D-Mom Blog

The sweet life with a diabetic child

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40+ Non-Candy Stocking Stuffer Ideas

Some parents don’t want to fill stockings with tons of candy. Here are 30+ non-candy stocking stuffer ideas for kids with type 1 diabetes or food allergies.

Non-Candy Stocking Stuffers

Image: Pixabay

Update: A reader asked about ideas for older kids. Please read Non-Candy Stocking Stuffers…for teens!

My kids’ stockings usually have a combination of candy and small items. I know many parents of kids with type 1 diabetes or food allergies prefer to include non-candy items in stockings, so I’m sharing some ideas of easy-to-find and not-very-expensive toys and trinkets.

Tip: Look near the Christmas/holiday aisle for displays of specially packaged items which are often the right size to stuff into stockings.

Here are 30+ non-candy stocking stuffer ideas. For even more ideas check out 50+ Non-Candy Easter Ideas and 15+ Non-Candy Ideas for Trick-Or-Treating and Halloween Parties.

(Links to Target are affiliate links for your shopping convenience. It doesn’t cost you a penny more to shop through these links, but it helps support the D-Mom Blog website. Thanks!)

Non-Candy Stocking Stuffer Ideas

Dolls and Minatures

Building

  • Lego Minifigures
  • Lego Mini Sets (Jurassic World, Unikitty, Friends, City, Chima, Duplo)
  • Minecraft Minis
  • Hot Wheels
  • Mayka Toy Block Tape
  • Army Guys
  • Tonka Trucks

Creating

  • Play-Doh
  • Duct Tape
  • Washi Tape
  • Crayola Pip Squeaks Markers

Self-Care

Games

Entertainment & Tech

Misc.

  • Silly String
  • Flashlight
  • Camping Headlamp
  • Magic Wand or Fairy Wand
  • Glow Sticks
  • Hexbug Nano
  • Bouncy Balls
  • Gift Cards (Book Stores, Favorite Restaurant)

Read more posts about the holidays and see my suggestions for non-candy stocking stuffers for teens.

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Easter with Type 1 Diabetes: Tips for Parents

Don’t fret about Easter… here are some resources that will help you get through it, especially if this is your first holiday with type one diabetes. Includes over 100 non-candy Easter basket ideas!

Easter with Diabetes

Photo: Pixabay

Easter Non-CandyNon-Candy Ideas: Don’t want to fill your child’s Easter basket with a ton of sugar? I have a creative list of over 100 non-candy items that you can give your child… for kids from preschool to high school!

Check out my list of 100+ Non-Candy Easter Ideas.

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Easter Jelly BeansCounting Jelly Beans: I like to buy a big bag of jelly beans and divvy them up into 15-carb portions. Q thought the Easter Bunny was on his game! Perfect for treating low blood sugars.

Learn why I Count Jelly Beans for Easter.

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Easter Egg HuntThe Thrill of the Hunt: In this excerpt from Kids First, Diabetes Second I share why holidays like Easter aren’t always about the candy and food but are about the experiences.

Find out why kids like The Thrill of the Hunt.

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Less Stress, More Happiness: I have an entire chapter in my book Kids First, Diabetes Second about holidays and celebrations that involve food.

Read more about my book Kids First, Diabetes Second and purchase your own copy.

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Winter Holidays With Diabetes

Here are some tips for celebrating winter holidays, such as Christmas and Hanukkah, when your child has type 1 diabetes, including non-candy stocking stuffers, carb counting for candy, and gift ideas for T1D kids and the school nurse.

Winter Holidays Diabetes

Image: Pixabay

The holidays can be daunting, especially for parents of children recently diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. You may think that you need to change some of your traditions, especially if they are food-based. The reality is that you can make almost anything work.

You just got through Halloween and Thanksgiving. Maybe things went smoothly; maybe you learned a thing or two.

Here are some posts that I have written that I think will be particularly useful for newly diagnosed and veteran diabetes families alike.

Pancreas Plush

Stocking Stuffers and Gift Ideas

Don’t forget to thank the school nurse or other staff who care for your child when you are purchasing holiday gifts for teachers. Read 10 Holiday Gift Ideas For School Nurses.

I always find holiday candy in our pantry months later that has gone uneaten. I’m sure at Valentine’s Day there will still be some leftover Christmas candy. Many parents (and this has nothing to do with diabetes!) are reducing the amount of candy they give their kids and substituting non-candy items. Read 30+ Non-Candy Stocking Stuffer Ideas.

Non-Candy Stocking Stuffers

Teens aren’t too old for holiday traditions and stockings stuffed with goodies. Read Non-Candy Stocking Stuffers…for teens!

Got a busted pancreas? How about a new stuffed one. Need a way to carry supplies? How about a cute bag. Here are some gift ideas for kids with diabetes. Read Holiday Gifts For Kids With Type 1 Diabetes.

turn-diabetes-trash-into-holiday-treasure-1024x536Holiday Decorating

Why not deck the halls with ornaments made from diabetes supplies such as used pods? We’ve been hanging these ornaments on our tree year after year. Read Holiday Decorating With Medical Waste.

