Parents Will Love These Great Toddler Gifts Just as Much as their Kids

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If you've spent any time around a toddler you won't be surprised to find out they're not the easiest demographic to shop for. One minute they can't get enough of the show Bluey and the next minute they sob any time it comes on TV. They specifically request a grilled cheese for lunch and then toss it right on the floor when you bring it to them. Let's just say they can be tough to figure out.

And sure, finding a gift for grandpa or the teens in your life may present a challenge too, but finding a gift a toddler will love? That's as easy as getting them down for a nap or convincing them to try a food they've never seen before.

Toddlers, or kids around one to three years old, do tend to love tactile objects they can stack and sort, soft things to cuddle, gyms and playsets they can crawl all over, and anything that will make them more mobile than they already are. But what to get the particular toddler or the toddler who has everything? We've got a few ideas.

Ahead of the holiday season, we've road-tested toys, read all the reviews, and are ready to recommend the best of the best. These are hands-down the greatest toys and gifts for toddlers, whether they love dolls, dinos, or drawing.

Looking for even more great gift ideas? Here's where to start:

• Best Gifts for 2-Year-Olds

• Best Gifts for 4-Year-Olds

• Best New Toys of 2023

• Google's Most-Searched Gifts of 2023

Little Helper's Shopping Cart

Turn their home into a grocery store with this tiny plastic shopping cart. (Just be aware they will put absolutley everything they can find into the basket, including car keys and wallets.)

Animal Parade Blocks

The great thing about these blocks is that while toddlers can play with them and stack them any way they choose, they do actually form specific animal shapes as well.

Pop-up Play Mat

KiwiCo has tons of toys for toddlers, but we're partial to this pop-up play mat because it easily packs up to go anywhere — including grandma or grandpa's house.

Elmo Bath Toy

Make bath time more fun with a light-up Elmo. Simply attach one of the six glow cubes to the back of Elmo's head and watch him glow the second he comes into contact with water. (And if Elmo isn't their jam, there are tons of other options.)

Mickey's & Minnie's Cloud Home

Playmobil has some fantastic collaborations with Disney, including this seesaw-like set in the shape of a rainbow and cloud.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar: Craft and Play Pictures

Toddlers aren't quite ready for glue, which makes this crafting toy ideal for their developmental stage. They simply fit the pom-poms in the pre-cut holes to create a masterpiece — genius.

Bluey Pajama Set

These PJs are perfect for the kid whose favorite Bluey episode is "Keepy Uppy."

Personalized Search-And-Find 'World Trip’ Book

Personalized books are all the rage right now. What kid wouldn't get a kick out of seeing themselves as the hero of their own bedtime story?

Toniebox Audio Player Starter Set

Haven't heard of Tonies? This uber-popular toy reads and sings to kids via physical characters placed on top of a box. Playtime Puppy comes with this starter set, but you might want to load up on a few more Tonies as stocking stuffers.

Little People Light-Up Learning Garage

This "Smart Stages" toy may seem advanced, but it's designed to entertain kids starting at just 12 months. There are three different stages that you can switch up as they grow to keep them engaged.

Plush Sloth

If bedtime is a struggle, check out Warmies. They make microwavable stuffies in all shapes and sizes that will safely keep kids cozy in their cribs. (You could also go the extra mile with matching pajamas!)

Little People Barbie Dream Plane

If Barbie's full-size dream plane is a little too advanced for your kid, consider this version that's better suited to toddlers. They'll love playing pretend with these little figurines.

First Words Tot Tower

Let them stack blocks as high as they are with this cool set from eeBoo, a woman-owned brand that makes toys and games.

Construction Plate & Utensils

Toddlers are in that stage between using their fingers to eat and learning how to hold forks. This themed dinnertime set will make that transition fun.

Twirl Shortie Romper

Ready Set Romper makes cute outfits and pajamas with easy-open fronts, perfect for toddlers who still need diaper changes.

Classic Toy

Mr. Potato Head has never gone out of style, and for good reason. This starter kit comes with 13 pieces your toddler can rearrange any way they like.

Magnetic Tiles

Magnetic tiles are one of the easiest ways to keep toddlers engaged and focused on an activity. This pack comes with 40 pieces, a perfect start to their collection.

