Practical Stocking Stuffers? Wait. What? Why would you want to do that? Honestly, when I started adding practical and healthy stocking stuffers to my children's stocking, they were a little shocked. But now, as they are getting older, they appreciate it.
Why I am here and who I am:
Hey mama, I am Trish— AKA Labor Nurse Mama. I am a labor and delivery nurse with over 15 years of high-risk OB experience. I am also a mama to 7 kids and have given birth to 6. This means I am quite familiar with the postpartum period and how to navigate it. I am the online birth class educator for Calm Labor Confident Birth and The VBAC Lab birth classes and the mama expert inside our Calm Mama Society, a pregnancy & postpartum membership community! I am passionate about your birth and motherhood journey! You can find me over on IG teaching over 230k mamas daily. I am passionate about your birth and motherhood journey!
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My thought was that I make so many stockings, adding some practical items was a great way to add more bulk and to also, wait for it…be practical. That's me…I love wrapping more presents, and I also love being efficient.
Check out my favorite holiday treat recipes, both are super simple, and quick. Holiday Peppermint Bark and Two-Minute Fudge. (Really!)
Stocking Stuffer Plan
- One big-ticket Item
- a few Practical stocking stuffers
- one just for fun
- candy
For my family, we open one present at a time, and then everyone grabs their stockings, and it's a free-for-all!
One Big Ticket Item
Ok, so this is subjective. It can be something your child wants, or it can be their most pricey present. For my kids, as they get older, this has become things like:
- Cologne
- perfume
- concert tickets (usually involves girl screams and tears)
- Disney passes (mom's favorite)
- apple watch (I usually buy used think Offerup)
- jewelry
Just pick one of their smallest, but most anticipated presents and add that to the stocking.
Practical Stocking Stuffers
I like to add things that I know my kids need and want. Think something like deodorant, undies, socks, and so on.
This year everyone is getting a few healthy practical stocking stuffers. Like these toothbrushes. Since my last stocking stuffer recommendation might lead to problems.
1 | Antimicrobial toothbrushes: Dr. Plotka's
Here's Why: Dr. Plotka's makes a toothbrush for everyone in the family, including manual brushes for adults, a standard youth size for kids, and travel toothbrushes that fold up to take anywhere. After all of the sweets and treats, you'll be enjoying this season, your teeth and gums will need a powerful cleaning to remove plaque and sugary build-up.
- Naturally Antimicrobial* Bristles – Infused with silver to naturally eliminate 99.9% of bacteria that grow on the bristles within 6 hours!
- Flossing Bristles™ – Dual-layered bristle structure provides superior cleaning: the inner bristles, thin as a human hair, gently brush away food and plaque in places other brushes miss while the outer thicker bristles ensure complete cleaning of gum and teeth.
- The Doctor Plotka’s brush will last about 4 months.
You can find them here on my favorite stocking stuffer shopping site, aka Amazon!
2 | Gift Cards for Restaurants
My kids are older, so they enjoy having gift cards for practical stocking stuffers. This is something my kids love to receive. Again, it is a useful stocking stuffer that they can use.
- Taco Bell (my older boys would live here)
- Starbucks
- Amazon
- Target
- Itunes
Gift cards are my favorite practical stocking stuffer, but they do not create bulk, so I prefer to put them into gift card boxes and then into the stocking.
3 | Undergarments
Yep, I am the one who does this. I add practical stocking stuffers like underwear, bra's, socks, and more. LOl, I think it's brilliant because it is something I would buy them anyway! My older kids appreciate it as they don't have to buy them for themselves.
I try to be creative. This year everyone is getting my new favorite socks that I found when I was working in California. Trust me; they are the BEST!
Just For Fun
I usually try to add something into the stocking stuff that my kids did not ask for, but I know they will love it. It ranges so vastly, based on their current age and needs, that it is hard for me to list it but think through things that are small that your child loves.
Candy
Candy is the perfect practical stocking stuffer for your children or spouse. I try to be intentional in picking out candy. I have also saved candy I've purchased over the months to add to their stocking.
What I love about the last two stocking stuffers, is that they can be bulky and make the stocking look stuffed.
Think of candies like:
- Lifesaver Candy Books
- Bulk pack of gum
- Large plastic candy canes filled with candy
- Box of chocolate-covered cherries
Ok, my friends. I would love to hear what you plan to add to your stockings this year? Anyone have some clever ideas they would like to share with me?
Be sure to follow me on Instagram: @labor.nurse.mama
