The 48 Best Stocking Stuffer Ideas for Kids in 2024 | Reviews by Wirecutter

By Ingrid Skjong and Wirecutter Staff

We’ve most recently added elastic shoelaces, stick-on mustaches, kids chopsticks, wacky boxer briefs, and several card games for older kids. We’ve also updated our entries on lip balms and the best kids electric toothbrush to reflect our latest testing.

Stocking stuffers are often the final piece of the gift-giving puzzle. Yet this assortment of small gifts needn’t be scraped together during an 11th-hour mad dash to the drugstore. Whether they’re part of a long-standing family tradition or a recent addition, petite presents can be as meaningful, thoughtful, and memorable as the big stuff.

We asked Wirecutter staffers—as well as our own families and friends—to share their stocking-stuffer go-tos, aiming to play Santa’s helper for a range of tastes from classic (socks, lip balm) to whimsical (temporary tattoos, wacky bath bombs) to practical (good ol’ undies and toothbrushes). The ideas we collected are appropriate for a variety of traditions. Little gifts like these could work well for Hanukkah—when many children receive small presents on each of the eight nights—or for any occasion when you’re looking for tiny but special items for kids.

Some of the gift suggestions may also be appreciated by adults, and we have ideas on the best stocking stuffers for grown-ups, too. We also offer more gift ideas for kids here.

An orange (prices vary)

Tucking an orange into a Christmas stocking is a tradition with a long history. In late-19th-century Europe, an orange was an exotic treat—both spendy and scarce. In the early 1900s, citrus growers pushed oranges as a delightful and healthful holiday gift, and gift givers jumped on the trend. During the Depression, the fruit was considered a luxury, and those in a position to get an orange considered themselves lucky. Although the sight of a lone citrus fruit hidden in a sock may generate a bit less awe than it did 100 years ago, the driving sentiment and emotional impact of the tradition are alive and well within many families. There are different reasons for keeping up the practice, but one common thread seems to be that the humble orange still reminds people of how fortunate they are. (Others appreciate that an orange rounds out the toe, creating a picture-perfect sock.) Some families give the tradition a twist: One Wirecutter friend reported that her Santa always places an interesting fruit in her family’s stockings—a rambutan, horned melon, dragon fruit, or anything they haven’t tried before.

—Ingrid Skjong

Players compete to nab the best collection of delectable dishes in this easy-to-learn card game.

Dodging the exploding kitten card gets harder and harder as the deck dwindles in this rollicking game of luck and evasion.

Card games are another stocking staple, and for good reason—simple, family-friendly games can be lifesavers during the holidays, giving everyone something to do between big meals and long naps. To please a range of ages, we love Sushi Go, a fast-paced, pick-and-pass card game featuring cartoon illustrations of nigiri, dumplings, and other delicacies. We also love Rhino Hero, which requires a steady hand to stack cards into a tower that’s sturdy enough to support a wooden rhino. (Both are among our favorite board games for kids.) Some of our kids have also liked Exploding Kittens, a silly romp recommended for kids ages 7 and up. Rat-A-Tat Cat and Sleeping Queens, both in our guide to gifts for 6-year-olds, are also favorites. They’re easy to grasp yet challenging enough to be fun for all ages. Simple but fast-paced brain games like Blink or Spot It—or a classic like Uno (now with a slew of themes, from Minecraft to Avengers to old-school Mickey Mouse)—can also help fill a stocking.

—Ingrid Skjong

This two-player game falls at a satisfying intersection of luck and strategy.

Some of our favorite board and card games for adults would fit nicely in an older kid’s or teen’s stocking. The Fox in the Forest is a low-key, two-person game that’s reasonably easy to learn. A trick-taking game at heart, it keeps things interesting with twists like every odd-numbered card modifying the game and a curved scoring system. We recommend Coup, a quick-playing party game of deception and sabotage, in our guide to gifts for teens. One Wirecutter staffer’s family has enjoyed traveling with Hanabi, a cooperative card game in which everyone holds their cards backwards, and you’re never allowed to see the cards in your own hand. Players try to signal what everyone else has in their hands to guide the group to victory. Monopoly Deal, a simple card game that packs all the fun parts of Monopoly into a 15-minute round, has also been a success (as has Sprawlopolis, a challenging collaborative card game whose deck is slimmer than most wallets).

