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Helllooooo parents (or soon-to-be parents!), my name is Heather, and at the time I'm writing this, my son is almost 2, and I have a little girl on the way in April 2024. (Eeep!) So, a lot of these items I've personally tested out! I can happily tell you *all* about what has worked for my family, but kindly wanted to note that I'm aware every baby is different! So, what worked for me may not work for you. But hey, it's worth a shot. Right?
1. A personalized name puzzle that'll help toddlers work on learning letters, colors, and how to pronounce that very unique moniker you've given them — it'll also look super cute on display in their room!
Personalized Favors is a small business! While I don't have this *exact* puzzle, I received a similar one as a gift before my son was born. It looked adorable in his bedroom and has become a beloved toy as he's grown into using it! First he enjoyed just moving the pieces around, but now he's actually practicing how to say each letter of his name.
Promising review: "Exceeding our expectations, these name puzzles (we have purchased two now, one for a two-year-old and one for an eighteen month) are easily handled by toddlers. The letter size is perfect for little hands and the letters (puzzle pieces) easily pop in and out of the puzzle board." —RJ
Get it from Amazon for $11.95.
2. Washable dot markers, so the next time your tyke demands to paint you won't have to mentally prepare yourself for a next-level mess. Hand 'em over to your little artist and relax while they craft you something beautiful.
Doodle Hog is a small business! We have similar versions of these at home, and they are SO much easier to use/clean up than actual paint (which my toddler demands to craft with constantly). I would absolutely gift these to another toddler without fear of burdening a fellow parent with a huge mess.
Promising review: "My toddler loves these. They are easy to hold and operate. They don’t dry up too fast, and the ink doesn’t flow too quickly, either. Perfect for a hand to hold and dot with. Easy to clean off hands when art gets a little messy." —Monika
Get a set of eight from Amazon for $16.99 (also available in a set of 16).
3. A Melissa & Doug ice cream station to encourage kiddos to indulge in some imaginative play — they can stack up the flavors and toppings and offer sweet treats to everyone in the house...delish!
The wooden ice cream counter comes with eight ice cream scoops, six toppings, two cones, cup, scooper, tongs, wooden spoon, reusable menu card, and six pretend dollar bills. I gifted this to my son over the holidays (he was 20 months old at the time), and he loves it! It's great for practicing his organizing and stacking skills. Now that he's nearly two he's really gotten more hands-on with the experience and is having a blast making pretend sweet treats for the whole family. So fun!
Promising reviews: "My newly turned 3-year-old daughter instantly fell in love with this set! She loves seeing how high she can stack the ice cream cones and pretending to serve Mom and Dad her creations. She's been obsessed with climbing things around the house, and we *desperately* needed a distraction to get her to stop, and this is working so far — she plays with this thing for HOURS!" —West Family
"We gave this item as a gift to my niece, and she loved making ice cream for everyone after she opened it. It’s made well, too, and should hold up to a lot of playing for a very long time. Thanks, Melissa & Doug, for another great toy!" —Lauren
Get it from Amazon for $41.99.
4. Crayola Color Wonder Frozen Coloring Pages and Markers, so kids can color to their heart's content without also creating a rainbow of chaos all over themselves and your home — the markers *only* color on the special paper that comes with the kit.
My mom got these for my son (who is 22 months old at the time of this writing), and it has been SUCH a game-changer for us. He loves to color and paint and demands to do so often, which usually results in a lot of setup, a lot of cleanup, and only about 10 minutes of him actually being entertained. With this kit, we can leave the markers out alongside the coloring book, and he can come and go to it as he feels fit. They really do ONLY color on the magic paper — thankfully. It's become a must-have item in our home, and I'll totally be gifting it to other toddler parents.
Get it from Amazon for $7.77 (available in three themes).
5. A bubble machine that'll have your toddler scoffing at the old handheld bubble wands they're used to seeing — this one will take playtime to the next level without filling the house with extra noise.
See this bubble machine in action on TikTok here.
This bubble maker includes: bubble gun, two bottles of bubble solution, a rechargeable battery, a charger, and a plate to place the bubble solution. My sister got it for my son for his first birthday, and we've been using it through all the seasons — bubbles don't discriminate! We broke it out during a Labor Day BBQ with a bunch of toddlers present, and they were all bursting with excitement! I mean, just look at the GIF above — the bubbles really come atcha!!
