Gifts for Toddlers That Survive Being Thrown, Chewed and Loved

By the Gift DeskUpdated October 19, 202621 hand-picked ideas

The short list

For a first birthdayToddler Ride-On Push Car~$45
A two-year-old favoriteWooden Play Food Set~$25
Worth pooling forWooden Play Kitchen~$55
Under $15Washable Jumbo Crayons and Drawing Pad~$12

The short answer

For a one-year-old, start with a ride-on push car or a Melissa & Doug pounding bench; two-year-olds copy everything, so a wooden play food set or a LEGO DUPLO box lands better. Under $15, washable jumbo crayons are hard to ruin.

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.

To compare every stage at once, see gifts for kids by age. For younger babies, see our gifts for babies. For the holidays, Christmas gifts for toddlers has its own picks for the big morning. Once they’re past three, our main gifts for kids guide takes over. Buying for a little niece or nephew? You might also like gifts for niece and gifts for nephew.

Shopping for Christmas?Christmas Gifts for Toddlers

Giftruly is reader-supported. When you buy through our links we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. How we pick

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
Toddler Ride-On Push Car
Radio Flyer Ride and Deliver Truck
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.
On Amazonabout $45
2
Wooden Pull-Along Toy
Jaques of London Felix the Fox Pull-Along
A wooden animal on wheels that wobbles and clacks along behind a new walker. It gives those first steps somewhere to go. Pick one with a short cord, and keep it out of the crib.
On Amazonabout $20
3
Shape Sorter Cube
Melissa & Doug Shape Sorting Cube
A wooden cube with chunky shapes to post through matching holes. Frustrating at twelve months, triumphant by eighteen; that’s the point.
On Amazonabout $15
4
Wooden Pounding Bench with Mallet
Chunky pegs to hammer down with a wooden mallet, then flip the bench and start again. It turns the urge to bang everything into a game, and it’s kinder to the furniture.
On Amazonabout $17
5
Toddler Xylophone with Mallets
Melissa & Doug Caterpillar Xylophone
A rainbow xylophone with two chunky mallets. Noisy, yes, but in tune, which is more than can be said for most toddler music toys.
On Amazonabout $12
6
Chunky Wooden Knob Puzzle Set
Melissa & Doug Fish and Pets Jumbo Knob Puzzles
Wooden puzzles with big knobs for little fingers. A first taste of puzzles that builds hand control without the tears of fiddly pieces.
On Amazonabout $45

Know exactly who it’s for?

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.

7
Wooden Play Food Set
Melissa & Doug Cutting Food
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.
On Amazonabout $25
8
LEGO DUPLO Classic Brick Box
Oversized LEGO bricks made for children from eighteen months, deliberately too big to swallow. Younger toddlers stack and topple them; around two, children start building towers, houses and lopsided animals, often narrating the whole time. Every DUPLO set fits with these, so it’s the start of years of building. Begin with a plain brick box rather than a themed set, and let the child decide what it becomes.
On Amazonabout $50
9
Toddler Step Stool with Handles
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.
On Amazonabout $200
10
Water Doodle Mat for Toddlers
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.
On Amazonabout $15
11
Balance Bike
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.
On Amazonabout $150
12
Toddler Rain Boots
Western Chief Waterproof Printed Rain Boots
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.
On Amazonabout $25

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 favorite13
Wooden Play Kitchen
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.
On Amazonabout $55
14
Toddler Tricycle
Radio Flyer 4-in-1 Stroll 'N Trike
A low, stable three-wheeler sized for toddlers, 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. Add a helmet once they’re pedaling on their own.
On Amazonabout $60
15
Toddler Indoor Climbing Triangle
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.
On Amazonabout $350
16
Toddler Sand and Water Play Table
Step2 Splash 'N Scoop Bay Sand and Water Table
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.
On Amazonabout $60

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
Crayola My First Washable Tripod Grip Crayons
Chunky crayons shaped for a toddler fist; add a big pad of paper. Washable is the key word; walls will be involved at some point.
On Amazonabout $12
18.
Large Plush Elephant Stuffed Animal
GUND Baby Oh So Snuggly Elephant
A soft elephant with embroidered eyes and no loose parts, made for hugging on the couch and dragging around the house.
On Amazonabout $25
19.
Personalized Toddler Backpack
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.
On Amazonabout $28
20.
Kids Bike Helmet
A lightweight helmet with a dial fit, in a toddler size. Pair it with a balance bike or tricycle, from you or someone else; wheels need a helmet.
On Amazonabout $75
21.
Toddler Pretend Doctor Kit
Melissa & Doug Get Well Doctor's Kit
A toy stethoscope and chunky tools for giving teddies a checkup. Most are labeled three and up, so save it for a third birthday.
On Amazonabout $20

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 pull-along toy, a shape sorter, a pounding bench or chunky wooden puzzles. One-year-olds love toys they can push, pull, stack and bang.

What is a good gift for a 2-year-old?

Pretend play toys like a play kitchen or play food, DUPLO bricks, a balance bike, 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.

Christmas Gifts for Toddlers Gifts for Baby Birthday Gifts for Kids Christmas Gifts for Baby Gifts for Kids Gifts for Kids by Age Long-Distance Gifts Gifts for New Parents Gifts for Niece Gifts for Book Lovers Gifts for Cyclists Christmas Gifts for Kids St. Nicholas Day Gifts La Befana Gifts

Turning one: first toys for brand-new walkers

Know exactly who it’s for?

What parents want you to know

Two-year-olds: copying everything you do

Big gifts worth asking about first

Under $30 and toddler-proof

Shop this guide by price

Under $25

$25–$50

$50–$100

$100+

Toddler gift tips from the trenches

Common toddler gift questions

Related gift guides

Turning one: first toys for brand-new walkers

Know exactly who it’s for?

What parents want you to know

Two-year-olds: copying everything you do

Big gifts worth asking about first

Under $30 and toddler-proof

Shop this guide by price

Under $25

$25–$50

$50–$100

$100+