The products featured in this post were sent for inclusion in this gift guide, however all opinions are honest and my own. This post also contains affiliate links.

It's that time of year again when I can finally start sharing all things Christmas! And after last year's festive period being so different and disappointing, I think I'm going to try and make this year as Christmassy and special as ever! For my second Christmas Gift Guide this year I'm going to be sharing some products that I think would make gifts for younger children - babies up to age 5. Hopefully this gives you some inspiration this festive season.

Magnetic Dress Up Toy

I wrote about Wicked Uncle and the fab gifts they have for older children a few weeks ago, but they also do amazing gifts for little ones too. The fun magnetic set from Floss & Rock comes with two wooden figures (a unicorn and a dragon) plus 40 magnetic pieces to dress them up for their adventures! There's even a reversible scene included to really get your children's imaginations buzzing. These sets also come in different themes such as dinosaurs and pets!

Baby Bare Bubbles Toiletries

These gorgeous toiletries from award-winning skincare line Baby Bare Bubbles would make a great gift for a younger baby. Their luxury baby and toddler products are dermatologically tested and paediatrician approved, and only use high quality ingredients. I received this gorgeous wash-care set that includes a supersoft hooded bamboo baby towel, a washcloth, and a bottle of their bubble bath, shampoo and body wash all-in-one. The bath towels are incredibly soft, and the bath product is "rich in vitamins, shea butter to help nourish, soothe and deliver moisture, avocado oil to help protect your baby's skin barrier, oats to calm irritated skin and lock in moisture, dandelion and purple coneflower for their natural healing properties" - such a lovely gift for a new baby.

Orchard Toys Games

I honestly think you can never have enough Orchard Toys products! They have such a big range of fun and educational games for a whole range of ages, and they are such good quality so last a long time too - plus Orchard Toys will also replace a certain amount of lost pieces from games which is such a lovely service! We received the Christmas Eve Box which contains both a fun game and a puzzle, as well as the Pigs in Blankets pairs style game. Our three are aged 3 - 8 and all of them enjoy these games which I think is so rare with games, so I would 100% recommend adding these to your children's Christmas lists this year.

Super Sand

Supersand is the original modelling sand made in Europe from natural materials. The unique formula is super soft and the best part is that it doesn't dry out! This allows little ones to create and make again and again, using the mould included with the sets (or free-style with their imagination). This original set contains classic shapes to make cones, cubes and more. The sand is non-staining and sticks to itself to help make the clean up process easier for us grown ups too.

Jaques of London Wooden Toys

We absolutely love wooden toys in our house, so I was over the moon to receive these items from local company Jaques of London. They the oldest games company and sports manufacturer in the world, that has been passed down from father to son for eight generations! Use this code here to receive 15% off your order.

The first product we received was the super sweet Dinosaur Car Park. The car park track itself is made entirely out of wood, and the set also includes 4 wooden cars and 6 colourful dinosaur toys. Not only is the product sturdy and well-made, but it's so bright and eye-catching too. The design of the track introduces children to early physics through observations of forces, movement and the effect of gravity. A great toy for imaginative play and a great size for little hands!

The second product we received was the Toolkit & Bench Wooden Construction Toy. The wooden bench contains everything needed for little hands to get their hands busy and moving. Children can develop their fine motor skills when using the tools to turn screws or hammer bolts - a great toy for little ones to develop their imagination as well. Once again the toy is well-made and of really high quality, and it comes beautifully presented in it's box with a ribbon. 

Frugi Pyjamas

A brand new pair of cosy pyjamas would make such a lovely gift for a younger (or older!) child, and Frugi have such a lovely selection to choose from this year. Made from GOTS certified organic cotton, Frugi's clothing is super soft and of such high quality. The sleeves and trousers are cuffed to keep little ones super warm and snug, and they've even thought to print the label straight onto the product to stop any scratchy labels.  My favourite part of Frugi's clothing though is just how bright and colourful their designs are - they really do have something for everyone!

Headu and Ecoplay Games

Headu is an educational toys and games company based in Italy, and they have a fantastic range of items that under 5s would love this Christmas. Their games, puzzles and toys are made with high quality materials, and have been designed to help promote, develop and harness your little one's natural talents through play. I love that you can see what skills your little one is learning just by looking on the front of the box, and just how colourful and bright they are too! Headu have also created a new range called Ecoplay, which is full of eco-friendly, artistic toys for little ones.