Promising review: "I ordered this for my daughter's birthday, and she has always loved bubbles! So when I found this bubble gun on TikTok, it was a no-brainer. The number of bubbles that you get out of that is so fun, and it lights up. It's easy to use and pretty inexpensive for what we wanted. Even the adults enjoyed it." —Tina
Get it from Amazon for $35.99+ (available in six colors).
Don't forget to clip the 10% off coupon to get a discount.
6. Skip Hop pour buckets with an animal on each one and a variety of different-sized holes for water to drain through the bottom — little ones will love filling these buckets up, sprinkling the water all over, and then stacking 'em up.
My son plays with these buckets every night in the bath! He loves filling them up with water (duh) and we also use them to practice his animal sounds. I hold one up, name the animal on it, and then ask him what sound it makes. He also uses them to pour water into other toys we gave in the tub, and I've used them to rinse his hair on a number of occasions. When bath time is over I simply stack them up and leave them on the corner of the tub until the next night.
Promising review: "Our baby has loved these so much we have started to gift them! They provide easy bathtime entertainment and double as a rinsing cup when we forget one. Great quality and cute colors." —Anthony Wilcox
Get a set of five from Amazon for $9.99 (available in two styles).
7. A balance bike that'll leave any little one grinning from ear-to-ear — hope you're prepared to run after them though, because they're going to be zoooooming away in no time.
My son received this as a gift for his first birthday and it's been so fun to watch him grow into it over the last year. He's rather short, so now that he can FINALLY reach the floor to push himself along on this bike he is over the moon. He's been riding it all over our house and we cannot wait to let him take it outside when it warms up. I've recommended it to others as a fun gift for kids and will continue to do so!
Promising reviews: "It’s the cutest little bike. Comes with the tool needed to assemble. Super easy to assemble. Took my husband like 5 minutes. We got it for our grandbaby's first birthday. She can’t reach the ground yet nor is walking but we just push her around and are excited that she’ll grow into it. Her first bike." —Lisa
"Great color, well made, easy assembly. 100% satisfied the best gift I have bought all year period." —Terry B
Get it from Amazon for $52.92 (available in 10 colors).
8. A Little People Toddler Play set Disney Princess featuring lights, sounds, two characters, and a whooooole lot of magic to keep your kiddo entertained.
My son has a ton of Little People figures, so we were thrilled to get this castle as a gift. There's zero discrimination — everyone from the Disney Princesses to construction workers and tractor drivers gets to hang in Noah's castle 😉. There is literally zero setup (a parent's dream!), so your kiddo can start playing immediately. Noah loves putting different characters at the top of the castle and pushing them in the tiny swing. The Princess details throughout the toy are *so* fun and adorable. We love this toy, simple as that.
Promising review: "Perfect gift! My toddler loves it. A bonus is that it makes a wide variety of music and magical noises when they move certain things, so it keeps their interest, and the variety of sounds is wide enough that it won't irritate parents. Comes with two princesses, Jasmine and Cinderella, and is compatible with all the Little People figurines if you want to buy more." —H.O.
Get it from Amazon for $49.89, and if you're looking for similar toddler-approved items, my son also has and loves the Little People Car Wash!
9. A Dyson Ball toy vacuum with the ability to actually suck up the crackers your kiddo crushed into your carpet — it's about time they started helping around the house. 😉
My son has this slimmer version and adores it, but overall the concept of the two are the same! Both vacuums actually work and make kiddos feel involved in cleaning the house (which toddlers seem to love). It's also just so cute to see him running around the house vacuuming alongside his dad.
Promising review: "Our son is absolutely obsessed with our Dyson (the real one). Which is why we purchased this toy Dyson vacuum for his birthday. He's 2 years old, and he is really enjoying having his own 'working' vacuum cleaner!!! He seriously plays with it for hours during the day. Turning it on and off and pushing it through the house just like we use our real vacuum. I would buy this again! It was his favorite gift!." —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $24.99+ (available in three colors).
10. A handheld card reader for kiddos who are eager to learn new words — all you have to do is turn it on, slide a card in, and let the machine read it aloud. There are two words per card, so your little one will be chatting up a storm in no time!
My son has this toy and has, honestly, learned SO much from it. Animal and vehicle sounds make noises after the word has been read out (his favorite is firetruck, of course). It's so simple that little ones will easily pick up on how to maneuver the machine on their own. It's a very basic toy, but my toddler loves it more than most of his others! Additionally, my best friend is a speech-language pathologist and uses it with her students.
