Christmas Eve Box Ideas for Babies and Toddlers
A Christmas Eve box is a lovely tradition: a little box of cosy treats opened on Christmas Eve to help everyone wind down before the big day. For babies and toddlers, it doesn't need to be big or expensive. It just needs a few gentle things that make the evening feel special. Here are our Christmas Eve box ideas for babies and toddlers, plus tips on keeping it safe and simple.
What goes in a Christmas Eve box?
Most Christmas Eve boxes follow the same cosy theme: something to wear to bed, something to read, something to cuddle and a little treat. For little ones, that might look like:
- Cosy sleepwear or a new sleepsuit
- A bedtime book
- A soft toy or comforter
- A special cup for a festive treat
- A Christmas film to watch together (for toddlers)
Cosy sleepwear
New pyjamas are the classic Christmas Eve box filler. For babies, a soft sleepsuit like the Peekaboo Peter sleepsuit is perfect for Christmas Eve, and you'll get lovely photos in it on Christmas morning.
A bedtime book
Reading together is the perfect way to slow down on a busy evening. For babies, a Jo & Nic's Crinkly Newspaper (3 months+) is a sweet choice: a soft cloth "newspaper" full of crinkles and bold pictures. It comes in lots of editions, like Under The Sea and Counting Space. For toddlers, add a favourite Christmas picture book.
Something to cuddle
A new cuddly friend to take to bed makes Christmas Eve feel extra special.
- Little Dutch Fox Cuddle Cloth (from birth). A soft comforter that's lovely for babies.
- Picca LouLou soft toys. Handmade and presented in a gift box, like Louie the lion and Hillary the hippo.
- Little Dutch cuddle dolls (12 months+). Rosa and Fairy Evi are soft, 35cm and machine washable, ready for bedtime cuddles.
A festive treat
A special cup turns a simple treat into something exciting. A new Liewood Mr Bear straw cup is perfect for warm milk before bed.
For big brothers and sisters
Making a box for an older sibling too? The Bigjigs Wooden Biscuit Box (£17.99) is a lovely Christmas Eve addition for children aged 3 and up. Lay out some wooden biscuits for Father Christmas alongside the real ones. The Bigjigs Muffin Tray (£19.99) is another sweet choice, suitable from 18 months. As these contain small pieces, keep them away from babies.
For a bigger Christmas Eve surprise, a tiny Hoppstar Popcorn kids' camera (£39.95, ages 3+) means they're ready to take their own photos on Christmas morning. See all our Hoppstar kids' cameras.
Make the box part of the gift
Instead of a cardboard box, why not use something they'll keep? A Studio Noos teddy mini backpack holds a book, a small cuddly toy and a snack cup, and they'll use it long after Christmas.
Keeping it safe for under-3s
- Check age labels. Skip anything with small parts, like mini figures or novelty toys.
- Watch the treats. Whole nuts, hard sweets and popcorn are choking risks for little ones.
- Keep it calm. The whole point is winding down, so save the noisy toys for Christmas Day.
- Remove packaging. Take off ribbons, tags and plastic before little hands get to them.
Frequently asked questions
What do you put in a Christmas Eve box for a baby?
A soft sleepsuit, a cloth or board book, a cuddly toy or comforter and maybe a new cup. Keep everything suitable for their age and free from small parts.
What age is a Christmas Eve box for?
Any age! For babies it's mostly a lovely tradition for the family, and toddlers really start to enjoy the excitement from around two.
When do you give a Christmas Eve box?
Usually after tea or bath time on Christmas Eve, so everyone can get cosy in new pyjamas, read a story and get ready for the big day.
Shop Christmas Eve box ideas
We're an independent, mum-run shop. Explore our Christmas gifts for babies and kids and our gifts under £20 for more ideas. Still filling stockings? Read our guide to stocking fillers for babies and toddlers under £20.
