Gifts for Toddlers That Survive Being Thrown, Chewed and Loved
By the Giftruly editorsUpdated 21 hand-picked ideas
Toddlers are the toughest audience in gift-giving. They'll ignore a beautiful wooden toy for twenty minutes in favor of the box it came in, then decide it's the only thing they'll play with for a month. They put things in their mouths, throw things down stairs and want to do everything themselves, especially the things they can't quite do yet.
The good news is that toddlers are predictable in what they love: things to push, stack, bang, pour and pretend with. This guide follows them through those years. First toys for brand-new one-year-olds, then the copycat stage of two, when every child wants a kitchen and a broom. Along the way there's a short reality check on what parents want in their living rooms, a set of bigger gifts worth asking about first, and a run of small, sturdy presents under $30.
For younger babies, see our gifts for babies. Once they're past three, our main gifts for kids guide takes over, and for the holidays there's Christmas gifts for kids. Buying for a little niece or nephew? You might also like gifts for niece and gifts for nephew.
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Tell Truly about them in a sentence. You'll get ideas picked for them, each with a reason why.
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The short list
Turning one: first toys for brand-new walkers
Somewhere around the first birthday, babies become toddlers almost overnight. They're cruising along the furniture or taking their first steps, and they're fascinated by cause and effect: push this, that happens. These classics are made for that stage, and they'll still be in use at two.
- 1~$45
Toddler Ride-On Push Car
A low ride-on they push along with their feet, with a hidden storage spot under the seat. Steady enough for new walkers to push from behind, too.
fun - 2~$15
Shape Sorter Cube
A wooden cube with chunky shapes to post through matching holes. Frustrating at twelve months, triumphant by eighteen; that's the point.
fun - 3~$18
Toddler Xylophone with Mallets
A rainbow xylophone with two chunky mallets. Noisy, yes, but in tune, which is more than can be said for most toddler music toys.
Music Loversfun - 4~$22
Chunky Wooden Knob Puzzle Set
Wooden puzzles with big knobs for little fingers. A first taste of puzzles that builds hand control without the tears of fiddly pieces.
fun - 5~$35
LEGO DUPLO Classic Brick Box
Oversized bricks made for ages eighteen months and up, too big to swallow. At first they're for stacking and knocking down; later, real building.
LEGO Fansfun
What parents want you to know
Toddler parents spend a lot of time picking up toys, so think about where your gift will live. Big plastic toys that light up and sing can take over a small apartment, and the songs get old fast. If you love a noisy toy, ask first, or choose one with a volume switch. Wooden and open-ended toys tend to be welcomed, because they last longer and don't drive anyone mad.
Then there's safety. Read the age label on everything; for under-threes, skip anything with small parts, button batteries or magnets, which are serious hazards if swallowed. Watch out for long strings and cords too. Many toys that look toddler-friendly are actually labeled for three and up, so double-check before you buy for a younger sibling. And if the family has rules about screens, sugar or certain toys, follow them, even if you'd do it differently.
Two-year-olds: copying everything you do
At two, children want to do whatever the grown-ups are doing: cook, clean, sing, ride a bike, help at the sink. Pretend play explodes, and so does the desire to do things "by myself."
Gifts that let them join in with real life, at their own size, are the ones they'll play with every day.
- 6
Wooden Play Food Set
~$25
Wooden fruits and vegetables held together with Velcro, plus a toy knife to "slice" them apart. Two-year-olds will cook you a hundred pretend dinners and insist you eat every one. It pairs well with a play kitchen but works fine on its own on a rug. Wooden sets hold up much better than plastic ones.
- 7
Toddler Musical Instrument Set
~$25
A bundle of small instruments like maracas, a tambourine and shakers. Toddlers love making noise on purpose, and a set means everyone in the family can join the band. Choose wooden ones with no small parts, and check the parents are happy about a percussion section in the living room.
- 8
Toddler Step Stool with Handles
~$30
A sturdy, non-slip step stool with side handles that lets a toddler reach the bathroom sink or watch at the kitchen counter. It's practical, but toddlers treat it like a gift because it lets them do grown-up things. Parents will appreciate it more than almost any toy. Supervision is still needed near the stove.
- 9
Water Doodle Mat for Toddlers
~$15
A mat that shows colors when you draw on it with a water pen, then fades as it dries. It gives budding artists a way to scribble with no mess at all, which parents love. It's also great for travel and restaurants. Expect to refill the pen often.
