Hand a child a toy, and they will play with it.
Hand a child a toy with a pocket, and they will immediately begin conducting experiments.
What fits?
What does not fit?
Can the toy car sleep in there?
Does the bracelet belong in there?
How many stickers can one plush mouth hold before a grown-up starts asking questions?
This is the charming little world of pocket play.
Our pocket-mouth Nom-Noms were designed around something children already love to do: put important things inside other things. Every Nom-Nom is soft, huggable, and equipped with a roomy pocket mouth for treasures, toys, surprises, and whatever feels extremely significant today.
That last category is broad.
It may include a sparkly hair tie. It may include a plastic dinosaur. It may include a leaf that looks exactly like every other leaf, but is apparently irreplaceable.
Childhood treasure has its own economy.
Why the pocket is part of the play
A pocket gives a child more than a storage space. It gives them a small world they can control.
They decide what goes inside. They decide when it comes out. They can sort, collect, hide, retrieve, carry, and invent a reason why the object is there in the first place.
Early-childhood professionals often describe repeated patterns like filling containers, wrapping objects, carrying collections, and putting things through openings as play schemas. These repeated actions can help children explore ideas such as size, space, capacity, order, and movement.
The American Academy of Pediatrics also emphasizes that play supports cognitive, language, social-emotional, and self-regulation skills. In plain family language, play is serious learning wearing a silly hat.
For a deeper look at the developmental side, link readers to our guide on why children love pockets, containers, and hiding places.
For today, we are answering the practical question.
What can actually go in there?
21 things kids can put in a Nom-Nom
The best pocket treasures are clean, dry, age-appropriate, and approved by a grown-up. Beyond that, the possibilities are delightfully wide.
Storytelling treasures
1. A small animal figure
The animal can be rescued, transported, tucked into bed, or hidden from an imaginary thunderstorm.
2. A toy car
The Nom-Nom becomes a garage, a repair shop, or possibly a creature that has developed a taste for convertibles.
3. A doll accessory
A tiny blanket, safe doll shoe, hat, or purse can inspire a whole story.
4. A paper crown
Fold a simple crown and let the child decide who is being crowned. The Nom-Nom? The child? A very surprised action figure?
5. A pretend ticket
Create a ticket to the zoo, moon, castle, grocery store, or kitchen table. Slip it into the pocket, then begin the trip.
Collecting and sorting treasures
6. Large, age-appropriate building pieces
Choose pieces suitable for your child’s age. Sort by color, shape, or imaginary importance.
7. Fabric squares
Use a few different colors or textures. Children can sort them, name them, or turn them into blankets and capes.
8. Jumbo craft pom-poms
Pick colors, count them, or feed the Nom-Nom a rainbow. Use only appropriately sized materials and supervise young children.
9. Clean nature treasures
A smooth stone, sturdy leaf, or large shell can become part of a child’s collection. Check everything first for sharp edges, dirt, or unexpected tiny passengers.
10. Sticker sheets
The pocket keeps a small sticker supply ready for quiet moments, road trips, or sudden decorating emergencies.
Dress-up and personal treasures
11. A scrunchie
It can be stored, worn by the child, or placed around the Nom-Nom like an award-winning necklace.
12. A friendship bracelet
A bracelet inside a pocket can become a gift, a promise, or part of a pretend ceremony.
13. A fabric ribbon
Ribbon can become a medal, belt, leash for a toy animal, party decoration, or superhero sash.
14. A safe costume accessory
Think soft eye patch, fabric badge, or cloth cape. The Nom-Nom may have a surprisingly full social calendar.
Quiet-time treasures
15. A few crayons
Choose large, washable crayons and add a folded piece of paper for a portable drawing activity.
16. A tiny picture card
Use a printed picture of a pet, family member, favorite place, or cheerful character.
17. A simple matching card
Place one card in the mouth and ask your child to find its match.
