THE best advent calendars for babies are here to help your little one have the most magical Christmas ever, and with December 25 just a few weeks away it's the prime time to stock up before it's too late.
Advent calendars come in all shapes, sizes, themes, and fillings, some of the best advent calendars for babies are packed with treats, toys and all that good stuff to make the lead-up to Christmas Day that bit more exciting.
Right now is the time best to shop advent calendars that are specifically made for babies before it's too late, and the stock sells out, or worse, advent calendars are discontinued until next year.
When shopping for the best advent calendars for babies look out for advent calendars with wooden toys, or musical advent calendars, which will delight young children, and avoid potential choking hazards.
If your baby is still too small to play with an advent calendar, but you'd like a special keepsake to remember their first Christmas, you'll find baby advent calendars that let you record special occasions throughout the month of December.
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And for hungry babies, edible advent calendars work a treat.
Plus, you can even find templates to create your own or personalise to fill with all the favourite things the little one in your life loves.
Here's our selection of the best advent calendars for babies.
Best advent calendars for babies at a glance
- Best Disney advent calendar: The Works Disney: Storybook Collection
- Best value baby advent calendar: Colour in Advent Calendar
- Best advent calendar for one-year-olds: Melissa & Doug Countdown to Christmas
- Best advent calendar for two-year-olds: Happyland Advent Calendar
Disney Storybook Collection Advent Calendar
- Disney: Storybook Collection Advent Calendar, £7.50 at The Works - buy here
- Shop more advent calendars at The Works - here
Little ones are sure to love counting down to Christmas with all their favourite Disney characters.
Each window reveals a mini Disney storybook, from Mickey Mouse and Winnie the Pooh to Toy Story and The Lion King, as well as newer Pixar movies such as Turning Red.
Disney movies plus storybooks feel like a winning combination for the festive season.
The Works has a whole range of well-priced kids' advent calendars - from The Gruffalo to Disney Princess.
With an average rating of 4.6 out of five stars, it's safe to say this one is one to have on your radar if shopping for a youngster.
Many shoppers hailed this a "brilliant" advent calendar, and a welcome alternative to chocolate-filled creations.
One review read: "Well made with lovely paperback stories individually wrapped in gift wrap."
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Dimensions: 54 x 35.5 x 1.4cm
Number of products: 24 books
Age: 0+
The Gruffalo and Friends Advent Calendar Book Collection 2023
- The Gruffalo and Friends Advent Calendar Book Collection 2023, £12 from Amazon - buy here
- Shop more advent calendars for babies on Amazon - here
The Gruffalo and Friends advent calendar is ideal for those who love it. the franchise, reading, or storytime - so if you know a little one who ticks all three boxes, this advent calendar is a no-brainer.
The advent calendar is filled with 24 books, which range from colouring-in books, song and rhyme books to activity books, as well as tales of Gruffalo and friends.
Some people may be familiar with it as they are based on picture books, such as The Gruffalo, Room on the Broom, The Snail and the Whale, plus many more.
This bundle is brand new for 2023, and a great way to expand the ever-growing book collection in your child's library.
Dimensions: 35.8 x 1.9 x 54.1 cm Number of products: 24 books Age: 3 to 7 years
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Mr Men Little Miss Advent Calendar
- Mr Men Little Miss Advent Advent Calendar Storybook Collection,
£11.49 from Amazon - buy here - Shop more advent calendars for babies on Amazon - here
For fun tales the whole family will enjoy, you can't go wrong with this selection of 24 mini-books featuring your favourite Mr. Men and Little Miss characters.
Mini editions of Christmassy tales like Little Miss Christmas, Mr Noisy and the Silent Night and Mr Greedy and the Gingerbread Man are all featured and hidden behind individual pockets.
Little ones will love revealing a new Mr. Men or Little Miss book every day and will be well-stocked with stories well into the new year.
This advent calendar has garnered an average of 4.8 out of five stars, which is pretty impressive. One happy shopper says this is the "perfect gift for my granddaughter's advent calendar".
Number of products: 24 Dimensions: 32 x 0.5 x 37.1 cm Age: 3 to 6 years
Max Made Me Do It Keepsake Baby's First Advent Calendar
- Max Made Me Do It Keepsake Personalised Baby's First Advent Calendar, £20 from Not On The High Street - buy here
- Shop more advent calendars for babies at Not On The High Street - here
This is more an advent calendar to gift for parents than babies, but it is a lovely illustrated memento of your baby's first Christmas, and one the whole family can benefit from, so it's a win-win.
The personalised advent calendar lets parents record their baby's December movements and milestones, and it makes a gorgeous gift for anyone expecting around the festive season.
