It can be so fun to buy gifts for children…especially toys. You can see by heading down any toy aisle at the store that there are lots of options for gift ideas for toddlers.
But in my experience, not many of these toys actually get played with for very long. Some have lots of bells and whistles but don’t hold a toddler’s interest. And some are just plain annoying.
I have six kiddos, the youngest of which is a toddler (almost 2 years old). So I have plenty of knowledge on what actually are the best gift ideas for toddlers.
Spoiler alert: It’s not usually the battery-powered toys. In fact, some of the best gifts for toddlers aren’t actually toys! Simple, practical items that will be used regularly will make both toddlers and parents happy.
As for toys, the best toys for toddlers are age-appropriate, open-ended ones that allow for imaginative play. Just trust me on this one!
Best Gifts for Toddlers
The best gifts for toddlers are ones that they will actually use. Bonus points if they don’t drive their parents or caregivers crazy. Here’s our list of best bets.
1. Soft Books
Soft books are great for toddlers because they’re virtually indestructible…not to mention quiet and portable!
Books like this Melissa & Doug activity book are great for keeping in the diaper bag or car to help your toddler stay occupied while you’re out and about.
Plus, the different activities on the pages will keep your little one entertained with the buttoning, buckling, peek-a-boo, and counting fun.
Recommended age: 1 month – 2 years
2. Coloring Books
Toddlers don’t quite have the mobile dexterity or the patience to sit down and color like older kids do, but they do like to scribble.
This simple coloring book gives your toddler an appropriate surface to scribble on and has simple illustrations paired with words so your child can learn while playing.
Recommended age: 1 – 3 years
3. Water Table
Little ones love to splash! Gift your toddler an awesome water table for your deck, patio, or yard during the warmer months.
A small water table like this Little Tikes Fish ‘n Splash Water Table is a great option for toddlers as it stands at the perfect height for them and contains some fun toys, too.
Recommended age: 24 months – 5 years
Check out our post on the Best Toddler Water Tables for even more options!
4. Shopping Cart
I don’t know what it is about shopping carts and doll strollers, but toddlers are obsessed with pushing things around!
This Little Tikes Shopping Cart is a great gift idea for toddlers because they can safely push it around the house and load their favorite treasures inside while pretending to be their favorite grownup at the store.
It’s solid and sturdy, but still lightweight. And your toddler’s favorite doll can sit in the front seat!
Recommended age: 24 months – 5 years
5. Bubbles
Toddlers love bubbles, but those darn bottles are so easy to knock over and spill, am I right? Grab a Fubbles No-Spill Big Bubble Bucket and your bubble solution spilling days are over!
Now, your toddler is probably too little to blow bubbles by himself, but at least when you’re blowing bubbles for him, you won’t have to worry about a wayward hand or foot knocking the bottle over.
The bucket comes with three wands, and you can refill it with more bubble solution as needed.
Recommended age: 36 months – 15 years
6. Sidewalk Chalk
Crayola Washable Sidewalk Chalk Set
- CRAYOLA SIDEWALK CHALK: Features 72 Crayola Chalk Sticks in 48 unique colors!
- OUTDOOR TOYS: Screen time is great, but sunshine is better! This sidewalk chalk set makes a great gift for girls and boys.
Sure, your little Picasso won’t be able to draw much of anything that resembles, well…anything as a toddler, but they will still love scribbling outside with sidewalk chalk.
Sidewalk chalk is a great gift for toddlers (and their parents) since it’s consumable.
This particular set is a good one because it has an anti-roll shape, so you don’t need to worry about the chalk taking a tumble down the driveway and rolling down to the street.
Recommended age: 24 months – 8 years
7. Toy Cars
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Melissa & Doug K’s Kids Pull-Back Vehicle Set
- INCLUDES 4 SOFT VEHICLES: The Melissa & Doug Pull-Back Vehicles set for babies and toddlers includes 4 safe, soft vehicles…
- EASY TO USE: The rev-up mechanism inside each vehicle makes it easy for babies and toddlers to get big acceleration with little…
My son is almost two years old, and right now he is absolutely enamored with all things with wheels. He tends to get into his older brother’s Hot Wheels collection, but really anything that he can hold and push is fair game.
