47 Best Toddler Gifts & Toys They’ll Actually Love and Use! (2023)

While there are a ton of amazing toddler toys, the trick is choosing a gift they’ll actually play with — and play with more than once.

Ever gifted a toddler something that you thought was adorable, then the little one only played with the box? We’ve all been there.

As a mom of 3 and aunt to 8, you better believe I’ve been through that exact scenario. Or, my kids loved a toy for exactly 24 hours, and then it was forgotten about and added to the pile of things to keep organized!

Here I’m sharing 42 toddler gifts and ideas to help avoid those situations. Many of these products are things my kids or nieces and nephews actually played with, and a few others are things I’m planning on getting them. Hope this helps the never-ending “what should I get them?” dilemma!

This post contains affiliate links.

47 Toddler Gifts They’ll Actually Love and Use

gift guide for toddlers

1. Wooden Activity Center

This is a great gift for all of toddlerhood, from those early wobbly standing days through to preschool. Your toddler will love playing with all the moving parts (and will work on their motor skills!). We have had many Manhattan Toy gifts and they all have lasted so long. The quality is impeccable!

Deep Sea Adventure Wooden Toddler Activity Center
$109.60
  • 21" tall and 19. 5" wide
  • Sea creature gliders, springy coral flaps, spinning gears, bead runs and clacking clams
  • 1 year and up
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03/07/2024 07:04 am GMT

2. Octopus Bath Toy

I love giving bath toys as a gift, because you can never have too many! Anything to make this frequent task more exciting is a good thing.

Nuby Floating Purple Octopus
$6.88
  • 4-piece set: 3 rings and octopus
  • Soft and flexible materials that are BPA-free
  • Designed to help prevent the mold issue
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03/07/2024 10:05 am GMT

3. Cozy Cottage Play Tent

What kid doesn’t want their own playhouse? This Melissa and Doug cozy cottage is perfect for toddlers to play peekaboo and house and everything in between.

Cozy Cottage Fabric Play Tent
$34.99
  • Roomy and sturdy nearly 4-foot-tall cozy cottage indoor or outdoor fabric tent playhouse with vibrant, full-color exterior artwork
  • Front door flap rolls up, working mail slot, window shutters open and close; mesh fabric in windows and roof peak let in light and keep play tent cool; sturdy floor material
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03/08/2024 11:23 am GMT

4. Smart Stages Piggy Bank

Every toddler I know loves this piggy bank! It makes noises, helps them learn to count, lets them practice fine motor skills, and more! Plus it’s cute.

Laugh & Learn Smart Stages Piggy Bank
  • Interactive toy piggy bank with 40+ songs, sounds and learning phrases for infants and toddlers ages 6-36 months
  • 2 Smart Stages levels teach numbers and counting, colors, and Spanish words
  • Drop the coins into piggy’s back or press the nose for fun songs, sounds and phrases
  • Includes 10 colorful coins with numbers or animals on each side for put-and-take play


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5. Shopping Cart

This is one of the cutest shopping carts out there! Encourage pretend play and improve balance with this wooden shopper. 

Wooden Shopping Cart
  • Solid wood
  • Cotton basket, rubber on wheels
  • Ages 2+ 
  • Can be paired with play food, sold separately
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6. Manhattan Toy Playdate Friends Dolls

These sweet, soft dolls will be your toddler’s best buddy. And you’ll love them because they’re machine washable! There are both boy and girl dolls and different skin color options. My daughter has these and we all love them!

Manhattan Toy Playdate Friends
$24.80
  • 14-inch doll
  • Comes with small stuffed animal
  • Machine washable and dryer safe
  • Soft-bodied and fully embroidered
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03/08/2024 12:28 pm GMT

7. Melissa & Doug Primary Lacing Beads

Lacing beads are so great for lots of different uses, and this Melissa & Doug Primary Lacing Beads set is my favorite. Older kids are able to practice their fine motor skills in a fun way by stringing the beads to create patterns.

If younger kids aren’t able to string beads yet, you can have them practice grouping like colors or playing with the beads in different ways.

Melissa & Doug Primary Lacing Beads
$13.99
  • 30 brightly colored wooden beads in a variety of shapes, two colorful laces and a wooden storage case
  • Helps children develop strong fine motor, cognitive, and visual perception skills, while promoting hand-eye coordination
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03/08/2024 06:19 am GMT

8. Doll Stroller

I can’t explain to you why toddlers and preschoolers love to push around strollers and grocery carts, but they really really do! Boys and girls alike will put dolls and stuffed animals in this stroller and take them for many rides around the house (or outside if you let them!).

