Toddler Christmas Gift Guide and Ideas 2018

It’s a new season for our little tots and it is important that as they grow we prepare them with the tools they’ll need to be functional and productive citizens one day. At this special age, their imagination is innocently sweet and leads to a creativity that sparks the idea of learning and comprehension.

You are reading the Toddler Christmas Gift Guide: 7 minute read

They are learning to use their senses, their voice, and their body to explore the physical world as they see it.  And, I credit their undeniable success thus far to you…their parents. So, congrats!

And, can you believe it… Christmas is almost here and it’s time to start thinking about what gifts we will spoil our little toddlers with.

Some of you may be trucking it along with a tiny human going into their second year, and then there are others who are becoming experts at parenting the terrible 2’s and 3’s. We must not forget the group of parents who are close to retiring from observing the toddler shenanigans and are learning what it means to parent the coolest 4-year-old. In our house, we have an independent 19-month old who keeps us on our toes every minute of the day. She wants to do everything we do and everything she sees her older cousins do.  She has graduated to a new set of learning needs and we are on the mission to find items this holiday that will help us nurture her next phase of development.

This Christmas guide is contemplation of gift ideas for your toddler that will enhance their learning development, imagination, creativity, and technical skills. We trust the parents that have shared their wisdom on what gifts are truly the best and most practical for children within this age group and we hope that you will find value in their suggestions too.

So, what gifts do you buy a toddler that are both fun and practical? 

Some of the links included in this post are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Honestly, all products can be bought in the store. However, I like to buy online because with Free Shipping, I save both money and time. Heck, it’s in a box so its easier for me to keep it a surprise. Cheers to our sanity this year during holiday shopping!

Marshmallow Furniture Children’s 2 in 1 Flip Open Foam Sofa

What toddler doesn’t need a sofa? A sofa that lets out into a mini bed that is. My kid loves sitting in chairs that are her size. What a perfect addition to your living space this would be… and to your productivity and sanity as mom or dad. Climbing on and sliding down your current couch could lead to unwarranted falls and prove to be unsafe. Your toddler would love a seating device that is their size and just think… you can turn it into a dedicated nap time mat in less than 2 seconds.

Blitz Blowout Bubble Machine

If your child is 5 or under, then chances are they will love the concept of bubbles. Bubbles are so much fun, but let’s be honest…how much can your lungs and/or your patience handle blowing them with your mouth. Thank goodness for bubble machines. They come in different shapes and colors.

Your child will chase, jump, catch, and show mad excitement for bubbles. And, in the process they’ll be sharpening some gross motor skills too. When they reach, chase, or try to catch the bubbles (with their hands or feet), they are improving their muscle coordination and balance while strengthening the muscles in their legs in the process. Depth of vision, foot-eye coordination, and hand-eye coordination is developing behind the scenes when your child tries to reach, catch or stomp the bubbles he sees.

It’s almost like conditioning your child for the sport you want them to play. But, it’s really preparing them to develop the skills they will need as they get older. Trust that this Christmas gift will keep your toddler engaged for long periods of time.

LEGO Classic Creative Bricks, Learning Toy

LEGOs come in all different shapes, colors, and sizes and it is one of my favorite independent activities for my child. Yes, you heard me right…I said independent. Put, your child in front of a set of blocks and watch their mind instantly go to work. Our 19-month old can build a mean straight tower and it keeps her busy for a solid 30 minutes.

Your child will start building and learning what sizes fit together, what colors are the same (even if they don’t know names yet), patterns, and lengths in one activity. I love introducing LEGOs at this age. It combines creativity, learning and comprehension, and motor skill development. The child will learn the importance of dexterity as they manipulate and combine  small blocks to fit together in different ways. It also builds confidence and self-esteem and you can see it in their faces when they craft and present the coolest tower they’ve ever seen…built by them.

Matney Kid’s Foam Floor Alphabet and Number Puzzle Mat

It amazes me at how early language development really starts. From the time they are in our womb. In fact, they start hearing and soaking in the sounds they hear from their loved ones. My little girl trips me out because she will struggle with a one syllable words but will knock it out of the park with the pronunciation of a word with 2-3 syllables.  This mat is great for creating an experience where your child can identify colors, numbers, and letters using their senses. It’s a great addition to a play room or living space where your child will spend a lot of time. And, it doubles up as floor protection from messy spills as well.

Books

I think most kids are naturally bookworms at an early age. Sure, that may change as they get older. But, right now they are curious to see the words and pictures on the page. Allow them to turn the page and there is more.

We’ve had our share of books…well her favorites mainly. We read them over and over again. At this age, we’ve noticed that toddlers want more pictures than text. A book with one sentence per page is probably suitable for their little brains. If there are features such as textures and sounds, you are likely going to keep them engaged.  As they get older, their attention span and mind will be able to handle more. This is personally a favorite of mine to receive and to give as a gift to toddlers.

Step2 Best Chef’s Toy Kitchen Playset

Does your toddler tear your nerves up every time they go into the kitchen or get close to grill despite being repeatedly asked not to do so? It’s okay if it is only me. My child definitely is one that we have to keep a close eye on. But, I think I may have a fix. She enjoys playing with real pots and pans and she loves looking at cookies bake in the oven. So, maybe it’s time that we get her a kitchen space of her own. She can pretend and use her imagination to make her favorites, chicken and french fries.

Melissa & Doug Let’s Play House! Dust, Sweep & Mop 6 Pc Set

My kid got the cleaning gene from her dad. Every now and then, she gets into her wipes and she will take all of them out of the container to clean whatever is in her sight. As you might can imagine, wipes are expensive, so we needed to redirect her attention appropriately. Bless the person who created toy cleaning sets. They have child sized brooms, mops, rags, and more. I can’t promise that she will get everything on this list, but she will have more than enough to keep her busy.

The Mass Catboy Owlette Gekko Costumes, Superheros Capes Mask Matching Slap Bracelet Kids Costume Dress up

We live in a digital world, but that doesn’t mean we want our children to be screen addicted. However, chances are they have been exposed to some form of digital entertainment and have developed preferences for characters they’ve seen. Dress up is a great way to pull your toddler away from the TV and allow them to connect with the character they know and at that point aspire to be. So, if your little one would like to be Moana and save his/her island from terror, they can. Or, if they want to PJ Mask superheros and go on nighttime missions in the house, they can. It keeps them busy and it keeps their imagination and creativity alive.

Safety 1st Ready Set Walk 2.0 Developmental Walker 

It is not uncommon for children to not have started walking by their first birthday. But, with anything practice makes perfect. Walkers with safety features that engage the child and puts less stress on their joints are at the top of my list. We bought this walker when Zariah was 6 months old. She loved this toy and was walking by the time she was 9 months old.

Radio Flyer® Steer & Stroll Trike 

The tricycle may be suitable for the older toddlers. It is a great device that stimulates their motor development. It allows them to learn how to use multiple muscles simultaneously while also promoting peripheral and central eye coordination. There are tricycles that are designed to be suitable for children as young as two years old. Just use your judgement, you know better than any toy company whether your child could handle this activity or not.

As we prepare to go into the holiday season, we hope to instill in our child even at her young age that Christmas is not all about receiving gifts. In fact, we plan to buy a few items off this list and a few things that she will need (training pants, potty, car seat, etc). We want her to experience the joy of charity and giving to others in need and we look forward to the opportunities we’ll get to do that as a family. I hope this guide was helpful and I am always looking for practical suggestions that won’t break the bank. Share with us your suggestions for gifts suitable for toddlers that are both practical and fun.

Happy Holidays from our family to yours!