—James Austin

A plastic egg of this beloved putty is an intriguing, nostalgic little gift.

Tactile putty introduces new twists to an old favorite with magnetic, glow-in-the dark, and sparkly versions.

Silly Putty is a no-frills classic that feels right at home topping off a stocking filled with surprises. Little hands like stretching, snapping, bouncing, and smushing the stuff. (Be sure to show kids how to transfer newsprint off a page to the putty.) If you want a more modern take, we like Crazy Aaron’s Magnetic Thinking Putty, several variations of which are recommended for kids 8 and older. Guaranteed not to dry out, it comes in a bunch of colors and effects—from scented to shimmering sparkles—picking up where its old-school predecessor leaves off.

—Ingrid Skjong

A classic for a reason, a slinky’s spiraling frame is as mesmerizing as ever.

The metal Original Slinky made it to my family most recently as a little gift for my then 3½-year-old when his baby brother was born. Its undulating steps and specific texture were a hit with him; I was happy to see that something invented accidentally in the early 1940s could still hold a kid’s attention. (If you want one that will walk down the stairs, consider the larger size.)

—Ingrid Skjong

This wooden puzzle is an engaging brain teaser and a fun token on a shelf or desk.

The David Weeks Cubebot Classic Micro, a scaled-down version of the original, 9.5-inch-tall puzzle, is a 1.5-by-1.5-inch cube until little (or big) hands manipulate it into a 4.25-inch robot. “It’s like a Transformer but so much more,” said Keewa Nurullah, owner of the children’s shop Kido Chicago. She points out that sustainable, real-wood puzzles like the Cubebot are made to last and grow with your child. Once kids have maneuvered the Micro into robot form, they can pose it and play with it. The real challenge, Nurullah said, is getting the Micro back down to its cube shape. The robot comes in several variations of solid colors, natural wood, multicolor combinations, dots, and a skeleton theme; it’s available in a third size, 6.75 inches tall, but the Micro is perfectly sized for a stocking. Areaware also makes a puppy version of the Cubebot called Milo, which we have not tested.

—Kelly Glass

Color-blocked cat faces add a cute touch to a stalwart classic. Six-packs of these cozy socks come in several patterns.

Warm, comfortable socks can keep cold, wet feet from ruining a day of sledding or skiing.

Socks are a staple stocking stuffer for lots of families. (And they’re satisfyingly meta: socks in socks!) Parents on the Wirecutter staff have a number of suggestions to fit different tastes—all are styles we’ve bought for our own kids and found to be comfortable and reasonably durable. The thick, multicolored Antsang Wool Cat Crew Socks are available in an economical six-pack and sport winsome kitties (among other designs, like dinosaurs and wintry unicorns). For a more rugged option Smartwool Kids’ Wintersport Over The Calf Socks are snug and warm, and they’re great for a kid who is going to be sledding or skiing this winter. Socks are also an easy way to give a nod to a kid’s current style (rainbows, avocados, or pizza anyone?). And these Animal Paws Socks, featuring dog, cat, and even dinosaur feet, are quite the conversation starter.

—Ingrid Skjong

These oversized bow headbands add a pop of color to any ensemble.

A donut-shaped bun kit forms the base for speedy updos.

Hair accessories are fun and useful stocking stuffers that will be very appreciated, and you don’t have to break the bank. My long-haired child loves these Siquk Grosgrain Bow Headbands, this protective satin hair scrunchie, and this bun-maker kit (which creates perfectly coiffed updos in seconds). For more long-lasting hair accessories—including this 36-pack of waffle-knit scrunchies—see our roundup of Wirecutter staffers’ favorite scrunchies, clips, and hair ties.

—Nancy Redd

With its surprising egg shape and appealing flavors, this lip balm is a welcome antidote to chapped winter lips.

