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52 (Under-$20) Stocking Stuffers for Kids and Babies

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It doesn’t take much to delight a child — especially when it comes to stocking stuffers, where a little can go a long way. But whether you’re shopping for your 5-year-old nephew, your best friend’s newborn, your own kid — or three — finding those doodads and trinkets, even if they’re small, can be tricky. To help you fill your shopping cart in one fell swoop, I’ve rounded up a bunch of toys, books, and other goodies (many of which were personally recommended — and vetted — by Strategist editors and writers who happen to be parents) for the little ones in your life. To make things even easier, they all cost less than $20, and most things are available from Amazon (but some are from elsewhere for those who like to shop around).

I’ve made sure that everything on this list is truly stocking-size. Some toys might come in larger packaging, so I suggest taking them out and wrapping them individually or dividing them among your little recipients. For more — and bigger — gifts for youngsters, check out our guide to this year’s hottest gifts for kids as well as our roundups of gifts for kids of all ages. And for everyone else, here’s our holiday-gift-guide hub where you’ll find all of our best ideas in one place.

Update on December 15, 2024: Updated prices and checked stock for all products.

Stocking stuffers $10 and under

Spirograph Travel
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Spirograph Travel
$10
$10

This mini-Spirograph is perfectly sized for stockings — and holiday travel.

Lego Creator 3-in-1 Space Shuttle
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This three-in-one Lego space-shuttle set can be turned into an astronaut and a spaceship. Says New York deputy editor Alexis Swerdloff, “It’s the gift that keeps on giving. Best $10 I’ve ever spent.”

Mad Libs For the Fans: Taylor Swift Edition
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Very Good Deal
Scunci Jumbo Black Nylon Scrunchie
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‘Show-How Guides: Hair Braiding: The 9 Essential Braids Everyone Should Know!’ by Keith Zoo
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If they want to take their hairstyling skills to the next level, Strategist senior editor Winnie Yang recommends this mini illustrated guide that her daughter is currently going through.

Amos Peelerz Mango Gummy Candy
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Strategist senior editor Jen Trolio always includes “an interesting piece of fruit” in her kids’ stockings — as well as some of their favorite gummy candies, like these mango-flavored ones that you can actually peel.

Amos 4D Gummy Blocks Candy Bricks, Edible Building Blocks
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Swerdloff loves these buildable gummy candy blocks from the same brand.

Scentco Holiday Smencils
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These holiday-themed “smencils” are scented with five different flavors like gingerbread, candy cane, and mint cocoa.

Lip Smacker Coca Cola Collection
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Novelty lip balms are always a hit, according to multiple Strategist editors. I’m partial to this trio of Coca Cola– and Sprite-themed Lip Smackers.

KISS imPRESS Mini Nail Artist Kit for Kids
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If they’re always begging for a manicure, this set includes 26 press-on nails and sticker nail art that don’t require glue and are easy to remove.

eeBoo Baseball Card Game
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eeBoo Baseball Card Game
$8
$8

I love everything eeBoo makes. These days, my baseball-obsessed kindergartener can’t get enough of this card game that simulates a real ball game.

‘Monopoly Deal’
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Eva Chen and her kids love playing this card-game version of Monopoly — especially because you can easily take it anywhere. (She calls it a mix between Monopoly and Uno.)

Pokémon Assorted Cards
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Very Good Deal
$4 for 50

Pokémon cards — and toys — are here to stay.

Ooly Tattoo-Palooza Mini Pack - Beach Days
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ZMLM Rainbow Scratch Mini Art Notes
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Yang says a pad of rainbow scratch paper is always a hit.

Toysmith Neato! Classics Jacob’s Ladder Retro Wooden Puzzle Toy
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Mesmerize your kiddo with this wood Jacob’s Ladder toy that will surely keep them occupied — at least until it’s time to unwrap the next gift.

JA-RU Flarp Noise Putty, Set of 2
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Kids, apparently, love fart noises. It’s for this reason that play therapist Joseph Sacks says Flarp! is a (sometimes noisy) putty toy that “they’ll spend 45 minutes playing with.” He adds that “it’s cool, slimy, and they can make anything they want out of it.”

Laughing Smith 16 inch Whoopee Cushion
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Mr. Pen Floral Washi Tape, 21 Rolls
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“A huge array of washi tape is really a great gift,” says Swerdloff, “and most importantly doesn’t destroy your house.” Trolio agrees: “My kids go through a ton, for all kinds of different uses.” Get them in a bunch of patterns, like this set that comes with 21 rolls.

Duncan Toys Limelight LED Light-Up Yo-Yo, Beginner Level
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Yo-yos are always fun and timeless, but add LED lights and you’ve got a really good time on your hands.

MGA’s Miniverse Make It Mini Food Diner Series 3 Mini Collectibles
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According to experts, tweens love anything mini and collectible, like these blind sets from Miniverse that come with tiny kits that let kids make their own resin cakes, sprinkles, and more. Try a couple because you never know what’s going to be inside.

Welly Bandages - Unicorn Pattern - 48 Count
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Fun bandages like these unicorn-themed ones from Welly make ouchies feel instantly better. As a bonus: The tin box can double as a knickknack holder when it’s empty.

35-Piece Mini Take-Apart Animal Erasers
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Kids love these little animal erasers that are like puzzles they can put together and take apart.