The How We are Made game gets children to fit cards in to their matching slots to discover the parts of the body, senses, facial expressions are more. The Play Farm set teachers children about animals and their environment - an open game for learning and fun. 

Doddl Children's Cutlery + Accessories

A great practical gift for under 5s are these sets from Doddl. Their Cutlery Sets were specially designed to help children learn to use cutlery, as well as helping them to develop crucial motor skills along the way! We used their cutlery set when our youngest was weaning and saw first hand how much easier they are for little hands to hold and grip. The sets are available in green, pink and purple. Their Children's Plates have been designed to make little ones feel as is they are using a grown up plate, but with practical elements included - the back is slightly raised and the front is wider to help keep food ON the plate, and the bottom is grippy so it stays in place!

If you're looking for more inspiration, why not check out last year's guides here and here!

Children's Stocking Filler Ideas | Christmas 2021

The products featured in this post were sent for inclusion in this gift guide, however all opinions are honest and my own. This post also contains affiliate links.

It's that time of year again when I can finally start sharing all things Christmas! And after last year's festive period being so different and disappointing, I think I'm going to try and make this year as Christmassy and special as ever! For my first Christmas Gift Guide this year I'm going to be sharing some products that I think would make perfect stocking fillers for children. Hopefully this gives you some inspiration this festive season.

eatsleepdoodle Creative Products

eatsleepdoodle are a fab gift company that create fun and education gifts with a creative twist. All items come with wash-out pens, so little ones can get as creative as they want to really make them their own. I think these placemats and pillowcases would make perfect stocking filler additions for both boys and girls. Designs include pond life, world map / flags, butterfly, dinosaur, space explorer, cars & trucks and finally fairytale & legends - so there really is something for everyone. I love that the products also have little extra touches, for example there's space on the dinosaur pillowcase to write the dinosaurs names. So fun!

Active Snap!

A fun twist on the much loved game snap, Active Snap! gets you up and moving whilst playing the game. Depending what is show on the card, players have to do it - jogging on the spot, squatting, or just dancing and wiggling about. Suitable for the whole family to join in and play, this would be such a good stocking filler addition! The game retails around £5 so it won't break the bank either.

Waboba MoonShine Hyper Bouncing Ball

The new Waboba MoonShine is a crazy, gravity-defying ball with a twist. When bounced the ball will make a unique 'pop' sound as it hits the ground, and then bounces up to 100 feet into the air and lights up! The ball has over 100 hours of battery life so will keep little ones amused for hours (as long as they keep an eye on where it flies when bounced). 

Klean Kanteen Drinks Bottles

When you have little ones you can never have too many water bottles - home, school, out and about, you always seem to need them! These drinks bottles from Klean Kanteen are not only long-lasting and fantastic quality, but they also come in such lovely designs for children. We received the insulated 12oz unicorns, the classic sport 12oz planets, and the classic sippy 12oz coral strawberries. The sports caps are spill proof (not leak proof), and the bottles themselves have been designed to be cleaned easily and to withstand childhood play. The loops on all of the caps make them so easy to carry or attach to a bag - all are interchangeable too so they last so much longer!

Bath Products from Kids Stuff Crazy

These bath products from Kids Stuff Crazy would make a really fun addition to a child's stocking this year. The Magical Sparkling Bubble Bath turns baths into a glittery dream, whilst also creating plenty of bubbles to enjoy and play with. The formula is mild and gentle so suitable for most skin types. These Foaming Soaps have been a hit with our three for a long time now - not only can you mould and play with the foamy soap, it also gets your little ones squeaky clean too. You could also use this product for sensory play too! 

Bamboo Toothbrushes from The Humble Co.

Another practical but easy stocking filler are these bamboo toothbrushes from The Humble Co. - the company behind the world's most popular bamboo toothbrushes! They are made with 100% biodegradable and sustainably-grown bamboo, so are a great swap to make to be more aware of the environment too. The children's toothbrushes have super soft bristles, and as your children get older you can swap to the bigger brushes that feature changeable heads.

