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Everything is from Santa except 1 thing - this year we got the kids a laptop to share and that is from us

Only the stockings in my family. My husband used to have a present under the tree as well. I like it to just be stockings.

Growing up only one thing (plus stocking stuff) was from Santa and that's how we've done it with with DS for the past 3 Christmases. It's usually the big toy or something that is hard to wrap since we don't wrap Santa gifts (i.e. Train table, zany zoo). This year DS is obsessed with the Beatbo robot and has said for over a month that is what he wants from Santa. Luckily Santa got it on sale a month ago He's also getting a gigantic Baymax stuffed toy from Santa because I don't want to deal with wrapping it, ha!

When I was little my parents did it so we knew who bought everything, but they sent it to Santa to wrap and deliver. I do the same for my kids, but DH would prefer we did it so parent stuff from Santa

Everything is from Santa. I never heard of parents putting gifts under the tree from both before HB. I mean, isn't the whole point that the kids go to bed and wake up to everything Santa brought?

@ShootingStar: Well, how often do kids sit around talking about "how" Santa is done or if it's done in every other kid's house? I think kids probably just assume everyone else is doing it how their parents do it, and don't investigate further.

My family didn't do Christmas like you just described when I was growing up, but I don't recall any of my friends/teachers asking specifics or me asking them specifics.

Santa gives the stockings plus some of the gifts. This year it's one large gift, but last year he gave a few smaller gifts.

For me, Santa has a budget, so I just figure out what fits into Santa's budget and what I think he should give them.

Whatever. It doesn't really matter. I typically wrap things, forget what everything is and then label them all randomly - from santa, from mom and dad,.

So both DH & I grew up with almost everything being from
Santa and one or two from our parents. And that's how we have done it with our LOs so far...

BUT, a couple of days ago DS (4) and I were going through his toys to donate, and I was explaining to him that the toys were going to a family that the parents couldn't afford very many toys for their kids for Christmas. As I was saying it I realized that just didn't make much sense. If the majority of gifts come from Santa, why do the parents need to gift a lot too? He didn't ask, but I can totally see him connecting the dots next year. So I think we are going to flip it and have most of the gifts come from us. Also, it will lower the Santa expectations in the future!

We give one modest gift from Santa and the stocking, the rest from us. I don't want poorer kids to wonder why they only got a cheap gift and my kid got expensive stuff.

This is different than how each of us was raised, but it seems like a good compromise

The is the first year where I have really had to worry about it, but I guess the big gifts (dollhouse and rocking horse) will be from Santa, as well as the stockings, and the rest from us. I won't put the gifts out until Christmas morning, since my toddler will get into them. I am looking forward to their faces when they see the big pile of gifts!

Its interesting to read all the different ways families do this.

Growing up all gifts were from Santa and they usually showed up overnight, but sometimes Santa came early while we were at church.

I think we will do most gifts from us - and they are accumulating under the tree now - and then one or two Santa gifts will show up Christmas morning. DS is 2 so he won't get it yet anyways.

Santa brings stockings and a few "very wanted gifts when I grew up"

Santa will bring DD and DS a few items for their stockings and DD her pink radio flyer trike and DS his new activity mat
The rest will be from us!!

@sunnyday: Yes, to me that's the whole magic of Santa. No gifts under the tree (unless someone sends us something early) and then overnight Santa visits and leaves the gifts. I mean, if Santa's going to leave one gift, is that really a big deal for kids?

@Adira: santa has a budget and also cannot bring live animals (Rowan said she was gonna ask Santa for a real bunny!!)

After black friday, there is a crap load of legos hidden in boxes in the attic closet right now. Santa better gift them during Christmas to my kid.

This is so fascinating to me! We're still trying to figure the whole Santa thing out as this year Ave next year we're not going to be home for actual Christmas morning so I'm not sure what to do. She definitely gets the whole Santa thing this year though so I think Santa will bring her two gifts this year and the rest will be from us.

I think stockings will be a mix of Santa and us, growing up it was always from Santa but my husband's family (like even the extended family) everyone contributes to each person's stocking they aren't a Santa thing so I think we'll meld the two or at least not make a hard and fast rule.

If stockings are from Santa at your house do adults get stockings too?

@Cole: we are not doing adult stockings. It gets tricky and expensive, and is just one more thing to figure out. And because I do most of the Christmas shopping, I'd either have to do my own stocking or be kind of let down...

Santa brings the stuff mom would never agree to!

Seriously, in my mind Santa brings stockings and one or two big things, but until this year, no one wAs really keeping score. This year I think my oldest is old enough to understand and ask who gave what, so we will need to all. E In the same page.