What To Put in Christmas Stockings For Toddlers (Under $25)

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Filling Little Hands with Joy: Christmas Stocking Stuffers for Toddlers

One question I get asked time and time again by my mom friends and social media followers is: what’s a good gift to put in my toddler’s Christmas stocking? I understand why. When it comes to Christmas morning, there’s nothing quite as magical as watching the excitement in your little one’s eyes as they dive into their Christmas stockings.

The joy of discovering hidden treasures that perfectly fit their little hands is a moment every parent cherishes. To make this holiday season extra special, we’ve curated a list of what to put in Christmas stockings for toddlers. These delightful stocking stuffers for toddlers are budget-friendly, educational, creative, tasty, and sensory. Let’s dive in and explore these great ideas for filling your toddler’s stocking with love! 

Affordable Toddler Stocking Stuffers — Our Top 10 Picks!

So first, let’s talk about what makes certain stocking stuffers a good idea? I’m here to tell you, don’t overthink it. It’s the holidays! Let loose, have some fun, and keep it simple. I can’t tell you how many times I spent overthinking what to put in my toddler’s stockings that I sort of took the fun out of it. Just a little food for thought. 

Now that we got that out of the way, let’s jump into specific ideas.

Board Books

Research shows that early exposure to books helps develop language skills, stimulates imagination, and strengthens the parent-child bond during storytime. Hence why board books make an excellent stocking stuffer choice for little kids. 

Small board books are also a great way to start your child’s reading journey if you haven’t introduced too many books yet, you can get some with their favorite characters or focus on learning books instead. Either way, it’s a great choice and if we’re not putting a book in our toddler’s stocking, we’re usually rotating our library with new books (especially around the holidays!).

Bath Toys

Ready to transform bath time into a splashy adventure your child will look forward to instead of resisting? Welp, throw some fun, affordable bath toys like these into their stocking to make bath time enjoyable and easy for both of you.

Finger Puppets

Finger puppets are a wonderful stocking stuffer for young toddlers, in fact, our favorite finger puppets are these ones from Melissa and Doug. They’re budget-friendly and can really spark your child’s imaginative play. My boys loved playing with these finger puppets when they were smaller and we’d have the most fun playing puppet shows behind the sofa, they really bring back such memorable moments that I hope you can enjoy with your little ones too.

Toy Cars or Trucks

Toy cars are a surefire way to rev up the excitement in your toddler’s stocking this holiday season — especially if they’re a car or truck lover like mine! They’re an affordable option as you can snag some little racecars or even some construction trucks to toss into their stocking for a special surprise. They also spark imaginative play, and your little ones can create endless adventures with them. 

Sidewalk Chalk

Unleash your child’s imagination and creativity with this fun and washable stocking stuffer idea. It’s an affordable option that promises hours of artistic adventure right outside your door.

Whether you go to the park or you sit out in your driveway, you and your child will have lots of fun!

Bubbles

I can’t remember a time when my kids didn’t enjoy getting bubbles for some kind of gift or goodie bag surprise. Bubbles are the perfect stocking stuffer for toddlers because they’re loads of fun, and guarantee smiles all around. Let’s also not forget they’re very affordable — in fact, you can get a case of them for a great price at your local Target. 

Crayons, Markers, and Coloring Books

You know what’s a no-fail stocking stuffer for young toddlers? Crayons and coloring books! If you have a child like my son who could draw for hours on end, a coloring book would be the best thing in the world to see in that stocking! 

These gifts are not only budget-friendly but also a fantastic way to ignite your little one’s creativity and keep them happily occupied. It’s like a gift for both parents and kids – hours of fun and artistic exploration! Plus, who says you can’t join in on the coloring fun too?

Water Bottle

Last year, this was my toddler’s favorite stocking gift, so consider popping a small water bottle or sippy cup into your toddler’s stocking this year. It’s not only an affordable choice but also a practical one, helping them stay hydrated during the holiday hustle and bustle, preschool, on the go for extracurricular activities, and more. Plus, they’ll love having a special “grown-up” bottle that looks cool just like the big kids!