My First Doll Stroller
$22.99
  • Sun shade, buckle and basket on bottom
  • Double wheels on all four legs
  • Fits 18" dolls
  • Foldable for storage
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03/08/2024 02:48 pm GMT

9. My Pal Scout/Violet

This is a toy that has been around for years! My sister gave us one of these My Pal Scout/Violet when my oldest was a baby. It was one that all three of her kids used when they were younger. Then our kids’ grandpa sent our daughter one for her birthday last year.

They all love singing and dancing along with their puppy pal!

My Pal Scout
$24.99
  • Teach Scout your child’s name and favorite things for personalized learning across more than 15 activities
  • 40+ learning songs, melodies and lullabies
  • Introduces first words, feelings and emotions, colors and counting
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03/07/2024 10:04 am GMT

10. What’s Up Face Play Set

Help your toddler practice recognizing other people’s feelings with this wooden face play set. They’ll like playing games where they guess the emotion, mimicking the face on the board, or just making silly faces.

What's Up Play Set
  • Wood
  • 8.74" x 9.17" x 0.43"
  • 28 magnetic pieces
  • 2 hair buns


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11. Magna-Tiles

Both my older kids love these Magna-Tiles! Older kids are able to make towers and castles, while younger ones will love to connect different pieces together.

Magna-Tiles are also a great toy option for traveling! Throw them in your carry-on for flights or put them in your car for car rides. (Traveling soon? Here are my 25 tips for traveling with a toddler!)

Magna-Tiles 100-Piece Clear Colors Set
$119.99
  • Each piece of tile is designed to look like stained glass
  • Build 2D or 3D structures
  • Great for all ages
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03/07/2024 03:44 pm GMT

12. Wooden Dish Set

I wish they made these for MY kitchen! These gorgeous wooden play dishes and cups will see a lot of play time. Just start practicing making yummy noises now, because you’ll be eating a lot of pretend meals!

Wooden Toy Plates and Dishes
$21.99
  • 27 piece kitchen playset
  • Solid hardwood, water base paint
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03/07/2024 11:49 pm GMT

13. First Builders Big Building Bag

You can never go wrong with a giant bag of blocks! We have these First Builders Big Building Bag, and both our kids love them. (And I love that they come with built-in storage.)

This is a great gift for girls and boys of all ages.

MEGA BLOKS Big Building Bag
$16.00
  • 80 classic-colored building blocks, including special shapes
  • Hands-on play for early childhood development
  • Storage bag for easy clean up
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03/07/2024 02:33 pm GMT

14. Dust! Sweep! Mop! Pretend Play Set

I think this is a must-have toy set in every house! It helps kids build confidence in helping around the house early, meaning you have more help now AND in the future. And toddlers feel like big kids, which is always a win!

Melissa & Doug Let's Play House Dust! Sweep! Mop!
  • Broom, mop, duster, brush and dustpan
  • Stand holds all pieces
  • Wood
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15. Wobbel Balance Board

This Wobbel board is on my kids’ wish lists! A Wobbel can truly be used as so many things: a balance board, a house, a bridge and more.

Balance Board with Merino Wool

Playing with our balance board is simultaneously a fun and healthy activity, as doing so helps to develop:

💡 creativity

🛩️ imagination

💪 balance

🧘‍♀️ an exercise routine

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16. Skip Hop 3-in-1 Ride-On Toy

This toy goes from a wagon your new walker can push, to a sit-and-ride toy, to a scooter! It’s nice to give a toy they won’t outgrow for a while.

Skip Hop 3-in-1 Walker to Scooter
$46.49
  • Max weight: 44 lbs
  • 3 AAA batteries, not included
  • 22.75" L x 13.5" W x 20.5" H
  • Stainless steel and plastic
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03/07/2024 05:24 am GMT

17. LeapFrog My First Learning Tablet

Learn your letters and have fun? Oh yes, it’s possible – especially with this LeapFrog My First Learning Tablet. I bring them along for longer car rides and they are magic!

LeapFrog My First Learning Tablet
$19.99
  • 25 pretend-play apps
  • Light-up touch screen
  • Three play modes
  • 20+ songs and melodies


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03/07/2024 07:39 am GMT

18. 100 Animals Toddler Coloring Book

You know what’s exciting for toddlers, inexpensive for you, and doesn’t clutter up the house? Coloring books! 

This fresh coloring book is filled with big pictures of animals — and when it’s all colored up, you can just throw it away!