Sparkly lip gloss makes for a special surprise.

Lip balm (holiday-themed and otherwise) was a stocking-stuffer standard in my home throughout my childhood and beyond. A former Wirecutter favorite, the EOS Sphere Lip Balm comes in a novel shape that appeals to kids, and it comes in several fun flavors and colors (we like sweet mint). For a more-festive option, we also like these glittery lip glosses from Lavender Stardust. They roll on smoothly and come in kid-friendly flavors like cherry and vanilla. And no worries if your kid licks a few sparkles or decides to spread the magic beyond their lips. (The company also makes roll-on body shimmer just for this purpose, for kids—or adults—who want to sparkle all over.) For older kids, Coola Original Liplux Lip Balm Sunscreen (a favorite in our guide to lip balms) delivers sun protection in a lightweight, moisturizing stick that’s surprisingly luxe for the price. In our testing, nothing beat Dr. Bronner’s Naked Organic Lip Balm for a simple, no-fuss, moisturizing lip balm at a reasonable price.

—Ingrid Skjong

There are near-endless themed variations on this time-tested, laugh-inducing word game.

This version includes lists of example words so kids learning about parts of speech can join the fun.

Here’s how my son described his favorite candy store at age 7: “There are chocolate-covered pencils, tasty jelly beans, and hairy never-ending lollipops.” Since Mad Libs’s creation in the 1950s, the word game has encouraged us to fill in the blanks—often with silly, LOL-worthy, nonsensical results. In addition to featuring classic themes like animals, slumber parties, and summer vacations, Mad Libs has also expanded into sports (with titles like Goallllll! Mad Libs), popular films (including Star Wars), and characters (such as Pokémon). For younger kids still learning to distinguish between nouns, adjectives, adverbs, and verbs, offerings in the Mad Libs Junior line—including Super Silly Mad Libs Junior—provide an example list of words to help them fill in the blanks.

—Lara Rabinovitch

With its seven-loop wand, this bottle of bubble solution produces large, shimmering orbs.

Bubbles are best when they’re big, bright, and bold. Gazillion Bubbles 1L Solution delivers lovely, stable spheres; the 1-liter size provides plenty of bubble-making fun and slips nicely into a stocking. One staffer says the Gazillion solution is the next best thing to making homemade bubbles using the classic recipe of dish soap and glycerin. A seven-loop wand keeps the bubbles flowing, and the solution doesn’t stain most surfaces or fabrics. Up, up, and away!

—Ingrid Skjong

A mess-free version of paint by numbers allows kids to match geometric stickers with corresponding numbers to fill in each sticker painting.

I love the idea of frequent art projects, but I’m not a fan of the ensuing construction paper cleanup and glue-sticked chaos. That’s what makes this Paint by Sticker Kids book, which includes 10 sticker paintings, so great. It’s a high-focus activity that scratches the creative itch while rewarding fine motor skills and number recognition. It’s also mess-free—so much so that you can break out the book on a long road trip and buy yourself about 30 minutes of entertainment from one page. Young kids can complete the puzzle with the help of a grown-up; older kids (around 5 and up) can identify the numbers and do the stickers on their own. Dinos not your thing? You can choose from 12 themed Kids editions, including seasonal designs, pets, rainbows, and mermaids, or more-complex sticker books with a grown-up aesthetic. (The books are about the size of a typical coloring book and would fit best in a larger stocking.)

—Caitlin Giddings

A pleasant watermelon scent adds another dimension to this sturdy, well-cut, little puzzle.

Traditional jigsaw puzzles are great just the way they are; they don’t need much improvement. But there are some things in life that you have to experience to realize what you’ve been missing, and apparently a pint-size scratch-and-sniff jigsaw puzzle is one of them. As advertised, Mudpuppy’s Watermelon Pupsicle 48 Piece Scratch and Sniff Shaped Mini Puzzle smells like—yep!—watermelon in a nice, Jolly Rancher–esque way. (I was worried that the reality of a scented puzzle was going to be gross, but it was delightful and silly.) Since the puzzle pieces are pretty small, this is recommended for kids age 4 and up—the diminutive size also makes the puzzle a bit more challenging to put together. If you want a larger-scale scented puzzle, the 60-piece Mudpuppy Campfire Friends Scratch and Sniff Puzzle—with select pieces that smell like marshmallow, cocoa, and cinnamon—probably won’t fit in most stockings, but it sure is a hoot. There are more options on Mudpuppy’s site, and Wirecutter parents are fans of many of them.

