38 Best Stocking Stuffers for Toddlers That Are Expert- and Kid-Approved
These inexpensive, budget-friendly toys are a big hit with 1-year-olds and 2-year-olds.
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What makes a good stocking stuffer for toddlers? First and foremost, it has to be age-appropriate for kids 2 and under; gifts for kids this age should be free of hazards like small parts kids can choke on, moving pieces that can pinch tiny fingers, sharp bits that can poke and so on. They should also be relatively inexpensive. But really, stocking sized gifts for toddlers are more about a vibe than anything else: Without the pressure of being the "main gift," they're free to just be fun, little toys that can surprise and delight kids.
With all that in mind, there are still so many choices. That's where the Good Housekeeping Institute can step in to help. The experts there evaluate toys all year long, looking for the best for its annual Good Housekeeping Best Toy Awards. We've pulled the Institute's favorites for toddlers, along with some best-sellers and editor's picks, to come up with this list of our favorite stocking stuffers.
Toddlers can have so much fun building the tree, balancing out the sides so it doesn't rock, and matching the owls to the right-colored eggs. One parent tester said this even sparked imaginative play, saying their 2-year-old had fun making up stories with the birds and putting them to sleep in their eggs. Ages 2+
It's a pop fidget toy and a shape sorter in one, as kids are tasked with fitting the flexible pieces into Spike's shell. Good Housekeeping Institute testers reported that the fact that the shapes were soft and not rigid gave it an extra bit of challenge. This is part of a whole line of Good Housekeeping Institute expert-approved Spike toys, including a fine-motor toy, a fidget friend, a sensory play set, a rainbow stacker and a puzzle. Ages 18 months+
Kids don't have to be a previous fan of the Gracie’s Corner YouTube channel to enjoy this book, which goes over lowercase and uppercase letters, the corresponding sounds, and a word that begins with each letter. “I played the song on Spotify and my daughter followed along with the book,” said one Good Housekeeping Institute tester. “She loves the beat, and turning the pages in the book keeps her engaged and helps her connect the letters and their sounds.” Ages 0+
It's stocking stuffer-sized (and price), but it packs a lot of play. Good Housekeeping Institute testers loved that this one can be a stacking toy, a puzzle toy or even a ring toss. Ages 1+
Toddlers can work on their fine motor coordination as they take Mickey in and out of his sun vehicle and spin the rays. There's even a rattle feature, which lets them learn about cause-and-effect. Playmobil also has a Winnie the Pooh collection, and bigger sets in both lines. Ages 1+
Finger holes, pull tabs and other interactive features made this one a hit with Good Housekeeping Institute testers. “Don’t miss pulling up the tab on the back cover for a special message,” said one parent. “We didn’t notice it until we had read the book a few times.” Ages 2–5
It's almost never too early to get them building with DUPLO blocks, which are easy for toddler hands to snap together. This adorable set comes with a four-slice carrot that kids can stack and grow, along with pieces that teach kids what makes plants thrive. If they like it, you can move on to the DUPLO My First Fruit and Vegetable Tractor ($20), which has a buildable broccoli, tomato and pineapple, or the full My First Organic Market ($30). Ages 18 months+
What are Mini Bilibos? They're whatever toddlers want them to be! This set of six Mini Bilibos in different colors are supposed to inspired open-ended play. Kids can stack them, use them as landscapes for other toys to frolic on, flip them over and use them to sort objects by color, spin them, use them as scoopers — whatever they can dream up. There's also a big version that can be used as a set or tunnel. Ages 0+
When they spin the straw around this smoothie cup, toddlers will be introduced to five different fruit friends, and the cup will change colors to match! There are different songs associated with each fruit, and if that's not enough of a sensory experience, it also rattles, and the straw can be used as a teether! Ages 6 months+
Nothing is universal when it comes to toddlers, but I've never met one who didn't love bubbles. Parents like these especially because the design of the container allows for less mess — kids can knock it over without the bubble solution going everywhere. Ages 18 months+
How excited would a little Disney fan be to add Ariel, Rapunzel and Moana into their block play? This set comes with three 3.25-inch wooden figures, but you can also get a set with six princesses ($15) or one with Mickey and friends ($13). Ages 2+
Munchkin Color Buddies Bath Water Color Tablets
The whale and puffer fish are fun bath toys on their own —they strain water when you pick them up — but stick a Munchkin Color Buddies bath bomb inside and things really get exciting! The bath bombs turn the water brilliant colors. The set comes with two buddies toys and 20 bath bombs with different colors. Ages 2+
The biggest splurge on this list at just over $20, this set keeps kids from getting the dinnertime blues with construction-themed utensils they can use themselves! The forklift (get it?), front-loading spoon and bulldozer pusher will help them with the motor control they need to feed themselves. This set is utensils only, but you can also get one that comes with a plate ($35). There are also garden-themed utensils and a garden plate set, or dinosaur-themed utensils and a dinosaur plate set. Ages 1+
Boon Pipes Bath Toys
Stick these to the side of the bath (or the wall above it) with suction cups, and bath time becomes magic. Kids can pour water in the tops, and watch as wheels spin or the stream comes out in ways they didn't expect. Ages 1+
This little ray does triple duty: It's a stuffed animal, a bath toy and a washcloth all in one! "Feed" it liquid soap, and kids will look forward to scrubbing. There are even built-in finger pockets so kids can get a grip. No age recommendation given
Kids can collect these Baby Shark's Big Show characters and use them to hug, stack or play the "Baby Shark" song. It comes in Baby Shark, Mommy Shark, Daddy Shark and William and — bonus — they all play the songs, so you won't have to hand over your phone every time your toddler wants to hear it. Ages 2+
This toddler toy will take you back to your own 8-bit video gaming days. There's no real game to play, but toddlers can push the buttons or press down on the cartridge for lights, songs, sounds and phrases that teach directions, colors, numbers and shapes. Ages 6 months+
Open this sturdy board book, a previous Good Housekeeping Best Kids' Book Award winner, and there are two die-cut holes for eyes, turning each page into a different dinosaur mask. Good Housekeeping kid testers loved peeking through, and watching their grown-ups do the same! Ages 0 – 4
This BPA- and phthalates-free set replaces the real car keys they're always trying to grab. Bonus: the "beep beep" sound that the buttons make are designed to be less annoying to parents' ears. Ages 10 months+
Learning Resources Learning Avocados
You can get these for the kids of your avocado-toast-loving friends, and feel good knowing that they work on teaching kids colors, emotions and fine-motor coordination. Kids can strengthen their hands as they pop apart the avocados, match the colors of the pits to the matching avocado halves, and talk about the emotions in each facial expression. Ages 18 months+
Marisa (she/her) has covered all things parenting, from the postpartum period through the empty nest, for Good Housekeeping since 2018; previously, she wrote about parents and families at Parents and Working Mother. She lives with her toy-collecting husband and daughter in Brooklyn, where she can be found helping out her team at bar trivia or posting about movies on Twitter and Bluesky.
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