Promising reviews: "Wow! That's all I have to say! The technology behind this toy is fantastic! My daughter is learning by the day, and she loves this toy! It teaches her, keeps her entertained, and helps her pronounce words correctly. I recommend all parents to purchase this!!!" —Jon monterrosa
"Makes a great gift for toddlers. My nephew was having trouble pronouncing words, and after a month of using it, he started pronouncing words clearly and started to talk more." —Jennifer
Get it from Amazon for $22.99+ (available in eight styles).
11. An ice cream truck bouncer that is as hilarious for you to watch your kiddo jump in as it is fun for them to play in. Transform your tyke into an entrepreneur and cheer them on as they "sell" ice cream all day long — someone's gotta pay for the mortgage, right?
My son loved this Fisher-Price ice cream jumper for as long as he was able to hold his head up. He's always been an adventurous baby who has longed for mobility, so this was one of his favorite toys. It was great for helping him burn up some energy (he has SO much of it), entertaining him for a bit, and knowing he's safely contained so I can go pee (seriously). The height is adjustable so as he grew taller we were able to give him more jumping room. It has three different play settings with various sounds my son absolutely adored — and he loved holding onto the steering wheel and "driving" along to the tunes. I also love that now he's past the bouncing phase we were able to remove the jumper entirely and turn it into a shape-sorting toy!
Promising review: "It is perfect! Fairly easy to put together, and great that it can be used for infants and toddlers. My granddaughter loves it!" —Nala
Get it from Walmart for $119.99.
12. Polarized WeeFarers sunglasses, which will protect your baby's eyes from the harsh sun while also ensuring they'll look like Tom Cruise in Risky Business (which is just as important!).
I "splurged" on these for my little one and have zero regrets! He, shockingly, doesn't mind wearing them at all and he looks so freakin' cute in them I can't help but take a million photos anytime he has them on. I love that you can register them and if something happens to them within your first year of owning them you'll be able to get a replacement. I even bought them as a gift for my friend's baby's first Christmas — I love them that much. My son, at nearly two years old, still fits in them! Additionally, WeeFarers is a small business!
Promising review: "We love these! I can’t even believe my 3-month-old doesn’t try to pull them off, but apparently he finds them comfortable enough to just leave them. We get so many compliments when he has them on and people love the play on the classic Ray Bans Wayfarers and the 'WeeFarer' name. Best of all, I can rest assured that his little eyes are protected. The little strap is great to keep them in place. We will definitely be buying the next size up when he grows out of these." —Sara
Get it from Amazon for $34.99 (available in 4 sizes and 10 styles).
13. An iconic Sophie the Giraffe teether your little one will, for unexplained reasons, likely cherish and love chomping away on as their pearly whites start to (painfully) poke through.
Sophie the Giraffe has become a valued member of our family. I ran out to buy it when my son started teething (badly) as he simply refused every other type of teether we already had (of course). I was skeptical as to why a toy giraffe would cost nearly $30, but I soon learned it clearly had magical powers. Sophie has apparently been around for over 55 years (who knew!) and is made entirely of natural rubber. She has various chewable parts (ears, horns, and legs) that Noah was able to grasp onto himself way easier than any other teether. She's become my go-to baby shower gift, and we simply didn't leave the house without her for months.
PSA: Do not wash Sophie with water or if you do, do not get water into the squeaker hole! I've seen a number of TikTok videos noting that if you do this the inside can potentially get moldy.
Promising review: "I was super hesitant to spend $25 on a teething toy. It’s honestly just a regular squeaky toy, but the other reviews were spot on, and my child absolutely LOVES his Sophie. Something about that rubbery smiley giraffe is just so darn appealing to babies. She is without a doubt one of his very favorite toys, especially once he started teething." —Courtnee Thompson
Get it from Amazon for $26.97.
14. A Fisher-Price kick and play piano you may have seen on TikTok or heard about from other parents — it'll keep your kiddo entertained for MONTHS, which is a lot more than other toys can boast about.
Check it out on TikTok!
I have this toy and even have a backup of it for my parents' house — it's that good. As an infant, my son was a very energetic little guy and was fond of this toy since he was about 2-months-old! He loved aggressively kicking the piano (of course), pulling at the toys on the bar, and (once he learned how) would often flip onto his stomach and hit the keys to the piano with his hands. Now that he's mobile, we've detached the piano, and he plays with it separately. However, we're likely going to need to return it back to its original state with another little one on the way!
The attached mat can also easily be tossed into the washing machine and the dryer, which was essential for my kiddo as he spit up on everyyyyything. Overall, this toy gets a 10/10 from me, even if the songs do get a bit annoying (just part of the territory these days!).
