The best toddler and baby Advent calendars to count down to Christmas

Best Toddler and Baby Advent Calendars

by Samantha Ball |
Updated on

Toddler and baby advent calendars offer a good alternative for parents who don't want to start their day by spiking their kid's sugar levels. Whilst we don't want to sound like the Grinch, too much chocolate isn't a good idea for young children.

Ongoing Black Friday deals on baby and toddler Advent calendars

Black Friday may be over but that doesn't mean you can't still save money because these deals are still live right now. So take advantage of the remaining few deals and grab a bargain while they last!

LEGO City Advent Calendar - WAS £19.99, NOW £14.99

National Trust Christmas Poem Advent - WAS £19.99, NOW £13.53

Peppa Pig Advent Collection - WAS £19.99, NOW £15.29

tonies Christmas Advent Calendar - WAS £24.99, NOW £19.99

So, if you're looking for something different from your typical Advent calendars for your little one, we've rounded up some of the best choices. While it may feel like Christmas is still a little while away, we predict that these advent calendars will fly off the shelves faster than Santa's sleigh, so be quick to avoid disappointment.

If you're looking to replace chocolate Advent calendars, there are many great alternatives for your little one, including Disney-themed calendars, toy options, keepsakes, and books. You can also create your own Advent calendars using fabric hangings or wooden shapes with drawers, allowing you to fill them with your chosen treats and toys each year and reuse them.

Best toddler and baby advent calendars at a glance:

The best toddler Advent calendars 2024

Save £5

Best interactive Advent calendar

tonies advent calendertonies
Price: £24.99

tonies.com

This adorable reusable Advent calendar features 24 pockets you can fill with any treats you like, including Tonies! It’s made from 100 per cent cotton, easy to wash, and measures 100 x 50 cm, making it a great space-saver on your walls.

Online reviews praised the large pockets, which easily accommodate tonie figures. We also love the super cute design, which complements any home aesthetic, whether you prefer a festive look or a more modern holiday decor.

While we were a bit disappointed that Tonies are sold separately, we appreciate that this calendar can be reused year after year. Although adding Tonies does increase the overall cost, they can be enjoyed long after the holiday season, making this purchase more of an investment than just a one-time December buy.

Pros

  • Washes easily
  • Good sized pockets
  • It can be reused for future Christmases
  • Neutral design

Cons

  • Tonie figures sold separately

Best for creativity

This Christmas plasticine Advent calendar is a little different from most. It comes with all the colours you need to create new models every day. Behind each window is a set of easy-to-follow instructions that will help your toddler create figures such as Santa, Rudolph, and more!

Plasticine provides a rich sensory experience. The texture, smell, and feel of the material can be stimulating and enjoyable for young children. We love that this advent calendar benifits your child's development. Manipulating plasticine helps toddlers strengthen hand muscles and improve dexterity, which is essential for tasks like writing and buttoning clothes when they're a little bit older.

Online parents really liked that there are different things to make each day and plenty of plasticine because there's nothing worse than the plasticine running out before Christmas day.

Pros

  • Little ones can make new models every day
  • Easy-to-follow instructions
  • The plasticine doesn't dry out and there's enough for every day (450g)

Cons

  • Not suitable for children under three
Suitable for ages:5+ years

Best Advent calendars for toddlers

Personalised Elf LettersElf for Christmas

Countdown to Christmas with Personalised Elf Letters, revealing their exciting adventures straight from Santa's workshop. Detailing the mischief, mishaps and funny stories happening at the North Pole as the elves prepare for Christmas, the letters arrive in 24 individual brown envelopes, each dated and personalised with your Elf and child's name.

Our Senior Writer, Samantha Ball tried this out for herself and said: "These Advent calendars are absolutely beautiful and very well presented. I love that they are all numbered so it's easy to work out which letter is for which day! The personal element is wonderful too, and the overall presentation just adds to the experience."

Pros

  • Helps create the magic of Christmas
  • Can be used alongside the Elf on the Shelf
  • Fantastic presentation

Cons

  • No gifts or toys included
  • 24 x individual advent letters
  • Personalised with child's name

Best for Disney fans

 Funko Advent Calendar: Classic DisneyBoots

Filled with 24 classic Disney characters dressed with a Christmas twist, the Funko Advent Calendar is the perfect way for kids and adults to count down to Christmas. The figurines can be played with or used as Christmas ornaments.

Each day brings a fun surprise as your child discovers a new character, which parents online said is perfect for little Disney fans. It's worth noting that the figures are designed in the Funko style, so they may look slightly different from the traditional characters. However, we think they're still instantly recognisable and super cool.

Pros

  • Characters have a festive twist and are collectable
  • Different Disney characters in the Funko design
  • Can be played with or used as decoratin

Cons

  • Some are difficult to stand up
Suitable for ages:3+ years

21% off

Best for Bluey fans

Bluey: Awesome Advent Book BundleAmazon
Price: £19.65 (£25)

Perfect for Bluey fans, this Bluey: Awesome Advent Book Bundle contains 24 story and colouring books to change up each day in the countdown to Christmas. It's a fun little collection that's a brilliant change from the usual chocolate advent calendars.