100 Animals for Toddler Coloring Book
$9.99
  • 204 pages
  • 8.5" x 11"
  • One-sided so you don't get bleed-through from markers
  • Animal names on each page
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03/07/2024 11:19 am GMT

19. Water Bottle

Practical and fun – that’s the goal of kids’ gifts, right? Get your kids to drink more water and stop having to share your water bottle with this Simple Modern Water Bottle!

My kids love their water bottles and are constantly asking for them. They’re also perfect for on-the-go since they don’t leak or spill.

Simple Modern Kids Water Bottle
  • Made from stainless steel and a durable finish
  • Double walled and insulated
  • Includes a BPA-free straw lid that has a spout that folds down
  • Lightweight, durable and holds 10, 14, or 18 oz of fluid
  • Dishwasher safe
  • Simple Modern donates over 10% of profits
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20. Squigz

This is a simple but super fun toy for toddlers all the way to adults. The suction cups stick to each other or to most surfaces, so you can build, move them around, and enjoy the pop when you pull them apart.

Fat Brain Toys Squigz Starter Set
$29.95
  • Silicone
  • 24 pieces
  • 8 shapes
  • Leaves no residue on surfaces
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03/08/2024 10:33 am GMT

21. Play-Doh

While we all love Play-Doh, we all hate when the colors get mixed together to blend into one glob of brown.

Every kid needs a fresh set of Play-Doh once in a while, which makes this a perfect toddler gift. Toss the old stuff and crack open a new set!

Play-Doh 10-Pack
$7.99
  • 10 pack of Play-Doh
  • Easy open, recyclable package
  • Ships in simple recyclable packaging that's easy to open and frustration free
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03/07/2024 06:58 pm GMT

22. Barnyard Friends Bath Toys

Make bath time more fun with some new animal friends! These barnyard friends float and squirt.

Munchkin Farm Animal Squirts
$10.49
  • 8 animals
  • Ages 9 months+
  • Fun way to teach animal names and sounds
  • Improve fine motor skills


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03/08/2024 12:58 pm GMT

23. Play Makeup

Have a little one who loves to copy Mom? Maybe it’s carrying a purse, talking on the phone or putting on lipstick. This pretend makeup set is perfect for that!

Pretend Makeup Kit
$23.99
  • Made out of eco-friendly EVA foam
  • Comes with bag and set of makeup
  • Pretend lipstick, brush, eyeshadow, nail polish, mirror and more!
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03/08/2024 10:04 am GMT

24. Double Doodle Board

This mess-free drawing board is a great toy to take in the car. One side has a sealed gel surface for drawing with your finger and the other has a reusable drawing surface for washable crayons.

My First Crayola Double Doodle Board
$10.92
  • 11" x 10"
  • 3 washable triangular crayons
  • Ages 24 months+
  • Wipe clean with cloth
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03/07/2024 04:44 am GMT

25. cuddle+kind

Do good with your toddler gift! These adorable cuddle+kind dolls give 10 meals to kids in need with each purchase. We have a few of these dolls and our kids adore them!

cuddle + kind Stella The Polar Bear
$94.00
  • Empowers talented women artisans with equitable, fair trade employment
  • For every ethically produced, hand-knit doll purchased, 10 meals are provided to children in need
  • Lovingly handcrafted in Peru using premium 100% cotton yarn
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03/07/2024 02:59 pm GMT

You can find even more gifts that give back here!

26. Quiet Book

Known as a busy book or quiet book, these soft fabric books are really good at keeping kids occupied. They can practice counting, lacing, zipping, shapes, and more!

QUIET BOOK for Kids
$32.95
  • 10 interactive pages
  • Full closure zipper
  • 10.5" x 3.2" x 7.9"
  • Felt
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03/07/2024 05:38 pm GMT

27. Lovevery Play Kit

Lovevery has play kits for every stage of toddlerhood! You can get a subscription or buy individual kits. We have a block kit from Lovevery and it is one toy that keeps getting pulled out week after week. All three of my kids love it for different reasons, and there’s enough blocks to go around!

Lovevery The Block Set
$90.99
  • 70 heirloom quality pieces that work with each other in more than 20 stage-based activities
  • Years of learning through play, crafted by child development experts
  • Comes with storage box and bag
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03/07/2024 08:39 am GMT

Find my full Lovevery review here!

28. Gonge Balancing Riverstones

These stones, based on the shape of stones in a river, can be played with inside or outside, and arranged in an infinite number of ways. Toddlers can work on balance, coordination and confidence.