Light-Up Learning Vacuum

It's around the toddler age that kids start wanting to replicate what their parents are doing. They may not be able to push a real vacuum yet, but this one is more fun anyway.

Wooden Train Cars

Melissa & Doug is a staple brand for the toddler set. Their wooden train set is fun on its own, but you can also go the extra mile (pun intended) and include a tabletop track.

3-in-1 Daniel Tiger Ride-on Scooter

This Daniel Tiger toy is more than meets the eye. It starts as a wagon to help with early walking, then can be used as a ride-on toy before finally transforming into a scooter. And as an added bonus it looks like every toddler's favorite tiger!

Wooden Toy Personalized Bowling Set

They may be slightly young to understand the intricacies of a strikes, spares, and gutter balls, but toddlers do love knocking things over, so this bowling set is great gift.

Cruiser Plus Toddler Sneakers

Perfect for toddlers who are just learning to walk, these high-quality velcro sneakers stay on all day and have the added bonus of being washable.

Push & Pop Bulldozer

Toddlers can drop and pop colorful balls with this fun bulldozer from VTech. With thousands of five-star reviews on Amazon, it's no wonder it's a bestseller.

Starter Set

Play-Doh time starts at age three! This toddler-friendly option is a great place to start before they move onto more complex kits.

Never Touch a Porcupine! Board Book

Whether the toddler you're shopping for is into polar bears, porcupines, or grumpy elves, the Never Touch a... book series has the touch-and-feel book for them.

2-Sided Art Easel

Encourage art time with a toddler-friendly easel. This one comes with a chalkboard and a magnetic whiteboard, in addition to a roll of paper, spill-proof paint cups, and storage bins.

See ‘n Say The Farmer Says

Who else gets overcome with nostalgia just looking at a See 'n Say? These classic toys are still one of the most popular tools for early language and recognition skills.

Toy Doctor Kit for Toddlers

For those who are on the older side of the toddler spectrum — ages three and up — try a doctor kit. This is especially fun for kids who have pets (or siblings) to gently poke and prod.

Sweet Cloud Beanie Hat

Need a gift for a tot in a cooler climate? This beanie — which also comes in a sunshine version — has sizes for kids anywhere between six months and eight years.

Water Doodle Mat

Why bother with potentially messy pens and paint at all when you can gift a mat that only requires water to reveal the colors hidden beneath?

So Big Crayons

These jumbo crayons are easy to grip and a perfect stepping stone into the art world for the toddler who can't get enough of drawing time.

Play Tent and Tunnels Ball Pit

Speaking from experience, a tent and tunnel set is the gift that keeps on giving. Toddlers and little kids love navigating their own little world — just don't forget to buy some balls for the pit.

Spike the Fine Motor Hedgehog

My own toddler is one of the tens of thousands of happy customers who love Spike the Fine Motor Hedgehog. He's a remarkable — and adorable — little learning tool.

Pop Tubes

Sometimes the least complicated toys are the most entertaining. These pop tubes are as simple as they look, yet toddlers will spend hours stretching them in and out.

Wander-T Shoes

These popular shoes from Blowfish Malibu Kids are both comfortable and stylish. Plus they come with stretchy laces, which are key when gifting shoes to the toddler set.

Mess-Free Touch Lights

Toddlers aged two and up will love drawing with their fingers on this basic touch-pad. Parents will love the lack of mess.

Farmer's Market Color Sorting Set

Play food is a must-have in any playroom, and this set from Learning Resources helps toddlers learn their fruits and veggies too. Perhaps broccoli won't be so scary anymore after playing with this.

Smart Stages Piggy Bank

Kids between six months and three years will adore this piggy bank, which serves as an introduction to color and counting. It has a 4.9-rating on Amazon, which is pretty remarkable.

Scavenger Hunt Kit

Get them outside with a custom scavenger hunt board like this one. It's designed to get them excited about nature and all of its hidden treasures.

My Smart Purse

For toddlers who are already venturing into pretend play, check out this "smart purse" from Fisher-Price. They can keep track of their keys, credit card, and phone — just like mommy.

