Home / Holidays / Holiday Gift Guides 50+ practical & fun stocking stuffers for kids of all ages Sometimes the best presents aren't under the tree. By Sara Goldstein Updated October 11, 2023 We independently select and share the products we love—and may receive a commission if you choose to buy. 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 • $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. SHOP MUDPUPPY 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. SHOP MUD PIE SHOP AMAZON 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. SHOP LOULOU LOLLIPOP 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. SHOP SKIPHOP SHOP AMAZON 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. SHOP 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! SHOP AMAZON 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. SHOP AMAZON 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. SHOP AMAZON 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. SHOP AMAZON 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. SHOP MOTHERLY 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. SHOP MAILEG 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. SHOP COPPER PEARL 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. SHOP UNCOMMON GOODS Our favorite stocking stuffers for toddlers 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. SHOP AMAZON 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. SHOP 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. SHOP AMAZON 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! SHOP AMAZON Mudpuppy • $7.99 Kaleidoscope Adorable illustrations on the outside, a cascade of wonder on the inside! SHOP MUDPUPPY SHOP AMAZON 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. SHOP EZPZ SHOP MOTHERLY 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. SHOP AMAZON 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. SHOP AMAZON 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!) SHOP AMAZON 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. SHOP AMAZON 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! SHOP WALMART 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. SHOP DABBLE & DOLLOP SHOP MOTHERLY 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. SHOP OOLY 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?) SHOP SMARTWOOL 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.) SHOP AMAZON 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! SHOP MUDPUPPY SHOP AMAZON 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. SHOP SCANDIBORN 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. SHOP UNCOMMON GOODS 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. SHOP AMAZON 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! SHOP AMAZON 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. SHOP SOAPEN 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. SHOP LITTLE LADY 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. SHOP TARGET Best Stocking Stuffers for Tweens 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. SHOP OOLY 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. SHOP AMAZON 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. SHOP COCOFLOSS 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. SHOP AMAZON 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. SHOP HERBIVORE 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? SHOP AMAZON 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! SHOP BUTTER AND ME 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. SHOP AMAZON 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. SHOP AMAZON 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. SHOP AMAZON We independently select and share the products we love—and may receive a commission if you choose to buy.