It can be used as a diary to even plan out a fun festive activity to enjoy every day in the run-up to Christmas, even if it's a quick trip to the park you are slotting in, or a visit to Father Christmas.
"My friend adored this calendar for her first child. Very special and thoughtful," wrote a reviewer.
Dimensions: 29.7 x 42.0cm Number of products: 25 Age: 0+
Advent Calendar Appliqué Dress
- Advent Calendar Appliqué Dress, £39 at Boden - buy here
- Shop more advent calendars for babies at Boden - here
A cute advent calendar idea for little ones from 2 years old is this advent calendar dress, which is a Christmas countdown and festive party outfit in one.
Little ones will love opening the little windows to see the fun, festive pictures behind them.
Plus, the dress is great quality as you'd expect from Boden - 100% cotton and machine washable too.
While there may not be any books, chocolate treats or fun toys waiting behind the doors, each time you peel a window away from the dress it reveals another part of the festive scene.
Boden has also created a jumper advent calendar for those who may prefer to wear separates.
Number of products: 25 Available in sizes 2-12 years
Personalised Baby First Christmas Children's Book
- Personalised Baby First Christmas Childrens Book, £23.95 at Letterfest - buy here
- Shop more at Letterfest - here
This sweet and heartwarming book tells the story of a baby's first Christmas personalised with the recipient's name throughout.
The book features beautiful illustrations and would make a lovely gift for a baby or new parent.
The last page features a gift tag design with a Christmas message for the little one - making it a really special advent present for a baby's first Christmas.
Though it's not an advent calendar as such, it is a customisable gift you can read to your baby every night before Christmas to spread some festive cheer and encourage them to understand the annual event a little better. Plus, what could be better than the gift of cosy storytime in the run-up to Christmas?
Age: 0+ Size: 210 x 250mm
Thomas & Friends Minis Engine Advent Calendar
- Thomas & Friends Minis Engine Advent Calendar, £18.27
£21.50from Boots - buy here - Shop more advent calendars for babies at Boots - here
Christmas starts early for Thomas fans with this fantastic advent calendar, which is packed with 24 mini push-along engines.
Aimed at children aged three and above, a number of classic characters feature as well as some festive specials and the box even converts to a train track at the end.
'My sons enjoyed opening each day and seeing which Thomas & Friends train they would find. The trains all link together to make a giant parade of trains,' explained one reviewer on Fisher-Price.
Boots has 15% off advent calendars as part of its Black Friday sale, plus shoppers can secure 15% off when they spend £40 or more on select mum and baby products with the discount code "BABYBF".
Number of products: 24 Age: 3+
Peppa Pig Advent Children's Book Collection
- Peppa Pig Advent Children's Book Collection, £15.81 from Amazon - buy here
- Shop more advent calendars for babies on Amazon - here
If your baby's first words were "Peppa Pig" (we know a few), then this cute advent book collection will light up their world this Christmas.
Every day of December brings with it a brand new mini storybook filled with tales about the energetic pig and her family.
There is a selection of stories inside, including Peppa's Theatre Trip, Peppa Plays Football, Pedro's Pirate Treasure, Peppa Goes Swimming, Miss Rabbit's Day Off, George's Noisy Dinosaur, Tooth Fairy, and many more.
There's even a brand new special book for December 24 called Peppa's Christmas Eve.
This popular baby advent calendar has received tons of 5-star reviews with one customer saying "Great value for money and my little girl loved it".
Dimensions: 31 x 1.5 x 42.5 cm Number of products: 24 Age: 0+
VTech Toot-Toot Drivers Advent Calendar
- VTech Toot-Toot Drivers advent calendar, £54.99 from Amazon - buy here
- Shop more advent calendars for babies on Amazon - here
VTech's popular baby toys combine fun with education, and this driving-themed advent calendar aimed at children aged one and above won't disappoint.
It requires two AAA batteries to come to life with Christmas songs and festive sound effects and toys include a Christmas sleigh, truck and trailer.
The box even folds down to become a road giving it appeal long beyond December 25.
Shoppers are beyond impressed with the quality of this advent, as one review read: "The V tech toot range is really good quality with nice smooth edges on the toys for small hands."
Dimensions: 25 x 63 x 44 cm Number of products: 24 Age: 3+
Me to You Tiny Tatty Teddy Hanging Advent Calendar
- Me to You Tiny Tatty Teddy Hanging Advent Calendar, £14.99 from Amazon - buy here
- Shop more advent calendars for babies on Amazon - here
If you are buying for your own baby's first Christmas, or a relative or friend's child's Christmas, this super soft, yet vibrant, design is a great one to snap up.