We had so much fun creating these crafts for T1 Everyday Magic. Take a look at the tutorials for making reindeer ornaments and a wreath using diabetes supplies. Read Turn Your Diabetes Trash Into Holiday Treasures on the T1 Everyday magic website.

Pumpkin Pie

Image: Pixabay

Carb Counting and Christmas Candy

Much of the food served at Christmas and other winter holiday celebrations is the same as that served at Thanksgiving. Here is a list of carbs counts. Read Carb Counting At Thanksgiving.

I was surprised to find out that Pez and mini candy canes don’t have a lot of carbs. Read Pez, Oh Yes, We Have Santa Pez and Candy Canes: Not So Many Carbs, Either.

Advent Calendars

My kids love counting down to Christmas with an Advent calendar, though these days they like it filled with Legos! The inexpensive chocolate-filled Advent calendars have surprisingly little carbs for each piece of chocolate. (Read the nutrition label if you purchase one.) Read Counting Down to Christmas and Advent Calendars: All the Countdown, Not So Many Carbs.

Read more posts about holidays.

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Teal Pumpkin Project

As parents of children with type 1 diabetes, we can empathize with parents of children with food allergies. This is why D-Mom Blog supports the Teal Pumpkin Project to notify parents and their kids that we have non-candy Halloween treats.

Teal Pumpkin Project

Image Copyright D-Mom Blog

“Every child should be able to experience the joy and tradition of trick-or-treating on Halloween. But kids with food allergies are often left out of the fun, since most candy is off limits.”

Sound familiar?

The first Halloween after a child is diagnosed with type 1 diabetes can be particularly tough on both the child and her parents. The d-kid can’t just eat a bunch of candy with wild abandon. Kids on multiple daily injections (MDI) might have to get an extra injection if they are eating their Halloween candy outside of a normal meal time. And getting an extra injection isn’t exactly fun!

Our family has long been a proponent of non-candy treats, even before Q was diagnosed with diabetes. We have fun picking out non-candy toys and trinkets to hand out. And we usually stock up when leftovers are on deep discount the first week of November.

That being said, we do not deprive our d-kid of candy. All things in moderation. It’s made a little easier with the insulin pump. And it’s even better when she adds the candy to a meal because it might not spike her as high. (Read the post Don’t Get Spooked…tips for navigating Halloween with type 1 diabetes or food allergies.) We even stash away high sugar candies like Skittles and Smarties to treat low blood sugars.

So why do I think all of us d-moms and d-dads should support the Teal Pumpkin Project even though our kids with diabetes can eat candy (with insulin to cover it, of course!)?

Because we get it.

We totally get what it’s like to have a child with a life-threatening medical condition. We totally get that some kids can’t put something in their mouths without parent approval (for us it’s for carb count, for a child with food allergies it’s to make sure it’s safe). We totally get the stress that special occasions can bring…even though they are supposed to be fun!

So let’s tell the kids with food allergies (and their worried parents!) that we’ve got their back this Halloween.

More Info…

Teal Pumpkin Project Website

15+ Non-Candy Ideas for Trick-Or-Treating and Halloween Parties

Don’t Get Spooked…Tips for Navigating Halloween With Type 1 Diabetes or Food Allergies

Here’s a great video explaining the Teal Pumpkin Project:

(E-mail and feed subscribers click over for embedded video.)

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Easter with Type 1 Diabetes: 100+ Non-Candy Easter Ideas

Here are over 100 non-candy Easter basket ideas for kids with type 1 diabetes, celiac disease, or food allergies. Or just for parents who don’t want to load their kids up with candy and sugar!

Easter Non-Candy

Photo: Pixabay

 

I know you are fretting about what to give your child with type 1 diabetes or food allergies this Easter. Perhaps it’s your first Easter dealing with this medical condition and your anxiety is on high.

Don’t worry. You’ve got this.

Your child with diabetes or food allergies can have just as much fun because candy doesn’t have to be the focus.

(And even before our own child’s diagnosis, candy wasn’t the focus in our family.)

My suggestion is to treat all the kids equally. If one gets a chocolate bunny or Peeps, they all get a chocolate bunny or Peeps. Insulin can be given for the candy (and if your child gets injections, you can easily add the carbs to a meal so that she’s not getting an extra injection). And there are companies that make chocolates free from some of the top allergens.

This list includes many items that are inexpensive and range from $1 to under $5. There are a few items which may be more. Many can be found in the dollar aisle or seasonal/Easter aisle and lots of these come in cute Easter or spring themes.

Some of the items are small enough to fit inside of plastic Easter eggs if you are planning a hunt.

We usually do an Easter scavenger hunt. The Easter Bunny leaves clues and in each location there is one item for each child. The kids work together to find each surprise.

Although these are non-candy options, our kids do receive a chocolate bunny. My child with diabetes gets the same amount of candy as my child without diabetes. They both eat a small chunk of chocolate during the week with meals.

Because what’s Easter without a chocolate bunny?!

(I continue to update this list! The list is now has surpassed 100 items, so I’ve divided them up by category.)

