Party Bag Ideas for Kids: What to Put in a Loot Bag

Party bags are the last thing on the list, but they are the first thing kids open in the car. The easiest way to plan is to pick a few small toys that get played with long after the cake is gone. Our party bag fillers are a good place to start, and the formula below makes the sums easy.

The easy party bag formula

Pick one item from each of three groups. It keeps every bag balanced, and it means you never end up with a pile of plastic novelties that no one wants.

• One squeezy toy: a mini squishy or a pop tube.
• One outdoor toy: a bubble wand or a bouncy ball.
• One small extra: a glow ball or a mini water gun.

The formula works because it is flexible. Swap the squeezy toy for a pop tube, the outdoor toy for a flying disc, or the extra for a sticker, and every bag still feels balanced.

Squeezy fillers

Squishies are light and kids swap them for weeks. The durian squishy is an 8cm TPR toy that fits any bag, and our squishy toys come in many other shapes. The pop tube set has 6 tubes per pack, so one pack can be split across several bags.

If you are buying for a mixed group, choose a squeezy toy that is not tied to one gender or one age, such as a fruit or food shape. Neutral shapes mean nobody feels like they got the wrong bag.

Pop tubes are another easy squeezy filler. The 6 pack comes in assorted rainbow colours, and each tube is 2cm wide and 14cm long, so a single pack can be split into a few bags with tubes to spare.

Outdoor fillers

For backyard and summer parties, bubbles and bouncy balls are classics. The fire engine bubble wands come as a 3 pack, and the solid colour bouncing balls come as a 4 pack, so each pack covers several bags. For a splashy surprise, the mini water gun is a compact 12cm toy, and you can see more in our water guns range.

Outdoor fillers also keep guests busy when the party moves outside. A few bubble wands in the backyard can entertain a group for a good while, and bouncing balls are easy to play with on a lawn or a driveway.

Party bag ideas by bag size

Start with the small bag if you have a big guest list, then add one extra item for close friends or the birthday child's siblings.

Choose the size that suits your plans. The number of items matters less than variety, and a small bag with two good toys beats a big bag of filler.

Planning your party bags

Start by counting the guests, then add two spares. Multi-packs make this easy: a 3 pack of bubble wands covers three bags, and a 4 pack of bouncing balls covers four. Check the pack size on the product page before you order so the numbers line up with your guest list.

Order a little early so you have time to sort and pack the bags. Packing them the night before is much less stressful than doing it on the morning of the party.

Party bag themes

• Summer splash: a mini water gun, a bubble wand and a bouncy ball.
• Glow party: a glow in the dark bouncing ball and other glow toys.
• Squishy party: a mini squishy, a pop tube and a sticker.
• Backyard party: bubbles, bouncing balls and a flying disc.

Presenting the bags

Plain paper bags tied with ribbon look good and keep things simple. Write each child's name on a tag so there is no mix-up at the door, and tuck the toys in so the top can be folded closed. Keep small items out of reach of younger children and away from mouths.

Colours and designs are often assorted, so keep every bag the same by choosing the same pack for each guest.