With your kids’ advent calendar poised and ready for action, the countdown to Christmas is right around the corner. You might be in a mad dash to figure out the best big ticket gifts, but sometimes the best ones aren’t under the tree–they’re in the stockings.

Growing up, opening my stocking was my absolute favorite part of the day—they were always full of everything from essentials to unexpected trinkets and candy. Those customized stockings, or the ones that have been passed down, are the perfect place for unique, fun and creative gifts for your littles.

The best stocking stuffers for kids prove that sometimes the real treasures come in small packages–but there’s also something to be said for being practical! I mean, what kid doesn’t love a great collection of colorful band-aids? Or a cozy pair of yeti-bedecked wool socks?

We’ve rounded up some of our favorite stocking stuffers for babies, toddlers and kids–from heirloom rattles to games that the entire family will enjoy. Apologies in advance, you may need a bigger stocking.

Looking for more gift ideas? Check out all of our holiday gift guides!

Our favorite stocking stuffers for babies

Mudpuppy Animals Ring Flashcards

Mudpuppy

$14.99

Baby Animal Flash Cards

From car rides to waiting in line at the grocery store, these colorful first word flashcards are a fun and educational distraction. The chunky design (which is totally rip and drool-proof!) features a different image on each side and a removable plastic ring that keeps them all together.

Mud Pie Animal Mirror Book

Mud Pie

$33.50

Animal Mirror Book

This sweet book is a fun way to keep little ones entertained! Each page features a mirror and animal face they’ll delight in seeing reflected back. From a pokey puppy to an adorable lop-eared bunny, it’s guaranteed smiles.

loulou-lollipop-teether

Loulou Lollipop

$24

Taco Teether and Holder Set

Who says you can’t put a taco in a stocking? The colorful teethers from Loulou Lollipop come in tons of fun shapes and are made from safe-to-chomp food-grade silicone. And bonus points for the included clip and beads which keep you from having to pick it up off the floor and clean it a bazillion times a day.

Skip Hop Bandana Buddies Winter Moose

Skip Hop

$16

Bandana Buddies Winter Moose

A sweet and seasonally appropriate way to keep your little one entertained on the go. The fuzzy moose features multiple fabrics and textures along with a soothing chime sound when they shake it and the snowflake teether is perfect for bothersome gums.

zutano-baby-booties

Zutano

$24

Cozie Furry Baby Bootie

For those cold days you need to keep those tiny toes warm, we love these snuggly-soft booties from Zutano which miraculously never fall off.

Baby Banana toothbrush, one of Motherly's favorite products for 7 month olds

Baby Banana

$5.99

Banana Toothbrush

Even the tiniest giftees need a practical toothbrush in their stocking! The super popular Baby Banana offers little ones a soothing, nubby surface to chew as well as their first introduction to oral hygiene. The silicone bristles are a satisfying texture for sore gums while the “peels” provide an easy way to grasp. It can also be popped right into the dishwasher!

itzy-ritzy-silicone-teether-mitt

Itzy Ritzy

$8.99

Silicone Teething Mitt

Just pop this cutie over their little hand and they’ve got a teether that requires just enough dexterity. The textured silicone on top soothes sore and swollen gums and the crinkle sound it makes keeps baby entertained.

vulli-sophie-the-giraffe

Vulli

$24.99

Sophie the Giraffe

Does it look like a fancy glorified dog toy? Yes. Does it also possess some freakish ability to calm, soothe and entertain (almost) any baby who gnaws on its squeaky head and hoofs? Also yes.

skip-hop-portable-baby-soother

Skip Hop

$15.99

Portable Baby Soother

Parents and babies alike love this highly-rated soother that makes naps on the go a breeze. The cute little owl plays nature sounds and two songs to keep them asleep without stressing.

Cuddle + Kind Baby Fawn

Cuddle + Kind

$35

Baby Fawn

Sweet and snuggly, this pint-sized pal is more than just hand-made good looks. Each cuddle+kind purchase provides meals to children in need.

