Christmas: Parents share sweet photos of overwhelmed children on Santa's lap

The #SantaFail trend on social media shows kids blowing their big chance to tell Father Christmas what presents they want

Rowan Hayes DeTray, one of the children whose meeting with Santa didn't result in the happy snapshot their parents were hoping for (SWNS)

These endearing pictures show kids who burst into tears in Santa's grotto - including one lad who has cried on every visit for three years.

The images have been shared online by mums and dads whose children have not enjoyed meeting Father Christmas.

While most children delight as they tell Old Saint Nick what they want in their stockings, others have turned on the waterworks.

The images posted with the #Santafail hashtag on Twitter and Instagram, show some of the kids reaching out for their mums and dads to take them away.

Samuel Spencer, pictured as a one-year-old was clearly desperate to escape Santa's clutches. He is now 13 years old but mum Kerry still shares the snap on social media every year.

Samuel, pictured as a baby, attempts the sign language for 'help' (SWNS)

Since it was posted on 5 December, it's gone viral and been retweeted more than 8,000 times with over 30,000 likes.

Kerry, from Maryland, said daughter, Lily, 11, is also “creeped out” by Santa.

Three in a row: Niko pictured on Santa's lap every year since 2015 (Jamie Argiropoulos/SWNS)

One poor boy, Niko Argiropoulos, is pictured crying on the same Santa's lap three years in a row.

The three-year-old from New Jersey will be worried about his next visit to Moorestown Mall.

Dad Jamie said: “Niko loves Santa from afar and he especially loves his Elf on the Shelf, Lollie.”

Dani Meisels from Los Angeles pictured at a gingerbread house party (Jessica Meisels/SWNS)

Dani Meisels, one, looks traumatised as she sits on Santa's lap at a preschool gingerbread house party in Los Angeles.

Santa, on the other hand, looks like he has fallen asleep.

Her mum Jessica wrote: “It's official - She's not that into Santa. I think Santa is just as over her.”

SWNS