We think this is perfect for afternoons and evenings, as each book helps children wind down while also getting excited for Christmas. Although a few parents online wished the books were more interactive, we liked that these Bluey stories are ideal for the end of the day rather than the morning, when most advent calendars are typically opened.

Pros

  • Includes a mix of storybooks and colouring books
  • Features everyone's favourite Heeler puppy
  • Perfect for bedtime and quiet time

Cons

  • A few parents wished that the books were more interactive
Suitable for ages:2 to 7 years

Best non-christmas themed advent calendar

The Original Mr. Men & Little Miss Advent CalendarAmazon
Price: £29.90
Alternative retailers
Target$39.99View offer

The Original Mr Men and Little Miss Calendar contain a mixture of Mr Men figures, ink stamps, phone charms, and fridge magnets. So, if you're a fan of this beautiful book collection, it is a great choice to count down to Christmas with! It's also not a very festive design, so if your little one is unsure of the Christmas season, it's still a perfect choice.

This is the best option for children who aren't celebrating Christmas but still want an advent calendar. Online reviews mention it's "not themed for Christmas at all" and is more of a general "countdown calendar." This makes it an excellent choice for families whose beliefs don't align with traditional Christmas traditions but who still want to enjoy the fun of an advent calendar.

Pros

  • It contains the 12 popular book figures
  • Includes 12 other gifts
  • Books can be enjoyed throughout the year

Cons

  • Not too Christmassy

Best wooden advent calendar for babies and toddlers

Each day, your little one will discover a new wooden character behind the Advent calendar doors. By Christmas Day, they'll have an exciting new Peter Rabbit-themed playset from the Beatrix Potter Advent Calendar, complete with a charming little wooden Christmas tree.

We love the concept of this wooden advent calendar and think the figures make lovely decorations for a toddler’s bedroom. We were thrilled to see online reviews praising the high quality and beautiful craftsmanship of the characters.

Pros

  • Good quality figures
  • Beautifully decorated
  • Sturdy
  • Perfectly sized for little hands

Cons

  • Not all Beatrix Potter story characters available
Suitable for ages:12+ months

Peppa Pig: Advent Calendar Book CollectionAmazon
Price: £52.08

A must-have for Peppa Pig fans, this advent calendar reveals a mini storybook behind each door, including a special Christmas story for Christmas Eve. Stories, like Hide and SeekDaddy Pig's BirthdaySchool PlayBedtime StoriesNew Shoes, and Peppa's Perfe__ct Christmas, will delight your little one daily. Even better, the books can be returned to the windows for reuse the following year, making this calendar a gift that keeps giving.

Parents love how it offers a fun alternative to chocolate advent calendars, with familiar Peppa Pig episodes in book form that can be re-read and enjoyed for years to come.

Pros

  • Educational
  • Great for Peppa Pig fans
  • Reusable

Cons

  • The books are a little flimsy

21% off

Hey Duggee Advent Calendar Book CollectionAmazon
Price: £19.65 (was £25)

Parents love the value this calendar offers, with each book containing a complete story—not just a few pages. Though the books are small, they’re perfect for little hands, and kids enjoy reading them all year round, making it an exciting and lasting gift.

Perfect for Hey Duggee fans, this advent calendar lets you count down the days to Christmas with your favourite Hey Duggee characters. Behind each door is a mini storybook, including a special Christmas story for Christmas Eve. Stories include The Snowman Badge, The Paddling Pool Badge, The Jam Badge, The Bubble Badge, The Mystery Badge, and The Tinsel Badge.

Pros

  • Educational
  • Books are suitable for year-round reading
  • Hey Duggee characters featured

Cons

  • Small books can be difficult to read

What age should you start buying an Advent calendar?

Anyone can enjoy an Advent calendar, regardless of their age. If your baby is really young they may not remember opening their daily boxes - but you probably will. Christmas is a great time to focus on your family. Spending a little time each morning to enjoy some Christmas magic is just what Santa ordered.

How we test and choose recommended products

Our product recommendations are based on a combination of real-world testing from our burgeoning army of mum testers and the extensive knowledge of our experienced editorial team and product specialists. Where we can, we also consult experts who specialise in that field to ensure you get the right advice along with the right product, and we listen to what you say as well.

Our thriving mum community on our Facebook group #mumtribe consistently provides great insights into which products mums like best and why, helping us highlight the products that will meet your needs.

For essential products, our annual Mother&Baby Awards shortlist the top products tested. Full reviews from our mum testers can be found on our product pages. The winners and runners-up for each category will also appear in our top picks article for that product, along with other products that were rated highly by our team.

Samantha Ball is a Product & Lifestyle Writer for Mother&Baby and freelanced for the website for two years before joining the team full time. She's a mum of two and loves browsing for the best products and cute outfits.

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