Get it from Amazon for $39.99 (available in three colors).
15. An interactive toy from Fisher-Price that'll let you record your own fun sounds into it — it bops around and plays all kinds of sounds and phrases (75, to be exact!) to keep tykes groovin' and giggling.
We have this toy, and while, as a parent, it makes me want to rip my hair out, my son adores it. It bounces around like a kangaroo, plays a lot of songs he loves to bop to, and you can create your own remixes by recording things for the toy to say. If he didn't love it so much, I would absolutely give it away to someone else to enjoy but, alas, I've chosen my child's happiness over mine.
Promising review: "This toy is better than expected!! Absolutely adorable!! My 8-month-old absolutely adores it! It springs up and down while playing music. There is a button on there where you can record your child’s name, and it’ll repeat it while singing and dancing! Highly recommended!" —A
Get it from Amazon for $30.49.
16. A Little Mermaid bath set you'll want to make *~part of your world*~. It comes with toys of Ariel, Ursula, Flounder, Sebastian, Scuttle, and a bucket to store 'em in! Your mermaid-wannabe will make a splash playing out all of their favorite movie moments in the tub.
My son has a similar version of these toys (his are Star Wars characters that have sadly sold out) and they've been fantastic! They don't have holes in them so you won't find anything gross growing inside, they've held up to his relentless chewing, and he loves "washing" them in the tub.
Promising review: "These bath toys are very simple, they don't squirt water or do anything wild. But my son still loves playing with them." —SaraK814
Get them from Target for $19.99.
17. An elephant sprayer you'll adore because it'll keep your kiddo entertained for the duration of bath time and provide you with an easier way to wash soap off of them/ out of their hair — however, consider yourself warned they can potentially turn this adorable hose on you at any given moment. 😅
See it in action on TikTok!
This gadget is both a blessing and a curse. On the very positive side, my son loves it! He uses it to fill up cups, "clean" his toys, and tickle his own feet (adorable). I've used it to thoroughly wash his hair and rinse soap suds off of him in a bubble bath. However, I gotta warn any fellow parents that there is a VERY high chance you are going to get sprayed by your child at SOME point. If you don't mind getting a little wet on occasion, this toy is a 10/10.
Promising review: "A baby registry must-have! I saw this item on TikTok and knew I had to have it! It’s great for all ages! My 3-month-old loves it, and so does my 5-year-old! All you need are batteries, and then you're good to go!" —brittany
Get it from Amazon for $24.99+ (available in five colors).
18. A Doona Liki Trike that'll grow with your tyke — first you can push them along in it as a stroller, then transform it into a push tricycle, and finally turn it into a toddler tricycle. Your kiddo will have so much fun in the sun with this trike. ☀️
This vehicle has been such a godsend for us in the toddler years. Whenever we go on a walk this is the first thing we grab — especially when we don't want our son to fall asleep (which he's prone to doing in a stroller). He loves pushing it around himself when he's not riding in it, he doesn't fight having his lil' feet strapped into the pedals (they don't move on their own at this point) or having the harness clipped on, and he loves being able to have a close-to-the-action view during our walks. I personally love the visor that comes down to protect him from the sun. It's a must-have!
Promising review: "We love our Doona Liki Trike and since purchased we’ve not taken the large stroller out a single time. It’s easy to unfold, a bit trickier to fold. I needs better storage. I wish it could recline for a nap. But my 10.5-month-old son has gone from hating strolling to giggling and squealing when he gets into his trike. He’s now completely a part of the action and that definitely outweighs the few downsides of the trike. Also, we get stopped every single day to talk about it…if you live in NYC and you find that sort of thing annoying, don’t purchase lol. We don’t mind the interaction and engagement at all, especially for building social skills." —DRMo
Get it from Amazon for $250 (available in three colors).
19. A giant FAO Schwartz piano mat (yes, just like the one from Big) adults and kids alike will love compose their own songs with. Dance partaaaaay!
I couldn't help but get this for my son for the holidays — and it has *not* disappointed. All the adults get to live out their moment from the Tom Hank film Big, and my toddler gets to show off his musical abilities to anyone who steps foot in our home. This typically is in the form of him running back and forth shouting "GO!" which is rather entertaining for us all, TBH. It also folds up really easily when it's not in use!
Promising review: "I gave this to my Grandkids for Christmas and they were thrilled. They had so much fun making the notes with their feet and they loved hearing back what they 'composed.'" —MammaMe
Get it from Target for $39.99.
