Best Advent calendars for babies UK 2024: these keepsakes and sensory surprises are perfect for little ones
THERE'S nothing more special than their first Christmas – so what better way to make December extra cute than with the best Advent calendars for babies?
Now I know what you're thinking: 'do babies even understand Christmas?' and I'm fairly certain the answer to that is 'no'.
However, these days there's so much more to Advent calendars than just opening a door to reveal a chocolate.
In fact, there are some amazing baby-friendly Advents out there that encourage sensory development and are filled with surprises that are just perfect for little hands.
It's not just toys and books, though. If your baby is truly too young for a treat-filled Advent calendar, there are some really lovely options out there that allow you to record those special moments in the countdown to Christmas – and which you'll be able to hold onto as a keepsake.
Convinced it's the best idea ever? Me too, so here's a selection of the best advent calendars for babies available to buy in 2024.
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My First Advent Calendar High Contrast Baby Book for Newborns
My First Advent Calendar High Contrast Baby Book for Newborns, £5.49
Thought newborns were too young to enjoy Advent calendars?
Think again, because illustrator and graphic designer, Millie Marys, has come up with such a clever Advent calendar concept with this high-contrast book.
Due to the fact that newborns' eyesight is not developed enough to recognize colours, black and white photos are actually more clear to them than lots of bright images.
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The book features 25 Christmas pictures on one side and a numbered countdown, perfect for encouraging visual stimulation.
It's a hit with patents too, with one writing: 'Every day in December we’d turn a new page and look at the picture, then go back through all the days of the month so far.
'My five-month-old absolutely loved it. Even managed to use it as a tummy time activity on Christmas Eve.
'Really simple but really good and a nice Christmassy thing to do with little ones that are too young for most things!'
Number of products: 25 pictures, Age: 0 to 12 months
KreativeKraft Bath Surprises Advent Calendar
KreativeKraft Bath Surprises Advent Calendar, £18.99
This cute bathroom Advent by KreativeKraft states on the box that it's for ages 3+, but as one shopper notes: 'The ducks are a good size for little ones...there are no loose parts and the smallest duck is approx 2in'.
Available with a choice of cute rubber ducks or sea animal toys, each box contains 24 surprises behind each door that will capture their imaginations and provide lots of fun in the bath.
And of course, while your little one can delight in opening one door each day, these cute little rubber toys can be enjoyed well after Christmas has passed.
'Fab advent calendar for babies and young children. Bought this calendar for my nine-month-old, she loves all the little ducks.
'My eight-year-old also loves to play with them at bath time,' writes one happy customer.
Number of products: 24 rubber ducks or sea animal toys, Age: 3+
Disney Winnie The Pooh Countdown Christmas Advent Calendar
Disney Winnie The Pooh Countdown Christmas Advent Calendar, £20
This Winnie The Pooh engraved countdown wheel will make a thoughtful gift for new mums and dads this Christmas.
It's perfect for popping in the baby's nursery as a charming bit of festive decor – plus as it's wooden, it adds that traditional touch and can be used again and again.
The product picture also depicts a keepsake box which I'm hoping comes with it – and am assuming is the case, due to the price.
It features special drawers to place your baby's first Christmas cards, Christmas booties, photographs and other memories – talk about cute!
Number of products: Engraved rotating wheel and stand Age: N/A
Disney My First Stories Advent Calendar: A Storybook Library
Disney My First Stories Advent Calendar: A Storybook Library £21.99 £14.85
Little readers from 0-3 years of age will love this storytime countdown to Christmas, which features a tale a day from the world of Disney and Pixar.
With stories including 'Stitch Eats Everything', 'Minnie and the Lost Unicorn', 'Winnie the Pooh Builds a Snowman' and more, each of the 24 mini-books features fun illustrations to help them follow along.
Shoppers have given the calendar an impressive 4.6 out of 5 average rating, with one enthusing: 'Love these calendars, I’ve bought a few for my three-month-old granddaughter and future grandbabies.
'Even at the young age of three months old, she loved the little stories every day: in fact, she stared at them until we read her her story every day.
