 year old brother would know, so...

Fridge magnets. The safe, children's ones obviously.

And, it's a lovely idea. Our 2 have had fill your own advent calendars for years. In the beginning, they shared one. Day about.

Thank you.

And thank you everyone for the ideas.

My mum made them. They double up as their stockings too. They're lovely, even if a pain to fill every day!

It wouldn't be so bad if I could just put a chocolate coin in the pockets but my eldest gets three chocolate advent calendars (at least!) from various relatives and no doubt the baby will, too, when he's older.

You said it was for your 13 month old though so....

For a child that young, a picture of their favourite character/superhero/toy/Pokémon would probably do for a few pockets?

It is for a 13 month old but I can't exclude him because his older brother will know.

I'm not sure why that's so weird or controversial?

Nothing weird about this at all , even my dog has an advent calendar so why wouldn’t a 13 month old enjoy it .

Notes with a picture of something fun that you are going to do that day?

So go for a walk to look at neighbours’ Christmas lights, make a tree decoration, bake biscuits, etc.

I don't think it's controversial, i just found it strange in reply to pp you brought up a 6 year old your reply made no sense.

I hope both of them enjoy

@Cantthinkofausername01 well, the 13 month old won't have a bloody clue 🤣

Finger puppets worked well, and are cheap to buy in big packs. We also did dinosaur and animal figures.

Not read all the replies but in our ds' we put

Bath finger puppets
Spoons
Snacks
Light up sensory balls
Wooden animals
Teethers
Rattle shaky egg things
Ball
Hat
Dinosaurs
Bubbles
Bath crayons
Fidget popper toy
Baby proof bauble / tree decorations
Soap
Sponge

We made his advent calendar out of a cardboard box with those plastic lids from baby wipes glued onto a pocket made from old tight then glued onto a hole in the box

Don't even care if I sound like a wanker. My 13 month old DS didn't know or understand, but the rest of the family did, I enjoyed it, and he loved opening the doors up every day

Could you buy something like this and split it up so one animal over several days?

Le Toy Van - Wooden Petilou Africa Stacker & Bag Educational Balancing Activity Toy amzn.eu/8bOWQkE

Then in other pockets I would put a pack of baby biscuits, some mini gingerbread men biscuits wrapped in cellophane in a couple, little box of raisins, any snacks they like really! a mini bottle of baby bubbles, a tiny pair of socks?

I wouldn't bother for a kid that age. What's the point? Wait until they know what Christmas is.

How about a small Christmas ornament to put on the tree? The 6 year old can help to put it on.

Thank you, everyone!

I love the idea of splitting something up. Makes it easier.

@elephantseal as I said, his 6 year old brother will wonder why if he brother didn't get one. He still believes and I'll do whatever I can to make it magical for him. He will enjoy opening the pockets for his brother more than he will do opening his own. The 13 month old might not have a clue but it'll be a nice memory for the 6 year old.

I really can't believe so many of you have an issue with that.

I did Christmas Lanke kade figures and this year will be the fourth year I’ve used them. They do get packed away with the Christmas decorations so DS forgets about them. There have been new figures released and I’ve added to them over time. As I don’t have 24 I’ve usually added socks and some other small pocket money toys too.

Sorry, @ParentallyUnprepared, but it still seems like a waste of time and money - and things. We have so much to do as parents, don't beat yourself up over trying to find 26 gifts for a baby who won't have a clue.

Unless you're saying that the calendars come from Santa, just tell his brother that the baby is too young for a calendar. He has to be old enough to open it himself.

But you do you!