—Ingela Ratledge Amundson

Grow a little sillier with enough stick-on mustaches for the whole family.

There’s little risk of regretting a fake mustache, or the family photo you take of your mustachioed brood. Many similar options exist, but the Bobofly 36-Piece Fake Mustaches offers good value for the volume, with three sheets of 12 mustaches, each of which can be perforated into six-packs that’ll slot well into the typical stocking. Mr. Moustachio’s Top 10 Manliest Mustaches offers a slightly higher-quality mustache, and a couple of more-unusual designs, including white-haired offerings like “Rich Uncle Nicklebags.” But its rigid packaging may make it harder to stuff in a sock.

—Kalee Thompson

These powdered paints mix easily with water, allowing artists (and their adult assistants) to finesse texture, intensity, and endless blended colors.

May be out of stock

My kids and I love to paint but hate the smell. The first thing I noticed about Eco-Kids Finger Paint was the absence of a strong artificial scent. There wasn’t one because each paint is made with food-safe ingredients like potatoes, rice, and beans. Each kit includes four colors (watermelon red, blueberry blue, cabbage green, and orange), which start as powders. Mixing them with more water brings lighter, fainter colors, and mixing them with less water creates deeper colors that have more texture and smoother application. You can also mix them for more-dynamic options and shades. (Blue plus red made a fuchsia we loved.) My kids and I made a mess, but it was easy to clean. The paints easily washed off surfaces (including our mat), the dishes we mixed them in, and our fingers.

—Ambreia Meadows-Fernandez

These artist-designed tattoos are notably vivid and long-lasting.

Kids of all ages like fake tattoos, and I prefer giving Tattly’s Temporary Tattoos over the dime-store variety because of the vibrant colors, exquisitely detailed designs, ease of application, and longevity. There are plenty of options that kids will like, some from well-known artists commissioned by the company to create designs. This space explorer set by Oliver Jeffers, author of beloved children’s books like The Day the Crayons Quit (an excellent gift idea in its own right), is especially eye-catching. Tattly also offers packs of two identical tattoos; kids we know have liked these rainbows, and these finger-shaped worms are pretty hard to resist.

—Winnie Yang

These bath bombs produce amazing fizz and pleasing scents, and they reveal a surprise toy as they dissolve in the tub.

An effervescent bath-time treat that packs a hidden surprise, the Two Sisters Squishy Surprise Bubble Bath Bombs Set—one of our picks in the guide to bath bombs—makes a great little stocking stuffer. The bombs dissolve for about five minutes, releasing a stellar amount of fizz, and they come in six pleasantly sweet, fruity scents including citrus and grape. The toy hiding inside isn’t anything special, but the surprise element is really fun. (We did find that kids had a hard time prying open the little plastic balls the toy comes in, so be prepared to offer an assist.) If you’d prefer to give something a bit more luxurious, Lush Bath Bombs, our top bath-bomb pick, are gorgeous, and they fizz spectacularly.

—Ingrid Skjong

Silly and endearing, easy-to-attach googly eyes add instant charm to art projects and gift wrapping.

Stick-on googly eyes can make just about anything more entertaining—including Christmas morning. I often tuck sheets of these in with presents for other kids, and my daughter and I also like to use googly eyes to decorate those gifts. I start with a foundation of kraft paper, and she draws on it with markers or crayons, and then applies these eyes, stickers, and washi tape. It’s very wabi-sabi, and also a fun way to get the task done. I’ve bought individual adhesive googly eyes in bulk before, but the backing can be hard to remove, even for adults. We’ve found that the Creativity Street Peel and Stick Wiggle Eyes peel off the sheet easily, and they come in three sizes for toddlers and preschoolers to stick where they please. Note that these eyes could be a choking hazard, so you should monitor young kids while they’re using them.

