stocking presents for 17 month old boy?

[babymango]

Stockings are a strong tradition in my husband's family. Each year, we have problems with stocking: either they contain mostly cheap crap, or they cost a crazy amount of money to fill up.
This is the first year DS is getting a stocking and DH is all excited about it. Im not (Im the one who has to put it together, not DH!). I have no idea what to put in there. DS doesnt eat candies yet, so that's out. I don't really see the point of putting useful things in there, DS is NOT going to be excited when he unwraps a pair of socks. If he needs new socks, I'll put them directly in his dresser, no need to pretend they're a present, it's not like he'd fall for it!
The only things I came up with so far are a small bottle of bubble solution, a small book and an egg shaker.
Ideally, I'd like to come up with 5-6 more things that would keep my stocking budget under $30
Suggestions?

[OkiMom]

Cars? Felt food/vehicles? Bean bags?
Can you sew? A small roll up car mat would be good with some cars.. A crayon wallet and coloring book?
Finger paint is a hit with mine starting around 12ish months, so is crayons, coloring books, chalk etc. Color wonders would be good too if you are worried about him making a mess.
Bubble bath is a treat here so each girl(there is only one guy in the house right now, DH) gets a bottle in their stocking.
Dry fruit- its crazy expensive here but the girls love it so it will be their "candy" this year.
small instruments? maracas come to mind, you can get a pair of wooden ones for not to horribly expensive.
Books are another favorite with my girls.

[carmel23]

I usually spend the whole year collecting little things for stockings. First I start with practical things, tooth brushes, dental floss, special shampoo, etc.

My kids absolutely get excited about these things! Because they are not just typical toothbrushes, but from St. Nicolas!

Everything can be special. It just depends on how you look at it. How about a special shirt rolled up or slippers?

Then a little notebook, pens, pencils, etc. My toddler is 10 months-old, and will be 1 at Christmas, so he will receive block crayons, play dough, And a wooden carved animal.

And then we make felt snow flakes, maybe a tin of special chocolate (not crap, but really lovely chocolate ). There is always an orange in there, too.

[Marissamom]

DD is going to be getting crayons and markers in her stocking this year (she'll be 19 months at Christmas). last year we filled most of the space with a set of blocks. DD loves hats, so we might look for a hat to go in there, and I think maybe a couple of bath toys (she's obsessed with ducks)

[crunchy_mommy]

I LOVE STOCKINGS! This year 21-mo DS is getting a whole bunch of Animalz (little wooden animal figures that I found on clearance for $2 each). We do a 12 Days of Christmas stocking but I only have 11 Animalz lol so I'll throw in something else, not sure what yet!

Other ideas:
Crayons, markers
Non-candy treats (homemade cookies, healthy snack-packs of crackers/pretzels/dried fruit, clementines, etc.)
Bubbles
Bath crayons, bath toys
Stickers (DS LOVES stickers lately!)
Stamps with built-in ink (easier & less messy than a separate ink pad)
Small cars
Playdough
Small board books
Toy kitchen utensils or cute kid-sized flatware
Hat/gloves

My DS would get quite excited about socks actually...

[AKislandgirl]

bubble bath
rubber ducky
cars and trucks
art supplies (crayons, markers, paints, note pad...)
play dough and new cookie cutters or dough tools
art smock/cooking smock
pomegranite (we always got that when I was little!)
socks and underwear are a tradition here
music CD
small stuffed animal or finger puppets
schleich animals

I love stockings!

[tzs]

we always did st nick when i was little (yeah i know....i'm jewish...) and we mainly got fresh fruit. but it was special really huge fruit. HUGE apples and oranges that came from a more gourmet store so we never got it during the year. then a little chocolate and a small toy.