20. A Baby Einstein Take Along Tunes Musical Toy that'll entertain your fussy babe with catchy melodies by the likes of Mozart, Vivaldi, and others as well as exciting and twinkling lights.
My son received this as a gift around the holidays in 2022 and it's, surprisingly, fantastic! It's really a simple toy, but as a baby he enjoyed playing with it *all* the time. He loved the sounds and the lights while I personally liked that it wasn't HUGE (so many musical toys are very bulky). It was a great great toy option for the car thanks to its size.
Promising review: "The best baby distractor EVER! Every person with a child must have this toy! I had about five tucked in various places in case one got lost. My son loved them from basically birth, and sometimes it would distract him for hours of not crying! (Heaven for a new mother.) Of course, in the beginning you have to keep pushing the button for them, but compared to swinging him in his car seat that was easy! Then when he got older, he would spend entire car rides just playing with this one toy. I give it to everyone I know who has a baby." —NH-Mommy
Get it from Amazon for $8.88.
21. A toddler-sized Carhartt beanie you've likely seen on every Millennial parent's child this winter — not sure what you're waiting for, you're likely overdue to snag one for your own mini-me.
My husband and I definitely thought we were trendy when we bought our toddler, Noah, a Carhartt beanie of his own. Then we realized pretty much every other child in our area has one — as they should! It's super warm. He'll *mostly* keep it on his head, and they come in so many colors! If it's good enough for my husband and I to wear, you better believe it's good enough for my kid.
Promising review: "The quality of the material is great, and if it’s perfectly on my son’s head, it keeps his ears warm and is also so cute! Looks great with every single outfit. I would definitely buy more of these. 🤗" —Marissa Gutierrez
Get it from Amazon for $7.99 (available in sizes 2–5T and 37 colors).
22. A Melissa & Doug Disney Snacks and Popcorn Stand every child is going to be absolutely begging for — and for good reason! It'll bring all the fun of snacking at the Parks to their imaginative at-home play. You won't be able to resist joining in on the magic.
I hunted this item down for my son for Christmas in 2023, but I'd be lying if I didn't say it's because I desperately wanted to play with it myself. Luckily for me he's inherited my all-things-Disney obsession and LOVES playing with this toy. It's also been great for teaching him about money — an added bonus for sure. He loves rearranging the magnetic menu and doling out treats to anyone in the room. Check it out in all its glory on TikTok.
Promising review: "This has to be one of the cutest play sets I’ve seen. The Disney cart is perfect and the kids absolutely love it already!" —Lwargin
Get it from Target for $109.99.
23. A Toniebox Audio Player Starter Set, which is essentially a tiny stereo toddlers can control all on their own just by swapping out which character magnetically sits on top of it. Each individual figure tells different stories and sings different songs — it's a great way to keep kids entertained without a screen.
This toy has bought me so much time. My son adores his — even though he's only 22 months old. He has had no problem understanding how to turn the Toniebox on, change the volume, and place different characters on top to tell various stories. He's a big fan, as am I! I've gifted it to multiple little ones for their first birthday, and it's always been a hit. It can also be used while it's charging, so there's no need to worry about your toddler having a meltdown if they want to play with it while the battery is drained (phew). Some of our personal favorite Tonies include Moana, Spidey from Spidey and His Amazing Friends (the songs are performed by Fall Out Boy!), and Miguel from Coco.
There are so many different Tonies you can add to keep the fun going — check 'em out. However, the latest (and greatest, dare I say?) to join the line-up is this Blippi Tonie (if you know, you KNOW). It's safe to say I'll be ordering this for all the toddler birthday parties we've got this year.
Get it from Amazon for $99.99+ (available in six colors).
24. A LeapFrog Build-a-Slice Pizza Cart that'll encourage your toddler to dive into some imaginative play *and* keep them occupied so you can sit down for a few minutes and catch your breath.
I was planning to give this to my son for Christmas but got desperate for a way to keep him busy and broke it out sooner (oops). However, I have no regrets because he absolutely loves this toy. It has so many sound effects and a bunch of lights that seem to amaze him. It even throws in a few words in Italian for kiddos to learn! It likely doesn't hurt that he loves pizza more than anything else on this planet. Anyways, he also loves filling the pizza box with food and "delivering" it to anyone whose around and willing to play. It's a fantastic toy I think we'll all enjoy for a long time.
Get it from Amazon for $59.99.