This sweet Melissa & Doug vehicle set is perfect for toddlers because the bodies are soft. They also include a rev-up mechanism inside which your toddler can pull back and then release to see the vehicles take off.
Recommended age: 9 months – 4 years
8. Bath Toys
Skip Hop Zoo Stack & Pour Buckets
- Our friendly-faced nesting buckets feature three different sprinkle effects for bath time fun. Perfectly sized for little hands,…
- Kids can drain water in a variety of ways, then stack and store when bath time’s done. Your child will love to soak up fun with…
I’ve tried so many different kinds of bath toys to keep my toddlers occupied in the tub. And really, just about anything waterproof can be tossed in the tub.
But I want to offer a word of caution about those oh-so-cute squeeze and squirt bath toys. Water easily collects inside the holes in them and can lead to really gross mildew that shoots out at inopportune moments.
I much prefer completely open bath toys that are easy to clean and won’t collect any yucky stuff inside. This set of 5 small buckets is perfect for your toddler’s bath, and they stack inside each other for compact storage.
Recommended age: 9 months and up
9. Pop-Up Tunnel
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PigPigPen Pop Up Play Tunnel
- Fun and Exciting Play Tunnel：Kids love to crawl, chase, and play in toddler tunnel. This sturdy outdoor kids toys can curl…
- Safe and Durable：Designed with safety in mind, the kid friendly features include: round corners, durable stitching and safe…
Even if your toddler is walking, they’ll still want to crawl through a pop-up tunnel like this one. Pop-up tunnels are one of the best toddler gifts because they can be taken indoors or outdoors and can be folded up.
What I like about this particular tunnel is that it’s easy to assemble, bendable, and portable. It comes with its own carry case so you can bring it along on playdates if you want.
The manufacturer-recommended age doesn’t quite fit this product, in my opinion. Just be sure – as always! – that you’re properly supervising your little one.
Recommended age: 3 years and up
10. Wooden Blocks
Wooden blocks are a classic for a reason – they encourage open-ended play and will last!
Your toddler can start by stacking the blocks on top of each other and then knocking them down, eventually building up to larger structures.
I like this set by Hape more than others I’ve seen because the set is designed for little hands. It also isn’t a huge set and can be stored in the included canvas bag.
Recommended age: 12 months – 3 years
11. Step Stool
OXO Tot Step Stool
- Gives little ones a 7″ boost
- Surface features non-slip pattern to keep little feet from slipping
Sometimes the best gift for a toddler is not a toy! Your favorite toddler will get plenty of use out of a simple step stool as they can use it to climb up on the potty, wash their hands, or just see what’s going on.
This OXO Tot Step Stool is great because it’s made of plastic (a must-have for damp bathrooms) and features a non-slip grip pattern on the top as well as a non-slip base. Built-in handles let you easily move it around.
Recommended age: N/A
12. Play Purse
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Melissa & Doug Pretty Purse Fill and Spill Toddler Toy
- Translucent handbag with soft accessories makes an irresistible dump-out, fill-it-up activity
- Includes mobile phone that chimes, key ring with four removable keys, coin purse with four countable coins and a compact with…
Pretend play starts early, as your toddler wants to copy what they see their parents doing. A play purse with all sorts of fun accessories is a great choice for a gift your toddler will love.
This Melissa & Doug purse is designed specifically for toddlers with soft accessories that fit inside a translucent bag. The fabrics are machine-washable, too!
Recommended age: 18 months – 3 years
13. Riding Toys
Little Tikes Push & Ride Racer
- A riding toy and walker in one. Toddlers can ride themselves or use kid-sized push bar as a push toy or car
- Use this durable, kid powered, foot to floor ride on indoors or outdoors
I knew it was time to spring for a riding toy for my toddler when he started climbing on top of his toy bus and trying to ride it around the house.
There are lots of options for riding toys, many with lots of bells and whistles, but I prefer the simple, classic design of this Little Tikes Push & Ride Racer.
The low seat makes it easy for your toddler to climb off and on, and the high back and sturdy handles provide for a steady ride.
