If you have spotted a tiny elf nestled inside a glittering flower and wondered what on earth you were looking at, you have met a Frost Pip™.
Frost Pips are Santa’s official elf babies, the smallest and youngest friends in the Santaverse®. They bloom from magical frost flowers near North Pole City Center and, unlike Scout Elves, they can be held, cuddled and included in family play throughout the year.
From their shimmering flower homes to their musical talents and future North Pole adventures, here is everything UK families need to know about these enchanting little arrivals.
What are Frost Pips? Frost Pips are Santa’s official elf babies. These tiny North Pole elves bloom from magical frost flowers and can be cuddled, carried and cared for by children. Each Frost Pip arrives with its own flower cradle, whose magical nectar helps keep the little elf protected and nourished.
What Are Frost Pips?
Frost Pips are the smallest and youngest of Santa’s North Pole elves. Known for their playful spirit and captivating charm, they arrive nestled inside their own magical frost flowers, ready for cuddles, lullabies and imaginative family adventures.
Frost Pips are part of the Santaverse, the enchanted storytelling world that is also home to The Elf on the Shelf®, Elf Pets®, Elf Mates®, Noorah®, SnoBiggie™ and many more of Santa’s trusted friends.
Three Things That Make Frost Pips Special
- They bloom rather than being born. Each Frost Pip rests inside a frost flower until the day it emerges from the petals with bright, curious eyes.
- They can be cuddled. Santa has given children special permission to hold, carry and gently play with their Frost Pips.
- They may become Scout Elves. With love, care and nourishment from their frost flowers, these little elves may one day become Santa’s official Scout Elf helpers.
A magical beginning
Where Do Frost Pips Come From?
Just outside North Pole City Center lies a snowy field beneath the twinkling night sky. Shimmering ribbons of ice curl into frost flowers of every size, sparkling in bright greens, beautiful pinks and countless shades of blue.
Each flower reflects one of the magical colours found in the Northern Lights. Tucked inside, a baby elf sleeps peacefully while the flower’s magical nectar provides the warmth and nourishment it needs.
When the time is right, the Frost Pip blooms from the flower’s petals and opens its eyes to the wonders of the North Pole. It is a magical answer to one of those wonderfully curious questions children often ask: where do Santa’s elves come from?
Families can discover more of the ancient stories and remarkable creatures of Santa’s world in The Rise of Nicholas the Noble by Chanda A. Bell.
Can Children Touch Frost Pips?
Yes. Frost Pips are made for gentle cuddles, care and imaginative play.
A Scout Elf™ from The Elf on the Shelf Christmas tradition should not be touched once named because doing so may affect their Christmas magic. Frost Pips have a different kind of North Pole magic and special permission from Santa to be held and loved.
Each Frost Pip arrives with a frost flower home filled with magical nectar. Returning the little elf to its flower at night helps keep it protected, nourished and ready for another day of family adventures.
Scout Elves
- Visit during the Christmas season
- Fly to the North Pole each night
- Land in a new spot the following morning
- Should not be touched once named
Frost Pips
- Can remain with families all year
- Can be held and gently cuddled
- Rest inside their frost flower homes
- May grow up to become Scout Elves
Tiny elves, big personalities
What Are Frost Pips Like?
Frost Pips have plenty in common with the youngest members of human families. They sleep for many hours each day, but when they are awake, they are ready to cuddle, coo and play.
Santa’s elves say that pips can slurp, burp and cry just like other babies. Everyone at the North Pole helps to care for them, including Scout Elves and Elf Mates, who make sure the little pips receive plenty of attention and never miss a bottle.
Frost Pips also have an extraordinary connection to music. Most learn to hum and sing before they can speak, with Mrs. Claus serving as their music teacher. When a group of Frost Pips begins to sing, the North Pole grows quiet so everyone can stop and listen.
Can Frost Pips Stay All Year?
Yes. Santa gives children permission to love and care for Frost Pips throughout the year. They do not fly to the North Pole each night as Scout Elves do, so they can remain part of family life long after the Christmas decorations have been packed away.
A Frost Pip might join a bedtime story, travel on a family holiday, sit beside a child during a rainy afternoon or take part in imaginative games. Returning the pip to its frost flower each night gives it time to rest and enjoy the magical nectar that keeps it safe and nourished.
Elf babies take a very long time to grow, sometimes twenty years or more, so there is no need to hurry. Families have plenty of time for cuddles, lullabies, stories and adventures before a Frost Pip is ready for its next North Pole chapter.
When Santa knows a pip is ready, it may return to the North Pole to begin training at Scout Elf School and eventually become one of his official reporting Scout Elf helpers.
Explore our guide to Santa’s North Pole helpers to see how Scout Elves, Elf Pets, Elf Mates and other Santaverse friends each contribute to Christmas magic.
Welcome a little bloom
How Do You Welcome a Frost Pip into Your Family?
Frost Pips can bring a little extra North Pole magic to meaningful family moments, from welcoming a new sibling to beginning a playful year-round tradition.
Some families welcome a pip to represent each child, while others choose one when celebrating the arrival of a new brother or sister.
A Scout Elf may leave a Frost Pip surprise, create a tiny baby-shower scene or introduce a new arrival through a playful North Pole nursery.
However your pip lands, the most important ingredients are love, gentle care, plenty of imaginative play and a return to its frost flower each night.
Caring for Your Frost Pip
- Handle your Frost Pip gently during cuddles and play.
- Return it to its frost flower home each night.
- Keep the pip and flower clean, dry and securely stored.
- Keep all pieces away from open flames and hot surfaces.
- Avoid water, household chemicals, sharp objects and exposed bulbs.
- Supervise younger children around small accessories and removable pieces.
A Tiny North Pole Friend to Love All Year
Frost Pips may be the smallest members of Santa’s magical world, but their story is filled with wonder. They bloom from glittering frost flowers, sing before they can speak and may one day grow into official Scout Elf helpers.
Most importantly, they are little companions children can hold, care for and include in imaginative play throughout every season. With a cosy frost flower to call home and plenty of family love, a Frost Pip can bring a new kind of North Pole magic into everyday moments.
Looking for more ways to enjoy Santa’s smallest friends? Explore the latest official Elf Ideas and discover playful inspiration from across the North Pole.