'Definitely good value for money as reusable, better than chocolate and of course it’s Disney – what more can you ask?'
Number of products: 24 stories, Age: Reading age 0-3 years
Bluey Awesome Book Advent Calendar
Bluey Awesome Book Advent Calendar, £2.50
Prefer Bluey to Disney? I have it on good authority that grownups are just as obsessed with the Australian dog as their little ones are, so this calendar will be fun for the whole family.
Featuring 24 fun mini-books including a special story for Christmas Eve, this calendar comes with colouring books too – so if you have older kids, you'll be able to keep them busy as well as your baby.
At just £2.50, it's a cheap buy that shoppers agree is 'fantastic value for the money.'
One writes: 'For the price, it looks amazing. Can't wait to give as a present,' while another says: 'I got this for my granddaughter and I'm 100% she will be over the moon with it, it's really beautiful!'
Number of products: 24 stories and colouring books, Age: Most ages
Boden Advent Calendar Appliqué Dress
Boden Advent Calendar Appliqué Dress, from £39
For something a little different to the traditional Advent calendar, Boden presents to you...the Advent dress!
Designed with a pink and dotty background, this long-sleeved cutie showcases an appliqué Christmas tree countdown on the centre of the dress – which even features little 'doors' that open to reveal a scene beneath.
It's ridiculous amounts of cute and starts at ages 2-3 and goes up to 11-12 years – perfect for siblings who love to coordinate!
Number of products: One dress, Age: 2-3 years to 11-12 years
Disney Dumbo My First Christmas Advent Calendar
Disney Dumbo My First Christmas Advent Calendar, £20
This beautifully designed hanging calendar is perfect for celebrating your baby’s first Christmas and can be reused over the years as they get older – making it even more special.
The white and silver design is perfect if you don't want your home overrun with garish festive decor: it's sweet but subtle, with glittery lettering for a touch of Christmas sparkle.
Each of the 24 windows can be filled with your choice of treat – so you may even find yourself tucking into a chocolate each day.
Hey, looking after a baby is hard work!
Number of products: One hanging calendar with 24 empty windows, Age: N/A
Happyland Advent Calendar
Happyland Advent Calendar, £29.99 £23.99
Suitable for 18-month-olds to five-year-olds, this cute Advent calendar by the Early Learning Centre is a festive delight that will have your little one excited every morning in December!
Behind each door is one of 24 Christmas figures that are chunky enough for babies and toddlers to grasp – making it a fun way to introduce your little one to the magic of Christmas.
From a jolly Santa to the gingerbread man, each Happyland character is great for encouraging imaginative play.
Plus, by Christmas Day, they'll have a whole festive village to play with! A perfect blend of fun and learning for the holiday season.
Number of products: 24 festive figures, Age: 18 months+
Sunny Clouds Personalised Baby's First Christmas Advent Calendar
Sunny Clouds Personalised Baby's First Christmas Advent Calendar, £20
Looking for a personalised baby gift to mark their first-ever Christmas? This printed calendar is for you!
Featuring originally hand-painted illustrations, it's printed on matt card 'with archival quality inks' for longevity, so it'll be perfect for popping in a frame and displaying as a fun bit of festive artwork each year.
The idea is that you write something in each box to mark your memories from that day – whether you went for a wintry stroll, saw the grandparents or your baby said their first word.
It's a super cute way to preserve a bit of history in your child's life and it can even be personalised with their name.
Number of products: One printed card, Age: N/A
Proper Goose Personalised Baby's First Advent Calendar Tin
Proper Goose Personalised Baby's First Advent Calendar Tin, £15
There are some lovely 'baby's first Christmas' keepsake ideas over on Not On The High St., including this Personalised Baby’s First Advent Calendar Tin by Proper Goose.
Perfect for celebrating your little one's first Christmas in style, this beautifully crafted metal tin can be personalized with your baby’s name to add an extra special touch.
Inside, you'll find 24 cards, each with a space to document special daily memories.
It's not only a cute way to countdown to Christmas, but also a memory box you can treasure for years to come – the perfect mix of sentimentality and fun for your baby’s very first festive season!
