Having children around at Christmas makes the season so much more magical than life pre-kids, and every parent will understand that desire to keep the Christmas spirit alive for as long as possible. If the little ones in your life are starting to have a lot questions when it comes to Santa Clause, it can feel like a lot of pressure when December comes around each year. How does he deliver all those presents in one night? Where will the reindeer and sleigh park? How will Santa get down the chimney with his big sack of presents if we don't have one?
While these are all very valid questions and we're all for kids getting curious and asking questions, it can be a lot for us mums and dads! But don't worry, we have a solution! Say hello to Santa's magic key!
What is a Santa key?
A Santa key is a physical key that allows good old Father Christmas to deliver presents to your house, even if you don’t have a chimney.
With this magic key, Saint Nicholas will quietly sneak inside and deposit those important presents before leaving the key somewhere easy for you to find, so you can use it again next year.
Where to leave Santa's magic key
Ahead of Christmas, you can gift this Santa key to your child however you want: in their advent calendar, Christmas Eve box or even simply hang it on the tree as a decoration.
On the night before Christmas, hang Santa's magic key on the door handle, ready for Santa to use when he arrives.
Be sure to remind your child that because the Santa key is magic and only works for Santa, there's no need to worry about security risks either.
If you'd like to get involved with this sweet tradition, we've pulled together our very favourite Santa keys you can buy today from personalised options to keepsakes they'll enjoy for years to come.
Amazon This charming key works for one night only – and it’s just for Santa! It comes in a range of beautiful colours (chosen randomly for each order), and unlike other keys, this one is built to last year after year, becoming a special part of your night before Christmas traditions. The key features a heartwarming message: "To place our gifts beneath the tree, We’re leaving you our special key, We have no chimney in our home, So just tonight this key’s on loan." Handmade with love in England, each key arrives in a festive red organza gift bag.
Pros
- Includes a message
- Comes in a gift bag
Cons
- Colour chosen at random
AmazonThis antique bronze key comes with a beautifully thick silk tag that explains to little ones how Santa can use this special key to unlock the home, letting him in for the night to leave presents. Super affordable, it's also handmade and is lovely to gift to children on Christmas Eve, perhaps tucked into their Christmas Eve hamper for an extra surprise! Each key comes with a handy ribbon and easy-to-attach tag (so no bending during delivery!).
Pros
- Affordable
- Comes with tag explaining how to use it
Cons
- Some said the tag can be a bit flimsy
AmazonThis magical little key comes with a sweet poem explaining how it lets Santa in to leave presents under the tree. Perfect for tots worried how the big guy will get in, this key is handmade and affordable and measures 9.5cm x 4.5cm, arriving beautifully packed in a red snowflake organza gift bag. You also have the option of adding Santa’s Lost Button to the gift too which is perfect for dropping near the tree on Christmas morning to convince your little ones that Santa must have lost it while delivering their presents.
Pros
- Option to add Santa's button too
- Key feels sturdy
Cons
- Some thought it was smaller than it looked in pictures
Etsywww.etsy.com
Crafted from premium 4mm maple veneer, this beautiful key and tag set is the perfect way to give Father Christmas a warm welcome. Choose from 6 unique, festive designs and personalise it with your family’s name (or names!), so Santa knows exactly where to go. Each tag is attached to a special metal Santa key, complete with a luxurious red ribbon edged in gold. Just note that the key’s colour is randomly selected based on availability.
Pros
- Can be personalised
- Six different designs to choose from
Cons
- Key colour is chosen at random
Etsywww.etsy.com
These make a lovely little gift and make a bit more of a keepsake for years to come! Handcrafted with care, the text is personalised however you choose and arrives with a protective film on the front of the Perspex tag to keep it safe during delivery, so just peel it off before using for a shiny, magical finish! Available in gold, silver or a wood option, it comes presented in a velvet bag.
Pros
- Comes presented in a velvet bag
- Good quality
Cons
- Has a higher price point compared to others so may be out of some budgets
Etsywww.etsy.com
This key is lovely for popping on the tree on Christmas Eve. The key comes in a lovely bronze finish, tied to a festive tag with a ribbon. The tag features the sweet message, "Dear Santa…. Love From…." but if you’d like to change it to “Father Christmas” or something else special, just let them know when ordering! The key is approximately 6.5cm in size, and the tag measures 6cm x 10cm—making it a great size for the tree.
Etsywww.etsy.com
This Santa Magic Key is designed to last for years thanks to the durable printing that won't fade over time. Each item in the collection can be personalised with your child or children's names, making it ideal for multiple children. You can choose to order the complete set, or select individual items to suit your preference and budget. The Santa Key comes with an initial, and you can add your child's initials to either side of the key for that extra personal touch. The full set includes a magic key with an acrylic tag, a personalised acrylic bauble, a magic key certificate, and a special tin to keep everything together.
Pros
- Ideal for multiple children
- Durable to last you years
Cons
- The full set is quite large to store away compared to other keys
How to make your own Santa key
While there are plenty of brilliant options listed here, you might want to make your own Santa key. This is especially ideal for children who want to get involved in the making of the key. You might want to use an old key you no longer use and simply paint it in a festive red and tie a ribbon round it ready for hanging!
If it's for a gift, you might also want to write a poem with it as a message to the lucky little one receiving it. Once it's printed out, simply tie it to the key with the ribbon.
A journalist since 2015, Emily Gilbert is the Features & Reviews Editor for Mother&Baby and has written for the website and previously the magazine for seven years. First-time mum to Theodore, Emily writes about everything from the top baby products to pregnancy, fertility and maternal mental health. Specialising in product reviews, Emily is the first to know about all the exciting new releases in the parenting industry.