Shopping for gifts for 1 -2 year olds can be challenging! There are few things more disappointing than giving a little one a present they’re just not into. Keep reading for the best gift ideas for 1 year olds and 2 year olds!
Buying toys for babies and toddlers can be tricky because they don’t understand what they actually want yet. It’s even harder if you don’t know the little one that well!
Presents for 1-2 year olds: What to consider
When you look for presents for 1-2 year olds, there are a few things you can consider to make sure you find the best gift possible.
1. Make sure it’s age-appropriate.
This is usually super easy, because most items made for babies, toddlers and children have intended ages printed on them. This is obvious for toys, but even things like stroller accessories, car seat attachments, blankets and non-toy baby items have ages on them.
2. Think about what catches the toddler’s attention.
If you’re lucky, you’ll know what your 1-2 year old likes, which makes it easy to zero into the toys and things they’ll be drawn to.
For example, we knew from a very young age that my son loved vehicles. He wasn’t old enough for Matchbox cars and traditional Thomas the Tank Engine train cars, but he, like most toddlers, wasn’t picky. If it had wheels and he could push it around, he was happy.
3. Learn about the things most toddlers (and parents of little kids) love!
Chances are you’re here because you don’t know exactly what the toddler you’re buying for is interested in. In that case, you’ll want to move on to the next section for 3 tips on what toddlers and parents love.
How to find the best toddler gift ideas (even if you don’t know the child)
1. Go with what interests most 1-2 year olds.
Toys that light up and make noises are almost always a winner for toddler gifts.
Brands like Fisher-Price, Vtech Baby and Baby Einstein specialize in making toys that little ones will love. Tried and true toys have longevity for a reason!
Classic wooden toys, a simple musical instrument, dolls, building blocks and play sets are the most fun ways to encourage an independent, imaginative play skill for toddlers!
2. Go with educational toddler toys.
I always love age-appropriate toys that help little brains grow and develop. My favorite brand for this is Lovevery, because they make learning toys that are clearly intended for different ages. I’m including my favorite of their items in the list of toddler gift ideas below, but you really should see what they’re all about.
Related: Lovevery Black Friday: All the Details!
I also have a whole list of STEM toys for babies and toddlers that will make shopping easier for you!
3. Go with something that helps out mom and dad.
If I can be blunt for a moment, the 1 year old or 2 year old won’t remember what he or she received for this birthday. Sure, if it’s particularly memorable or long-lasting, their parents might remind him or her of who gave it to them. Maybe.
Then again, life with a toddler is hectic, and it doesn’t get less crazy for parent as their baby gets older. It’s nice and generous to give a gift, even if mom and dad might not remember who it came from!
Keeping that in mind, you can also give presents to the 1-2 year old child that will ultimately help out mom and dad. Consumable goods like diapers, wipes, toddler snacks and baby food squeeze packs are absolutely lovely to receive.
Other great gift ideas that benefit both parents and baby are:
- Kids bedroom decorations
- Bedding for a toddler bed
- Tear-free shampoo or body wash
- Local children’s museum tickets or memberships
Now that you have some ideas of what to look for, it’s time to share my suggestions for the best gift ideas for 1-2 year olds!
Best gifts for 1-2 year olds
Top Gifts for 1-2 Year Olds : 21 Great Presents to Give
When it comes to buying gifts for 1-2 year olds, there are few things worse than getting them a present they don’t really want. That’s why it’s important to find something these growing babies and toddlers absolutely love! Check out the best gift ideas for 1 year olds and 2 year olds!
For ages 0 months to 2 years.
Lovevery makes Montessori-inspired play kits for babies and toddlers up to age 2. The kit is specifically designed to target the exact stage of development your child is approaching.
For ages 18 months to 6 years.
The Little Tikes First Slide is just the right size for your little one. It folds and unfolds in seconds, which makes it easy to store. This plastic slide promotes fitness, balance and coordination.
For ages 18 months and up.
This railway set offers delights at every turn! a beautiful melody plays as you drive the jungle train over the colorful xylophone melody track. Then cheeky monkeys pop up as you drive the train past their trees!
For ages 18 months and up.
Join animal friends as they explore new vocabulary in the Learning Friends 100 Words Book. Explore the colorful pages and touch each picture to hear the animals say toddler-appropriate words along with exciting facts and sound effects.
Immerse your child in bilingual play by sliding the language switch to hear the words, songs and instructions in Spanish. Touch the pictures to hear silly sound effects in Fun Sounds mode or press the light-up star button to hear two learning songs. Discover new vocabulary with cute learning friends!
For ages 18 months to adult.
A great addition to your backyard play space, the Step2 Waterfall Discovery Wall provides double-sided play for the whole family to enjoy. Let their imaginations run wild as each water maze piece can be moved to create a new design.
Little ones will enjoy scooping the water and watching as it cascades through the spinners, zigzags and funnels on this double-sided water wall.
For ages 18 months and up
The octopus hoopla by Nuby is another fun and interactive toy that teaches coordination, encourages development and provides hours of enjoyment. Bright colors and fun shapes make octopus hoopla a bath time favorite!