Maileg Teddy Rattles

Maileg

$18

Teddy Rattle

The sweetly detailed rattles from Maileg are made to be loved and handed down from one generation to the next. We just adore the charming linen teddies that are perfect for little hands.

Copper Pearl Bandanna Bibs

Copper Pearl

$21.95

Bandanna Bib Set

Drooling never looked so stylish. The absorbent bandanna bibs from Copper Pearl are a perfect combo of baby fashion meets function. Made from cotton on the front and polyester fleece on the back, they come in a wide selection of colors and patterns.

zodiac-board-books

Roxy Marj

$8

Baby Astrology Board Books

Introduce your little one to the traditional traits of their sign! I’m not going to say it’s always right but my perfectionist Virgo and spotlight stealing Leo kids might say otherwise.

Our favorite stocking stuffers for toddlers

Roshambo Baby Sunglasses

Roshambo

$23.99

Unbreakable Sunglasses

The colorful polarized glasses from Roshambo are not only great at keeping your little one’s eyes safe from the sun, but they’re virtually impossible to break. (We know, we tried!) They come in a ton of colors and sizes for the whole fam as well.

Bombas Toddler Snowflake Gripper Socks

Bombas

$38

Toddler Snowflake Gripper Socks

Eventually they’ll learn to appreciate the practical stocking stuffers! We love the giftable collections from Bombas for little feet because they’re not only super cozy, they also feature grips on the soles to keep your tiny speed demon from wiping out on the wood floor.

Oli and Carol Elvis the Duck

Oli and Carol

$15.99

Elvis the Duck

A classic rubber duckie makes a perfect stocking stuffer! The eco-friendly rubber ducky from Oli & Carol is not only hand-crafted of 100% natural rubber from Malaysian Hevea trees (making it safe for little ones to chew on), but it’s designed without holes so no gross mold can thrive inside.

Fat Brain Toys Original Dimpl

Fat Brain Toys

$12.95

Original Dimpl

Babies, kids and even parents can’t resist the satisfying fun of the Dimpl. The colorful silicone bubbles can be popped in and out to help little ones work on their fine motor skills and keep their hands busy. The best part? It’s sensory exploration that’s totally mess free!

Mudpuppy Animals of the World Kaleidoscope Motherly

Mudpuppy

$7.99

Kaleidoscope

Adorable illustrations on the outside, a cascade of wonder on the inside!

ezpz-mini-cup-and-straw

ezpz

$17.49

Mini Cup + Straw Training System

Practicality rules when it comes to toddler stocking stuffers. The silicone cup and straw from ezpz is an ideal way to introduce your little one to drinking from a cup and comes in a bunch of fabulous colors.

the-snow-day-board-book

Ezra Jack Keats

$6.11

The Snowy Day

Or you could slip in a classic. Ezra Jack Keat’s 1962 award-winning The Snowy Day is a toddler bookshelf must-have. With bold and colorful illustrations and a timeless story of the wonder of being outside in the quiet snow, it’s destined to be favorite for generations.

Sarah's Silks Mini Streamers

Sarah's Silks

$10.50

Mini Streamers

From dance parties to princess duties, the silk baton twirlers from Sarah’s Silks make movement a little fancier. The 100% silk rainbow ribbon flutters through the air to make shapes and swirls and even offers a fun way to practice writing and identifying letters and numbers.

Melissa and Doug Water Wow

Melissa & Doug

$7.99

Water Wow!

Many a road-trip and restaurant meal have been saved by these little miracles. Just fill the reusable “paint brush” with water and let them go to town revealing the colors hidden in the pages. When it dries, the color disappears so they can do it all over again. There’s a ton of styles to choose from and even come in bundles you can split between stockings. There are a bunch of different themes to choose from too! (And even mazes!)

fubbles bubble tumbler

Fubbles

$9.99

No-Spill Bubble Tumbler

Every kid who has ever played with bubbles has likely cried over spilling bubbles. That’s why we love the spill-proof tumblers from Fubbles. The size is great for little hands but big enough you won’t have to refill every five minutes.