25. A classic Little Tikes slide you may have had when *you* were a kid — it's extremely easy to set up and will provide your mini-me with hours of fun (just wait until they discover they can climb back up the slide all on their own).
My son got this as a gift for his first birthday, and he loooooves it. It took my husband literally five minutes (if that) to put it together, as it's only two pieces. It's been very durable in the few months we've had it outside, and it's very simple to clean (we use the leaf blower to get rid of any debris from the trees above quickly). It's a simple toy, but it brings my kid so much joy!
Get it from Amazon for $34.88.
26. An Olaf plush that seemingly chats more than anyone you've ever met — he rattles off facts and recounts the story of Frozen at a hyper speed that toddlers find absolutely hilarious.
My toddler is obsessed with this toy! Olaf's eyes and mouth move (which makes my son VERY happy). He's able to sing “When I am Older” from Frozen 2 and he recites lots of facts and stories. He's a fan favorite in our home, even if he is quite the Chatty Kathy.
Promising review: "My granddaughter is into all-things-Frozen. At our family Christmas get-together, I noticed there was silence coming from her bedroom. I peeked in, and she was laying on her bed listening to Olaf." —dawn
Get it from Amazon for $34.99.
27. A DJ turntable for kids, in case you're hoping your mini-me to become the next Tiësto. It'll certainly fill your home with all kinds of fun, music, and learning!
Check it out on TikTok!
I got this for my son — he loves interactive toys that make lots of noise, so this has been a big hit. I like that I can remove the legs for my daughter to use for some tummy time fun in the future as well.
Promising review: "This activity little center for my grandsons and the music is too cute. There's a lot going on therefore, they stay entertained for a while." —Yvette
Get it from Amazon for $31.49+ (available in two packaging styles).
28. A bubble-spewing crab that also plays classic nursery rhymes to convince your kiddo to hang in the tub long enough for you to give them a chance to scrub 'em down and wash their hair.
My mom bought this for my toddler when we were going through a tough "I-no-longer-want-to-bathe" phase and, despite its VERY irritating sounds, it absolutely convinces my son to get into the tub. You have to squirt some soap and add some water into its mouth, then press the button to get the bubbles going. It *has* the option to create bubbles without playing the music, but naturally, my son LOVES the songs. It has become an integral member of our bathtime routine.
Promising review: "My grandson loves his JUXUE Crab Bath Bubble Maker! His bath time was like party time, with the bubbles and music coming from the crab bubble maker! He was so happy to put his hands in the bubbles, and the music made his bath time even more enjoyable! Would recommend this for anyone wanting to enhance their child's bath time. My grandson is 6 months old, so Mommy and Faddy are always with him at bath time, and they enjoyed the bubbles also." —cjoschmidt
Get it from Amazon for $15.98 (available in two colors).
29. Or a toy crab that'll playfully chase your kiddo around the house while pumping out an upbeat tune (apologies, it definitely won't leave your brain). Prepare for lots and lots of giggles!
My son has received this TWICE as a gift (lucky me, haha), and he loves chasing it around. It's designed to help encourage toddlers to crawl. It truly just runs around the room back and forth until my son inevitably picks it up like, "I GOTCHA!" It's very cute, very noisy, but VERY fun. It comes with a USB plug, so you can recharge it as needed.
You can see it in action on TikTok!
Promising review: "This little toy is entertaining for the whole family. I did not expect it to move so fast. My daughter squeals and laughs every time I turn it on. I only wish there was a volume adjustment because it can seem a bit loud depending on your space at home." —Jacobe
Get it from Amazon for $13.59 (available in three styles).
30. A cactus toy because it's entertaining for both adults and kids. It sings, dances, and it can record and repeat what you or your little one says in a funny voice.
You can record your own songs directly into the toy to play over and over! My son has had this toy for over a year and it never fails to make us both laugh. He even went through a phase during which he insisted on taking it on walks with us. It comes pre-loaded with a TON of songs, but my son is happiest when I play the self-recorded song from Encanto.
Promising review: "I saw this on Instagram and HAD to get this for my baby nephew for the holidays. Let it be known the only people more excited about this gift than me were my sister and brother-in-law, who literally said 'yes!' and high-fived when they opened it for him because they also saw it on Insta and wanted to get it for their youngest so bad. It was a huge hit with not only my younger nephew but also with his 4-year-old brother. Both of them would dance with it and copy its movements, and it was really amusing seeing them enjoy the copycat feature. Best gift we ever gave, and I highly recommend! It can take a beating if my young nephew was able to handle at 8/9 months :)" —Dov Baruch
Get it from Amazon for $18.99+ (available in two styles).