Recommended age: 9 months – 3 years
RELATED: 9 Best Tricycles for Toddlers
14. Pajamas
Toddlers can never have too many pajamas, especially when they’re so cute! All-in-one styles are popular for babies, but as your child gets a little older, you’ll probably want to move them toward 2-piece sets.
Two-piece pajama sets make for easier diaper changes (and potty training when the time comes).
I love Burt’s Bees pajamas for my little guy. Their sets are made of 100% organic cotton and are super soft, not to mention super cute!
Recommended age: N/A
15. Large Crayons
Crayola My First Washable Tripod Grip Crayons
- TODDLER CRAYONS: Featured in this set are 8 Triangular Crayons for Toddlers in Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Purple, White,…
- UNIQUE ART TOOL: The shape of Triangle Crayons promotes a proper writing grip and prevents them from rolling off tables and desks
Once your child isn’t sticking everything in his mouth anymore, you can start introducing crayons as a fun scribble/doodle tool.
The best crayons for toddlers are larger, with a triangular design to make them easier to grip and less likely to roll off a table or desk. As a bonus, this Crayola set of crayons is also washable!
Recommended age: 24 months and up
16. Baby Dolls
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Manhattan Toy Baby Stella Doll
- 15 INCH BABY DOLL: Baby Stella Blonde features a full head of blonde hair, pink hair ribbon and a heart patterned onesie with a…
- BABY’S FIRST FRIEND: Baby Stella dolls all feature magnetic pacifiers, life-like toes, fingers and belly button, perfectly plump…
It may seem a little funny that toddlers like to play with baby dolls, especially since they were just babies themselves. But trust me, they love baby dolls!
The baby dolls from Manhattan Toy have been a favorite of my toddlers over the years. They’re totally soft, so your toddler can’t bonk someone with a hard plastic baby doll head or hand.
Choose from many different configurations, including gender, skin color, and hair color. They’re all so cute!
Recommended age: 12 months – 6 years
17. Silicone Placemats
Sometimes the best gifts for toddlers are practical ones that will actually get some use. Everyone loves to give toys, but I guarantee that parents appreciate non-toy gifts, too!
Silicone placemats are a must-have for when you’re eating out with your toddler. Simply pull one out of your diaper bag and place it at your toddler’s spot on the table. Voila – your toddler is ready to eat!
When finished, just roll it up and clean it at home. These placemats are BPA-free and dishwasher-safe.
Recommended age: N/A
18. LEGO Duplo
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LEGO Duplo Classic Brick Box
- Share fun and learning with your toddler as they build cute colorful models and imagine their own creations with bright,…
- As they create and play with this versatile mix of LEGO DUPLO bricks and pieces, your little builder will develop creative…
Once your toddler is ready to do some building, it’s time to get them some LEGO Duplo bricks! There are lots of choices for different themed sets, but my favorites are the classic sets that allow for open-ended play.
This 65-piece set has just enough pieces to build a variety of different structures with your toddler, but not so many that they take forever to pick up. Plus, it comes with its own storage box!
Recommended age: 18 months and up
19. Puzzles
Melissa & Doug Wooden Chunky Puzzle
- 8-PIECE WOODEN PUZZLE: The Melissa & Doug Farm Chunky Puzzle features 8 pieces of durable and easy-to-grasp wood that display…
- CHUNKY WOODEN PIECES: The design of the chunky wooden pieces ensures kids can easily grasp and negotiate them, and they display…
Your toddler won’t be putting together a 500-piece puzzle anytime soon, but they can get started with simple puzzles designed just for tykes.
These wooden chunky puzzles from Melissa & Doug are designed for toddlers’ hands and come in lots of fun themes. The pictures underneath each piece help guide your toddler to find just the right spot for each one.
Recommended age: 24 months – 4 years
20. Snack Holders
Munchkin Snack Catchers 2-Pack
- Spill proof toddler snack container with soft flaps for easy food access
- Fits most standard cup holders in cars, car seats, strollers, etc.
Toddlers are always up for a snack, but they’re not the greatest at keeping things tidy. These snack catchers are designed to contain small items like crackers and Cheerios without the mess.
Your toddler can still reach their hand inside to grab a snack, but dumping everything out is a little more complicated.