Non-Candy Easter Basket Ideas

New Ideas

  • Blind bags
  • Thomas Mini blind bags
  • Minecraft Mini blind boxes
  • Tsum-Tsum blind bags
  • K’nex Super Mario mystery bags
  • Super hero action figures
  • Uno game
  • D&D dice

Small Items

  • Coins
  • Stickers
  • Tattoos

Toys and Games

  • Travel play packs
  • Slinky
  • Silly Putty
  • Play-Doh
  • Kinetic sand
  • Small bouncy balls
  • Hot wheels or Matchbox cars
  • Train engines
  • My Little Pony
  • Littlest Petshop
  • Mini Barbie
  • Small stuffed animal
  • Rubber duckies
  • Schleich animals
  • Schleich dinosaurs
  • Puzzle
  • Board game
  • Silly Bands
  • Pokeman Cards
  • Trading cards
  • Baseball cards

Legos

  • Lego City set*
  • Lego Friends set*
  • Lego Chima set*
  • Lego minifigures
  • Lego separator
  • Handful of Legos from the pick-a-brick wall placed into a plastic egg

*These small Lego sets are usually under $5 and can be found with the seasonal items or at the checkout. They come in a bag instead of a box.

Books

  • Easter-themed picture book
  • Next chapter book in a series
  • Comic book

Coloring, Drawing, and Painting

  • Cute pencils
  • Coloring book
  • Crayons
  • Markers
  • Colored pencils
  • Paints
  • Paint brushes and sponge brushes
  • Small notebook
  • Journal
  • Cute erasers
  • Pencil sharpener

Crafts

  • Rainbow Loom bands
  • Beads and buttons for crafting
  • Googly eyes
  • Washi tape
  • Duct tape
  • Origami paper
  • Finger knitting book
  • Yarn and knitting needles

Outdoor Activities

  • Baseball or softball
  • Sidewalk chalk
  • Bubbles
  • Jump rope
  • Pinwheel
  • Bucket and shovel
  • Beach ball
  • Pool toys
  • Swim goggles
  • Beach towel
  • Bouncy ball
  • Yo-yo’s
  • Kite
  • Seeds
  • Small flower pots
  • Gardening gloves
  • Garden trowel
  • Binoculars
  • Magnifying glass
  • Kaleidoscope

Music

  • Guitar picks
  • Sheet music
  • Harmonica

Accessories

  • Shoe charms
  • Shoe laces
  • Earrings
  • Bracelet
  • Necklace
  • Headbands
  • Socks
  • Lip gloss
  • Nail polish
  • Hand sanitizer
  • Flip Flops
  • Sunglasses
  • Sun hat

Experiences and Entertainment

  • Movie theater gift card
  • DVD’s
  • Zoo passes
  • Children’s museum tickets
  • Pool passes
  • Amusement park tickets

Tech

  • Ear buds
  • Extra iPod charging cords
  • $5 iTunes gift card

More Resources:

Counting Jelly Beans For Easter

Kids First, Diabetes Second Book (There’s a chapter called “Less Stress, More Happiness” that talks A LOT about these types of issues.)

The Thrill of the Hunt (excerpt from Kids First, Diabetes Second)

More posts about candy alternatives

More posts about Easter and holidays

 

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Non-Candy Stocking Stuffers…for teens!

Looking to fill your teenager’s stocking and need fresh ideas? Here are 30+ non-candy stocking stuffer ideas for teens (with or without type 1 diabetes).

Non-Candy Stocking Stuffers Teens

I shared my 40+ Non-Candy Stocking Stuffer Ideas with you recently. Q is now a teenager (what?!). A reader asked for ideas for teens and here are a few we came up with. These would also be great for college-aged students.

Non-Candy Stocking Stuffers For Teens & College Kids

(Links to Target are affiliate links for your shopping convenience. It doesn’t cost you a penny more to shop through these links, but it helps support the D-Mom Blog website. Thanks!)

Technology

Entertainment & Books

  • iTunes Gift Cards
  • CDs
  • Graphic Novels
  • Movie Theater Gift Cards (AMC, Fandango, Cinemark, Regal)
  • Entertainment Gift Cards (Hulu, Netflix)
  • Books (Teens’ Best Sellers, YA Books)
  • Book Store Gift Cards
  • Barnes & Noble Membership

Gaming

Food & Drink

Self-Care

Clothing and Accessories

Toys and Games

  • Play-Doh (I’m not even kidding…when we hand it out at Halloween the teens go crazy for it)
  • Lego Minifigures
  • Card Games (deck of cards, Uno)
  • Dungeons and Dragons Dice
  • Funko Pop!
  • Lego Brickheadz
  • Rubik’s Cube

Creativity

Older Teens and College Kids

Miscellaneous

  • Sunglasses
  • Camping Headlamp
  • Magazines
  • Cash!

Read more posts about holidays and my 30+ Non-Candy Stocking Stuffer Ideas, which may also interest older kids.

Diabetes Awareness Month: Day 29

“Though you want your child to eventually self-manage their diabetes, take back over care if it becomes too much for them or they need a break. They have their entire life with diabetes ahead of them.”