—Winnie Yang

This multicolored chalk brings pizzazz to a playground staple.

When my younger son was little, I liked to stash sidewalk chalk in the bottom of his stroller. Colorful and creative, it came in handy when his older brother needed something extra to do at the playground. This Unicorn Horn Sidewalk Chalk from Twee has the potential to bring even more style to asphalt art. The small-batch, unicorn-horn-shaped pieces of chalk are cast in pastel rainbow hues or painted shiny gold, and they are perfectly sized for a kid to get a good grip (the manufacturer recommends the set for ages 3 and up). When we tested sidewalk chalk with a group of our kid testers, they noted that, while this multicolored chalk is eye-catching, you can’t always access each color until you’ve worn down the layer before it. We found that Crayola Washable Sidewalk Chalk has a bit more of a pedestrian aesthetic, but its colors, quality, and value are unsurpassed. For classic color chalk in not-so-classic shapes, check out Nikolas Bentel’s Moon Chalk; it comes in three otherworldly styles that make fun dotted and wavy patterns when you drag them across a surface. These wear down fast (as does most chalk), but the pieces are fun to hold and draw with.

—Ingrid Skjong

These bookplates lend an heirloom feel to a kid’s favorite books.

I bought customized bookplates for both of my kids a few years back. Each time we reopen a storybook with the personalized flourish pasted inside, it brings me a little joy. In truth, my boys seem pretty much indifferent to these nameplates at the moment (except when they’re being used to argue the point that a particular book belongs to me, not my brother). But I’m optimistic that in time they’ll appreciate these little badges, which signify that a certain book felt special enough to be tagged and added to what may be a lifelong library. The bookplates I bought came from a Los Angeles Etsy shop called Oiseaux, which specializes in old-timey storybook images. Felix Doolittle also has a lovely collection, but with a cleaner, more contemporary look.

—Kalee Thompson

This series follows iconic DC superheroes like Wonder Woman and Poison Ivy through their teenage years at Super Hero High.

This English adaptation of a popular manga series features a humorous, mischievous young ninja.

When my three brothers and I were kids, we’d discover magazines, special catalogs, and the occasional comic book tucked into our stockings. A couple of years ago, on the heels of my 5-year-old announcing his love for all things comics, the tradition continued. (“When I cried when I was a baby,” he told me, “I just wanted comic books.”) He loves Teen Titans Go! and DC Super Hero Girls. But I’ve found that beginner paperback books with a comic-book feel, like Scholastic’s Mega Robo Bros and The Snow Day From the Black Lagoon (from the Black Lagoon series) do the trick, too. We also dipped into the English adaptation of the manga series Naruto, written and illustrated by Masashi Kishimoto, which tells the story of the plucky ninja for which the series is named. The volumes (all 72 of them) are read from right to left, just like you would read Japanese, and they deliver action-packed fun.

—Ingrid Skjong

This is a sweet matching game that’s colorful and portable.

Petit Collage hasn’t reinvented matching games—it’s just made them prettier. Each of the company’s themed sets—choose from ice pops, fish, construction vehicles, and baby animals—contains 24 colorful, beautifully illustrated cards. The compact game comes in a sturdy, 6-by-7-inch pouch that’s handy for travel and storage, and it should slide into a stocking nicely. To play, you take turns flipping over two circular cards in hopes of finding a pair, competing against other players or yourself. I’ve come to especially appreciate how nuanced these sets are (we have the fish and ice-pop versions). Some designs have similar colors and just slight variations—like a multicolored ice pop pair with three stripes and another pair with six stripes—making the game more complex and encouraging young kids to concentrate. It’s recommended for ages 3 and up, but even younger children might enjoy looking at the cards or trying to match up smaller groupings.

—Barbara Kimberly Seigel

These animal-themed training chopsticks are appealing to kids, simple to use, and easy to wash.

