What does Santa bring in your household?

[mirrormirroronthewall55]

I know it's different for everyone but when I was a kid, all of the gifts (other than those already under the tree from family and friends etc) were from Santa, my parents didn't actually buy us any gift from themselves.
I want to do things differently with my kids where Santa brings one gift that they have asked for on their list, and fills the stocking. Anything other presents are from Mum & Dad. Just wondering what is the norm.

My three only had the one main present from Santa, all other presents were from us and our extended family. They were then able to thank everyone for their presents, either in person if we saw them or by writing a letter to more distant ones. Stockings were from me ( Dad was not a fan of Christmas due to his unhappy childhood so did not really join in with the planning ) as I didn’t think they would be impressed with a toothbrush, undies or other everyday items! They got them of course with lots of sweets, toiletries, hair bobbles, stationary and small toys.

Stockings were kept downstairs near the fireplace where Santas drink and the carrots were left. We did not put presents under the tree as there was not enough room, each child had them piled up on a different chair and we sat on the floor to open them. I made them open them slowly, one at a time, so they had time to appreciate each gift and I could write a list of who bought what ready for the thank you letters. Obviously they all opened one at the same time otherwise it would have taken hours!

Stocking and one present each under the tree, which I deliberately don't spend more than £30 or so on.

FC brings the stockings, all other presents come from those who gift them. Children need to learn to thank people for their gifts.
Oh and the elves bring new pjs and choc coins in Xmas Eve, even now when they are all in their twenties!

Stocking only. Though I make sure at least one of the gifts in there is something a bit more special than the usual stocking fillers, and is on DD’s Santa list.

This has reminded me that when we were little my parents used to tell us that extended family eg grandparents had bought some of the presents and sent them to father Christmas to deliver to us on Christmas morning, as a way to help him out. I didn't question this at the time!

My daughter is 5 and we've always said he has brought everything so far (same as when I was a child). This year I'm changing it so that he is bringing the stocking and then all the things on her list because she has only asked for 3 things that are low value. I plan to wrap them differently.

Anything additional will be from us.

Mine is only 5 but so far everything is from Santa, same as us growing up.

His birthday is close to Christmas so basically get gets birthday gifts from family etc and Christmas stuff from santa.

I figure once he's old enough he'll obviously know Santa isn't real and will know his gifts are/were from us and we'll get credit then 🙂

Nothing - Daddy worked hard to pay for their presents and Mummy spent hours picking them out and wrapping them to give them a magical Christmas.

Stocking and small pressie £20 ish she wants

Have always said I want the credit of large costly pressies

For dd to know I had to work hard to pay for them

Just the stocking so when writing their requests from Father Christmas they have to bear in mind it has to be stocking size.

Nothing, all gifts are labelled as being from whoever purchased them. The children never questioned the lack of gifts from Father Christmas.

No because for us those presents wouldn't be under the tree, those gifts would get given in person. Even if they were under the tree I wouldn't say Santa had brought them because I would want my children to thank the family member that bought them.

Stocking gifts only but we do really nice stocking gifts, not tat.

Oo like what?

Stockings only (and not a sack- a ‘normal’ sized stocking)

it usually has things mum and dad wouldn’t usually buy- slime, ‘rude’ things like a whoopie cushion etc, joke shop type things, surprise bags, sometimes a fizzy drink etc.
Aswell as the standard stocking things, small toys under £5 and chocolate coins etc

we don’t write lists to Santa, and it means dc don’t think it’s an order form for presents and that they are guaranteed to get whatever they want. We can explain that we can’t afford it, or it’s not possible to get a real, 10ft, fire breathing yellow dragon etc
They can write a list of suggestions that they would like for Christmas but it’s not guaranteed they will get every item and we usually do one or two surprises not on the list as well.

This sounds similar to us. FC brings stuff mum wouldn't usually entertain. Last year my son exclaimed FC must be real as he got a pez in his stocking and there's no way I'd have bought it as I don't ever buy plastic stuff like that 😂

Little did he know it was an ancient relic of a pez we found at grandmas house, gave it a good scrub and filled it with new sweets. Super proud of that one!

Everything in our house comes from Santa.

Nothing. Santa delivered the presents but we made it very clear that we had bought them. Kids are 18 and 13 now and this approach never spoilt the magic. I was damned if I was going to let a mythical man get all the credit!

Stocking and one present each left at the back door.

i see this a lot. Why does it matter?

I did everything, presents were sent to Santa, if anyone had given us presents they were sent to Santa to deliver.

This is how I feel.

I don't need the credit and there are many other ways to teach them how to say thanks to others when they buy them a gift (birthdays, for one).

They will also know eventually, of course that it was really us.

When I was a kid my sack prezzies were from Santa (we didn’t have stockings) and then my parents would give me a separate gift from them. They never even bothered to use different wrapping paper but I didn’t even twig 🤣

Nothing. We never went down the Santa route, other than as a story.

Growing up everything from my parents was all Santa. Extended family gifts were from the extended family and we had to make thank you calls.

Still deciding what to do here as DS is only 2 this year. I am thinking to go with Santa buys stocking and one present. While he is young enough for it to make sense I'd prefer it to be a more "traditional" present that Santa brings that the elves might actually make eg like a hobby horse or a toy kitchen or toy car. I find it less Christmassy to think of elves "making" PS5 games or slime or a specific tv show branded toy.

Still deciding whether or not to say that Santa delivers all the presents under the tree and that the ones from mummy and daddy are ones that we bought then sent to him. The ones from grandparents, uncles etc are not under our tree as they are given on the day when we see them. We have no extended family left alive who would know us well enough to give gifts but not enough to see us on the day.

SIL changed her mind now but is someone who initially asked for all presents to be from Santa for her kids. I don't mind giving them in advance to go under the tree but insisting other people pretend they're from Santa feels a little grabby to me.

It feels like a parents job to buy Santa presents and it's like you're expecting others to help pad out the Santa gifts. I think it's good for children to learn to say thank you to everyone.

I don't want credit as a parent but as an Auntie I kind of do. I put a lot of effort in and partly it's to show I care and am interested in their interests and to have that bonding that comes with gift giving. If I'm just giving a present that's going on a big indistinguishable pile then I won't refuse but I'll put a lot less effort in.