Your basket is currently empty!
Top 10 Christmas Eve Box Ideas
While the ‘brr’ basket is taking social media by storm as the winter version of Halloween’s autumnal ‘boo’ basket trend, you can’t beat the classic Christmas Eve Box.
A ‘brr’ basket is a great way to gift a self-care package to an adult family member, friend, or colleague ahead of the holidays, but when it comes to delivering seasonal cheer to children, parents have found that making Christmas Eve Boxes for their kids is now a beloved family tradition.
As another alternative trend, ‘1 December’ boxes are presented on the first day of December instead, designed to build excitement for the big day on the 25th. However, three weeks is a long wait for little ones – so if you would rather stick with a Christmas Eve gift box, this blog is here to help!
The main point of Christmas Eve Boxes is to keep kids entertained while the adults get on with preparations for the next day, but it’s also about creating more opportunities to make happy memories together. These boxes – which can also be baskets, bags, sacks, or stockings – usually contain a selection of cosy items and simple toys.
Whether you’re looking for ‘brr’ basket ideas for children or trying to fill a Christmas Eve Box for toddlers or teens, we have a helpful list of options that can easily be adapted across the board.
Here are the top ten Christmas Eve Box fillers to guarantee happy holidays for the whole family!
1) Christmas Pyjamas
Much like Jellycat’s Bartholomew Bear in his tartan sleepwear or Nordic patterned onesie, every child should have a fresh set of seasonal PJs to change into on Christmas Eve. There’s nothing better than everyone getting into their new winter pyjamas, ready to spend the evening on the sofa together!
Some families like to buy matching PJ sets for everybody, sometimes even customised with each person’s name or initials – but any cosy Christmas pyjamas will do. Whether it’s a classic flannel pair or a themed romper, there’s no shortage of festive nightwear options out there, with styles to suit all ages.
If you would like the pyjamas to feel soft and smell familiar, be sure to wash and dry them before folding them up and placing them in the Christmas Eve Box, ready for the first wear.
2) Socks or Slippers
Along with brand-new bedtime apparel, each child also needs something to keep their feet nice and warm. For example, a pair of thick fuzzy socks – which typically come in multipacks, making it easier to purchase Christmas Eve Box fillers for multiple children. They don’t have to be novelty socks, but they are more fun!
If you would prefer your kids to have something more substantial protecting their toes from Jack Frost, you could opt for slipper socks, which are thicker and usually come with grippy soles to prevent slipping. It’s often easier to find slipper socks in Christmas designs, such as reindeer, penguins, snowmen, or Santa Claus himself.
The most luxurious choice would be a pair of slipper boots lined with fluffy fake fur, perfect for helping little toes stay toasty. Comfy booties like these should certainly come in handy all winter long!
3) Christmas Storybook
For little kids, reading Christmas-themed stories is an important way to help them learn about the holiday and encourage them to discover the magic of the festive season.
At Jeremy’s Home Store, we stock a selection of wonderful Jellycat books for babies and early readers, which includes the following seasonal storybooks:
- Leffy’s Christmas Gift – follow Leffy Elf’s quest to find a special gift for Santa
- A Reindeer’s Dream – join Mitzi Reindeer’s journey to be on Santa’s sleigh team
- Merry Mouse’s Christmas Eve – go along with Merry Mouse to get ready for her party
- Otto’s Snowy Christmas – frolic in the snow with Otto Sausage Dog and friends
- The Naughty Penguins – play cheeky tricks with three misbehaving penguin chicks
- The Playful Polar Bears – scamper through the winter forest with roly-poly bear cubs
- Gingerbread Fred – get into mischief (and out of it again!) with Gingerbread Fred
- If I Were a Snow Tiger – learn about snow tigers with this touch-and-feel board book
- Winter Tails – discover the different tails of winter animals in this cloth activity book
Older children may enjoy short adventure novels, while teens might be more interested in BookTok trends!
4) Hot Chocolate Mug
Whether you’ll be curling up together to read your little one’s new story at bedtime or settling on the couch to watch a festive film as a family in your new PJs, a cup of comforting hot chocolate is a must. We’re talking all the trimmings – so stock up on mini marshmallows and make sure there’s whipped cream in the fridge!
To make things simpler, you could look for pre-assembled hot chocolate gift packages that come with a Christmas-themed mug and the chocolate powder, marshmallows, and sprinkles you’ll need to make it special. Otherwise, you can choose a fun mug on its own and provide the rest separately yourself.
For an extra Christmassy touch, why not include candy canes to stir your delicious drinks with? If the kids are fussy about peppermint, there are plenty of other fun flavours (and colours!) available.
5) A Little Sweet Treat
Now, we know that a fully loaded hot chocolate is technically a sweet treat… but if you’re feeling especially generous, you could include a little something extra like a chocolate Santa or chocolate reindeer in each Christmas Eve Box. Their festive foil wrappings can also be repurposed as DIY décor!
A traditional choice would be a small net bag of chocolate coins wrapped in gold and silver foil, allowing kids to enjoy a sugary snack without over-indulging before it’s time to brush their teeth. For those who don’t have a sweet tooth, savoury alternatives include a packet of salty popcorn, nuts, or crackers.
A healthier option is a piece of fruit – seasonal favourites include clementines, pears, and apples. However, pomegranates, figs, and plums are also popular festive fruits, whether in fresh or dried form.
