In short: For toddlers, choose a ready-made advent calendar with a suitable age label or a fabric calendar you fill yourself. Under 3s should never find small parts, button batteries, magnets or sweets inside. Use larger toys, board books and activity cards instead of tiny trinkets, and order the calendar by mid-November.
Author: Eva Birsa, mum and co-founder of Evitas · Updated: 28 September 2026
An advent calendar helps children understand how many days are left until the holidays and adds a little excitement to every December morning. With toddlers, what matters is not how much the surprise costs but that it is safe and right for their age. In this guide you will find ready-made calendars from our range, ideas for filling a reusable calendar by age and the dates to order by so it arrives in time.
Ready-made advent calendars for toddlers
A ready-made calendar is the quickest option: the contents are prepared, you just need to check that the age label suits your child. You will find all calendars in our Christmas collection.
- Little Dutch® Advent Calendar Train (24 m+): every day your child opens a new parcel with winter scenes, and the calendar can stand upright as a decoration or a toy. The manufacturer lists water-based paints, FSC-certified wood and compliance with REACH and EN 71. Size: 30.5 × 11.2 × 22.5 cm. Currently out of stock – check availability or choose another calendar from the Christmas collection.
- Little Dutch® Advent Calendar Bracelets (36 m+): 24 surprise boxes with jewellery such as bracelets, charms and stickers that can be mixed and matched endlessly. It is suitable from 3 years, so keep it out of reach of younger siblings.
- CamCam® Advent Calendar GOTS Beige (reusable): a fabric wall calendar made of 100% GOTS-certified organic cotton with 24 pockets for little surprises or messages. It is designed to hang on the wall and be reused year after year. Size: 85 × 55 cm. More from the brand in Cam Cam Copenhagen.
Reusable advent calendar: how to fill it
You fill a fabric or wooden pocket calendar yourself and can adapt it to your child's age every year. A few practical rules:
- You don't need 24 toys. Alternate small gifts, books and activity cards. Put bigger toys under the calendar and a note saying “look under the tree” in the pocket.
- Useful things count too. A new spoon, bib or bath toy delights a toddler just as much as a toy.
- Check the age label of every gift – even if it is small and inexpensive.
Filling ideas by age
| Age | Filling ideas | Examples from our range | What to watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0–1 year | teether, soft sensory book, bath toy, a song or a dance together | Mushie teether ball (BPA- and phthalate-free silicone), Little Dutch activity book Fairy Garden (0 m+), teethers | no small parts, sweets or honey; hang the calendar out of reach |
| 1–2 years | bath toys, wooden vehicles, a book, an activity (a walk to see the lights, a bubble bath) | Little Dutch bath boats (4 m+), Little Dutch wooden emergency vehicles (12 m+), bath toys | no small parts, button batteries or magnets; no chocolate |
| 2–3 years | puzzle with knobs, a book, baking biscuits, making a decoration, a letter to Father Christmas | PolarB wooden animal puzzle (18–48 m), activity books, wooden toys | still no small parts; activities only with an adult |
| 3+ years | stickers, sticker book, water painting book, play jewellery, vouchers for activities together | Little Dutch sticker book (3+), Little Dutch magic water book (3+), Mushie reusable stickers (3+) | keep 3+ gifts away from younger siblings |
Age labels are taken from the manufacturers' descriptions. Prices and stock change; please check them on the product page.
Activity advent calendar: 24 moments together
For toddlers, the best surprise is often time with you. Instead of a toy, put a card with a small task in the pocket, for example:
- bake and decorate biscuits together,
- write (or draw) a letter to Father Christmas,
- go for an evening walk to spot the festive lights,
- make a tree decoration from paper or pine cones,
- dinner by candlelight (candle out of the child's reach),
- read a new winter book under a blanket,
- put out a boot for St Nicholas – in many European countries he visits on 6 December, so that day's pocket can hold just a tiny treat.
Safety: what not to put in a toddler's advent calendar
- Small parts under 3: under the EU Toy Safety Directive, toys intended for children under 36 months and their parts must be large enough that they cannot be swallowed or inhaled. Toys labelled “not suitable for children under 3 years” do not belong in a toddler's calendar.
- Button batteries: found in light-up toys, fairy lights and musical cards. If swallowed, they can cause severe internal burns. If you suspect your child has swallowed one, call 112 or go to A&E immediately.
- Magnets: keep magnetic toys with small pieces away from young children – if several are swallowed, they can stick together in the intestines and cause serious harm.
- Sweets and food: babies don't need sugar, honey should not be given before 1 year, and whole nuts should not be given to children under 5 (choking risk). A chocolate calendar is therefore not for babies and toddlers.
- Older siblings' toys: keep them out of reach of the youngest, as they often have small parts.
- The calendar itself: hang a fabric pocket calendar so your child cannot pull it down, and keep cords and ribbons away from the cot.
Check every toy for the CE mark and the manufacturer's age label. For more on choosing toys by developmental stage, read our guide Montessori toys by age.
Quick buying: when to order so it arrives before 1 December
- Delivery of items in stock usually takes 2–10 working days, depending on the country, so order by mid-November.
- Seasonal calendars are limited. If a calendar sells out, choose a reusable fabric one and fill it with ideas from the table.
- Prepare in advance: wrap and number the gifts at the end of November, so the first December morning is stress-free.
Looking for a first birthday or Christmas gift as well? See our first birthday gift ideas by category and budget.
Frequently asked questions
From what age does an advent calendar make sense?
A baby doesn't understand counting down yet, so in the first year the calendar is mainly a family ritual. From around 2 years, children start looking forward to “their own door”, and between 3 and 4 they understand how many days are left.
What to put in an advent calendar for a one-year-old?
A teether, soft book, bath toy or wooden vehicle with a suitable age label – and plenty of activity cards such as a song together, a bubble bath or a walk to see the lights.
Is a chocolate advent calendar suitable for a toddler?
Not for babies, as they don't need sugar. For toddlers, too, it is better to keep sweets as an exception and fill the calendar with small gifts and activities.
How can I fill a calendar without buying 24 toys?
Combine 6–8 small gifts with activity cards and useful items (a new spoon, a bib, a book from the library).
How long before December should I order an advent calendar?
By mid-November at the latest. Popular calendars often sell out earlier.
Can I fill a reusable calendar differently every year?
Yes, that is its main advantage. A fabric calendar such as CamCam is designed to be reused year after year, and you adapt the contents to your child's age.
Sources
- Directive 2009/48/EC on the safety of toys
- Regulation (EU) 2025/2509 on the safety of toys (applies from 1 August 2030)
- NHS – Baby and toddler safety
- NHS – Foods to avoid giving babies and young children
- CAPT – Button batteries
Product details are taken from the product descriptions in our shop.
This content is for information only and does not replace advice from your paediatrician. Always follow the manufacturer's age label and warnings for every toy.