- 10
Balance Bike
~$70
A pedal-free bike that teaches balance first, so many kids move straight to a pedal bike later without training wheels. Children often start around two, scooting with their feet before gliding. Check the seat height against the child's inseam, and add a helmet; they'll go faster than you expect.
- 11
Toddler Rain Boots
~$25
Waterproof boots with easy-pull handles that let toddlers put them on themselves. Every puddle becomes an adventure. Practical and fun, though you'll need to check the size with the parents; toddler feet grow fast, so a half size up is usually safer.
Big gifts worth asking about first
Some toddler toys take up real space, and some need supervision. They can also be the gifts kids remember most, so they're great for a grandparent or a group of relatives to share. Talk to the parents before you buy: they'll know if there's room, and if someone else already has the same plan.
- Our favorite12
Wooden Play Kitchen
~$110
A child-height kitchen with a pretend stove, oven, sink and shelves. It's one of the longest-lasting toys you can buy, used from about two until well into grade school, and it's the center of most pretend play in a home. It takes up a fair bit of floor space and usually needs assembly, so check with the parents and offer to put it together yourself. Add the play food set if you'd like to make it complete.
- 13
Toddler Tricycle
~$60
A low, stable three-wheeler sized for toddlers, often with a parent push handle that comes off later. Before little legs can pedal far, it works as a stroller substitute on walks; after, it's their first set of wheels. Look for one with a handle that's easy for a parent to steer, and add a helmet.
- 14
Toddler Indoor Climbing Triangle
~$90
A wooden climbing frame, often with a ramp, that gives toddlers somewhere safe to climb indoors instead of the bookcase. It folds for storage, which matters in a small home. Climbing frames need supervision and a soft surface underneath. A wonderful gift for an active toddler, but ask first; not every family has the room.
- 15
Toddler Sand and Water Play Table
~$60
A small table with two basins for sand, water or both, and a few scoops. It keeps a toddler busy outside for a surprisingly long time and keeps most of the mess in the basins. Only for families with a yard, patio or balcony. Remember to empty the water after each use.
- 16
Pop-Up Play Tent with Tunnel
~$40
A tent with a crawl-through tunnel that pops open in seconds and folds flat when you're done. Toddlers love a hiding place, and the tunnel turns into the main route of every chasing game. It's a good gift for a small home, since it doesn't need to stay up all the time.
Under $30 and toddler-proof
Small gifts for a toddler birthday party, a holiday, or just because. All of them are sturdy enough to survive the toddler years.
17.Washable Jumbo Crayons and Drawing Pad ~$12
Chunky crayons shaped for a toddler fist, with a big pad of paper. Washable is the key word; walls will be involved at some point.
18.Toddler Bath Toy Set with Mesh Bag ~$15
Large bath toys with no squirt holes, so no hidden mold. The mesh bag lets them drain and dry between baths.
19.Large Plush Elephant Stuffed Animal ~$20
A soft elephant with embroidered eyes and no loose parts, made for hugging on the couch and dragging around the house.
20.Personalized Toddler Backpack ~$28
A small backpack with their name stitched on, for daycare or preschool. Seeing their own name on it makes a toddler stand a little taller.
21.Toddler Pretend Doctor Kit ~$22
A toy stethoscope and chunky tools for giving teddies a checkup. Most are labeled three and up, so save it for a third birthday.
Shop this guide by price
Under $25
$25–$50
$50–$100
Toddler gift tips from the trenches
Choose open-ended toys: blocks, play food, crayons, instruments. They grow with the child and are played with in more ways.
Check the age label on every toy, and look for small parts, button batteries and magnets if the child is under three.
Ask the parents before buying anything big, loud or messy.
Toddlers love repetition. A favorite book or toy might be played with every day for months, so don't worry about buying something "too simple."
Want more ideas? Our gift finder can suggest toddler gifts by age and interests.
Common toddler gift questions
What is a good gift for a 1-year-old?
A ride-on push car, a shape sorter, a xylophone, chunky wooden puzzles or DUPLO bricks. One-year-olds love toys they can push, stack and bang.
What is a good gift for a 2-year-old?
Pretend play toys like a play kitchen or play food, a balance bike, musical instruments, a step stool so they can help in the kitchen, or a water doodle mat for mess-free art.
What toys are not safe for toddlers?
Avoid toys with small parts, button batteries, magnets, long cords or strings for children under three. Always check the age label, and keep older siblings' toys out of reach.
How do I choose a toy for a toddler who has everything?
Try something practical they'll love, like a step stool or rain boots, or an experience, such as a trip to the zoo or a children's museum. Books are always welcome too.