Gifts Your Little Ones Will Love
Looking for that perfect baby or toddler gift for a special someone? Getting that ideal gift can be a fun experience. Yet, it can also be very overwhelming! With so many choices out there today, even someone with a child can get confused on which are truly the best toys out there. We have done the research for you and compiled a list of our top five most popular toys for babies and toddlers.
Babies
Babies can be tough to shop for. Industry standards change almost every day on what's safe, recalled, or which item has the best in brain and sensory development. Surprisingly, the best toys are the classics. Today they have a new spin on them like different materials, bolder colors, or different shapes, but you can identify the origins easily.
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Montgomery School ABC Blocks by Maple Landmark - Stackable blocks and other shapes are always a great staple. The sets that have a hollow inside that can be packed into one are great for baby to stack on top of each other, watch them tumble down, then return to their amazing starting spot of just one with all of them tucked inside. |
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Fishbowl Fill and Spill by Melissa and Doug - What we used to call a jar filled with fun objects is today called a Fill and Spill. They are now made much more safe with material or plastic containers filled with fun shapes and characters you can reach in and pull out, and then place them back in. This teaches babies that things can be contained and also leave their eyesight, then magically return. |
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Anatex CPS Mini Rollercoaster - Sure to be the first thing a baby goes for, the bead rollercoaster is always a huge hit! Several metal or plastic looped and curved bars are intertwined with colorful beads to "ride" around on. The fascination factor on this one is through the roof as they see how one set of beads started in one spot then travel all the way on a fun ride to a totally different spot. |
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My First Play Set - Set of 3 Wooden Toys by Melissa & Doug - An all time favorite gift is a toy that makes noise or jiggles. Babies love to grab at moving objects and if they can shake and rattle them even better. Get three toys in one set for hours of fun baby play time. The 3 Wooden toys in Melissa and Doug’s set are even small enough to take on trips or around town to keep your baby entertained when on the go. |
Toddlers
Once a baby begins to walk or even pull herself up, she is classified as a toddler. This gives her a whole new realm of toys available to boost new found independence. Again, the market on this is vast and anyone not informed on which is which can be overloaded with all the choices. A good rule of thumb is to read up on the descriptions and note the recommended ages. Every toy has this information unless they are made for all ages.
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Radio Flyer Classic Rock and Bounce Pony with Sound - Now mobile, toddlers take big pleasure with bouncers or ride-on toys. Ride-ons allow him to go even faster than beginning steps can take him. Zooming from one place to the next is a big step and total blast! The stationary ride-on bouncers are another huge hit. Babies love bouncing, rocking, or jumping that can be done in a safe and stable way. I've seen my son bounce for half an hour, giggling the entire time! |
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Wee Blossom Sand and Water Table - A perfect toy for the outdoors or garage is a sand and water table. Mixing the two together is an even better alternative. Once dry and crumply sand becomes pliant and a fun way to build when combined with water. Pair with boats, molds, shovels, and cups to create an activity that will keep a child entertained for quite some time. |
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GuideCraft 3D Dinner Puzzle - Large wood puzzles are always a great gift if you want to contribute a toy that has great staying power and is educational. There are so many great puzzles to choose from for toddlers. The pieces are large and some even have handles to help their hands direct the pieces easier. The themes are extensive too with shapes, states, colors, and animals to select from. |
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Flapping Duck Wooden Push Toy - You can't loose with a toy that rolls and has an effect along with it. The classic push toys are still popular. Your toddler will learn to walk better and burn off steam pushing a little ducky or fire engine around the house. You can't go wrong with a toy that keeps your youngster on the move. |