Crayola Silly Scents Twistable Crayons

Crayola

$8.52

Silly Scents Twistable Crayons

When you’re a kid, few things are more satisfying than a new box of crayons. Not only are these twist up crayons a great option for younger kids who tend to snap the traditional kind at first use, each one is a fun scent. From fruits to candy to outdoor smells like beach and pine, their doodles will be a multilayered experience!

Dabble and Dollop Holiday Bath Bombs

Dabble and Dollop

$20

Holiday Bath Bombs

Making the nice list can really wear a kid out. Stick a bit of relaxation in their stocking with the delightfully fizzy and yummy scented bath bombs from Dabble & Dollop. The gift-ready box comes with three vanilla, three strawberry, three honeydew, and three tangerine kid-sized bombs which can be used on their own or mixed-and-matched for a sweet and fruity soak.

Ooly Tattoo-palooza

ooly

$7.50

Tattoo-palooza Temporary Tattoos

Whatever your kiddo is into, there’s an ooly tattoo for that. Their colorful temporary tattoo collections span everything from monster trucks to hot dog doodles that can be fashioned into their own tot-sized sleeve. The great thing is they go on easy and last just long enough–they don’t scrape off in a few hours nor do they require a gallon of baby oil and a prayer to be removed.

Best Stocking Stuffers for Kids

Smartwool

$18

Yeti Over The Calf Socks

What’s a more apropos stocking stuffer than socks? And when it comes to socks, Smartwool is the absolute best. This pair will keep them warm whether they’re on the slopes or snuggling in front of the fire. (And who can resist a skiing yeti?)

Crazy Aaron's Mixed Emotions Thinking PUtty

Crazy Aaron's

$14.95

Hide Inside Mixed Emotions Thinking Putty

Stretch it, roll it, twist it, bounce it–there’s endless ways to fiddle with Thinking Putty. There are a bazillion different varieties, but the biggest hit at my house are the Hide Inside style. Mixed into the putty are hundreds of tiny clay pieces including six special ones to hunt for. It’s a great on-the-go toy for restaurants and even long car rides (if they’re old enough not to accidentally grind it into the upholstery, of course.)

Mudpuppy Hot Cocoa Penguin Scratch and Sniff Mini Puzzle

Mudpuppy

$8.99

Hot Cocoa Penguin Scratch and Sniff Mini Puzzle

With just enough pieces to be tricky but not overwhelming, this cute penguin puzzle is perfect for restaurants or travel. The best part? It smells like hot chocolate!

maileg-tiny-mouse

Maileg

$22.99

Baby Mouse Sleepy/Wakey in Box

Maileg’s teeny tiny mice are a personal favorite of mine because well, just look at them. Is there anything sweeter? This little fella comes in his own matchbook bed and is delightfully detailed with an open eye on one side and a sleepy one on the other.

glowing-bathtime-cubes

Uncommon Goods

$20

Glowing Bath Time Cubes

A relaxing candlelit bath, but make it kid friendly. These colorful cubes light up when the tub is full and turn off once it’s drained.

LEGO DOTS Candy Kitty Bracelet & Bag Tag

LEGO DOTS

$11.99

Candy Kitty Bracelet & Bag Tag

The LEGO DOTS line marries building with arts and crafts to create fun wearables that kids love. Follow the design guide to make a colorful cube kitty and bracelet or mix it up and get creative. When hung from their backpack and wrist it becomes a fun toy to take apart and put back together again and again.

bananagrams

Bananagrams

$13.79

Bananagrams Word Game

Take away the complicated scoring and unwieldy board aspects of Scrabble and you get portable, fun and easy-to-play Bananagrams. Whether you’re playing kiddos who are just learning to spell word-nerds like myself, it’s a family hit!

