Some of the ladies and I were discussing stocking stuffers at work today. I mentioned some of the items I put in the boys stockings, and one of the ladies thought it was strange. I mentioned that I usually put a new toothbrush, childrens toothpaste, childrens shampoo, childrens soap, bubblebath, chapstick etc. in their stockings and Easter baskets. They always appreciate it. She didn't see the point of putting stuff you would buy for them anyway. My point was it wasn't stuff I would buy for them anyway, it was the special kids stuff that they only get as gifts. Of course, I do provide them with toiletries, but just regular toiletries, not special "marketed to kids" toiletries. They get new toothbrushes at their dental check-ups normally, but in their stockings they get cool character toothbrushes. They get special kids toothpaste in the stocking, but use plain old Crest like the rest of us the rest of the time. (I did buy toddler toothpaste with no fluoride before they could be trusted to spit it out). They get fruity smelling shampoos, soaps, bubble baths and body washes as gifts, but the rest of the time they just use what I buy for the household. My ten year old son isn't into the kids toiletries any longer, so I'll prbably need to give him some Axe deodorant and body wash this year. I'm quite sure there were no special childrens toiletries when I was a child, other that Johnson and Johnson's "No More Tears" Baby Shampoo!
So, now I am wondering, do you buy special kids toiletries on a regular basis, or do you save them as treats?
My kids are all grown up but when they were little they got tooth brushes in their stockings and their Easter Baskets too. It was a good way to remind them with all the candy, they need good dental hygene. I don't see anything odd about it. I remember getting bubble bath in my stocking back when I was young and I am 52 years old!
Don't let that person's criticism stop you!
I give my daughter (nearly 12) gift cards for Bath and Body Works and she thinks it is a tremendous treat to go there and shop (and she loves finding sales). So she gets exactly the scents she wants, has the fun of shopping and still gets the card to unwrap in her stocking.
I do! My son loves bubblebath and shaving cream but if I let him have it everytime he took a bath I would be buying it every week! Plus I only like the natural kind which is really expensive.
I never buy 'kid' marketing toiletries. But i LOVE your idea! What a way to instill appreciation for the finer things in life :) I also liked the idea of the mom who suggested Axe products and other such things. DD always gets special lotions for Xmas from her female relatives, but they are usually sample sized and get squirreled away for a special day. And then go completely to waste.
I love this idea, too, and may add a few of these things to the kids' stockings. We always got socks in our stockings when I was a kid, so Santa usually brings socks and underwear for my kids :-) Last year it was long underwear, which my kids loved since they wear them when we ski. Thanks for the new idea to add to the theme!
DD got her first set of bath color drops for Christmas. Or I might get her or SD nice smelling bath stuff, even now. Sometimes it's not so much that you could buy for them anytime but (for example) she might like smelling like a gingerbread house for a few weeks during the holidays. When I was a kid, we always got Avon chapsticks that were holiday themed.
like you we use the dentist toothbrushes but i put musical ones in their easter baskets. and while i do buy kids toothpaste I get kids crest not spiderman toothpaste etc. so that would be special to put in a stocking.
What does this lady put in her kids stocking then? I assumed most everyone did put toiletries in stockings.
Toiletries in a stocking?
Brilliant!
Especially for kids who aren't fond of using them as a matter of course.
My kids always loved baths and showers so anything related to that, including a new bath towel and robe, made them excited to wash.
My son, now 17, pretty much can expect an Old Spice kit because it's his favorite. He loves the Fiji scent. Let me tell you......the house smells wonderful after he uses it and I've used it myself to try it out. They aren't over-drying for the skin. I like using them as well.
You don't have to do "marketing to kids" toiletries. You really don't.
I've had friends whose kids were bath and shower haters, but give them a gift of different soaps, shampoos and lotions, especially the stuff or older kids, and they were begging to bathe or shower. Same thing with battery operated tooth brushes, mouth rinse, hair gels or products for fun.
My kids had their own travel bags with manicure sets, room for their other toiletries and they learned to keep that stuff together so if we went on a trip, it was all together. They've come in very handy. The kids have loved them.
As my daughter got older, it was cute makeup bags, etc, including sunscreen and the like.