Gonge Riverstones
$59.18
  • 6 stones
  • Stack inside each other for storage
  • Rubber studs on base to prevent slippage
  • Max weight: 110 lbs
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03/08/2024 06:33 am GMT

29. Melissa & Doug Pattern Blocks and Boards

I have a rule: when something is in my kids’ preschool classrooms, I know it’s legit. I saw my oldest son play with these pattern blocks and boards last year at preschool so I picked up a set for him at home. Success!

Melissa & Doug Pattern Blocks and Boards
$21.99
  • A set of 120 wooden blocks in various shapes and colors
  • Encourages kids to enjoy a classic math manipulative and learning activity
  • Great for spatial awareness, color recognition, hand eye coordination and problem solving
  • Double sided boards to provide kids with even more creative play options
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03/07/2024 11:25 am GMT

Find more toddler puzzles here!

30. Bilibo

If someone asks me what a Bilibo is, I don’t exactly know how to describe it. But I promise it is great!

This strange plastic dome is whatever your toddler wants it to be: a spinning seat, a mountain or swimming pool for toys, a stone in the middle of lava, a slide, an alien helmet. It gets a ton of imaginative play time!

MOLUK Bilibo
  • Designed in Switzerland with child development experts
  • Nontoxic, shatterproof polyethylene
  • Ages 2+
  • 16" L x 16" W x 9" H
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31. Puffy Stickers

There’s something about stickers that kids just love. When my oldest was 2, he once spent an entire three-hour flight filling a notebook with stickers. (It was the best flight of my mom life!)

These Puffy Stickers are great for toddlers of all ages because they’re super easy to get off the sheet and onto paper. Pair these with a simple notebook and you’ll be shocked at how much quiet time it’ll buy you.

3D Puffy Stickers
$9.99
  • Each pack has 20 sheets, total more than 500 pieces stickers
  • Easy to peel from sheet and free to remove from smooth surfaces
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03/07/2024 12:13 pm GMT

32. Color Wonder

Our older two kids are pretty obsessed with Color Wonder! And I love them because they won’t ruin my floors, furniture or walls with them.

They are constantly pulling them out to color, so we pick up a new book of Color Wonder paper for most holidays and birthdays.

Crayola Paw Patrol Color Wonder
$7.97
  • Features 18 Paw Patrol coloring pages and five Color Wonder markers
  • Colors appear only on special Color Wonder paper, not on skin, clothing, or carpets
  • Safe and nontoxic
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03/07/2024 11:59 pm GMT

33. Car Carrier Vehicle

What toddler doesn’t loves cars and trucks? This Car Carrier Vehicle is a perfect toddler gift, especially if you have multiple toddlers in your home or host play dates. Since it comes with multiple cars, everyone can play with it together!

Green Toys Car Carrier
$13.89
  • Made in the USA from 100% recycled plastic
  • Great for indoor or outdoor play with no metal axles or external coatings
  • Encourages motor skill development and open, imaginative play
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03/08/2024 11:34 am GMT

34. Kids Binoculars

Have a little one who loves to look for birds? Always pretending to be searching for something? These binoculars would be a fun addition to any pretend play!

Scotamalone Kids Binoculars
$7.55
  • Small enough for kids
  • Ideal for outdoor activities
  • Multiple color options
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03/07/2024 07:44 pm GMT

35. Tulle Tutu Skirt

I’m pretty picky about my tutus for Penelope. I don’t like them to sag too low, not be full enough or fall off of her. This one is perfect! It has 10 layers of tulle, is super full and, best yet, adorable!

Ballet Tulle Tutu Skirt
$11.99
  • 10 layers of tulle
  • Fits babies through 3T
  • Comes in a variety of colors
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03/08/2024 01:49 pm GMT

36. Lego Number Train Set

I don’t think you can go wrong with any Lego set for toddlers, but we have this exact Lego Number Train Set and we love it!

It’s great for younger kids to just play with and learn how to connect different pieces together, but also for older toddlers to begin to line up the cars in the correct order. Fun and educational – the dream, right?

LEGO DUPLO My First Number Train
$36.99
  • Includes two child LEGO® DUPLO® figures, plus a cat figure
  • Features a buildable locomotive and three wagons
  • Includes bricks decorated with numbers 0 to 9
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03/07/2024 02:29 am GMT

37. Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site

As a parent it’s equally important to find books that you love as much as your kids do, especially if it becomes their favorite and they want you to read it over. And over and over and over…

This Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site book is one book that’s family friendly and parent approved – a fun read for everyone!

Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site
$11.36
  • #1 New York Times bestselling children's book
  • Vibrant illustrations and gentle rhyming text 
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03/07/2024 01:58 pm GMT

38. Shakers

Shakers are a super fun way for kids to play along with music! These wooden shakers are easy for kids of all ages to hold and have a gentler sound than the plastic ones.

Nino Percussion Egg Shaker Set
  • Set of 4
  • Red, green, yellow and blue
  • Plastic


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39. No Spill Bubbles

My sister introduced me to this No Spill Bubbles and it’s amazing! It’s a great way for kids to start to learn how to blow bubbles on their own without you having to worry about them dumping over the carton constantly.

No-Spill Big Bubble Bucket
$18.92
  • Patented No-Spill design allows for all the bubble fun without any of the mess
  • Made in the USA
  • Includes three wands for multiple children to play at once and an easy to grasp handle perfectly sized for little kids' hands
  • Non-toxic and safety tested 
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03/07/2024 03:44 pm GMT

40. Wicker Luggy Basket

Does your little one love playing with dolls or stuffed animals? Are they constantly dragging them around? This adorable wicker basket on wheels will be their favorite new spot for all their favorite toys. It can be a doll stroller, a picnic basket, a suitcase — whatever they can imagine in their pretend play!

Luggy Basket
  • Handmade wicker
  • 21"H, 12"W, 8"D
  • Wheels included
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41. Vtech Toolbox

There are few things more exciting than when Dad pulls out his toolbox to do a project! With this fun kid’s Vtech Toolbox, our kids can do their own “projects” while helping us with ours.

VTech Drill and Learn Toolbox
$24.99
  • Includes an electronic fix-it tray, drill, hammer, wrench, nails and screws
  • Working toy drill
  • Light-up buttons introduce tools and their functions
  • Double-sided project cards encourage role-play
  • Nine electronic tray holes trigger sounds and phrases
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03/07/2024 06:29 pm GMT

42. Toy Keys

I may never understand why kids think keys are so fun to play with, but they definitely do. Chances are they won’t think keys are so fun when they’re adults and constantly losing theirs…

Until then, these Toy Keys are a hit!

FunKeys Toy
$10.92
  • Four fun car sounds
  • Working flashlight
  • BPA and phthalates free
  • Recyclable packaging
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03/07/2024 07:03 am GMT

43. Digger Truck

If there’s one thing that all toddlers seem to love, it’s dirt! This digging toy combines the love of playing in dirt and the fun of rolling a toy truck. It’s chunky enough for little hands and intuitive for little ones who can’t quite get the hang of some of the more realistic excavator toys.

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03/08/2024 02:24 am GMT

44. Toddler Scavenger Hunt

To be honest, even my big kids love this easy scavenger hunt! It has pictures as well as words, so your little one can understand better, and they’ll love being involved in a game.

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03/07/2024 05:24 am GMT

45. Horse Bouncer

Your toddler will love bouncing on this horse around the house. They’ll love that they can do it themselves (and that they don’t have far to fall when they inevitably fall over!).

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03/08/2024 02:35 am GMT

46. Button Busy Board

Give them some switches and buttons they’re allowed to touch! This little busy board is so fun — it has lots of lights your toddler can turn on with switches, buttons, knobs and more.

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03/08/2024 02:39 am GMT

47. VTech Care for Me Learning Carrier

Toddlers have lots of love to give, so help them start learning to use that love to take care of an animal. This little lovey comes with a carrier (with buttons!), bottle, food, comb and toy.

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03/08/2024 02:46 am GMT

The Ultimate Gift Guide List

Want even more gift ideas for everyone on your list? Head to one of these!

Gift Guides for Grown Ups

Gift Guides for Kids, Tweens & Teens

Age Specific Gift Guides

Product Specific Gift Guides for Babies & Toddlers

Special Interest Gift Guides

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Enjoy!

I hope this toddler gift guide helps you the next time you’re shopping for a little one in your life!

As always, thanks for reading!

Jen

Author

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  • Jen Biswas

    Jen has styled women for photo shoots, fashion shows, board meetings, work trips and most importantly, every day life! She's been hired to style many homes as well. Her aesthetic aims to make style approachable and practical, and most of all fun! She's a mom of 3 who loves frozen cookie dough, plants and a generous pour of creamer in her coffee. Her biggest joy is helping others find joy in personal style through practical tips and inspiration. She loves to share all of her styling secrets on Paisley & Sparrow! Feel free to send Jen a message or join the fun on Instagram!

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