Number of products: Tin and 24 cards, Age: N/A
Abigail Wheatley Magic Painting Advent Calendar
Abigail Wheatley Magic Painting Advent Calendar, £19.99 £10
The Magic Painting Advent Calendar is a creative and (mostly) mess-free way for babies and toddlers to countdown to Christmas.
Designed by Abigail Wheatley, behind each of the 24 windows is an 8-page book featuring magic paintings.
Each day, with just a touch of water, your little artist-in-the-making will be able to watch the colours magically appear!
It’s the perfect introduction to painting without the need for messy paints, keeping little hands (and your house) clean.
Number of products: 24 books and one brush, Age: N/A
Paddington Baby's First Christmas Countdown Calendar
Paddington Baby's First Christmas Countdown Calendar, £13.99
Ah, Paddington Bear is just timeless, isn't he?
This Baby's First Christmas Countdown Calendar is such a charming way to celebrate that special first festive season as a family.
Beautifully crafted from wood, the calendar features a moveable Paddington which you can shift along each day to count down the sleeps to Christmas Eve.
It may be more of a decor item than something specifically for your baby, but it's a sturdy, eco-friendly design that can be reused year after year, making it a lovely keepsake.
And who doesn't want a bit of classic Paddington charm added to their festive traditions?
Number of products: One, Age: N/A
My Design Co. The Snowman Music Box Advent Calendar
My Design Co. The Snowman Music Box Advent Calendar, £29.95
The Snowman Music Box Advent Calendar is a magical and musical way to countdown to Christmas with your baby: what better combo?
Inspired by the beloved classic The Snowman, it features 24 drawers, each filled with pop-up scenery, stickers and dancing magnetic characters that 'skate' around the base of the box.
As a special treat, it also plays three iconic Christmas songs – perfect for adding a musical touch to your festive mornings.
'Very pleased . Music is good quality . Magnet works perfectly, my 2yr 7 month old loves it!' raves one happy customer.
While another writes: 'Terrific. Gave this to my great, great nieces (yes, I'm that old!)…they were delighted with it, particularly that it has an inbuilt musical function.'
Number of products: 25 doors filled with 3 snowman magnetic characters, 3D pop-up card models and a range of stickers, Age: N/A
How much are advent calendars for babies?
They vary in price, but the most popular advent calendars for babies and children tend to sit between £10 and £30.
For more high-end calendars, or those that can be used again and again each year, prices can reach up to £100, but this price point is rare for children's calendars.
Of course, you don't have to blow your Christmas budget on one advent calendar as you can secure some from £3 or £5 too.
There are plenty of places to shop for advent calendars, especially advent calendars for babies, so shop around to make sure you find a bargain price.
Where to buy advent calendars for babies in the UK?
There are plenty of places to shop for advent calendars, especially advent calendars for children - no matter their age.
High street retailers, such as The Works, John Lewis, and Argos have plenty of advent calendars.
But you can also shop even more online, including at those retailers too.
In fact, we would recommend shopping online as carrying bulky advent calendars can be taxing, which is why we prefer to get them delivered straight to our door.
We found a fantastic selection of advent calendars for babies and children at the following online retailers:
What to look for in an advent calendar for a baby?
When shopping for advent calendars for babies, there is one absolute essential - safety. The best advent calendars for babies are most importantly safe, so always check the age range the calendar is aimed at. Many start at age 3, so it's always best to double-check if they come with any small parts.
Book advent calendars are a fantastic option for babies as they can be enjoyed for many years, are baby friendly and will introduce your child to the wonder of books.
Other advent calendars that can be reused, or refilled each year, are also well worth the money.
We also love creative designs that can become keepsakes, whether it is first advent calendars to jot down precious memories you can reminisce on for years to come.
How many days are there in an advent calendar?
There may be some confusion around how many doors are in an advent calendar, as there are 25 days from December to Christmas.
The majority of advent calendars have 24 doors to open or pockets to explore and the fun starts on December 1st.
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Occasionally, there are 25 doors to open for a bonus present.
While some calendars may be 12-day advent calendars, you open a door every other day in the run-down to December 25, though this is rare for children's countdowns.
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