Place it in the baby's nursery, in the kitchen, or on the mantelpiece - anywhere in the home, to help make the countdown to Christmas even more enjoyable, and memorable, for all.
This calendar is safe for all ages as it is made from super soft felt, and velcro attachments to make peeling each door off day by day easy, and safe.
There are 25 attachments to peel off to reveal a festive picture, whether it is presents, stockings or stars, while a separate star attachment can be moved daily so your little one knows when they are close to Christmas.
The handmade accents make this super special, and a thoughtful gift.
Plus, you can recycle year after year - or for other children's first Christmas countdown.
Dimensions: 0.05 x 55 x 35 cm Number of products: 25 Age: 3 months to 8 years
Melissa & Doug Countdown to Christmas Wooden Advent Calendar
- Melissa & Doug Countdown to Christmas Wooden Advent Calendar, £22.85 from Amazon - buy here
- Shop more advent calendars for babies on Amazon - here
A wholesome option for kids aged three to seven, this Christmas Countdown Advent Calendar includes 24 charming wooden ornaments that little ones can use to decorate their tree every day in December, with a shining gold star for the last day.
This calendar is a simple idea, but a big hit with kids and parents – it's reusable, it comes with a cute storage box for the ornaments and it even builds numeracy skills as children countdown to that all-important day.
'It gets redecorated at least once a day and has helped massively cut down on how much my son tries to play with the big Christmas tree,' writes one reviewer.
Dimensions: 16 x 12 x 4.9 cm Number of products: 25 Age: 3+
The Gruffalo's Child Official Music Advent Calendar
- The Harry Potter Official Musical Advent Calendar, £24.99 from Calendar Club - buy here
- Shop more advent calendars at Calendar Club - here
We'll wager that one of your baby's favourite author-illustrator combos is none other than Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler.
Combined with the fact Harry Potter is a hugely popular film for many kids (and adults), this advent, which combines the two, is a winning formula.
The Harry Potter Musical Advent Calendar scene of this advent calendar will be something they enjoy exploring each day throughout December as new characters are unveiled.
Just add three AAA batteries to power the calendar's magnetic movement and music, sure to delight even the youngest of babies and really put the magic into Christmas.
Dimensions: 30.5 x 30.5cm Number of products: 24 Age: 3+
Play-Doh Advent Calendar
- Play-Doh Advent Calendar, £19.99 from Amazon - buy here
- Shop more advent calendars for babies on Amazon - here
We haven't yet met a preschooler who doesn't enjoy the squishy joy of Play-Doh, which is why this advent calendar is guaranteed to be a hit with little ones.
Each of the 24 doors hides a surprise that will delight young makers – five pots of Play-Doh are included (two of them sparkly) as well as a whole host of festive cutters, stampers and moulds, so children can get creative to their heart's content.
But this set not only makes the countdown to Christmas super fun but long after Christmas too, which is even more impressive in our opinion.
This clever advent calendar has received many rave reviews - with one shopper saying that her kids "have loved opening the doors each day!"
Dimensions: 6 x 35.6 x 30.5 cm Number of products: 24 Age: 3+
Peter Rabbit Advent Calendar
- Peter Rabbit Advent Calendar, £37.99 at Amazon - buy here
- Shop more advent calendars for babies on Amazon - here
For eco-conscious parents, this Peter Rabbit calendar is an adorable green option. With figures made from sustainable wood and completely recyclable packaging, there are 24 iconic Beatrix Potter characters inside to light up your baby's Christmas.
Suitable for babies aged one and above, charming painted figures hiding behind the 24 doors include Jemima Puddle-duck, Mrs Tiggy-winkle and Benjamin Bunny, plus the star of the show, Peter Rabbit.
There's also a Christmas tree, a bundle of presents and a Santa sleigh, so you can play out your own festive tales when Christmas Day finally arrives.
This advent is going down a treat with youngsters, as one review read: "Honestly taken aback with how lovely this calendar is."
Dimensions: W45cm x H36cm x Dx8cm Number of products: 24
Age: 12 months +
Happyland Advent Calendar
- Happyland Advent Calendar, now
£34.99£19.99 from The Entertainer - buy here - Shop more advent calendars for babies at The Entertainer - here
Babies love the magical world of Happyland – and now they can have their very own Happyland advent calendar!
Suitable for babies from ages 18 months and up, there are 24 festive Happyland figurines behind each door – from a snowman and elf to Father Christmas himself.
Each toy is decently sized, too, so the complete set is a lovely gift to play with - and great value too.