Sensory Balls

You know, sensory balls are a great stocking stuffer idea for toddlers. They’re not only affordable, but also engage multiple senses, encouraging tactile exploration, and enhancing fine motor skills, and sensory development. Plus, they provide hours of entertainment, and make an excellent addition to a calm-down corner during the sometimes overwhelming holiday season! 

Fidget Toys

Fidget toys are such a fantastic stocking stuffer for toddlers because they keep those little hands busy and spark creativity, all while being super budget-friendly. It’s a win-win for everyone! And if you have a sensory-seeking toddler like mine, these small, but mighty toys can keep them busy for quite some time!

Educational Stocking Stuffers for Toddlers

When it comes to choosing gifts and stocking stuffers for toddlers, educational toys really stand out as a top choice for me. They’re not only entertaining but they also promote valuable learning experiences and development.

For instance, literacy toys, like alphabet puzzles and interactive books, play a crucial role in your child’s language development. How? They can help your toddler familiarize themselves with letters and words, setting the foundation for reading and communication skills.

Another great educational toy is Montessori toys. These types of toys encourage a lot of independent and creative thinking. They’re usually designed to stimulate problem-solving, enhance fine motor skills, and promote imaginative play. Now, these aren’t the only types of educational toys there are, so whatever educational toys you opt for, just remember they’ll be invaluable in your child’s early years.

Because you’re here for ideas, here are our favorite stocking stuffers that are educational for toddlers:

• Puzzle Blocks: These provide hours of entertainment, fun, and problem-solving, while also aiding in developing hand-eye coordination.

• Learn with Homer Subscription: We’re not big on giving our kids phones or tablets, however, there are very few education apps we support and Homer is one of them. Homer can be personalized to your child’s age and development level while offering over hundreds of activities ranging in topics like reading, math, social & emotional learning, and more! When you sign up through my link, you can also get a 45-day free trial + $10 off an annual membership.

• Peacemaker Cards: These cards help both parents and children build connection, and nurture emotional intelligence. I can tell you from experience, that my little boys love playing with these cards with me every day.

• Wooden Shape Sorter: If you have a very young toddler (think 2 years old or less) this classic toy helps with shape recognition and problem-solving skills.

• Pretend Food: Toy foods are a mess-free, perfect way to encourage pretend play amongst your child.

• Building Blocks: Blocks bring so much fun to young kids. They can build, count, and sort, making them perfect for both young kids and older kids, too!

• Busy Books: Busy books are a really fun gift idea for kids who travel often with their parents or maybe need a little bit of extra help practicing their fine motor and sensory development skills.

• Water Wow: These mess-free coloring and activity books make one of the best stocking stuffer ideas. Your child can reuse them over and over again to color their favorite pages whether at home or on the go.

• Animal Figurines: Different animal figurines can help with animal recognition, sounds, and vocabulary. You can also use small animal figurines to create little sensory bins for your child, opening up the door to even more sensory learning and exploring.

• Musical Instruments: Music in general is an excellent way to help our kids express themselves, making instruments a wonderful stocking stuffer choice. Using instruments also promotes fine motor skills, cognitive development, creativity, and much more.

Stocking Stuffers for Creative Kids

If your child loves to draw, paint, or spend their day doing crafts — the following toddler stocking stuffer ideas will have them on cloud 9. I rounded up the best stocking gifts for creative toddlers (just like mine). In fact, I’ll be gifting my son some play-dough and sticker books in his stocking this year too!

• Craft Supplies: Markers, stickers, glue, craft paper, and scissors are perfect for sparking creativity. And you can get a small set like this one – perfect for any stocking!

• Play-Dough: A classic creative toy that allows your child to mold and shape while getting some sensory input. 

• Stamps and Ink Pads: Let your little artist create their own masterpieces by stamping their favorite objects, animals, and characters.

• Colorful Washable Markers: Perfect for little artists, these markers come in a variety of colors and — they’re washable! This means your child can channel their inner Picasso without the worry of your household belongings getting ruined.

• Finger Paints: Watch your toddler’s imagination run wild with these washable finger paints.

• DIY Bracelet Kits: These kits provide a fun way for your child to make their own jewelry (though usually better suited for older toddlers and kids).

