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A good stocking stuffer for a young child fits in the stocking but isn't small enough to be a choking hazard. For babies and toddlers under 3, that means nothing with small parts, and for any age, nothing with a loose button battery or small magnets. Within those rules, the best picks are things they'll use every day: socks, a snack cup, a teether, a bath toy, a sticker book.
Three checks before anything goes in
- Small parts. In Canada, toys for children under 3 can't have small parts, but toys for older kids can. A 3+ label often means exactly that. If there's a baby or toddler in the house, keep older siblings' stocking stuffers out of reach.
- Button batteries. Health Canada recommends products without button batteries, or with a battery compartment that screws shut. If a child swallows one, go to the nearest emergency department right away, without waiting for symptoms. A swallowed battery can cause serious burns in as little as two hours.
- Magnets. Swallowed magnets can pull together inside the body. Choose magnetic pieces too big to swallow, and throw out any toy that loses a magnet.
For babies
| Stocking stuffer | Why it works | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Hegen Soothing Teether | A soft silicone ring that's easy for small hands to hold. | $9.99 |
| B.Box Wrist Teether | Slips onto your baby's wrist, so it doesn't end up on the floor. Dishwasher safe. | $15.99 |
| Hape Baby's Bug Book | A wooden book with smooth painted pages that wipe clean. | $9.99 |
| Itzy Ritzy Ring Toss Bath Toy Set | A floating seal, three rings and a squirting ball. The seal is watertight, which helps keep mildew out. | $16.95 |
| Itzy Ritzy Snack Pal Snack Cup | Clear sides, two handles and a lid that stays attached. For 6 months and up, in Kitty or Bear. | $10.95 |
For bigger gifts, see our gift guide for 6 to 12 months.
For toddlers
- Friday Sock Co. Ugly Christmas Snowman Socks ($16.99): three pairs of holiday socks in combed cotton, in sizes from 1 to 2 years up to 8 to 12 years. Also in Gingerbread from size 2 to 4 years. Matching pairs for siblings fit in every stocking.
- Itzy Ritzy Snack Pal ($10.95): still useful well into the toddler years for snacks on outings.
- Kokuyo Bladeless Scissors ($5.99): plastic scissors with no metal blade, labelled for ages 2 and up. A first pair for cutting paper strips with a grown-up nearby.
Our gift guide for 2-year-olds has more ideas, many under $30.
For preschoolers (3 and up)
- Jar Melo Working Models, Little Figures ($12.99): more than 145 reusable stickers and five city park scenes to build on. Labelled 3+.
- Jar Melo Step By Step Drawing Book, Cute Animals ($5.99): shows how to draw each animal in a few simple steps. Labelled 3+.
- Handsome Mini Car Set ($9.99): four small metal and plastic cars. Labelled 3+, so keep them away from younger siblings.
For something bigger, our gift guide for 3- to 5-year-olds covers games and building sets.
For older siblings
- Smart Games Reverso ($9.95): a mini puzzle game with six flexible pieces to fit on both sides of a board. Ages 6 and up, with small parts.
Our guide to small toys under $10 has more pocket-money picks for school-age kids.
Prices are in CAD and were current when we wrote this.
Before you fill the stocking
- Take off all packaging, ties and tags, and throw away the plastic.
- Read the age labels and warnings, and sort each child's stocking by their age, not the oldest child's.
- Check the Government of Canada's Recalls and Safety Alerts website for anything second-hand.
Want to pick up a few on your way? Call our Richmond, Burnaby or Ottawa store ahead of your visit and we'll let you know what we have on hand.