Crafty Surprise Mystery Craft Kit

Surprise toys are still incredibly popular with children of all ages, but I think this one from John Adams is a great alternative to layers of plastic. The Crafty Surprise Mystery Craft Kit contains everything you need to make 1 of 6 different craft projects, including a charm bracelet, dream catcher and pencil topper. I love that the products inside aren't just thrown to the side once opened, as the kit has the creative making element to it at well. 

Personalised Bunting from 2 Green Monkeys

Sarah from 2 Green Monkeys makes a wonderful selection of personalised gifts, all handmade and sewn with love in her studio by the sea in Devon. She offers a range of products such as keepsake bears, quilts, baby blankets and more. But I think her personalised name bunting would make a lovely stocking filler for a loved one this year. There are lots of patterns and designs to choose from and the quality is really lovely too. You don't have to have a name on the bunting as you can also choose to keep it plain. I think these would also make a really special first birthday or Christmas keepsake!

Top Trumps Games

Top Trumps are the UK's number 1 card game and has been enjoyed by families for over 40 years now. I love that the games are so easily portable (the cards come inside a handy plastic case) and therefore are great for family dinners, days out or simply just for popping in your bag to bring out when you need them! They also have topics to please everyone including these Disney and Minecraft versions, football, Marvel and more. 

If you need more ideas, why not check out last year's stocking filler Christmas gift guide!

5 Fantastic Christmas Gifts for 8 Year Olds

 This post was written in collaboration with Wicked Uncle.

It's getting to that time of year again where birthdays are rolling around, and of course Christmas is just around the corner too. Indiana is going to be 8 this year and we're finding it trickier than ever to buy suitable (but still fun) gifts for her. And I know if we're struggling as her parents, then our family must be finding it even more difficult - especially with having to find gifts for both her birthday and Christmas! Thankfully I know that Wicked Uncle will always have our backs in this situation, as their website it full of brilliant children’s presents. 

I thought I would put together a list of 5 fantastic and fun presents that would be perfect for 8 year old Indiana (or any 8 year old you are shopping for this year). Wicked Uncle's website is so perfectly designed, making it incredibly easy to browse through gifts dependent on age, gender or the recipients interests. I filtered my search as 'gifts for 8 year old', and these are just a few of a huge selection that caught my eye.

Horrible Histories The Board Game - £19.95

Indiana is in year 3 now and history is really becoming one of her favourite subjects. She watches the Horrible Histories TV show at school so I think this would be a great game for her to enjoy. Players have to 'race through history answering questions, full of foul facts & jokes', so not only is it fun but it's also educational for all the family.  The game includes over 600 questions too, so it's not going to be one of those games you'll get bored playing after a few goes.

Plop Trumps - It's the Business! - £6.99

Find me a child that doesn't find toilet humour funny! We love Top Trumps in this house, so I know this fun edition would go down well as a stocking filler or smaller gift. Plop Trumps is the game with a difference, as it combines a perfect blend of science and 'yuck-factor' with the traditional game play. The animal poo guessing game comes in it's own handy tin making it great for taking out-and-about too.

Tobbie Interactive Robot - £29.95

I love toys that have more than just one way to play with them, and Tobbie the interactive robot is just that. The kits comes with all the parts your child needs to build Tobbie (a task alone that can take up to 2 hours), and then once built it has a few modes of play. In 'Follow Me' mode Tobbie will follow you along, and in 'Explore' mode he will use his intelligent infrared sensors to explore on his own! Hours of fun and great for growing minds.

Slime DIY Case - £18.95

Slime is still hugely popular in our house, so this slime DIY kit would be a great choice for Indiana this year. I love that the kit has everything included so you don't have to go out and hunt down missing ingredients - plus you only need to add water so it should hopefully be a less messy version too!

100 Kids Activities Scratch off Bucket List - £12.95

This activity scratch off bucket list would make a perfect gift from a grandparent or other family member, for a child who already has all the toys and doesn't know what else to ask for! The list is full of ideas from making a snowman, to writing a story and even raising money for charity. Once the activity is complete, your child can then scratch off the foil to show what they have completed. It really is one of those gifts that keeps on giving and can last over a few years too.

