So, what goes in your kids' stockings?

[Mickey'snewestfan]

On the "how many presents does Santa bring?" thread a lot of people wrote a number "plus stocking", which to me implies that what's in the stocking isn't exactly a present. I'm curious what people put in the stockings.

Santa here brings a whole bunch of small to midsized items, most of which go in the stocking and some of which are leaning up behind it. The items are a mix of stuff -- a mixture of junk food, silly toys (think silly putty or this year little lights for his fingertips), practical things (this year gloves and batteries), books (always at least a couple of paperbacks) and usually one or two nicer things (his cell phone and ipod nano both arrived via stocking). I then give the "big present", which is usually actually the biggest, rather than being the most expensive, and grandma, uncle, godmother, etc . . . each give him a gift or 2.

If you don't consider what you put in stockings to be gifts -- what do you put in the stockings?

 

[puffkin]

When I was a kid, the stocking wasn't really a present...it was more of a little bonus. We got things like chapstick, silly soaps, gum, candy, etc.

This year, DS3 is getting some candy, CARS, and some little Disney books in his stocking. At our house, Santa brings 3 presents (this year DS is getting Shake n Go race track, Mickey watch, and Monorail set from Santa) and then some silly stuff in the stocking. Mom and Dad give the rest of the presents.

 

[PolyndianPrincessJes]

DNiece is getting a pocket-size photo book of our latest Disney trip, candy, princess goodies (lip gloss, nail polish, glitter gel, etc.), some small art items (crayons, notepads, etc.).

DS is getting Mickey Mouse chapstick, a Thomas train, a couple of Cars cars, Hershey bars, etc.

I don't spend too much on the kids' stockings, maybe $25 tops. Just little things they can amuse themselves with for a couple of hours.

My mom and I still fill stocking for each other. She usually gets chocolates, B&BW travel size items, lip gloss, etc. I usually get something similar from her.

 

[Mickeypooh99]

I agree with the PP who said stockings are more like a bonus than an actual gift. When I was a kid we got all candy and maybe a small stuffed animal.

Now that I have kids I put in things like playing cards, small lego sets, chapstick, toothbrush, gloves, sugar free gum, beef jerky, flavored hot chocolate packets, fun pencils, post it notes etc. I don't spend much.

For DH last year I put golf balls, beef jerky, instant lottery tickets, gum, and peanuts.

 

[scrapquitler]

Stockings are like a little bonus in my house, an appetizer so to speak. We open stockings first. Then the kids can play with some of the things they got in their stockings while Mom finishes making breakfast (usually bagels, cookies, muffins, coffee, hot chocolate type stuff) and we eat. THEN we open presents after breakfast (and we open presents ONE at a time). The stockings serve as a bit of a distraction so I can delay things until after I've had my first cup of coffee

In the stockings are smallish things: yo-yos, silly putty, matchbox car, a paperback book, maybe a pair of sunglasses, crayons or pens/pencils/markers, a puzzle book of some sort, always a toothbrush, toothpaste, chapstick, gloves, some candies and a pez dispenser

 

[Cedarmom]

Small stuff.

This year the boys are each getting a little candy, a Star Wars figure, a hot wheels monster truck, a motorcycle (a little bigger than hot wheels size), a tech deck skateboard, and toothbrushes/toothpaste. I'll probably buy some tape to throw in there as well. Tape is big around here.

The baby is getting a toothbrush/toothpaste and a couple of board books in hers.

 

[PixiePlanner]

Undergarments! Socks-usually a goofy pair but this year both need "real" socks. Candy. Shampoo. Toothpaste & brush. Small toys.

 

[NHdisneylover]

NOthing that costs over ten dollars goes in stockings at our house (with the possible exception of a DVD or book that costs more now and then)--but I take great care in filling them (they have always been my favourite part of Christmas eve nas a child) and buy little things for them all year long.

DS11 will get:
Blink Card Game
New Harry Potter DVD
two necklaces
blue nail polish
New toothbrush and paste (always for everyone in every stocking and Easter basket)
assorted candy (fun stuff he likes and doesn't get often)
pack of glow braceletts
two small playmobile "special" sets
a new CD (still deciding which one from his want list)
$10 i-tunes gift card
several smurfs
fun pens and pencils

DD13 (well, 13 the day after Christmas) will get:
two paperback books
$10 gift card to amazon.com
pack of glow braceletts
a couple of nice barrettes
assorted candy
nail polish
mascara
maybe some other make up items
new toothbrush and paste
fun socks
two of the small playmobile "specials" sets
Mama Mia DVD
beaded eye-glass chain
fun pens and pencils

 

[cantwaitvaca09]

For the stocking for my two DD.... TARGET DOLLAR BIN! Princess Chap Stick, Candy, Hello Kitty Necklace, DVD.

