I’ve been at it for weeks, but I’ve finally found the best Advent calendar fillers for toddlers and I am so excited to get the Christmas season started!
Nothing is better than celebrating Christmas with a toddler and an Advent calendar only makes the season more exciting.
There are so many fun options out there for DIY Advent calendars, so coming up with your own fillers is becoming more and more popular. Not only are there tons of cute little gifts you can use, but there are also lots of fun activities that are free, easy, and will help get everyone in the Christmas spirit!
Time to get your Christmas shopping started! Here are the best Advent calendar fillers for toddlers:
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If you haven’t gotten your kids an Advent calendar yet, I highly recommend you check out Etsy’s Advent Calendar section. They have amazing handmade calendars that you can use year after year (or ones you can make yourself!).
Christmas-Themed Advent Calendar Fillers for Toddlers
I’m a huge fan of using our Advent calendar as a way to give my kids the Christmas-themed gifts that can’t wait until Christmas, even if they’re too big to fit.
Instead, I put a little note in that tells them they get to open a present instead!
This is such a fun way to start off the calendar, especially since these items are full of Christmas spirit!
Here are some of my favorite Christmas-themed Advent calendar fillers for toddlers:
Christmas-Themed Pajamas
You can’t possibly go through the season without a pair of Christmas pajamas!
They’re perfect for photo-ops and since it’s getting darker and colder, they’ll be spending more time in their pajamas anyways.
There are so, so, so many adorable options for Christmas pajamas.
If you want to go all out, your best best is to head straight to Etsy where you can get customized Christmas pajamas with your toddler’s name on them (these are my absolute favorite)! If you’ve got more than one child, they can also all match!
If you’re pressed for time (or just don’t want to spend too much), there are also really cute ones you can get straight from Amazon.
These are my favorite and will likely be making an appearance in our house this year!
Christmas Books for Toddlers
You can’t go through the Christmas season without Christmas books for your toddler!
And let me tell you, there are some seriously adorable Christmas books for toddlers out there, which only makes it that much harder to avoid them.
This year, a new release has hit the shelves and I’m losing my mind over it – First 100 Christmas Words!
If you aren’t familiar with the First 100 Books, then I highly recommend you take a look (and get some stocking stuffer shopping done!), because they are a huge hit with toddlers and an amazing way to help them learn new words. Both my son and daughter were obsessed with them.
Here are some other cute ideas for toddler Christmas books:
- First 100 Christmas
- Little Blue Truck’s Christmas (from the creators of Little Blue Truck)
- Dear Santa (from the creators of Dear Zoo)
- Merry Christmas, Daniel Tiger!
Christmas Socks
Christmas socks are an absolute must for toddler Advent calendar fillers!
They’re small enough to fit in the calendar, super cute, and you can get a set, which not only makes each pair less expensive, but will help you use up multiple days of your Advent calendar.
These are the ones I’m using. They’re really cute and come in multiple sizes, so you can have all of your kids matching!
Christmas Ornaments
What toddler doesn’t love to decorate Christmas trees?
Getting their own Christmas ornaments is such a fun surprise for them.
Not only do they get to hang them on the tree, but this is a great way to give them an ornament each year that commemorates their age and the year.
If you want one that is personalized, you definitely should start with Etsy’s personalized Christmas ornament section.
You can also find some fun and inexpensive ornaments on Amazon if you just need more fun toddler Advent calendar filler ideas!
Related post: Alternative Advent Calendars that You Didn’t Know Existed
Small and Inexpensive Advent Calendar Fillers for Toddlers
Once you’ve got your big items out of the way, it’s time to fill in the rest of your Advent calendar days with other cute ideas.
Here are some of my favorite small and inexpensive Advent calendar fillers for toddlers:
Toy Figurines
As toddlers, both of my kids would walk around holding various play figurines for years.
Their absolute favorite was a Daniel Tiger set. They’re the perfect size for Advent calendar fillers and since there’s 5, they take up a bunch of days.
If your toddler has a favorite animal or TV character, this is a great opportunity to incorporate them.
Magnets
Magnets are such a fun toy for toddlers, plus they’re a great way to keep them busy while you’re working on other things! My toddlers used them on our fridge and trashcan and they were always a huge hit. These are the best because you don’t have to worry about a choking hazard.
Bath Toys
You can’t have too many bath toys!
These are another toddler Advent calendar filler idea that is easy, can take up multiple days, and ends up being inexpensive.
Bows and Headbands
If you’ve got a little girl, then bows and headbands are absolutely perfect Advent calendar fillers!
They can be Christmas-themed or just for everyday use.
You really can’t go wrong with bows and headbands and they will last for years and years.
Cars and Trains
If it’s got wheels, then you’ve got a winner!
Toddlers love little cars and trains and for many of them, this will be the start of a decade-long obsession.
If your toddler still puts things in their mouths, then you need to be careful about getting them something that is a choking hazard. But if they’ve passed that phase, then this is the perfect time to start them on some of the biggest hits:
Little People
There’s a whole world of little people (and animals) and they’re the perfect size for toddlers!
If your toddler already has some little people sets, this is the perfect time to compliment them with more.
Here are some of their smaller sets:
Christmas Light-Up Necklace
This Christmas neckalce is a such great Advent calendar filler for both girls and boys.
It’s a fun thing for them to wear around for the holiday season and a great little distraction when you’re out.
And of course, a great way to introduce them to some of the fun things of the Christmas season.
Spoons and Forks
We all know toddlers are masters of using spoons and forks, so why not get them even more excited about it?
There are tons of adorable spoons and forks for toddlers, so pick one you know they’d love!
Here are some cute toddler utensil ideas:
Non-Gift Advent Calendar Fillers for Toddlers
The Christmas season is full of so many amazing activities that you could easily come up with an entire month’s worth of non-gift Advent calendar filler ideas for toddlers.
And of course, you can also just mix some of these in with your other Christmas goodies!
Here are some great ideas for non-gift Advent calendar fillers:
- Visit Santa Clause
- Read Christmas Books
- Decorate Christmas Tree
- Make Christmas Cookies
- Write or Color Christmas Cards
- Help Wrap Presents
- Make Christmas Presents for Family and Friends
- Drive Around to See Christmas Lights
- Make a Christmas Craft
I hope these toddler Advent calendar filler ideas help make your Christmas season as special as possible! The holidays are so much fun with little ones, so try to enjoy every minute of it!
You may also be interested in:
- The Best Toddler Gifts for Boys & Girls
- The Absolute Best Stocking Stuffers for Toddlers
- The Best Toddler Books for Your Next Gift Idea
- The Best Advent Calendar Fillers for Kids
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