Have a toddler birthday coming up? These gifts will make that 2- or 3-year-old’s special day memorable.
But before you make a decision on what to get that little one, don’t forget to factor in that toddlers can’t play with really small items because they are choking hazards. You should also consider the developmental level that the child is at. Every toddler is different and while some are stable and can walk, some might not be quite there yet. Then, it’s also a good idea to take inventory. If you’re the parent to the toddler you’re shopping for, this should be fairly simple. If you’re not, a quick call to mom or dad can reveal what the toddler has already.
Once you’ve gathered some info, shop away. These are our favorite gifts for the toddler age group at the moment.
Beats for Babies
Mendini Juniors Drum Set
Give that budding musician this Mendini Juniors Drum Set. It comes equipped with an adjustable throne, cymbal, pedal and drumsticks. Ideal for kids ages 3 to 8, choose from several colors, like red, blue, green, black, purple–all in metallic. If you’re the parent, get a set of earplugs while you’re at it.
Starting at $86.11 at Amazon.com
Build a Playground
Lego Duplo Large Playground Brick Box
Since toddlers love going to playgrounds, for this birthday, bring the playground to them–in the form of Legos. This Lego Duplo Large Playground Brick Box comes with 71 pieces, including 2 children figurines. Appropriate for kids ages 1 ½ to 3, spark creative play, as well as engineering with this great toddler gift.
Around $39.99 at Amazon.com
Splish Splash
Step2 Big Splash Waterpark Water Table
For toddler birthdays during warm-weather months, a water table will be your best bet. This water table from Step2 is a favorite of ours because it’s got exciting features, like a slide, a bucket tower, a spinner, a catapult board and cup, and 2 toy people. Simple to put together, you can easily drain it after play.
Around $61.50 at Amazon.com
Warm Fuzzies
“The Wonderful Things You Will Be” Book
Make parents cry with this book, called “The Wonderful Things You Will Be.” Read it to your own kid or give it to a friend who’s become a recent parent. They’ll be excited for their little one’s future and this book will really resonate. For gifting purposes, the hardcover is best.
Around $11.27 at Amazon.com
Sesame Street Seat
Sesame Street Large Oscar the Grouch Nod Chair
A comfy chair that looks like Oscar the Grouch from Sesame Street: who wouldn’t want this gift? Toddlers will rejoice. You can also personalize it if you order it with enough lead time. Another fun idea is to make this the “time out” chair for when your kid is naughty. Not an Oscar fan? Abby and Elmo are also available.
Around $149 at CrateandBarrel.com
Vintage “Vinyl”
Fisher Price Classics Retro Record Player
Okay, so it’s not quite vinyl, but it’s just the thing to give to toddlers who are interested in music. Let the little birthday boy or girl play old-school DJ for as many days as she or he would like. This Fisher Price Classics Retro Record Player comes with 10 songs in 5 records (back to back): Jack and Jill; Humpty Dumpty; Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star; Au Clair De La Lune; London Bridge; Oh Where Has My Little Dog Gone; Children’s Marching Song; Camptown Races; Hickory, Dickory, Dock; The Farmer in the Dell.
Around $20.52 at Amazon.com
Screen Time
Kindle Fire 7 Kids Edition Tablet
Listen, sometimes you just need to put a handheld electronic device in front of your kid–even toddlers. We all do what we can to survive, and this Kindle Fire 7 Kids Edition Tablet is made just for them. Get it in blue, pink or yellow (which is the color of the kid-friendly case). It also comes with one year of FreeTime Unlimited, which gives your kids access to 15,000 popular apps and games, videos, books, and educational content from PBS Kids, Nickelodeon, Disney, and more.
Around $99.99 at Amazon.com
Paging, Doctor Little
Toys by Battat B. Deluxe Medical Kit for Toddlers
Inspire that little one in your life to explore careers even from an early age. This Deluxe Medical Kit comes with a beeper with light and sound, a stethoscope with heartbeat sound, otoscope, blood pressure cuff, ouchless tweezers, say “ah!” mirror, safe syringe, safe scissors and thermometer. The gift tag it comes with means you don’t even have to wrap this in a box at all.
Around $21.95 at Amazon.com
Clean House
Melissa & Doug Let’s Play House Dust! Sweep! Mop! 6-Piece Pretend Play Set
This Let’s Play House Dust! Sweep! Mop! 6-Piece Pretend Play Set from Melissa & Doug comes with a broom, mop, duster, dust pan, brush and storage stand. Durable and sized for smaller kids, these sturdy wooden cleaning tools may even help you out around the house. They kind of do actually do the job.
Around $26.99 at Amazon.com
Cute Kitchen
KidKraft Ultimate Corner Play Kitchen
The innovative design in this KidKraft Ultimate Corner Play Kitchen almost make it as good as a real-life kitchen. Almost too life-like just like mom and dad’s real kitchen, this one comes with burners and an icemaker that have realistic lights and sounds. Shelving and hanging pegs are perfect for pots, pans and accessories. The oven, microwave, refrigerator, freezer, and washer doors also open and close.
Around $189.99 at Amazon.com
For Mini Engineers
Learning Resources Gears! Gears! Gears! Deluxe Building Set
Great for ages 3 and up, this Learning Resources Gears! Gears! Gears! Deluxe Building Set comes with 100 pieces. Including 46 colorful gears (blue, green, orange, red and purple), 26 square pillars, 21 six-way axles, 6 interlocking bases, 1 crank handle and an activity guide (that mom or dad will probably have to read), the budding engineer in your gift recipient will be so happy to open this box.
Around $22.15 at Amazon.com