These Marcus & Marcus Learning Chopsticks sport adorable animal faces on their helper hinges and are among our favorite kids chopsticks. Beyond their cute factor, the hinges give a nice level of tension for nabbing tasty morsels. Guiding rings (for righties and lefties) help keep hands in the right position for proper chopstick technique. Best of all, you can eventually remove these training wheels, leaving simple, shorter, dishwasher-safe chopsticks for kids to use when they’re ready. For a full complement of chopstick critters, these delightful cat-themed chopstick rests prove equally irresistible.

—Marilyn Ong

Elastic shoelaces—a TikTok trend we can get behind—can turn most lace-up shoes into slip-ons.

Made of flexible elastic and what I think can only be pure magic, stretchy shoelaces are an alchemical stocking stuffer—a lighthearted, inexpensive gag gift that may become a practical staple. Though I was skeptical of the concept at first, I changed my mind once I laced up my high-top Converse sneakers and pulled them on as easily as slip-ons. Of the laces we tested, Bread laces look more like traditional shoelaces, were softer and lay flatter, and were less fussy to get in place. They’re available in six sizes and 12 colors (check out Bread’s website for sizing information).

—Elissa Sanci

When unzipped, this pencil case unfurls into a single continuous strand.

Pencil cases hit that stocking stuffer sweet spot: a pragmatic little gift that comes in an endless assortment of whimsical designs. A couple years back my son discovered a Zipit Monster Pouch (the red one in the photo above) in his stocking. Amusingly but impractically, it unzips into a garland-length strand. It’s silly but durable, and he’s still using it several years later (it actually comes with a lifetime warranty). Blue Q bags are another fun option I’ve owned over the years. I picked out a bigfoot-themed one (the middle pouch, above) last holiday season, but the choices are endless, from an encouraging dinosaur to a faux evidence bag. And if, like me, you’ve binge-watched Stranger Things with a middle-school kid, how could a Hawkins High pencil case (bottom) disappoint?

—Kalee Thompson

These cheery bandages can help turn a frown upside down.

I’ve been known to fill stockings with facial tissues and floss. This year, I threw bandages in the mix. Specifically, latex-free fabric bandages from Welly, which come in a variety of appealing prints that could help take the proverbial sting out of minor cuts and scrapes. Choose from rainbows and unicorns, jellyfishes, or sloths, among other motifs. If you already have a container to store bandages in, skip the tin and opt for a refill pack of 24.

—Tracy Vence

A short handle and thin head make it easy for little hands to flip pancakes or scramble eggs with this petite silicone spatula.

This 8-inch whisk is lightweight and easy to handle.

For budding bakers and eager young cooks, kid-size kitchen tools are a practical yet unexpected little gift. The OXO Good Grips Silicone Small Flexible Turner has a handle that’s easy for little hands to grip, and it outshone others during our testing for the best tools for cooking with kids. With its textured, silicone handle, the GIR Mini Whisk is similarly well suited to wee would-be chefs. Both are fully functional, quality utensils, so you might find yourself grabbing for them too.

—Ingrid Skjong

Kids can start honing their knife skills with this cute kitty chopper.

Even the smallest hands can slice and dice in the kitchen, and this adorable chopper offers a safe introduction to learning knife skills. Another one of our favorite cooking tools for kids, the Kuhn Rikon Kinderkitchen Chopper Cat is made for young chefs, and it is comfortable and intuitive for them to use. It has a dull blade and no sharp corners, but it effectively cuts fruits and vegetables.

—Ellen Lee

Our favorite less expensive apron comes in several fetching patterns, including submarines and bunnies.

A kid-size apron is the best—and cutest—way to protect little ones’ clothes and bodies from kitchen escapades. They can also give kids a sense of ownership and pride in the kitchen. We’ve long recommended the Hedley & Bennett Kids Apron, which is durable, adjustable, and effective, in our guide to kids cooking tools. It’s also pricey. For a less expensive option, we like the Urban Infant Little Helper Kids Apron (the submarine and dinosaur patterns above). Though it’s made of a thinner material, it’s a solid barrier against cooking messes, and its delightful patterns add some excitement to this utilitarian gift.

