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Home Gift Guides

Gift Guide: Ages 0-2

Polly Conner
By: Polly ConnerPosted: 8/1/24Updated: 11/4/24

This post may contain affiliate or sponsored links. Please read our disclosure policy.

Finding the perfect gift for a little one can be tricky, but our gift guide for 0-2 year olds has you covered. From learning toys to cozy essentials, discover thoughtful, age-appropriate ideas that will delight both kids and parents.

See all the gift guides here.

this …


 
Table of Contents
  • Featured Gifts for Toddlers
  • Gifts Under $25
  • $25-$50 Gifts
  • $50-$100 Gifts
  • Check Out All of Our Gift Guides
  • 25+ Make Ahead Christmas Breakfasts

Featured Gifts for Toddlers

Melissa and Doug farm animal sound puzzle.

Sound Puzzle

Place a puzzle piece correctly in the puzzle board to hear realistic sounds. We had all three types and these were used over and over again.

buy now
Multi-colored Duplo train set box with the train set up in front of it.

Lego Duplo Train

A classic toy for this age! Includes 10 number bricks carried in the push-along train’s carriages, plus boy, girl and dog LEGO DUPLO figures to inspire imaginative role play.

Buy now
Squigz blocks in different colors with some of them stuck to the original plastic package they come in.

Squigz

My kids loved these when they were little. They are great for car rides and bath times. They can even be easily washed in the dishwasher!

Buy Now

Gifts Under $25

A girl playing with Learn-A-Lot Avocados.

Learn-A-Lot Avocados

“My 18 month old niece loves this toy and her parents are happy it keeps her occupied. Highly recommended!” – Melanie

Buy Now
Melissa and Doug Sliced Fruit Toy.

Melissa & Doug Cutting Fruit Set

The Melissa & Doug Cutting Fruit set includes a wooden knife and seven pieces of sliceable fruit that can be cut into a total of 17 pieces. The pieces are held together with self-stick tabs, so the food makes a fun and satisfying “crunch” sound when sliced.

Buy Now
Stock photo of a CoComelon Musical Learning Bus - plastic yellow school bus toy with letter buttons and a green handle.

CoComelon Musical Learning Bus

JJ is ready to take little learners on an upbeat bus ride with the CoComelon Musical Learning Bus! A big hit for little ones.

Buy Now
Pop-a-Balls Push & Pop Bulldozer

Pop-a-Balls Push & Pop Bulldozer

Push the handle to roll the bulldozer across the floor and watch it pop balls out of the chimney into the bucket

Buy Now
Counting animal matching game with brightly colored animals and matching cups to put them in.

Counting Animal Matching Game

A total of 36 brightly colored zoo animals including lions, elephants, sheep, hippos, cows and rhino, 6 sorting bowls and 2 tweezers in this toddler sensory animal toy set.

Buy Now
Number and alphabet wooden puzzles.

Wooden Alphabet Puzzle

“My daughter absolutely loves this puzzle. Great quality and vibrant colors!” – Karla

Buy Now
Cover of an Eric Carle "Around The Farm" sound book.

Animal Sound Book

This was a huge hit with my kids at this age. I continually gift it to people too! Kids love to push the animal sound that goes with the animal they are reading about.

Buy Now
Teething toy with a small wooden block center and different color plastic tubes coming in and out of the box.

Teething Toy

Perfect for little hands (and mouths!). A must-have toy for little ones.

Buy Now
Stock photo of Boynton's Greatest Hits 4 board book set.

Boynton’s Books

My kids LOVED these books. The Big Blue Box is a perfect collection for terrific little kids. Includes four wildly popular books:
1. Moo, Baa, La La La!
2. A to Z

3. Doggies
4. Blue Hat, Green Hat

Buy Now
Wooden stacking toy with different color shapes to fit on the matching pegs.

Stacking Toy

A classic toy that every young kiddo should have!

Makes a great gift for toddlers and preschoolers.

Buy Now
Spike the Fine Motor Hedgehog sitting in front of the box it comes in.

Spike the Fine Motor Hedgehog

My kids would have loved this when they were young! I’m snagging one for my nephew this year! It has over 33,000 great reviews too.