Color Wonder Mess Free Pages

These pages from Crayola are specially formulated to work with Color Wonder markers, which reveal their colors as the kids draw. Magic and art!

Meow Onesie

Fact: little kids love pretending to be cats. (I didn't make the rules; I just follow them.) This onesie comes in sizes 2-5 and even has a matching counterpart for mom.

Harley-Davidson Toddler Tricycle

Does it get any cooler than a Harley-Davidson toddler trike? It does not.

DinoGlow Reversible Stegosaurus

At first sight, this Stegosaurus is just a cuddly plushie. But once you flip him inside out, you'll reveal his glow-in-the-dark skeleton.

Play Tent with Padded Mat

Give them a cozy place to curl up with this structured play tent. It comes with a padded mat for the bottom and LED lights for the top, making it a great spot to play or read.

Play Couch

Ah, the ubiquitous Nugget! While pricy, this rearrangeable play couch can serve as a piece of furniture, a fort, or the largest set of building blocks your toddler's ever seen.

Magical Dreams Whale Projector

Projectors are a great way to calm toddlers during their naps or at bedtime. This new option from Angelcare will light up the ceiling with swimming fishes while it plays soothing lullabies, underwater sounds, and white noise.

18 Pack of Car Toys

It's hard to describe the joy children get from pulling vehicles back and watching them go, but it's undeniable. This set comes with 18(!) cars, plus a storage box.

Classic Waterproof Winter Boot

Get ready for the winter weather to come with these durable boots from Bogs. They come in sizes 4 through 10 and are available in over a dozen designs.

Mega-Bloks Building Bag

There are a total of 80 big blocks in this bestselling set. Parents will thank you for getting a toy that comes with its own storage bag, while the toddlers will thank you for the engaging gift.

Sit ‘n Spin

Invented in the 1970s, the Sit ‘n Spin is an absolute classic toy. They sit, they spin, they stay occupied doing it again and again. What could be better?

Yum-2-3 Toaster

Give them the chance to prepare their own (pretend) breakfast with this friendly toaster, beloved by Amazon reviewers.

Musical Mat

Your tot will love swapping between animal sounds and musical notes while playing with this anti-slip mat.

Baby Shark Mini Tablet

This Baby Shark mini tablet is a must-have gift for the toddler always reaching for their parents' tablet. Not only will it keep them occupied, but it will help them learn numbers and sounds as well.

Peppa Pig’s Nesting Family

This nesting toy will give toddlers a good excuse to practice their Peppa Pig snort.

Food Face Plate

Keep them active and interested during mealtime with these funny face plates. It's the best way to play with their food without making a huge mess.

Cocomelon Music Player

Think boom-box, but for toddlers. This one comes with four built-in songs and the option to play "freeze dance," a game where everyone has to stop dancing anytime the music pauses.

Disney Minnie Mouse Initial Necklace

For little girls who may want a bit of bling for the holidays, Sallyrose has custom Disney (and Hello Kitty) pieces. She'll love it for years to come.

Sushi Playset

For the sophisticated toddler, how about a set of sushi? This playset comes with plush faux sushi and chopsticks to help with fine motor skills.

Bendable Plush Doll

This huggable 16-inch plush version of YouTube-turned-Netflix icon Blippi says 15 phrases and is made of durable materials.

Fun with Friends Kids Kitchen

A pretend kitchen truly is one of the best investments you can make for playtime. This one comes with tons of pieces, like a microwave, oven, and stovetop, so they'll never run out of scenarios to imagine.

Ladybug Ride-On Car

Every toddler needs a Little Tikes car. This ladybug version will be the talk of the neighborhood when it cruises around the streets come springtime.

Vicus Indoor Gym Playset

If you have the space and means, an indoor gym will keep toddlers busy perfecting their balance and gross motor development. This one transforms into a few different shapes, so it's suitable for kids of all skill levels.

First Orchard Board Game

Toddlers may be a year or two away from understanding Candyland or Chutes and Ladders, but this fun board game is made for their developing brains.

Sorting Snacks Mini Fridge

This isn't just a sorting fridge; it's a math toy that they'll grow to love even more as they age and learn.

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