6) Snacks for Santa
To maintain the magical myth of Father Christmas for little children, it’s a fun tradition to leave out refreshments for Santa Claus and his reindeer when he comes down the chimney to deliver the presents. Even for older kids who no longer believe in Santa, carrying on this Christmas Eve custom can be a fun bonding activity.
Different countries around the world have different ideas of what should go on Santa’s snack plate. While the UK traditionally puts out mince pies and a glass of sherry, the US version of cookies and milk is becoming popular internationally. It’s also common to add carrots for the reindeer pulling Saint Nick’s sleigh.
You could include some biscuits and baby carrots in the box ready to leave out overnight – some families even buy a special plate for this purpose. Just remember to take a few nibbles of the snacks before morning!
7) Tree Decoration
Another way to incorporate other Christmas traditions into the Christmas Eve Box is to include a new decoration to add to the tree each year. Some families choose between classic decorations like snowflakes or stars to hang on their tree, while others might prefer personalised baubles with names or photos.
If you want to do things a little differently, Jellycat Festive Follies provide the perfect combination of Christmas décor and an adorable soft toy, featuring an Amuseables-style smiley face embroidered on a seasonal item. Each miniature plush hangs from a jacquard ribbon in a matching colour.
There are also festive versions of the brand’s favourite characters presented in Christmas tree decoration form, including Bashful Christmas Bunny – with many others now available in the Jellycat Christmas 2024 collection.
8) Crafting Activity
Before you can all chill in the living room with hot chocolate and new loungewear, if you need to keep the kids busy for a little bit while you take care of last-minute odds and ends, it’s best to include some kind of crafting activity in their Christmas Eve Box. Ideally, something that doesn’t require constant supervision!
For example, this could be a simple Christmas-themed colouring book and a small pack of crayons or felt tip pens, a more unique activity like a Rainbow Scratch Art Kit, or something creative that can be played with over and over again – like paper dolls with pop-out clothes and accessories or a reusable sticker book.
Older children or those who enjoy more educational pursuits might prefer a puzzle book, be it word searches, crosswords, code words, sudoku, or logic puzzles – or an entertaining combination of them all.
9) Seasonal Soft Toy
From a baby’s first Christmas to an awkward teen phase, you can never go wrong with a comforting soft toy to cheer up a child. As one of the most popular producers of plushies around the world, Jellycat Christmas toys can bring a big smile to anyone’s face, no matter their age – making them ideal for a Christmas Eve Box.
You’re never too old to cuddle a cute soft toy and enjoy the tactile experience, but it’s especially soothing for young children, who can snuggle up with their new best friend when they go to sleep on Christmas Eve.
Their special Christmas soft toy could fast become a year-round companion, going on daytime adventures and staying by their side for bedtime stories every night. With a wide variety of Christmas critters to choose from, often dressed for the weather in seasonal attire, there’s something for everyone at Jeremy’s Home Store.
10) Blanket or Hot Water Bottle
Last but not least, if you have enough space left in the Christmas Eve Box or ‘brr’ basket, you could complete the trifecta of cosiness by adding a blanket or hot water bottle to the previous combo of Christmas PJs and slippers. Blankets are lovely for little ones, while hot water bottles are practical for older kids and teenagers.
For example, we have a selection of Jellycat Soothers, which are sumptuously soft fleece blankets with small teddies attached that are excellent for calming babies and toddlers. We also stock larger Jellycat blankets made from comfy cotton in pastel colours, which are just the right size to fit on children’s beds.
To help older children stay warm and relaxed, why not treat them to lavender-scented luxury heatable bottles with thick furry fabric, which you can heat up in the microwave? There are also long hot water bottles, perfect for placing at the bottom of the bed to keep feet from freezing – though they may not fit in the box completely!
Order Christmas Eve Box fillers from Jeremy’s Home Store
Here at Jeremy’s Home Store, we’re proud purveyors of all things Jellycat, and we’re pretty sure we have something to suit every child’s Christmas Eve Box. Be sure to browse our online store to find a whole host of delightful ideas for things to put in your Christmas Eve Boxes – or, if you’re near Tunbridge Wells, come down to our physical store to see what’s on the shelves!
You have the option of ordering for collection from our shop within 2 working days if you’re local or selecting delivery to a home address with Royal Mail. We despatch parcels from Monday to Friday with your choice of Special Delivery, Tracked 24, or Tracked 48 services, but this process can be slower or delayed leading up to Christmas and New Year.
We often despatch orders on the same working day, but it’s best not to leave it too late if you want your Christmas Eve celebrations to go off without a hitch!
To receive your delivery in time for Christmas, be sure to place your order ahead of Royal Mail’s last posting dates in December 2024. At Jeremy’s Home Store, we will be accepting orders for collection and despatching orders for delivery that are made by 2pm on Friday 20th December, after which no orders will leave our warehouse until Monday 30th December. You can find out more about our Christmas and New Year delivery dates on our delivery information page.
If you have any queries about our stock or delivery options, get in touch with the team by calling 01892 525 976, or email your questions to online@jeremyshomestore.co.uk and we will get back to you as soon as we can with answers to your questions.
We hope the Jeremy’s Home Store family can play a part in making this Christmas as happy as possible for yours!
