Filling stockings for Baby’s First Christmas can be as stressful as it is exciting, especially if you have older children who are just beginning to understand the concept of Santa. Finding items small enough for the stocking and big enough to be baby-safe is always a challenge. Helping parents and grandparents fill stockings for these tiny babies is a sweet spot for Beyond the Blackboard - over the years, it is a fun, ongoing challenge to find the perfect things for these special stockings. Here are favorites for Baby’s First Christmas (0-12 months):

1. Yoee Baby: First of all, if you have a new baby and don’t have one of these, you NEED one! Created by a mom, this oversized “feather” is a great tool for engaging your newborn with gentle tickles. As an added bonus, the adorable little animals at the base crinkle and rattle. The silicone ring makes a great teether. It’s also great to help those enthusiastic older siblings practice being gentle with the new arrival.
2. Munch Mitt: All babies try to chew on their hands. Okay, they do chew on their hands. Especially when they’re teething. This great little mitten is lined with crinkle paper and trimmed with teething silicone over the ends of the fingers. Which leads to another favorite:
3. Baby Paper: This delightfully simple little gizmo is, well, simple. As soon as a little one grasps one of these crinkly cloths, they’re hooked (and generally won’t let go). Keep one in the diaper bag, one in the glove box, one in the stroller, one in the kitchen, one in the bedroom…you get the idea. (P.S. They also make a great bow to tie on top of a baby gift!)
4. Baby Dinosaur Teethers: If you’ve spent any time with me, you likely know I love Like they were in my wedding bouquet love them. But my personal love for dinosaurs aside, these teethers are seriously the cutest – and they even double as bath toys!
5. SmartMax: More dinosaurs! Just kidding – kind of… SmartMax toys are a great early building set, especially since their basic sets are rated for just 12 months! I like the animals for this filler, since you can put whole creatures into the stocking. Just open the box and put the animals in – maybe mix them up and make some silly creatures first. After all, Santa should always make time to play, too!
6. Oombeecube: The best thing about this silicone shape sorter? All the pieces are attached! I can’t promise it will fit in every stocking, but pretty darn close!
7. Whirly Squigz: Suction cup these to the table, floor, sliding door, or any other smooth surface and let baby spin. For stockings, just ditch the packaging. Any maybe get an extra set so you can have some for the diaper bag, too. (They also go great on airplane tray tables – up or down.)