16 Bathroom Ideas For Your Elf on the Shelf

Some people prefer ponds or lakes to fish in. Your elf? Well, they totally like fishing in toilets. Sprinkle a few Goldfish (even Swedish fish or gummy sharks would work well) and sit your elf at the top of the toilet. Attach a long string or ribbon down into the toilet and you’ll have a hilarious scene that will make your kids laugh, hook, line, and sinker.

When you forget to move the elf, here’s a super-fast and easy idea. Stick your elf in the middle of the toilet paper roll, and then pull a few squares down. Write “Jingle bells, your poo smells” and leave the roll on the sink next to the toilet. Your emerging reader will love the early morning message.

For younger kids who love playing peek-a-boo, this is a cute and easy idea. Stack two rolls of TP on top of each other, and then place your elf inside. Then, place a third roll carefully on top, so that your elf is peeking out. You could write “peek-a-boo” on a square or make a sign, or simply leave your elf as is.

All that flying to and from the North Pole nightly can sure make your elf sweaty. So don’t be surprised if your elf decides to take a quick bath before the kids wake up. Fill up your sink (or if you have some extra doll décor lying around, a toy bathtub) with fun edibles, like sprinkles or mini marshmallows, and place your elf inside. It’s sure to give kids some giggles to see their elf taking a bath.

Now you can put that three-pack of toothpaste to good use. Write a short message with toothpaste, either on the mirror, the sink, or the counter. Then place the open tub in-between your elf’s arms so that there’s no confusion as to who wrote the message.

What is it about farting and pooping that gives kids the giggles? Well, score some more potty humor with this simple but effective Elf on the Shelf bathroom idea. Place an unwrapped Hershey Kiss at the bottom of a small, clear bowl or glass and position your elf’s butt so that it looks like they’re, you know, pooping. This can also be done with a couple of chocolate chips — in case your elf is constipated.

When nature calls, you can’t always expect your elf to be able to lift that heavy toilet lid. Set out a small shot glass and fill it with lemonade. Then, lean your elf’s head against the wall (you might have to tape it), and position their hands in front of them to make it look like they got caught in the act.

It was a bumpy ride back to your home, and your elf might have a bruise or two. Take a few Band-Aids and stick them on your elf.

Your elf wants to look their best to greet your child in the morning. And there’s nothing like a clean, close shave to do just that. Using some shaving cream, dab a little bit on your elf to form a beard, and then put a couple of drops on the counter. Stick a covered razor in your elf’s arms to complete the effect.

Your elf is really racking up those nightly frequent flier miles, so it’s understandable that they’re exhausted in the morning. So don’t be surprised if you see your elf snoozing in the tissue box in the bathroom. Take out a few tissues and fold them into a square to form a pillow, and then place your elf inside the box (this works best with a longer, rectangular-shaped tissue box).

Although your elf might be hanging out in the bathroom quite a bit, they still want your child to maintain healthy habits, starting with hand washing. If you don’t have a lot of time, stick your elf on the sink near the hand soap as a gentle reminder to suds up. Hey, your kid might not listen to you, but they might obey your elf.

Forgot to move the elf and your kids are up? Grab the doll and dash to the loo. Unroll a few squares of TP and wrap them around your elf, then place them seated on top of the toilet paper holder. Your tot will laugh seeing their elf all tangled up in toilet paper.

Your elf enjoys their time with Santa’s herd of reindeer, but they’re not the most sanitary bunch — especially that Blitzen. That’s why it might not be a surprise to see your elf getting ready to take a bath. Place your elf on top of a loofah sponge or a washcloth with some soap. If you have time, you can cut a small piece from an old washcloth to fashion a tiny towel and headwrap for your elf, too.

If your elf has to tinkle, too, turn it into a funny Elf on the Shelf bathroom idea. Grab some very yellow lemonade (Gatorade works great for this, too), and pour a small puddle on top of your toilet lid. Then seat your elf next to the spot so it looks like missed the mark — just like your toilet-training toddler.

You’ll need quite a few Q-Tips in order to pull off this sweet bathroom idea — and a steady hand. On your bathroom sink, place two Q-Tips in an X pattern, then place a third one vertically over the X. Finally, lay the last Q-Tip horizontally to form the snowflake. Fashion a few of these snowflakes, and then lay your elf in the middle.

If your elf just couldn’t wait a second later to get their hands on something, anything, to wrap, then pretend they went to town on the toilet. Grab a roll or two of toilet paper, drape it over the seat, and tape down the flaps (no one expects you to be Martha Stewart here). Do the same for the tank if you have enough paper, and top it with a bow if you feel so inclined.