Recommended age: N/A
21. Water Toys
SplashEZ Splash Pad
- MAKE LEARNING A BLAST – Time for a splish-splashin’ bash in SplashEZ’s educational water splash pad! Created by loving…
- “TAKE A DIP IN ONE COOL POOL – Get relief from the heat with the SplashEZ inflatable pool for children 12 months or older….
A trip to the pool or the splash pad isn’t always possible…but you can still have some splish splashy fun at home with water toys!
This SplashEZ Splash Pad easily hooks up to a standard hose. The water inflates the bottom and edge of the pool, and the rim shoots water upwards and into the shallow pool. Super fun for little ones!
For more ideas, check out our list of the 9 Best Backyard Water Toys for kids of all ages.
Recommended age: 12 months and up
22. Doodle Board
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My First Crayola Double Doodle Board
- DOUBLE DOODLE BOARD: Features 1 Double Sided Doodle Board and 3 Washable Crayola Crayons for mess free, creative fun!
- TODDLER TOY: One side features a sealed gel surface for mess free doodling while the other side has a reusable drawing surface for…
Doodle boards are a great way to let your toddler scribble without making a huge mess. Plus, they’re reusable, so you won’t have to toss out pages and pages worth of paper.
This My First Crayola Double Doodle Board offers two options for doodling. One side has a sealed gel surface, while the other side has a reusable drawing surface with three included washable crayons.
Recommended age: 24 months – 10 years
23. Scavenger Hunt Cards
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Mollybee Kids Toddler Scavenger Hunt Cards
- Toddler Time: A perfect first game for little ones! Toddler Scavenger Hunt cards contain 20 double-sided sturdy cards that provide…
- Indoor Fun: Rainy day? No problem! These easy-to-use cards give toddlers the tools to discover everyday objects in their home and…
Do you ever just run out of ideas for things to do with your toddler at home? I think these scavenger hunt cards are genius!
This set has thick, easy-to-clean cards fastened with a sturdy plastic ring. Each card offers a prompt for something that your toddler can find around the house (sock, button, crayon, etc.).
What a great way to get your toddler up and moving around the house! Plus, you’re developing vocabulary with your child…and you don’t need to leave the couch if you don’t want to. 🙂
Recommended age: 24 months and up
24. Sand Toys
Hape Beach Toy Essential Set
- FIRST BEACH SAND PLAYSET: A great selection for your little one’s first outdoor play date and introduction to the world of sand…
- OUTDOOR TOY: Great for playing with sand at the beach or digging around in the backyard
Sand toys aren’t just for the beach…you’ll want to bring them to the park, too! Once your child is past the point of putting sand in his mouth, he’ll be ready to scoop, carry, dump, and mold to his heart’s content.
This playset includes a mesh bag with backpack straps for easy transport. It’s also designed with gentle, rounded corners and a smooth, soft finish for little hands.
Recommended age: 18 months and up
25. Bilibo
MOLUK Bilibo
- Deceptively simple, elegantly shaped and magically attractive, the Bilibo inspires creative, imaginative, limitless play for boys…
- The iconic shell shape and bright colors are immediately appealing, arousing curiosity, intrigue and commanding immediate…
It’s hard to describe exactly what a Bilibo is…and that’s kind of the point. A Bilibo is designed for children to figure out what it is.
The Bilibo has a plastic shell shape and comes in bright colors. Your toddler can turn it into a rocking chair, a top, a cradle, a turtle shell – whatever they want!
Recommended age: 24 months and up
(26. A Box)
My husband encouraged me to add this one to the list. Despite your best efforts to pick an awesome toddler gift, you may find that your toddler just wants to play with the box it came in.
And that’s OK. After all, a box encourages creativity and imagination…and it won’t clutter up your home! Just break it down and recycle it once your toddler has moved on to the next big fun thing. It won’t take long. 🙂
PS – Be Active Kids has a great list HERE of 50 Cool Things to Do with a Cardboard Box.
Summary
Hopefully, these gift ideas for toddlers gave you some inspiration for adding to your child’s wish list or for buying for your favorite little one.
Children’s interests can vary greatly, but this toddler gift guide should help you find the perfect present for an upcoming birthday, holiday, or just because.