My son is much easier. Body wash, deodorant, nail clippers, room for his toothbrush and toothpaste, mini mouth wash, chap stick, some band-aids, neosporin. Mini travel packs are a great gift.
My son definitely has his favorite toiletries and yes, Christmas is always a time for replenishing because they come in gift packs.
Just my opinion.
I do this too. My girls are now 13 and they get little bottles of stuff from Bath and Body Works. I also include lipgloss. For my son, I will have to come up with something different since he is not into that stuff. I usually included some small cars or maybe a DS game for him. Like you, my kids usually use the regular stuff for showers etc.
I buy kids' toiletries because I prefer them to have separate toothpaste (to cut back on spreading colds) so they get to pick the flavor they want. I never thought of kids' shampoos and kids' toothbrushes as indulgent -- it's just what we did from an early age and since the kids have a separate bathroom from my husband and me, it makes sense to have toiletries they would like. But if that's a special treat for your kids, then it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks or does -- if it's special to them, it's special to them! My kids think it's special when they get to watch tv or play a video game, because we don't do it every day or even every week -- some families do it so often, it's mundane, but for my kids, it's special.
But we do give the kids special chapstick and lotions in their stockings -- my mother used to give us nylons and mechanical pencils as stocking stuffers. Very mundane, but appreciated nonetheless.
I never buy kids toiletries, but I think your idea is great! I will probably put kids toothpaste in stocking this year- thanks for the idea! They will love it!
I, personally, love getting toiletries in my stocking and I always pick some up for my family members for their stockings too. Last year my sister got "Chicken Poop" chapstick for all the neices and nephews. Sounds gross but it's great lip balm. :)
Yes I do this. I usually get each kid a spin toothbrush, some fruity chapstick, fun small sized lotions, character or patterned kleenex travel packs. Got DD disney princess kleenex 1 year. I am allergic to all perfume otherwise they would get scented fun soaps too.
I give my stepkids the same type of thing in their stockings. Last year, my stepson got an Axe body gift set and my stepdaughter got fancy deodorant and body wash. I see nothing wrong with it or weird about it, as my mom still puts that kind of stuff in my stocking at the age of 36. I haven't had to buy body wash in over 2 years, LOL.
I do buy kids toiletries regularly but nothing super fancy. I get Suave stuff which is pretty reasonable. My daughter is basically bathes herself now and likes it and since she uses a different shower than my husband and I do, I get her what she likes. We don't really use bubble bath very much but I do buy them character toothbrushes and toothpaste. In fact, if my son and daughter want different toothpastes I buy them each one. They last longer since only one kid is using them and I honestly don't care as long as they brush their teeth and it makes them happy.
I don't think it's weird, however, that you put those things in their stockings. If they like it then go for it! As a grown up I don't buy myself a lot of pretty smelling things anymore and I'd love for my stocking to be filled with that stuff! ;)
We got that stuff during the year but also in our stocking at Christmas time. We also got an orange and chocolate too... So that is what I do for my children.... Lots of every day stuff( some themed) an orange & Hershey kisses . They love it! Oh.. And the orange was always way down in the toe!!! I do that too ... Not sure why!!
We always got toothbrushes, lip stuff, an orange (tangerine), and nuts in our stockings as kids. My kiddos will too.
And the other toiletries sound totally normal for stocking stuffers, as well.
I wouldn't buy my boys tolietries for Christmas. HAve a feeling that would not go over well at all. Maybe because it is always something that I have just bought them anyhow because they need it. But if your kids like it then keepo with it. Its all in what you are used to.
The only "kids" this i specifically buy on a regular basis is a kids 3 in 1 shampoo, conditioner, body wash but my kids are only 3 and 4 so we still need the no tears stuff. Other than that im like you i buy bubble baths, character tooth brushes, etc for their stockings.
my sister bought my kids character toothbrushes last year for my kids - so its ok -
in England we put liitle bit in called stocking fillers are bits and bobs even an orange, small chocolate bars, sweets, shower gel .and yes the older lads appricate lynx deodrant and shower gels
personally i buy a lot of things from charity shops here as im stuck for cash and can get some good bargains and brand new things
so stop worrying its fine - everyone has their own thing and there is more to life than worrying about stocking fillers