For the presents. Well they do kinda get a lot. Christmas Eve the are each getting two each, a Barbie, Cinderella for DD5 Snow-white for DD2 and a leap Frog texting thing, these are from mom and dad

Christmas morning, Stockings are last. They are so excited fro the presents that they don't even think of the stocking. Most of hte presents on Christmas are from Santa. We do not have a large extended family so they do not get gifts else where.

 

[princessmom29]

In our house stockings are for small, inexpensive gifts and a little candy. This year i picked up princess notebooks and stickers, and some cute pencils from the target dollar bin, along with an M&M and a few other small treats.

 

[starsweeper]

Our stockings usually have some candy and a couple of small toy items, sometimes complementing a larger Santa gift. For example, if they get a large Little People set from Santa, then their stocking may have additional people or vehicles to match the set.

 

[ebtbmom]

My son's favorite stocking gift is a Burger King gift card. He can request BK anytime as long as the card lasts, once it's used up he has to go back to only getting it when we all go.

It's amazing how he orders a lot less when he's trying to make that gift card last

 

[Pixie Princess]

I usually do more items than candy in my DD9's stocking. It ends up just getting tossed as she doesn't eat more than a few pieces on Christmas Day. I'll put a DS game or movie in her stocking along with some other small items. Last year it was small decorative nutcrackers, this year it is toe socks. Then she gets some See's Candies.. which she shares with me.

 

[jme829]

I made the mistake when dd16 was a baby to buy her a huge stocking. So then the other 2 came along and of course I had to buy them one as well...

Well now it bites me in the butt, because it costs almost as much to fill the darn things as I spend on the rest of their actual presents. LOL

I have tried to go with smaller stockings, but I just can't do it. Tradition and all that..lol


What I do though is the normal small stuff-candy, socks, hair ties, matchbook cars, etc....then a book or two ...then I buy the big bottles of shampoo or body wash at the dollar store...that takes up some space and if I need to fill a little more, I will put a couple of the smaller size santa presents in them since those are usually stocking stuffer kind of things anyways (for example, earrings for dd16, a cd for dd10, legos for ds, video games, dvd's etc..)

For DH, its usually some lottery tickets (he and I have regular size stockings) beef jerky, travel size toiletries (he travels alot for work) maybe a gift card or two for Subway or McD's.

 

[Duckyiam71]

I carry on the tradition my mother did. My boys get an orange at the bottom of their stocking. They also get a toothbrush, batteries if their toys need it. This year they are getting a Star Wars figure, book of lifesavers, a watch and POC nightlight. Of course mom and dad get stocking stuffers too! We get paperbacks, toothbrush and a small box of candy. nothing too expensive.

 

[Erica09M]

For DD (4.5 yrs):
pkg of panties
crayon wallet (from Etsy)
I Spy bag (from Etsy)
flash cards (numbers 1-100)
Barrel of Monkeys game
stickers (a few packs)
toothbrush
1 can of playdoh
pencils & pencil sharpener in a pencil pouch

For DD (18 months)-- still working on it LOL
crayon wallet (from Etsy)
toothbrush
little board books (5)
fork/spoon set
sippy cup
1 pkg of Fisher Price stacking friends (Mickey, Minnie, Goofy) -- got at WalMart, but here are the different assortments I saw available there http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...fcb2a72&itemid=300356180417&ff4=263602_263622

and not sure what else! I still need to pick up a few things for my youngest DD's stocking. But if I don't, then it will be ok.

 

[tinkerfan1]

In the past, Santa has left ITunes, Disney World boxers, cash, Disney pins....that sort of thing. He always puts candy in them. Last year, he even put a candy bar from the German pavillion at Epcot.

 

[gerberdaisy1234]

Well there are 3 days a year that they are allowed to eat CHOCOLATE BEFORE BREAKFAST...Valentine's Day, Easter, and Christmas...So of course the stocking must include CHOCOLATE... then other small gifts and for traditional sake I add an apple, clementine, and some nuts...mom and dad always get things like toothpaste and deordorant- YAY! on a side note another tradition...we open one gift every Christmas Eve...new pajamas

 

[Maggie'sMom]

When I was in high school, mom decided to knit everyone in our family a stocking. As our family has expanded through marriages and grandchildren, mom has knit additional stockings. The problem is everytime she knits a new stocking, it's larger than the last one she knit. My DD is the youngest grandchild and her stocking is HUGE! And because they are knit, they really stretch, A LOT. DD's stocking is like a bottomless pit. So I look for inexpensive, bulky items to fill it up. Socks, tights, and undies are staples. (So far, she hasn't questioned why Santa brings her underwear, but one of these Christmases she will.) I usually stick a DVD in there. This year, there will be a Tiana nightgown in her stocking. Art supplies. There's always some candy. And because it's a tradition in our family, there will be an orange in the toe of the stocking.

 

[dbarker]

Our stockings have traditional items:

An apple
An orange
Mixed nuts
A candy cane
Christmas candy, including chocolate

And then any really small items that might get "lost" under the tree.