31. A Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Sports Baby Activity Center that'll quickly become any kiddo's favorite toy — it has basketball, baseball, a score board, and a snack stand all in one!
I got my son this in 2022 and he loooooved it! He had a blast spinning the scoreboard numbers and clicking the buttons to make sounds. He was a big fan of the concession stand items (oddly enough, the credit card is his go-to). As he grew a bit I'm sure he had a blast shooting hoops and playing with the soccer net as well. We'll definitely be breaking this out again for kiddo number 2.
Promising review: "My 1.5 year old LOVES this! He knows what buttons to push on it to get to certain songs. The score numbers play songs and sounds. The shape buttons play sounds. He learned to shoot hoops and kick a ball into a goal in less than a day with this game center. His older siblings love playing with the cafeteria portion. So far there isn’t much interest with the baseball bat but we have only had this a couple of days. Great purchase!" —Irene Estrada
Get it for Amazon for $51.99.
32. A whale bath toy that lights up and sprays water like a magical fountain and will turn your kiddo's nightly bath into a disco partaaaay 🪩.
See it in action on TikTok!
My son has this bath toy and it's *so* fun! He loves the constantly changing lights and the fountain that sprays out from the top. Our bathroom has a dimmer, so I'll lower the light a bit to let the whale's lights really shine (my son loves it!).
Promising review: "TikTok made me do it. My daughter loves this! It stops spraying water as soon as it is no longer in the water. It's very calming. I've even stolen it for my own baths." —Lauren Trifone
Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in four colors).
33. A singing Mirabel doll for the Encanto enthusiast who cannot get enough of the songs (they really are pretty catchy, I see you, Lin-Manuel Miranda).
My toddler would watch Encanto all day every day if given the chance. We got him this doll for his first Christmas (and took off all the too-small pieces) and a full year later he's still in love.
Promising review: "The details on this doll are adorable- the earrings, glasses and especially the shoes. She looks just like Mirabel with the same level of details — especially with her skirt. She sings “The Family Madrigal." My girls (and I) love her!!" —Sarah Lopez
Get it from Amazon for $22.99.
34. A two-piece pajama set to transform your kiddo into the cutest police officer of all time. The little tie and badge is so adorable and, honestly, will make them look hilarious when they're running around causing chaos throughout the house.
I've preached about my love for this brand before, so it should be no surprise that I adore these pajamas that can also serve as a costume. My son looks so freakin' cute dressed up as a tiny police officer and he can't stop giggling at himself in the mirror. The material is so ridiculously soft (I have pajamas for myself from this brand as well!) and the stretchiness of it makes it some of the easiest pajamas to get on during the cage match that is getting my toddler ready for bed.
Get them from Posh Peanut for $40 (available in sizes 6—24M and 2T).
35. Stackable counting cups for your tyke to play with on the kitchen floor, which will hopefully buy you enough time to prep their fancy meal of puréed delicacies.
This is such a simple toy that truly goes the distance. My son has literally been playing with them for nearly two years! He loved them as a baby to stack, chew, and knock over. As a toddler he's really enjoying noting the colors, filling the cups with his snacks, and successfully crafting them into towers.
Promising review: "I saw these recommended by some mom influencer on social media and they had good ratings here, so I got them as a small gift for my baby. Didn’t realize these plain cups would become her favorite thing. She’s 7 months and doesn’t even try to stack them. But she likes unstacking them and chewing on them. She likes these more than the more intricate or expensive gifts we got her. So I guess her rating is 5 stars. Mine is 5 stars for the price, durability, and easiness to clean. Also it keeps her quite occupied, which is a feat in itself." —Amber Scott
Get them from Amazon for $4.99.
36. A casual but cool bomber jacket with your kiddo's fave Disney character embroidered on the back for some extra flair — another fantastic layering option you'll be glad they have as the weather slowly gets warmer.
My son (pictured above, right) lived in this jacket as we started to creep towards the colder months here in New York. It's actually mid-November in the photo above! It's stretchy, making it super easy to get on him and over layers now that it's chillier out. I love that it can really be worn during winter, spring, and fall.
Promising review: "This may be my favorite Monica + Andy purchase to date! It's so beautiful! My baby girl loves it. It fits perfectly, and she got so many compliments." —Dilay W.
