Christmas presents for nursery staff

[pookamoo]

It's DD's first Christmas at nursery this year, and I would like to give the staff a/some present/s to say thanks.

I am sure (like teachers) they get 209,430,597 boxes of chocs and bottles of wine... so I would like to be a bit different. I don't have a massive budget, though.

The problem is there are a number of staff who look after DD, and she will be moving to a new room at the start of December.

What can I give them? Should it be something to share out between them, or individual presents? How do I know how many to give them? Although she has a keyworker, they work in a team.

If you work at a nursery, what are the nicest presents from parents, and what are the worst?

Thanks!

We usually club in together (the parents) and give them vouchers for either M&S or John Lewis. Plus then I usually give them some home made treats.

That's a nice idea thighs but I don't know any of the other parents. The nursery isn't in the town where we live, and only one other person I knew from my mat leave sends her DD there.

Sadly, I am ashamed to say I hardly know the children either, as I do the morning drop off and they are all eating breakfast (they are 18mo to 2 years in DD's room). I think that's a whole other thread though!

Last year I gave each worker (maybe 8 in total) a nice individual tree decoration - maybe £2-4 each, a bar of Green & Blacks chocolate 99p each, and a mini bottle of champagne from M&S maybe £2/3 and put them in a little gift bag with their names on... I got lots of them coming up to me to say "thank you" so I think it went down well. Just the tree decoration would do if you want to keep costs down.

something small and personal for the room staff always goes down well. In the past we have had somethings very similar to PDR. Slippers (as we don't wear shoes in the room), mini bath bits etc.

I used to get them gorgeous handwashing kit with lovely liquid soap and handcream. They are always washing their hands and I think it's a nice treat to have something luxurious. My dcs were always at French nurseries and it always went down very well.

ooh hand cream sounds like a good idea, I have seen little pots, which I could put together in a mini "pamper pack" with some chocolate and a scented candle maybe? I'm never sure about scented candles with food, though... what do you think?

Thanks ladies, I have found unscented floating candles, which will be perfect!

I have to do about 10 gifts I think, so this should be just right.

209,430,597 boxes of chocs would suit me fine. Just not bloody Roses. Good chocolates, hand cream, booze, anything that shows you think of them would be welcomed.

I asked this very same question last year and after considering all the very good suggestions went to that smelly cosmetics shop Lush and bought a gift box with loads of little bits in that was put in the staff room so everyone could take something. This seemed to go down well.