Buy now
Cover of "Poke-A-Dot Who's in the Ocean?" book.

Poke a Dot Books

A huge hit with this age. A 20-page interactive sturdy board book with buttons to press and “pop” on every page. Little ones love this!

Buy Now
Stock photo of My First Crayola Fingerpaints kit.

Crayola Washable Fingerpaint

Perfect for toddlers! This 6-pack of paints is safe, non-toxic, and washable. Use them in an empty bathtub with the Fingerpaint Paper Pad for the easiest clean up ever!

buy Now
Baby Einstein star toy made of different color fabric and plastic pieces.

Baby Einstein Star Bright Take-Along Toy

A hugely popular toy for kids. Great to throw in your purse! It’s also an entertaining toy that isn’t annoying to parents. WIN!

Buy now
Different color plastic link toys linked together.

Manhattan Toys Links-To-Go

Flexibly, bendably versatile for moments that need it. Another great item to throw in your purse.

Buy Now
Green and white Leapfrog Scout dog plush toy with buttons on his paws.

LeapFrog My Pal Scout

40+ learning songs, melodies and lullabies, for active daytime fun. Lots of ways to have fun with this little guy.

Buy Now
Yellow Tonka dump truck toy.

Metal Dump Truck

Out of all of the trucks we own, the dump trucks get the most action. Hint: metal trucks seem to be favored among the kids. I think it’s because the noise it makes when rocks and materials are dumped in and out.

buy now
VTech electronic story book toy.

VTech Story Book

A great car toy. Kids like all of the buttons and the loud click that happens when you turn the pages.

buy Now
Baby's First Blocks toy made of mostly fabric with a hard plastic top where different color shapes can fit through the correct match.

Baby’s First Blocks

A classic toy for a good reason. It’s so fun to see kids begin to figure out how shapes work. Easy to store all of the pieces too.

buy now
Red, yellow, blue foldable fabric tunnel.

Play Tunnel

Great for all ages, but the fun can start as soon as they can crawl. My kids had a lot of fun in these!

buy now
Baby Alive pink baby stroller.

Stroller for Baby Doll

I don’t know why kids love these but they just do! My daughter’s baby stroller went with us on SO many walks when she was little.

buy now
Baby doll in a white onesie with pink polka dots and matching cap.

Baby Doll

Little ones take to dolls really quickly. This is a classic doll that is durable and will become a favorite quickly.

Buy now
Collage of three different Water Wow books.

Water Wow! Books

We have gone through SO many variations of these. My preschooler still loves to play with them. They make a great car activity or even a, “Please do something in one place while I make dinner,” activity.

Buy Now
Electronic counting piggy bank made of hard pink plastic with on side open to show where the different color coins go.

Counting Piggy Bank

Not only do little hands like putting the “coins” in the bank but this toy has 40+ sing-along songs, tunes & phrases. 

Buy Now
Stacking color cups made of hard plastic with most of them in the stack, but the top two are sitting next to the stack.

Stack Up Cup Toys

These are a must for little ones. My kids used these over and over and over again! I love that they have little holes in the bottom for bath play too. For such a great price, you’ll get so much play out of something so simple and cheap!

Buy Now
Set of foam letters and numbers for the bathtub in its original packaging.

Bath Letters and Numbers

I got a set of these when my children were in this stage and they are STILL around. It’s one of those toys that grows with the kids!

Buy Now
Plastic dimpl toy has five different color and different size rubber parts that push in and out.

dimpl

Little hands love these! Features five vibrant Silicone Bubbles built into a plastic frame that they can push, pop, poke, and grab. Perfect sensory delight!

Buy Now
Collage of three different Indestructibles board books.

Indestructibles

Indestructibles is the trusted series for easing little ones into story time. Beloved by babies and their parents. They are built for the way babies “read” (i.e., with their hands and mouths) and are rip proof and waterproof.

buy now

$25-$50 Gifts

Wooden xylophone with a top over it that has three different color balls that can be hammered to fall and make music on the xylophone.

Xylophone

Award Winning Durable Wooden Musical Pounding Toy. Sorry, parents. Kids this age love stuff like this! Their little brains love a big cause-effect toy!