Shoppers are impressed with this festive countdown, with one praising it for being "Good quality" and long-lasting, as the review read: "Should last for years to come."
Dimensions: 27.5cm (H) x 41cm (W) x 9.5cm (D) Number of products: 24 Age: 18 months +
Baby’s First Advent Calendar Keepsake
- Baby’s First Advent Calendar Keepsake, from £5.99 at Etsy - buy here
- Shop more advent calendars for babies at Etsy - here
This Baby’s First Advent Calendar is a wonderful present idea for new parents.
Presented as a quality printed card, each day features a cute illustration, along with the date and a thoughtful space to write down what the baby did that day.
It's available in a range of sizes and is a lovely activity to do with your little one - and then to keep afterwards as a memory of their first Christmas.
The price does vary depending on the size you select, but this advent will be no more than £22 for an A2 size.
Many shoppers have praised this calendar for being "well worth the money", and a great alternative to chocolate-filled advents, and a more sentimental gift too. A separate reviewer wrote: "Nice to keep memories and write down daily activities throughout December to look back on and remember. Well worth the money."
Dimensions: A5 (available in bigger sizes) Number of products: 25 Age: 0+
Noah's Ark Advent Calendar
- Noah's Ark Wooden Toys Advent Calendar, £29.99 from Amazon- buy here
- Shop more advent calendars for babies on Amazon - here
This Noah's Ark scene with wooden animals comes to life for each day of Advent, with 24 chunky pieces suitable for babies aged one and over.
Young children will love opening a window each day to reveal an animal to play with - from elephants and lions to penguins and more.
Plus, the wooden toys include Noah & his wife, the ark itself and a rainbow - as well as a pair of each animal.
This advent calendar for babies is one they'll play with — and treasure — for years to come.
Many shoppers have hailed this an "amazing" purchase for children, and an educational advent calendar in favour of sweet treats.
One review read: "Great quality wooden toys that can be played with for years to come."
Dimensions: 45 x 8 x 36 cm Number of products: 24 Age: 12 months +
Zapf Creation Baby Annabell Advent Calendar
- Zapf Creation Baby Annabell Advent Calendar, £33.51 at Amazon - buy here
- Shop more advent calendars for babies on Amazon - here
This Zapf Creations Christmas advent calendar will be a surefire hit for little Baby Annabell fans everywhere.
Little ones will be delighted as they open each window to discover 24 individual items making up Baby Annabell's Christmas wardrobe.
The gifts include clothes for the doll, as well as cute accessories including earmuffs, scarves and more so kids can change Annabell's outfits over and over this festive season.
Baby Annabell is an iconic children's toy many may be familiar with, so even parents may feel a little nostalgic with this advent.
This advent can be a great countdown to Christmas, and something to play with long after Christmas.
Number of products: 24 Age: 3+
My First Advent Calendar
- My First Advent Calendar | High Contrast Baby Book for Newborns, £5.49 at Amazon - buy here
- Shop more advent calendars for babies on Amazon - here
This sweet and simple advent calendar is ideal for babies as it features high-contrast black-and-white images that are easier for younger babies to see.
Not only is this advent calendar fun, and practical, but it is also educational and has been designed to develop a child's eyesight, as well as being a sensory aid.
A great gift idea for a newborn, or a new mum, there are 25 Christmas pictures, plus a number on each page to countdown to the big day.
The book has a glossy cover and soft pages for little hands to touch - printed on high-quality paper.
One happy customer says "My 6-month-old loved looking at the pictures and always had a big smile when we looked at them."
Dimensions: 15.2 cm x 15.2 cm Number of products: 25 Age: 0+
KreativeKraft Toy Advent Calendar 2023
- KreativeKraft Toy Advent Calendar 2023, £20.99 at Amazon - buy here
- Shop more advent calendars for babies on Amazon - here
This cheap and cheerful advent calendar is bound to be a big hit with your little one, especially if they love bath time. Though, even if bath time is not their favourite time, maybe this calendar may change that.
The cute calendar includes 24 little rubber ducks, in different colours and with hats, scarves and accessories, so each has its own personality.
Some rubber ducks have been given a festive twist too, as one resembles a Christmas tree, while another looks like Father Christmas.
These little ducks will add a bit of fun to bath time with a new one to play with each day in December up to Christmas Eve, though you can play with these ducks well beyond the festive period too.
Number of products: 24 Age: 3+ Dimensions: 42.5 x 32.5 x 0.03 cm
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:
- Amazon
- The Works
- WHSmith
- The Entertainer
- John Lewis
- Argos
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.
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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