Get it from Monica + Andy for $46 (available in sizes 0–6M, 6M–24M, 2T–5T, youth sizes 6–10, and four styles).
37. An adorable Cuddle + Kind hand knit doll, available in so many sweet creatures you won't know which one to buy! Each doll that's purchased helps to donate 10 meals to children in need.
We received a set of these as a gift for my son's first birthday, and he absolutely adores them — as do I. Cuddle + Kind, which is a family-owned small business, strives to provide meals through their various partners to as many kids as possible. So far, they've donated over 29 million (!!) meals! The dolls themselves are SO soft and snuggly. My son loves to carry them around as "his babies" and push them around in a stroller. He has three cuties from their "Tiny Collection" that are currently sold out, but one of our relatives gave me a heads up that they got him "Noah the dog" for Christmas. They are so sweet, and the meaning behind them is even sweeter.
Promising review: "I have purchased several of the knit animals from Cuddle and Kind. The craftsmanship is outstanding, there is no other company that prides this level of quality. I purchase them for baby shower gifts, and the recipients are so thrilled that when they realize that 10 meals to impoverished children also benefit, it makes it all the more cherished. I have nothing but praise for this family-operated business and the work they are doing." —Cuddle + Kind customer
Get them from Cuddle + Kind: Noah the dog for $66+ (available in two sizes), Charlotte the dog for $66+ (available in two sizes), and check out all the other dolls here.
38. Matching personalized sweatershirts for you and your kiddo to help you both upgrade your loungewear game — just imagine the cute twinning pics you can take together!!!
I have many sweatshirts from BFFs and Babes, a woman-owned small business, and I simply adore them — I've purchased so many as gifts as well! The sweatshirts are super cozy, don't run in the wash (thankfully) and I love that you can customize them to say whatever you want! My son and I (pictured above, right) had matching outfits for Valentine's Day last year and, while it is not necessary, it was very adorable and fun! His was a personalized bodysuit that I was able to use as a layering option for quite some time afterwards.
Get them from BFFs and Babes: adult sweatshirt for $52 (available in adult unisex sizes S–3XL), toddler sweatshirt for $45 (available in sizes 3T–6T and youth sizes 6–14).
39. Or an embroidered sweatshirt and sweatpants duo that'll make you want to revamp your own loungewear collection — it'll also be a great gifting option for any other stylish kiddos in your life.
My toddler has always been on the smaller size, so we've REALLY gotten our use out of this sweat set. He got it as a gift for his first birthday (April 2023) and is still happily wearing it as of this writing (February 2024). I've since given it as a gift to my friend's kiddos! Zara has a variety of items in their "Edited" collection you can have personalized with words and icons. If you don't love the sweat sets currently available, check back, as I've noticed various colors come in and out of stock!
Get it from Zara for $29.90 (available in sizes (9M–24M, youth sizes 4–5, and two colors).
40. A suction toy that'll keep your tiny monster, I mean, child, entertained while you shovel your dinner down your throat (yum!). They'll be able to chew away on it, fight to try and remove it, and play with the rings happily.
I picked this toy up on a whim at a local toy store and am so glad that I did! My son is a busy, busy guy and finding ways to keep him entertained while my husband and I (quickly) eat dinner has been a challenge. This toy, from Fat Brain Toys, has been such a help. We bring it everywhere with us! It has a very strong suction so he can't immediately fling it across the room. It's definitely one of our diaper bag must-haves,10, and I'll certainly get it for other new parents in my life.
Promising review: "Bought this as a high chair toy to buy me time in the kitchen. Sticks well to both Stokke tray and Inglesina tray. My 6-month-old loves to rattle it, shake it, bend it, chew it. We also throw it in the diaper bag for the car since it’s small enough. Worth the money." —kc9
Get it from Target for $9.99 (available in two colors).
41. And Pottery Barn's "Anywhere Chair," which is perfect for staging those adorable (but hard to snap) monthly photos of your little one. It'll also look super cute in their room or playroom and eventually they'll enjoy lounging in it.
I often find myself sitting in it while hanging out with my son in the playroom (hahaha). This chair is super cute and you've probably seen variations of it all over social media. It comes in tons of colors/styles so you can pick one that's perfect for your decor! We used it to take my son Noah's monthly photos and it was great to see how much he grew from month to month! It's not a *necessity* item per se, but it is a cute and enjoyable one that'll be there for your kiddo as they grow.
Get the navy chair from Pottery Barn Kids for $119+ (available with or without custom monogramming) and check out all of the other style options.
Some reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.