DD will be 19 MONTHS this christmas - how much fuss will she appreciate? / What did you do with your DCs at this age for christmas?

[FeelingLucky]

DH wants to do a stocking, but I'm not sure it'll be worth it. And, what should we fill it with?
We'll be staying at SIL who has two DCs older than DD, but I'm assuming they will open stocking in their own room so DD won;t see any of that?

Also, DD is a real glutton for porridge/weetabix for breakfast, so I'm wondering if I should bother changing her menu to something more 'christmasy'? If so, what?

Want to do something to make her aware it's a special day, but have no ideas what ... please help!

She won't know much but her cousins will. I would check with SIL what they do re stockings etc. For a stocking you could put a few little toys - Little People from ELC or whatever, some pretty socks etc.

Her cousins may be interested in what she got in her stocking.

If she likes porridge or weetabix I would stick with it!

Ds will be that age too this christmas, and I feel I must make more effort than last year - but then he does have two older sisters and knows all too well when he is missing out on something 1 so there is no way I couldn't do him a stocking, or make the same amount of fuss.
She will be aware its a special day, especially if you are visiting relatives with older children, it'll be lovely for her !
Ok she won't remember much of it, but you will, and you'll maybe have the photos too. Christmas IMO gets lovelier and lovelier the older the kids get, the more into it and excited they get !

O and for the stocking I think when my dds were that age I did a couple of board books, sparkly tights, toy camera, cuddly toy, that sort of thing !
Ds will be be ecstatic with his this year as it will have lots of little thomas the tank engine trains in it, he is obsessed !

Well my ds, first and only, will be 20mths so without actual prior experience I imagine he will enjoy the lights and general festivity and of course the sudden appearance of new toys but I don´t think he´ll remember any of it long term. For me this year is more about starting our own traditions that we´ll carry on so it´s still more for us than for him, really.

We will do a stocking because - it´s xmas! - dh and I are doing one for each other too. So far I have got him some crayola colours, some bubbles (which he loves!), a small bouncy ball, a toy car. Um.. and I´ll get some other things as I see them in the xmas run up, but not too much. Maybe some sweets/chocs that dh and I can eat for him

oh yeah I had thought a small colouring book as he is starting to enjoy scribbling...

It's about you at this age really, making those memories which you will always treasure. I'm lucky because as its my 4th that is a baby I know well how fast time flies and how precious the little snippets of babyhood will become. So if a stocking helps DH with that then why not?

Also with babies I try and work out what they will need in the coming months- so ds4 (7 months now) will get a pushalong toy as I know he will appreciate it shortly etc. It makes it more festive.

Thanks for all your thoughts; I'm getting excited already.

Have decided that we'll get DD a stocking and she can open little pressies when she comes into our bed first thing in morning, and if SIL's DCs open their's at the fireplace, then DD can just have another stocking.

She won't be too bothered but I think it's a nice thing to do. I bought ds1 new pyjamas that took up most of his stocking when he was that age.

We'll be taking 19mo dd to grandma and grandad's on Christmas Eve so already special to wake up with them (she adores them)- obviously we'll be there too. I think the twinkly lights and tinsel will please her no end and the dancing santa my mum drags out every year.

Have done her a stocking with colouring book, crayons, some little wooden pegs (she loves pegs), a jigsaw, socks, tights, hairclips, finger puppets, a book.

She's obsessed with choo choos so while we're at church grandma's going to set up a little wooden track and trains for her to play with when she gets back (like brio but about a fiver from ikea).

That's it really. She's very aware of when everybody else is celebrating so I'm sure she'll enjoy that.

ds is a similar age and will also be with his cousins - tbh the change to play with slightly older small people is more interesting to him than presents - but im persevering with a stocking for him for my benefit really . probably things he needs in it anyway like socks, a small book, bubbles, maybe fingerpaints (granny will sooo not thank us for bringing those to her house.....)