How to get Santa to call your child this year
The most magical way to get a call from Santa is a Santa call-back: you tell your child "Santa called while you were out and asked you to call him back", hand them the phone, and they dial the North Pole. With CallSanta, Santa answers by name, already knows their wish and a recent good deed, and has a real two-way conversation. Scheduled calls that ring your phone also exist, but most play a recording and you can miss them.
"How do I get Santa to call my son?" is one of the most common questions parents ask in December. There are a few ways to do it. The one kids remember most is the one where they get to pick up the phone and talk to Santa themselves, and he knows exactly who they are.
Your options
| Option | How it works | Santa talks back? | Knows real details? | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scheduled call to your phone | A service rings your phone at a time you pick and plays a message | Usually no | Name and a few fields | You miss it, or your phone silences the unknown number |
| Local volunteer Santa | A parks or library program calls on set December evenings | Yes | From a form | Limited spots; you must be home in the window |
| Live video visit | A costumed Santa joins a booked video call | Yes | Whatever you send | Booked slots, usually the priciest |
| Santa call-back (CallSanta) | You say "Santa called, call him back!" and your child dials the North Pole | Yes, the whole call | Name, age, wish, good deed and anything you add | None: it happens when you're ready |
Why the best Santa calls have your child call him back
- You never miss Santa. No waiting by the phone in a time window, no call landing during bath time.
- Your phone won't block him. Many phones silence unknown numbers or label them as spam. A call your child makes always connects.
- The camera is ready. You pick the moment, so you can film their face when Santa says their name.
- Dialing the North Pole is part of the magic. Kids love pressing the buttons themselves.
- Santa knows the good stuff. You tell him the wish, a good deed and anything else first, so the "how did he know?!" moment is real.
How to set up a Santa call-back
- Tell Santa about your child. First name, age, Christmas wish, a recent good deed, plus a pet, a sibling or a worry if you like. About two minutes. See 40 ideas for what to tell Santa.
- Get your North Pole number by email and text within seconds, with a short code.
- Set the scene with one of the tricks below.
- Hand over the phone. Enter the code, put it on speaker and let your child say hello. Santa answers by name and takes it from there.
Tricks that make it feel like Santa called first
- Save the number as "Santa Claus" in your contacts, with a Santa photo. When your child dials, his name lights up the screen.
- The missed-call note. Stick a note on the fridge: "Missed call from Santa. He asked Emma to call back before bedtime."
- The elf delivery. If an elf visits your house in December, have it turn up one morning holding a card with the North Pole number.
- The voicemail story. "Santa called while you were at school. He said he has a question about your list!"
- Christmas Eve check-in. "Santa rang to say the sleigh is nearly packed. Quick, call him back before he leaves!" More in a Christmas Eve call with Santa.
What happens when they call
SantaHo ho ho! Is this my friend Emma? Thank you for calling me back! I was hoping I'd catch you before bedtime.
Emma, 6Hi Santa! You called me?
SantaI did! I had my Big Red Book open to your page. My elves tell me you've been dreaming about a puppy-shaped backpack. Is that still your number one wish?
An example of how a call can start. Tell Santa in your notes that it's a call-back and he'll play along.
From there it's a real conversation: Santa asks questions, answers theirs and praises the good deed you shared. Here's a full call, minute by minute.
Questions parents ask
Can Santa call my child directly?
Some services ring your phone at a scheduled time, usually with a pre-recorded message. With CallSanta your child calls Santa instead, which means no missed calls, no unknown number being silenced by your phone, and the camera ready at the right moment. Many parents tell their child "Santa called for you, call him back!" so it still feels like Santa reached out first.
What's the best way to get a call from Santa for my kid?
Pick a call where Santa talks back and knows real details. With CallSanta you share your child's name, age, wish and a good deed, then your child dials a North Pole number from any phone and Santa holds a live conversation using those details.
How do I make it look like Santa called?
Save the North Pole number in your phone as "Santa Claus" so his name shows up on the screen, leave a "Missed call from Santa: please call back" note on the fridge, or have your family's elf deliver the number in its arms.
Can Santa call my child on Christmas Eve?
Yes, as a call-back. Order any time, even on December 24, and tell your child Santa rang to check in before his sleigh leaves. The Keepsake plan includes a Christmas Eve call on top of the first call.
Does it cost anything to call Santa back?
It's a normal phone call to a US number. The CallSanta call itself is $29, $49 or $79 one time, depending on the plan.
Let them call the North Pole
Two minutes to set up. Santa will already know their name.
Set up their call · from $29