A way to make stockings more functional!

[LenaGardner]

A friend of mine just shared with me what she does for her kids' stockings each year. She has a 5 year old boy and twin 4 year old girls, to give you a frame of reference. Amongst maybe a bit of candy and whatnot, they each get chap stick (flavored/glittery for the girls), a new toothbrush with their favorite character and a box of bandaids with their favorite character. You're spending the same amount you would on trinket toys but on HBA/Pharmacy stuff you'd have to buy at some point anyway :)

[melmos75]

My kids get a toothbrush in their stocking every year. (Also one in their Easter basket.)

My MIL used to wrap up my DH's favorite cereal and give it as a gift. I just can't make myself do that though.

[jessica31876]

Ive always done that too when we do stockings. I dont always do stockings every year though. Sometimes instead of stocking I will add what they would normally get in their stockings to the packages which contain clothes so it doesnt seem as boring. You know your kid gets some socks or a jacket or something and they also get a toy wrapped up with the socks it makes the socks seem a little more exciting

[crecia27]

I do toothbrushes and bath stuff (bubble bath and or scrubby things for the little ones and deodorant/body spray/ razors for the older one) I'm trying to resist doing any candy this year.....

[kscwgirl]

I went to Michaels and got stuff.. no candy for mine this year. they're getting notepads, coloring books, some random toy, crayons and something else I can't remember..... I should get a toothbrush too though. :)

[rochelle789]

Great ideas! I've done the toothbrush thing for the past few years. My daughter loves getting them in her stocking. I'll also do character underwear, and she likes that too.

[Darcy Baldwin]

That's what we do in the stockings for the boys. They do each get one little toy that goes in it (this year little Mario brothers figures), but the rest are things like that, new pencils, tape just for them, etc.

[Paula]

One thing my sister does every year is to put one of those disposable cameras in their stockings too. They have the best time going around taking photos.

[Laura_A]

I usually do toothbrushes too, but my brilliant husband just bought them some 2 days ago. lol But yeah, I usually put lip gloss, hair stuff, a few candies, and maybe a little stuffed animal. I have 2 girls BTW.

[Shawna]

That's pretty much what my girls get in their stockings! So far they are getting Hannah Montana tooth tunes toothbrushes, toothpaste, Hannah Montana chapstick, new pony tail holders and a bunch of Camp Rock stuff from Target's $1 Spot (notebooks, pens, dry erase boards, chapstick etc). I'll probably pick them up some bubble bath and some cute fuzzy socks too.

Kyle is a little harder since he's only 19 months but he'll get a new toothbrush and toddler toothpaste, new sippy cups, some body wash or shampoo and probably some hot wheels cars and little motorcycle toys.

Last year instead of candy I put packages of their favorite character fruit snacks in their stockings (well Kyle got gerber puffs instead) so I'll probably do that again this year too.

[Tracyfish]

Funny I just put some Spiderman toothpaste and Veggie Tales toothbrushes in L.J.'s stocking today. He also gets bandaids, soaps, etc. along with some candies.

[my4boys]

My kids usually each get a DVD a little bit of candy and the older ones will get a little something (15 & 11) and the twins (6) always get toothbrush and sometimes even toothpaste too!!! I may get the entire family those Crest spinbrushes this year cause they see me using mine and they have said they wanted one!!!

[maryinaz]

We do toothbrushes and other useful things too. Rarely a toy in there.

For my older boys we will put in some fast-food restaurant GC, like Taco Bell, In-and-Out, McDonald's, so they can go with their friends.

Sometimes I forget about the stockings until Christmas Eve and I'm at the grocery store grabbing stuff! :blink:

[SirScrapalot]

when I was growing up (well older, really) my mom would put stuff like razors, deodorant, and shaving cream in them...maybe I wasn't clean:blink:

[danagirl82]

That is what I do too, DD loves getting character bandaids!!! I do the toothbrush cause my mom always did. This year I was excited to find those blow up balloon pounce type toys. I think dd will have a blast with those. I always try to buy unique candy like pop rocks and ring pops. Stuff dd wouldn't usually be exposed too.

[Di-ahh]

Doesn't everyone do that? LOL I always thought that was normal. We never got "toyish" type things in our stockings. Always practical but fun items.

[LenaGardner]

Doesn't everyone do that? LOL I always thought that was normal. We never got "toyish" type things in our stockings. Always practical but fun items.

Apparently *I* am not normal :p

Growing up I always got an apple and orange in the bottom, then things like earrings, makeup once I was older, bracelets, etc.

I have always found small toys to put in the kids'...never had I thought of practical items :o

[newfiemountiewife]

I usually do toys in the stocking LOL

I'm so UNpractical at Christmas, I just buy toys. Probably because I wish I was 6 again, and could play with those Barbie Diamond Castle dolls LOL

[mummytothree]

We do this too and my kids are actually getting tooth tunes this year (FINALLY!!! :p :D) because I found them on clearance at Wal Mart for $2 bucks a piece!!!! Go me!!! :D :D I also do bubble bath and pretty smelling soap for my girls too!!!

[Kat Stokes]

My stockings were like Lena's growing up. An orange and apple to fill up the bottom and I was a book nerd so my mom always stuffed a few of those in there plus the hair ties and stuff like that.

I hate doing stockings...

Rhett is getting fruit snacks and matchbox cars and maybe a book or two this year and Derrick is getting flash cards, notepads, pencils, and a little bit of candy.

DH always wants a stocking full of stuff but it's so hard to do one for him... :( But it's his favorite part of Christmas.

[wildblueeyez]

Hehe my kids LOVED getting that kind of stuff when they were little!!! and underwear. Santa always brings them new underwear!!!

[meganmecrazy]

I do the same with my twins! They always love band-aids and toothbrushes! LOL!

[bellbird425]

that's sucha good idea - i was actually thinking of getting DD (3.5yrs) an electric toothbrush anyway - i'm just not sure she's old enough for one of those yet?!?!?

[Heather Roselli]

Yep, We do toothbrushes and toothpaste too. I hadn't thought of the bandaids, but that is a good idea too! Anything useful and not junkie toys is right up my alley! hehe

[Shawna]

We do this too and my kids are actually getting tooth tunes this year (FINALLY!!! :p :D) because I found them on clearance at Wal Mart for $2 bucks a piece!!!! Go me!!! :D :D I also do bubble bath and pretty smelling soap for my girls too!!!

That is a great price for the Tooth Tunes! The cheapest I found the Hannah Montana ones was $5.99 at Target (marked down from $8.99) and then I had $1/1 coupons so I paid $4.99 each. My girls will be excited cause they've been asking for them forever!

that's sucha good idea - i was actually thinking of getting DD (3.5yrs) an electric toothbrush anyway - i'm just not sure she's old enough for one of those yet?!?!?

Kelsie was 3.5 last year at Christmas and she loved her electric Hello Kitty toothbrush she got in her stocking! I think your DD would probably be fine with one too :)

[lovely1m]

I usually put toothbrushes and toothpaste in my son's stocking and easter basket, but I also put in some candy and small toys. The bandaids and stuff is a great idea though. Probably do that next year, since he's done already.

[MamaK]

mine are getting some bath & body stuff, lip gloss for the younger one, body spray for the older one, coloring books/notepads, funky xmas socks and a DVD along with a little box of Whitmans chocolates. We do stockings first then breakfast before opening gifts so the stuff in their stockings tides them over until later.