Too many Santas "confuse children," store claims We had complaints from parents saying there were too many, which was confusing for their young children. We don't want to overcrowd the market and of course Father Christmas can only be in one place at one time. She denied that the decision was linked to fears over child safety. However, the founders of the UK's two largest online parenting communities expressed surprise at the decision and said they were unaware of any concerns being raised on the issue. Siobhan Freegard, of Netmums, said the annual visit to see Father Christmas was a "special moment" for children, parents and grandparents alike. She added: "The cynic in me would suggest that the decision to scrap Father Christmas is just a way of saving money. It doesn't really ring true. Kids aren't as cynical as adults, they don't question everything and are unlikely to wonder why they may have seen more than one. We've actually found that if anything, there aren't enough Santas around this year. It's a real shame. Not everyone can get to big stores like Selfridges or Harrods, and it's a great opportunity to stand out, to encourage footfall and attract a bit of customer loyalty. Justine Roberts, of Mumsnet, said their members had never voiced fears that there were too many Santas and that in her experience, there was always a queue to see Father Christmas which suggested that it was incredibly popular. "The only complaints we have on the subject are that grottos appear too early in the year," she said. For the right age group, there is still some excitement around Father Christmas and it's a really nice, exciting outing. Hannah Perry, the owner of Encore Casting which recruits Father Christmas's for stores including Debenhams, said: "We've seen a decrease in demand for Father Christmas's over the last two or three years, particularly for those who sit in shops for several hours a day. Most of our business now involves providing an actor for corporate, one off events. Debenhams must have decided that it is not advantageous to have a Father Christmas in their stores. Although it gets people in the door, there is no guarantee that they'll spend money. It's sad that the tradition has broken. I'm sure it's a cost-cutting issue.