18. A puzzle clue
Hide one picture clue that leads to another location in the house. A three-step treasure hunt is plenty. This is a plush toy, not an escape room franchise.
Celebration treasures
19. A wrapped treat
For families who enjoy candy or snack surprises, choose something individually wrapped and grown-up approved. Remove it before bedtime and check the pocket afterward.
20. A paper star or achievement token
Celebrate tying shoes, trying something new, helping a sibling, finishing a book, or showing kindness.
The accomplishment does not have to be enormous. Sometimes getting dressed without becoming distracted by a single sock deserves recognition.
21. A surprise chosen by someone they love
We are saving the full secret-note idea for its own blog, because that deserves room to shine. For now, a grandparent, caregiver, or sibling might choose a small approved treasure and place it inside for the child to discover.
The surprise does not need to be expensive.
The magic is in knowing someone thought of them.
Turn the pocket into a game
A Nom-Nom does not need complicated instructions. That is part of the fun.
Try a few simple prompts:
The mystery feel game: Place one safe object inside. Let your child feel the outside of the pocket and guess what it is before looking.
The color mission: Ask your child to find three blue objects that are safe and small enough for the pocket.
The packing game: Pretend the Nom-Nom is going on a trip. Your child chooses three things it will need and explains each choice.
The sorting challenge: Gather several large, age-appropriate objects. Decide which ones fit, which ones do not, and why.
The story starter: Place one unexpected object in the mouth. Ask, “How did that get there?”
That single question can buy you a surprisingly elaborate tale involving dragons, pancakes, and municipal transportation.
Let their treasures tell you a story
The things children save can offer a small window into what feels interesting or important to them.
A collection of animal figures may become a veterinary hospital.
A bracelet may belong to a superhero team.
A pebble may have come from a walk they enjoyed with Grandma.
You do not need to interpret every object or turn play into a lesson. Simply noticing and responding can create connection.
A child puts something in the pocket.
You ask what it is.
They tell you a story.
You listen.
That warm, responsive back-and-forth is part of what Harvard’s Center on the Developing Child calls “serve and return” interaction.
Sometimes the most meaningful part of the toy is not the treasure inside it. It is the conversation that comes out.
A quick word about safe pocket play
Nom-Noms are labeled for ages 3 and older. Grown-ups should still choose treasures that fit the child’s age and abilities, particularly when small objects are involved.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission advises keeping choking hazards and toys intended for older children away from children under 3.
A few sensible pocket rules:
- Keep out sharp, wet, leaking, sticky, or perishable items.
- Avoid medications, batteries, magnets, coins, and anything that could be mistaken for food.
- Check the pocket before washing the toy.
- Empty old treasures regularly.
- Choose larger objects when younger siblings are nearby.
- Supervise play when small pieces are involved.
The pocket is for play. The grown-up is still the head of Pocket Security.
Nom-Noms, Littles, and Tooth Pillows, what is the difference?
The Tooth Brigade family shares one very useful feature: a pocket mouth.
Nom-Noms are 8-inch plush friends made for everyday treasures, toys, treats, and imaginative play. The collection currently includes monsters, animals, dinosaurs, sea creatures, and plenty of personality.
Littles are smaller clip-on characters that attach to backpacks and bags. Their pocket mouths are ready for approved tiny treasures on the go. Explore the Littles bag charms.
Tooth Pillows use the same beloved pocket-mouth idea to create a special place for lost teeth and Tooth Fairy surprises. Browse the Tooth Fairy pillow collection.
One pocket idea, three different ways to make little moments more fun.
Choose your child’s pocket-powered pal
Kids already love collecting, hiding, carrying, sorting, and making stories out of the smallest things.
Nom-Noms simply give those important little treasures a soft place to land.
A pocket.
A character.
A hundred possible stories.
And, eventually, one mystery crayon you were certain had been missing since Tuesday.
Ready to meet the whole crew? Shop Nom-Noms and choose a pocket-powered pal.