—Ellen Lee

These toddler-friendly brushes and sponges outshine those in other art sets we’ve tested.

Unlike some of the flimsy toddler art tools we’ve tried, the brushes in the Micador Early stART Stuff for Painting Kit feel a bit more special, with rounded and weighted plastic handles made for chubby little tot hands. The set is suggested for ages 3 and up (though our 2-year-old used it without any problems). It comes with five brightly colored brushes: three textural sponge brushes and two traditional bristle brushes, providing multiple options for kids to channel their artistic vision. My son has been using one of the bristle brushes a few times a week for several months, and it still hasn’t started shedding. The set also came in handy when we hosted a toddler painting party, with each child easily dotting, mixing, or globbing paint onto canvases.

—Kerry Davis McGuinness

Of the 15 kids underwear brands we tested, Hanna Andersson’s high-quality, long-lasting ones were the most comfortable.

These briefs are equally soft and durable. They come in fun prints and colors and have a functioning fly.

The great stocking debate: Are they meant to be filled to the brim with delightful trinkets alone, or is the stocking a legitimate delivery vehicle for the staples a kid needs to get through the year? Your stance on the question is probably inherited (and may also have something to do with the size of your family’s stockings). We’re not here to convince you that underwear must come down the chimney. But if that’s already a thing for you, the long-lasting soft cotton underwear and briefs from Hanna Andersson, which we recommend in our guide to the best underwear for kids, will feel like something special. (The company’s iconic jammies are also some of our favorites.) The undies come in solids and stripes, and briefs, boxer briefs, and hipsters—as well as Star Wars and Disney princess designs. No itchy tags, no pilling, no wedgies. A bonus: After your kid opens up a package of undies, the chocolate Santa they find next will seem even sweeter.

—Kalee Thompson

Your kid will look fire wearing these boxer briefs that come in a host of zany prints.

Even if day-to-day undies feel too staid for your stockings, the wild prints on Ethika boxer briefs tip them into gift territory. These boxer briefs come in the craziest patterns we’ve seen on kids underwear. Our kid testers found them as comfortable as our more understated boxer briefs pick from Reebok (though the Ethika briefs fall a bit farther down the leg), and they’ve held up to many washings over our years of testing.

—Nancy Redd

These sweet shades come in several styles and sizes for kids as young as 6 months.

Sunglasses that are sturdy enough to withstand kid-dealt hard knocks are priceless for parents. And cool shades with a grown-up feel are a likely hit with kids. Babiators sunglasses tick both boxes. The nearly indestructible frames house lenses that don’t shatter and that provide 100% UVA and UVB protection. These shades come in several styles (polarized options included) and colors. We love the Original Aviators and the Navigator sunglasses, pictured above, both of which we recommend in our guide to the best beachwear for kids. The best part: Register these sunglasses, and if something goes awry within the first year, the company will send you a replacement pair for free (minus the shipping).

—Ingrid Skjong

This headlamp has all the practical features kids need, plus fun effects they love.

Kid testers fell for the colored light settings on the Black Diamond Wiz Kids Headlamp. But there’s even more to the Wiz. Striking a nice balance between practical and playful, this headlamp is lightweight, durable, and easily adjustable. (And it is our pick for kids in the guide to the best headlamps.) Along with the rainbow-colored lights, the high-quality Wiz headlamp also has red and white lights, plus a strobe mode. Its headband comes in three colors, and the price is more than right, so Santa may appreciate getting one as well.

—Ingrid Skjong

Part novelty gift, part practical purchase, this headlamp-meets-beanie threads the stocking stuffer needle

My kids love the L.L.Bean Kids’ Rechargable LED Pathfinder Beanie, an unusual twist on the common Christmas gift of a new winter hat. A built-in headlamp gives the kids a sense of independence and adventure. Also, since they wear the hats all day (we live in rural New Hampshire), their hats’ lights are always there when needed. An added plus: These hats are pretty warm, and it’s really easy to see the kids when they’re running around the woods at night or in the yard after dark. When we’ve tried headlamps in the past, our kids seemed to lose them, but no one has lost this hat … yet.

