The ThreadBear Stocking Filler Gift Guide 2026
There is something about a stocking. The lumps and bumps at the end of the bed, the rustle of paper in the half-light, the very particular joy of finding something small and perfect right at the toe. This is our stocking filler gift guide for 2026: a collection of wooden toys, soft toys and little treasures from Tender Leaf Toys, Mentari and ThreadBear, all under £20 and all designed to be played with long after the last satsuma has been eaten.
We have organised it by budget, with quick picks by age further down, so you can fill a stocking for a baby, a toddler or a school-age child without wandering the shops in December.
What makes a good stocking filler?
The best stocking fillers share a few qualities. They are small enough to fit, but substantial enough to feel like a real present. They can be played with straight away, ideally in bed, before anyone is allowed downstairs. And they last. A stocking filler that is broken or forgotten by lunchtime is not really a gift at all.
That is why we love wooden and fabric toys for stockings. A little wooden animal, a puzzle or a knitted friend has nothing to plug in, nothing to charge and nothing to snap. It will still be in the toy basket in March, and very often in the toy basket of a younger sibling a few years later.
Stocking fillers under £5
Our wooden animal figures are the ultimate pick and mix stocking filler. At £3 to £5 each, you can choose a few for every stocking, or give each child a different animal so they can combine them into one big world after breakfast.
From the woodland, there is the Badger, Red Squirrel, Hare and Fallow Deer. Little beachcombers will love the Puffin and Whale, and dinosaur fans can choose the Stegosaurus or Triceratops.
Stocking fillers under £10
This is where small toys start to do big things. A good puzzle, a dolls house character or a first push-along toy can shape a whole morning of play.
Our doll family comes in four tones, Ivory, Caramel, Almond and Mocha, with a mother, father, boy and girl in each, all sold separately at £7. That means children can build a family that reflects their own, and a single doll makes a lovely stocking filler for a child who already has a dolls house.
Also under £10: the Mini Fifi Dolls House Rag Doll (£10), the Stacking Kitten (£9), Kitten On Wheels (£10) and Fred's Wash Bag (£8), which is a thoughtful one for children who are off on a sleepover or two over the holidays.
Stocking fillers under £15
Between £10 and £15 you will find some of our most loved role play pieces. Children adore toys that let them copy the grown-ups, and few things are more fun on Christmas morning than taking photographs or making pretend phone calls to Father Christmas.
Pair the Camera with the Mobile Phone (£11) for a complete grown-up kit. Little cooks will love the Animal Macarons (£12.50). And for children who love a story, Bear Tales and Bunny Tales (£15 each) or the Pet Dog Set (£15) are ready made characters for adventures that last all holiday.
Stocking fillers under £20
At the top of the stocking budget are the gifts that feel a little bit special. These are the ones children remember.
Also worth a look: the Ouch Puzzle (£19), the Clever Cat Memory Game (£20), which the whole family can play once the presents are open, and the Stacking Fir Tree (£18), a little wooden Christmas tree for toddlers who want to help with the decorating.
Stocking fillers for babies
A baby's first stocking is mostly for the grown-ups, and that is perfectly fine. Choose something soft, safe from birth and lovely to look at, and it may well become a keepsake.
The Snowy Friends Activity Book (£20) and the Rolling Kitten Rattle (£10) are both lovely first stocking choices too. For more ideas, see our gift guide to toys for babies.
Stocking filler ideas by age: quick picks
| Age | Our quick picks |
|---|---|
| Babies | Fred The Bear Knitted Toy, Snowy Friends Activity Book, Rolling Kitten Rattle |
| 1 to 2 years | Happy Stacking Forest, Stacking Fir Tree, Rainmaker, Kitten On Wheels |
| 2 to 3 years | Camera, Mobile Phone, Animal Macarons, Pet Dog Set |
| 3 years and up | Wooden animals, Doll Family, Tangram Puzzle, Little Peeps, Clever Cat Memory Game |
How to fill a stocking without the plastic
Something to play with. One wooden toy that can be enjoyed straight away, in bed, before anyone is allowed downstairs.
Something to cuddle. A knitted or fabric friend that might just become a lifelong companion.
Something to puzzle over. A small game or puzzle for the quieter moments of the day.
Something that links to the big present. A dolls house doll, a pet set or a kitchen accessory hints at what is waiting under the tree, and adds to it straight away.
Our toys arrive in packaging that is almost entirely plastic free, so the stocking leaves nothing behind but a little paper. If you are still deciding on the main present, our Christmas gift guide has ideas at every budget.
Small toys, made with care
Every Tender Leaf Toys and Mentari piece is designed by our team in England and made from responsibly sourced rubberwood, finished with non-toxic, water-based colours and tested to EN71 safety standards. Our ThreadBear soft toys are designed with the same care, with gentle fabrics and gift-ready packaging. Small does not mean throwaway. These are toys made to be kept.
Stocking filler FAQs
What are good stocking fillers for toddlers?
Small stacking toys, push-along animals and simple role play toys like a wooden camera or phone are ideal. Choose something chunky and sturdy that a toddler can play with straight away.
How much should I spend on a stocking?
There is no right answer, but many families keep stocking fillers between £5 and £20 each, with a few smaller treats mixed in. Our wooden animals start at £3, so it is easy to fill a stocking on any budget.
Are wooden toys good stocking fillers?
Yes. Wooden toys are durable, need no batteries and last for years, so a stocking filler can become a toy that is played with long after Christmas morning.
Fill this year's stockings with something that lasts
Browse our full range of small gifts and pocket money toys. Free standard delivery on orders over £40.