• Sticker Books: A collection of sticker books with various themes can provide hours of imaginative thinking and creative fun.

• Crayon Rocks: These uniquely shaped crayons are great for developing fine motor skills in older babies and young toddlers.

• Magic Coloring Books: My boys always have so much fun with these mess-free coloring books! You just add a little water to your pen brush, the colors appear, creating a magical experience without all the mess from using markers or crayons.

• Stringing Beads: Stringing beads make great stocking stuffers because they help with fine motor skills, pretend play, counting, learning, and more! 

Tasty Stocking Stuffers for Toddlers

Remember, stocking stuffers and gifts don’t always need to be toys or books. Kids love snacks! So, what better way to boost their festive spirit than opening up their favorite bag of treats on Christmas morning? Check out these tasty Christmas stocking fillers we rounded up below:

• Fruit Snacks: These sweet chewy treats are loved by kids of all ages, but be mindful that they can contain a ton of added sugar. Opt for a No-Sugar added option if possible.

• Miniature Cereal Boxes: Mini cereal boxes with your toddler’s favorite characters are a breakfast-time win for everyone and are the perfect size for a stocking gift.

• Organic Fruit Bars: Fruit bars are tasty and easy to put into the stocking. Just choose your child’s favorite flavor and they’ll love it!

• Granola Bars: I don’t know a toddler who dislikes granola bars, so if you’re looking for a yummy snack idea, be sure to add these to the list.

• Mini Chocolate Bars: Small, sweet indulgences fit perfectly in your child’s stocking and make great gifts for little chocolate lovers with a sweet tooth.

• Yogurt Drops: Delicious and melt-in-the-mouth treats for your little one made out of yogurt. Target sells one brand that my kids beg me to buy whenever we do a grocery run, and in all honesty, I don’t blame them. These little treats are delicious!

• Goldfish Snacks: These gold little fishy crackers are a hit in many households among the kids. Plus, they have so many flavors and options now (like pizza, rainbows, and more), that you’re bound to find one that your kid will enjoy.

• Mini Pretzels: A crunchy snack for little taste buds that comes in different shapes, like sticks, circles, squares, and more!

• Nut Butter Packets: Nut butter is a tasty and energy-packed option. You can snag some almond butter, peanut butter, cashew butter, and more!

• Mini Juice Boxes: If your kiddo loves juice, dropping in their favorite flavor juice box is bound to leave a smile on their face when they open up their Christmas stocking.

Sensory Stocking Stuffers

Whether you’ve got a sensory seeker or a sensory avoided — we’ve got items for everyone! Sometimes, it’s the little things, like being able to squeeze a squishy ball when we’re angry or having a set of noise-canceling headphones available when it’s too loud out. Whatever your child’s sensory preference, we’ve got something they’ll love below:

• Kinetic Sand: A sensory delight for tactile and imaginative play.

• Sensory Bottles: Filled with colorful, floating items, these homemade or store-bought bottles are fun to make and will leave your child mesmerized.

• Noise-Canceling Headphones: Perfect for kids sensitive to noise, especially during holiday celebrations.

• Glow-in-the-Dark Stars: Your toddler will love helping you stick these on their bedroom ceiling for a star-gazing sensory experience at night.

• Bubble Bath: Adds a fun bathtime experience for littles to splash and pop bubbles.

• Soft Plushies: These are a sensory delight for cuddling and comfort for dysregulated children.

• Squishy Toys: Soft and squishy toys are another great option for stress relief and sensory stimulation.

• Textured Balls: These provide tactile experiences that can be therapeutic for children.

• Gentle Music & Audi Book Players: Calming music and gentle stories can provide comfort, sensory stimulation, and entertainment for toddlers of all ages.

• Sensory Brushes: These can be soothing for kids with sensory sensitivities. My own son loved it when I’d brush his arms and legs before bedtime. Your little one might love it too!

This Christmas, create precious memories and nurture your toddler’s growth with these perfect stocking stuffer ideas. You’re bound to find something your toddler loves from our list. Wishing you and your little ones a Merry Christmas and a holiday season filled with warmth and wonder!

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