soapens

Soapens

$15.99

Hand Soap Pens

If you’re going to wash your hands a hundred times a day, it may as well be fun, right? The colorful soaps from Soapens turn the task into an art form as they doodle on their palms before rinsing clean.

little-lady-products

Little Lady Products

$12

Nail Polish

Safe, non-toxic and made with littles in mind, the colorful nail polishes from Little Lady Products each come with a sweet wearable bow ring to show off alongside their manicure.

welly bandages

Welly

Peculiar Pets Bravery Badges

No one likes getting hurt, but everyone loves a good bandage. The flexible fabric bandages from Welly are always a hit with their fun patterns and oh-so-stylish (and reusable!) metal tin.

Best Stocking Stuffers for Tweens

ooly magic puffy pens

ooly

$15.99

Magic Puffy Pens

From posters to journals, these magical pens make everything a little more special! Just apply the heat from a hair dryer and watch the pen strokes come to life.

Bic BodyMark Temporary Tattoo Markers

BIC

$19.99

BodyMark Temporary Tattoo Markers

Do they prefer doodling on themselves instead? The Body Mark Temporary Tattoo Markers from Bic are designed to create colorful body art that can be washed off with just a little soap and water. Along with the markers, each pack includes a collection of stencils to spark some inspiration.

Cocofloss Confetti Cake Dental Floss

Cocofloss

$9

Confetti Cake Dental Floss

Dental floss might not be the coolest stocking stuffer, but this is the coolest floss. I mean, it is confetti cake flavored after all. And it’s not just the dessert-inspired flavors we love. The floss, which is made up of hundreds of tiny filaments and coconut oil acts like a scrubby in between teeth and works far better than the waxy stuff we grew up with.

tenzi-dice-game

Tenzi

$16.95

Dice Party Game

With nine ways to play, this seemingly simple set of dice is about to become a family night staple. Each game is fast, easy to learn and teaches kids number recognition, thinking on their toes and even hand eye coordination.

Herbivore Hot Cocoa Body Scrub

Herbivore

$24

Hot Cocoa Body Scrub

They probably don’t need any excuses to take up alllll the time in the bathroom these days, but the deliciously scented Herbivore Hot Cocoa Body Scrub is as good an excuse as any. It’s packed with plant-based ingredients like coconut oil, cocoa butter and sugar to leave skin soft and hydrated.

K'lani Hair Tie Bracelets

K'lani

$19.99

Hair Tie Bracelets

When their hair ties spend as much time on their wrists as they do in their hair, why not opt for something more stylish than just a simple elastic? The brilliant 2-in-1 design of these K’lani Hair Tie Bracelets look like minimalist jewelry but are ready for action whenever the need strikes. And maybe that means they won’t get lost as quickly?

Butter and Me Choco Body Scrub

Butter and Me

$18

Choco Body Scrub

It might look like a bougie chocolate bar, but these gorgeously packaged treats are actually body scrub! Just break off a piece and get to work polishing away dull, dry skin. They melt right in and a little goes a long way! They come in a collection of intoxicating scents like matcha vanilla and strawberry cacao and are almost too pretty to use–but too dreamy not to!

Sneaker Balls

Sneaker Balls

Sneaker Balls

You love them, but let’s be honest. They stink. Their bag stinks. Their sneakers stink. And don’t even think about their sports gear unless you want to get nauseated. Pop a bit of a reality check into their stocking with the hard-working, stink-busting Sneaker Balls. All their friends moms by whose door they abandon their shoes will thank you.

Hagbis Airpod Cleaning Pen

Hagbis

$7.75

Airpod Cleaning Pen

If they have in-ear headphones of any kind, there’s a good chance they could use a cleaning. This highly-rated 3-in-1 tool includes implements to freshen up every nook and cranny.

Starface Hydro-Stars Pimple Patches

Starface

Hydro-Stars Pimple Patches

Zit stickers, but make it fashion. And not only are they adorable and effective, they also come in their own smiley face carry case with a mirror inside for keeping tabs on the situation.

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