Mudpuppy Emperor Penguin Mini-Puzzle, 48 Pieces, 8 by 5.75 Inches
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Yang loves these tiny puzzles from Mudpuppy that are available in dozens of different animals.

Slinky the Original Walking Spring Toy Plastic Rainbow Giant Slinky
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It doesn’t get more classic than a Slinky. This one is jumbo-size for double the fun.

Munchkin Draw Bath Crayons
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$10 for 10

Strategist senior editor Ailbhe Malone just got her second pack of these erasable bath crayons that she says “extended bathtime by at least ten minutes.”

PLUS PLUS Mini Maker Tube Narwhal
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We love this stocking-stuffer-size version of one of our favorite toys for 3-year-olds (though this one has smaller parts and is meant for kids 5 and older). Put together these hashtaglike shapes to create a narwhal.

Schleich Wild Life Safari Animals Baby Indian Rhinoceros Toy Figurine
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You can’t go wrong with a lifelike animal figurine — like this three-inch baby rhino from Schleich, a German company that has been hand-painting its toys since 1935. The level of detail on this particular animal is impressive, even for Schleich.

Nuobesty Animal Squeeze Piggy Toy
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Swerdloff says her kids recently got their hands on one of these squishy toys that sticks out its tongue when squeezed, “and it’s persisted as a funny little thing they play with.”

Rubik’s Crystal Transparent Cube
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Kids will play with a Rubik’s cube for hours — even if they never end up solving it.

Made By Me Create Your Own Bead Pets
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Bead kits are a huge hit among Trolio’s kids, “especially in this Eras moment.” This compact set comes with six key rings and enough beads to make 10 different pets.

Stocking stuffers $15 and under

Big League Chew Swingin’ Sour Apple Flavored Shredded Bubble Gum - 3 Pack
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My baseball-obsessed 5-year-old has been begging us for some Big League Chew gum, which I will be adding to his stocking.

Lego 30645 Creator Snowman
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Here’s a mini holiday-themed LEGO they can build in a couple of minutes.

Barbie Mini BarbieLand Reveal Dolls 5-Pack
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Very Good Deal

This set includes five mini Barbies — we’re talking 1.5 inches tall — the perfect size for stockings.

Ooly Vivid Pop! Paint Markers - Set of 8
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My kids love drawing with all the fun art supplies Ooly makes, including these nice and thick paint markers.

Crayola Silly Scents Washable Scented Markers, 10 Count
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Or try these fine-lined markers that are watermelon, orange, and marshmallow-scented.

Tech Deck Ultra DLX Fingerboard 4-Pack, Element Skateboards
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A finger skateboard is surprisingly entertaining. When my son was younger, he’d launch it up and down the slide at the playground.

Magnoloran LED Photo String Lights
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And a string of fairy lights to go complement them at night.

Starface Hydro-Stars Starter Pack (32-Count)
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Try these adorable star-shaped pimple patches for the tween in your life.

Petit Collage Shine Bright Magnetic Dress Up At The Studio
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Here’s a portable magnetic dress-up kit that a budding fashion designer would love.

Appash Fidget Cube
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Trolio’s daughter recently asked for this fidget cube, which has a different type of button on every surface that she says is “satisfying to play with but not 100 percent quiet.”

Super Smalls Everyday Sparkle 4-Page Gem Sticker Book
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Strategist senior writer Liza Corsillo says her 3-year-old niece loves everything from Super Smalls, a jewelry brand for kids. This booklet comes with a bunch of jewels your kiddo can put on their faces (or on paper).

Carson BugView Magnifier
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For the entomologist in training, this magnifying glass humanely catches bugs for observation. Afterward, simply release it outside.

Nutshell Libarary by Maurice Sendak
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This set of four books by Maurice Sendak is truly tiny, each volume measuring around three-by-four inches.

PopSockets PopPuck Trick Magnet and Fidget Toy
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This new game from PopSockets takes fidget toys to the next level. According to the brand, it’s like a “magnetic skate park for your thumbs” — on a keychain.

Stocking stuffers $20 and under

‘Our Galaxy: A First Adventure in Space,’ by Sue Lowell Gallion and Lisk Feng
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Photo: Steven Paneccasio

Phaidon’s collection of children’s books is quite lovely. I love this slim board book about space that conveniently slips into a (large) stocking.

Handy Famm Dog Tape Measure for Kids
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For the DIYer-in-training, here’s a handy tape measure that comes with an angle finder and level and a retractable “tongue.” My kids love this thing.

LEGO Classic Keychain Light - Cactus Boy
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This three-inch-tall LEGO key chain has LED lights in its feet.

Genuine Fred Potato Chip Bag Clips, Set of 4
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These chip-shaped snack-bag clips are sure to delight.

Omy Magic Markers
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These “magic” markers not only change colors, they’re also erasable.

Squishville by Squishmallow Mini Plush Sealife Squad, Six 2” Sea Animals
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Squishmallows aren’t going anywhere. This mini set comes with six two-inch ocean-themed plushies.

Hape Blues Harmonica
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A harmonica for your future folk artist.

The Strategist is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best acne treatments, rolling luggage, pillows for side sleepers, natural anxiety remedies, and bath towels. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.

52 (Under-$20) Stocking Stuffers for Kids and Babies