With gentle lights and sounds to soothe your newborn, this smart night light, sound machine and sleep trainer teaches your toddler when it's time to rise, and helps your big kid develop sleep independence.
For ages 12 months and up.
The mystery of magnets offers an experience that starts with marvel and joy. Safely embedded magnets inside blocks become so much more, and boundless play is off and running!
Tegu has reinvented the wooden block in a way that brings new life to a favored classic. Defy gravity and push your imagination in ways never before possible.
For ages 6 months and up.
With the delicate touch of little fingers, Baby Einstein and Hape’s Magic Touch Piano will let baby create thousands of different songs.
Made from wood, this piano toy features magic touch technology – no buttons or keys needed! Two modes of play give your toddler the ability to make her own music or play along with classic melodies. Giving your baby toys that make music helps tune into different rhythmic patterns and sounds at a young age.
For ages 12 months to 3 years.
Get playtime and developmental skills rolling with Melissa & Doug Rollables—adorably round characters that are firm enough to roll but soft enough to squeeze!
Inspire imaginative oceanside adventures through kinetic play with this sturdy wooden ramp tower and three Rollables: the friendly crab, silly shark, and awesome octopus with chime.
For ages 18 months to 4 years old.
Spark imaginations and hours of creative play with the Toy Story Balance Blocks from Disney Wooden Toys. Featuring some of kids’ favorite Disney characters from Toy Story, this set include 16 building blocks plus balancing base to create each character in their classic look including Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Jessie, and Rex.
These wooden blocks encourage little ones to use their imagination during free play and helps develop fine motor skills.
For all ages.
An updated version of traditional play rugs, this rug was designed for interactive fun.
Whether playing by themselves or sharing with friends, your child will love taking their toys all around town! Includes police station, fire station, hospital, supermarket, school, airport, car wash, bank, library and gas station.
For ages 18 months and up.
Hedgehog lost his quills and only your little ones can help him get them back!
Spike is a fine motor skills toy that helps kids build hand muscles and fine motor skills development as they replace the chunky, peg-shaped “quills” within the holes that dot the smiling hedgehog’s back.
The learning doesn't end there—spike's colorful quills also lend themselves well to lessons in counting, sorting, and color identification skills.
For all ages.
Squish time is playtime when you add Rutabaga to your Squishmallows Squad! This ultra-squeezable, 14-inch, large caterpillar plush is made with high-quality, ultrasoft materials.
The extra soft caterpillar plush is perfect to snuggle with while relaxing at home, watching a movie, or taking a long car or plane ride!
For ages 1 month and up.
Crocodile can't find his feet! Turn the pages to find out whose feet are down below--and enjoy Crocodile's fancy footwork!
This squeaking, crinkling, foot-filled cloth book from Melissa & Doug is durably constructed to last through story time, playtime, and the washing machine too! It’s easy to read, entertaining, and encourages infants and toddlers to develop hand-eye coordination, motor skills, and creative abilities.
For ages 12 months to 4 years old.
Toddlers can build big adventures on the go when stack the blocks on the table to build a town, market, gas station and more. Then they can place the rolling car on the table to explore the town.
Little builders can learn colors and numbers by matching blocks with detailed decorations or count fruits and veggies at the market!
Made for busy families, this table features fold-up legs, storage for blocks and an easy-to-grip handle.
For ages 6 months and up.
Get your baby ready for a bucket of fun with the Baby's First Blocks set. These chunky, stylish blocks help introduce your little one to colors and shapes as they sort, stack and drop the blocks through the slots in the bucket lid.
The Rock-a-Stack toy offers classic stacking fun for your child. When they're ready to sit and play, babies can stack the rings on the post, then bat at the wobbly base to make it rock back and forth. Stacking helps develop hand-eye coordination as they learn to sort and stack from biggest to smallest!
For ages 18 months and up.
Make your toddler’s bath time a fun time with this cute hippo, duck and polar bear. The 3 animals sit in different-colored, attachable, floating rings. There’s a bucket to wash the animals and a cloud that makes rain and rounded hooks make it easy for kids to connect and disconnect the rings.
For all ages.
The My First Baking Playset is a fun and modern way for future little bakers to safely bake their first set of make-believe cookies in their own kitchen.
This adorable five-piece playset contains four different sensory-stimulating plush toys, with special features for extra foodie fun: press the timer to hear a “tick, tock, ring” , squeeze the chocolate chip cookie for squeaks, move the rolling pin for rattles, and squeeze the tray of delicious desserts for a crinkle. Baby’s dream kitchen all packs securely in an adorable teal oven with touch-and-close fasteners.
For ages 9 months to 4 years old.
With the perfect combination of safety and comfort, the Snug 'n Secure swing is a baby swing and a toddler swing in one! If your child who doesn't require the T-bar or straps, they store conveniently out of the way.
For ages 12 months to 3 years.
POP, drop and watch your little one stroll along with the online exclusive red pop-a-balls push and pop bulldozer!
This delightful bulldozer encourages movement and motor skills in your little builder when the colorful balls pop up through the chimney, into the scoop bucket and back again.
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