What to Put in a Christmas Eve Box

Christmas Eve when you’re little is approximately 47 hours long.

There are pyjamas to put on. Reindeer to consider. Suspicious noises to investigate. And several very serious discussions about whether going to sleep is actually necessary.

A Christmas Eve box gives all that excitement somewhere to go.

And it doesn’t need to be another enormous present.

The easiest formula is:

• Something to wear. Cosy pyjamas, socks or slippers.
• Something to read. A Christmas story for bedtime.
• Something to cuddle. A little soft friend.
• Something to do. Colouring, a puzzle or a family activity.
• Something to nibble. A favourite festive treat, if you like.

Five little things. One very exciting box.

What is a Christmas Eve box?

A Christmas Eve box is a collection of small treats and activities opened on 24 December.

Some families make one for everyone to share. Others give each child their own. Some bring out the same battered little box every year, which we think makes it even better.

There are no official rules.

The idea is simply to make the waiting feel like part of Christmas too. 

Christmas Eve box ideas for babies and under-2s

For very little people, keep it little.

Try:

• Christmas pyjamas
• A board book
• An age-appropriate soft friend
• Cosy socks
• A bath-time toy
• A keepsake decoration

Always check the stated age suitability of toys before adding them. Our soft dolls for newborns are a good place to start for this age.

Christmas Eve boxes for toddlers and 3 to 5 year olds

This is excellent Christmas-box age.

Try:

• Christmas pyjamas
• A little Dinkum friend
• Colouring pages
• Chunky crayons
• Stickers
• A Christmas book
• A small puzzle
• A decoration they can hang themselves

A Dinky Dinkum tucked into the corner is particularly good at looking as though it climbed in there by itself.

Christmas Eve box ideas for adults and teenagers

Grown-ups get a box too, if you like. The formula barely changes: something cosy, something to read, something to watch and something good to eat. Slippers, a paperback, a film chosen in advance and the nice chocolate nobody is allowed to touch until the 24th.

For teenagers, the trick is to skip anything that looks like it was bought for a child. Fluffy socks, a gift card, snacks they actually like, and a note about what you’re doing together on Boxing Day.

Christmas Eve box fillers that aren’t sweets

Think of things children can use that evening.

A doll outfit can become an immediate wardrobe change. A little Dinkum can join bedtime. Colouring pencils can come straight out. A book gets read.

That’s much nicer than filling a box with things simply for the sake of filling it.

If you’re filling stockings as well, our stocking filler ideas post avoids repeating the same things twice.

How much should you spend?

As little as you like.

A Christmas Eve box isn’t Christmas morning’s opening act.

Pyjamas you were buying anyway, a favourite snack, a story from the bookshelf and one little surprise can be plenty.

Do you need a personalised wooden Christmas Eve box?

No.

A wooden Christmas Eve box is lovely if you want something to bring out year after year, and a personalised one with a name on the lid does become a small keepsake in its own right. They cost more and take up cupboard space for eleven months of the year, which is the honest trade-off.

A basket, suitcase, pillowcase or cardboard box wrapped in Christmas paper works perfectly well. Our kids’ baskets do the job and get used for something else in January.

Children tend to be considerably less concerned about the vessel than adults.

Make it a tradition

The lovely bit isn’t really what’s inside.

It’s the moment the box appears and everyone knows:

Christmas has properly begun.

Short on time? Our Christmas gift guide has the rest of the list.

Ready to fill the box?

FIND LITTLE CHRISTMAS SURPRISES

Christmas Eve box FAQs

What do you put in a Christmas Eve box for kids?

A lovely little mix of something to wear, read, cuddle, do and nibble. Think Christmas pyjamas, a bedtime story, a soft Dinkum friend, a small activity and a festive treat. It doesn't need to be elaborate to feel magical.

What should I put in a toddler's Christmas Eve box?

Keep it simple and age appropriate. Pyjamas, a board book, chunky crayons, stickers and a little soft friend make a wonderful start. Choose things they can enjoy that evening rather than another mountain of presents.

How much should you spend on a Christmas Eve box?

There's no set amount. You can make a lovely Christmas Eve box using things you'd buy anyway, like pyjamas and a bedtime book, with one small surprise tucked inside.

When should children open their Christmas Eve box?

Most families open theirs on 24 December, often in the afternoon or early evening. Just enough time to put on the pyjamas, read the story and begin the very serious business of waiting for Santa.