As I mentioned above, this is just a tiny selection from the vast amount of lovely gifts Wicked Uncle have to offer. I would definitely recommend popping over to the website and seeing for yourself - you'll be surprised just how easy it is to find a great gift!

Stocking Filler Ideas for Children | Christmas 2020

The products featured in this post were sent for inclusion in this gift guide, however all opinions are honest and my own. This post also contains affiliate links.

I am so excited to be talking about all things Christmas again! It's definitely my favourite time of year, and I feel it's especially important to have something to celebrate with everything that has happened this year.  This third and final gift guide is full of stocking filler ideas for children (or even for the grown ups who are young at heart). I hope it gives you some inspiration this holiday season.

Chocolates from Hotel Chocolat

Chocolates are always a 'must-have' in a stocking, and you cannot go wrong with the fantastic selection of luxury cocoa treats (that include less sugar) from Hotel Chocolat. I love the designs on the posse of penguins and waddle of penguins sets - they are almost too adorable to eat (not that this will stop my little ones!). And although not stocking fillers, make sure you are prepared for the countdown to Christmas with Hotel Chocolat's range of advent calendars, available in dark and white chocolate for grown ups too.

Magic Snow

Bring the magic of snow into your home without needing to get cold and wet with this fun Buzz Snow from Buzz Retail. Made of a polymer powder, the 'magic snow' looks and feels just like snow when hydrated - but it never melts! It is eco-friendly, non-toxic and safe for children and animals, but do make sure to use under the direct supervision of an adult. Aimed at children aged 4+, Buzz Snow retails at £15.

Klean Kanteen Drinks Bottles

I love to include practical gifts as stocking fillers too, so these drinks bottles from Klean Kanteen are perfect. Kid Kanteen stainless steel water bottles are made with safe, BPA-free materials, and are much better for the environment than plastic bottles. They are lightweight and super durable (although note that the sports cap are not leakproof, so are more suitable for older children - baby/toddler versions are also available instead). They are available in lots of lovely designs as well as the simple bold colour designs too.

Pass the Pugs

We've all heard of the classic travel game Pass the Pigs, but it's recently had a makeover, with super cute little pugs replacing the pigs. Pass the Pugs is a simple but fun dice game, where the aim of the game is to be the first to get 100 points by throwing your pugs and seeing how they land. Different positions mean different levels of points, so the game really is different every time! The game comes packaged in it's own handy travel case too, making it easy to play at home or on the go. Suitable for children aged 7+.

Buzz Art Sets

If your children are into arts and crafts or home makeovers, then these fun sets from Buzz Arts are perfect for them. The Body Art Action Tattoos set includes 50 fun designs and 6 sparkly glitter colours pots, so you can make a whole array of different deigns and colour combinations. Simply place your chosen design on a clean dry area, hold down for 1-2 minutes and then gently remove the clear film from the top of the sticks - easy! The Chalk-it Hair Colouring Chalk is an easy way to add colour to your hair without any damage or drastic permanent changes. The set comes with 4 different colours and can be used on all hair types - just simply wash hair to remove the product.

Hexbugs JunkBots

New from the Hexbug range are the JunkBots, the super fun surprise unboxing toy. Packaged in a trash can or a dumpster, there are 36 different JunkBots to find - and each piece of 'junk' is interchangeable too, meaning there's even more fun to be had as you make and customise different characters. Your child has to unlock the can and then search through the 'junk' to find the right pieces before building the Bots. The sets are available in 3 different sizes - the Industrial Dumpster contains 4 Bots, the Alley Dumpster contains 2 Bots and the Trash Bin contains 1 Bot. 

Fabelab Dream Friend Toy

A great stocking filler for younger children, these cuddly toys from Fabelab are super sweet and soft. They are made from 100% organic cotton and are available in a whole range of beautiful, simple designs. These cuddly friends would make a great companion for any little girl or boy, and as they are such high quality they would make a great keepsake for the future too. Available from many retailers, including Kiddies Kingdom.

Maped Helix Arts and Crafts

If you have a creative little one, then these sets from Maped Helix would be the perfect choice. For younger children the My First Colouring set is perfect for introducing pens - they are much chunkier so therefore easier for small hands to hold. The Blo Pen Art Set is great for the more advanced creator, although is still very easy to use to make beautiful pieces of art.