—Doug Mahoney

These high-quality goggles stand out in a sea of junky kids swim gear.

In a stocking, swim goggles offer an abundant promise of fun—for the pool, the beach, and even the tub (a kid’s gotta practice, right?). These Aqua Sphere Kayenne Junior—our pick for kids in our guide to swim goggles—are tough, outfitted with a silicone frame and eyecups that don’t leak or squish a pint-size face. The distortion-free lenses (above right) are fog- and scratch-resistant. And the straps, which adjust easily (even for little ones) and spread wide on the back of the head, won’t tangle in hair. If you want extra glare protection, go with the blue or smoke lenses. If you’re looking for something less expensive that gets the job done, the Speedo Jr. Hydrospex Classic Goggles are a reliable, if slightly less comfortable, choice.

—Ingrid Skjong

Bright colors, effective insulation, and a faster-flowing spout make this our favorite water bottle for older kids.

This plastic water bottle is lightweight and easy for little kids to sip from.

If your kid has been asking for a new water bottle, you can top off their stocking and their lunch box in one fell swoop. Sturdy and reliable, the stainless steel Takeya Actives Kids Insulated Water Bottle With Straw Lid—our pick for older kids in the guide to the best kids water bottles—is available in several bright, happy hues, and its double-wall insulation keeps drinks cool for hours. (Wirecutter staffers have been known to steal these bottles from their children, so you may want to treat the other adults in your family to their very own, grown-up size Takeya bottles.) For a more lightweight plastic bottle, the straw-top CamelBak Eddy+ Kids (another of our top picks) comes in a variety of kid-friendly designs, including a monster motif and cats lounging on pool floats.

—Ellen Lee

Animal stickers add some charm to our favorite electric toothbrush for kids.

With clipped on-page coupon

On Christmas morning, the Philips Sonicare for Kids Design a Pet Edition could fit right in, nestled between that practical underwear and a sweet treat. This toothbrush, the top pick in our guide to kids electric toothbrushes, has a small brush head and handle, a timer that helps young ones remember to brush for the full two minutes, and a long-lasting rechargeable battery. Even though a dental-hygiene tool might not seem like a particularly exciting stocking stuffer, the Design a Pet Edition comes with adorable animal stickers that children can use to decorate their brush (and make the handle feel less slippery). It can also pair with an optional, interactive app, which some kids might find encouraging.

—Nancy Redd

This article was edited by Ellen Lee, Amy Miller Kravetz, and Kalee Thompson.

Gifts that tap into art, science, sports, or construction are often great choices for 5-year-olds, since many of them are developing personal interests.

Some of the best gifts for 1-year-olds are those that engage kids’ rapidly developing motor skills, sensory exploration, and boundless curiosity.

We’ve gathered the best pet gifts worthy of your favorite cat or dog, because the holidays aren’t just for human friends and family members.

We scoured picks throughout our site to find 50 of the most useful things under $50, all of them Wirecutter-tested and Wirecutter-approved.

Ingrid Skjong

Ingrid Skjong is a supervising editor on the appliance team, focusing on the likes of ranges, refrigerators, dryers, and dishwashers. She previously covered fitness for Wirecutter and has been an editor and writer at various lifestyle magazines. She is an avid runner and lives in New York City.

Wirecutter Staff

by Caitlin Giddings and Wirecutter Staff

Many 2-year-olds are learning to manipulate objects in more-precise ways, so look for toys and gifts that challenge their fine motor skills.

by Ellen Lee and Wirecutter Staff

Many 8-year-olds are starting to discover their passions, from sports to STEM activities to the arts.

by Kelly Glass, Caitlin Giddings, and Wirecutter Staff

Toys that encourage building, puzzling, role-playing, and creating will engage curious 4-year-olds.

by Caitlin Giddings and Wirecutter Staff

Open-ended toys that inspire role-playing and beginner board games that encourage cooperation make great gifts for 3-year-olds.

An orange (prices vary)