Buy Now
Black bubble machine with different uses pictured in the bubbles like weddings, family photos, dogs chasing bubbles, etc.

Bubble Machine

You just can’t go wrong with getting one of these. Kids will use it for years and years!

Buy Now
Hard plastic green recycling truck toy.

Green Toys Recycling Truck

I have never met a toddler that doesn’t obsess over this truck. It’s made from earth friendly materials (no BPA!), easy to clean, and dishwasher safe.

Buy Now
Green animal infatable bounce toy with white horns and a child riding it.

Inflatable Bounce Toy

I got this for my youngest son when he was about 1.5 years old and it was a huge it. I thought for sure it’d pop quickly but was so surprised by it’s durability! It even survived older kids bouncing and boinging around the house with it.

Buy Now
Mega Blocks table with Mega Blocks built up on the top.

Mega Blocks First Builders Table

30+ building pieces perfect for little hands. These blocks are a toddler staple that develop imagination and gross motor skills.

buy Now
Submarine bath toy that has a hose sticking up from it and shooting water into various parts that move with water flowing through them.

Bath Toy

Water is drawn through the submarine to create a steady stream of water. No need to keep the bath faucet on!

Buy Now
Child playing with a hard-plastic wagon that has different ways to push or move things to have it make music.

Laugh & Learn Wagon

For 6 months and up, this wagon grows along with your little one’s age and stage.

Buy Now
Red toddler swing hanging from plastic coated chain.

Toddler Swing

We had one of these hanging under our deck for YEARS. Kids love them! My kids, who are way too old for it now, still ask about it!

Buy Now
Little People farm opened up with the farm animals lined up in front of it.

Little People Caring For Animals Farm

My nephew’s favorite! Classic Little People farm playset with lights, music, sounds, and Smart Stages learning content.

Buy Now
A toddler balance bike in yellow in black with 4 wheels and wide banana seat.

Balance Bike

This came highly recommended by my sister-in-law. As a mother of a 2-year-old, she said this was a top favorite toy for the past year.

Buy Now

$50-$100 Gifts

Baby Einstein jumper themed as under the sea with blue and green fabric and pieces including fish, seaweed, starfish, and an octopus.

Baby Einstein Jumper

A big ticket item but something you’ll be so glad you have.

Buy Now
Two kids playing on a Climbing gym.

Climbing Toys

This age group LOVES these. Perfect for indoor play on rainy days.

Buy Now
Little Tykes junior play slide in green and blue with three steps before sliding down.

Junior Play Slide

Used this inside during the winter months and outside in the summer. A huge hit!

Buy Now
Pink buggy car a child can sit in and has a steering wheel, but also has a large handle in the back for parents to push.

Push Around Buggy

All three of my kids LOVED this little buggy. It’s a great alternative to the stroller for little ones, and also comes in red!

Buy Now
Modular Kids Play Couch

Kids Play Couch

“I am super happy with my decision and would absolutely purchase this again. My daughter immediately starting crawling all over it smiling and giggling having a blast.” – Abbey

Buy Now
A play kitchen.

Play Kitchen

“I recently purchased the playset for my grandson, and it has been a huge hit! The set includes 25 pieces, offering a variety of utensils, pots, and food items that keep him entertained for hours.” –  Jose

Buy Now

Check Out All of Our Gift Guides

 

  • Gifts for Babies & Toddlers: Ages 0-2
  • Gifts for Boys: Ages 3-5
  • Gifts for Girls: Ages 3-5
  • Gifts for Boys: Ages 5-9
  • Gifts for Girls: Ages 5-9
  • Tween Boy Gifts
  • Tween Girl Gifts
  • Teen Boy Gifts
  • Teenage Girl Gifts
  • Gifts for Moms
  • Gifts for Dads
  • Gifts for Grandparents
  • Stocking Stuffers
  • Gifts for Teachers
Good New of Great Joy advent devotional pages laid out.
Our Gift to You!

Good News of Great Joy

A simple, weekly Advent devotional that’s intended to help your family focus on the story of Jesus’ birth.

The discussion questions and wide range of fun activities are designed for children ages 2-11.

Each weekly activity focuses on a different aspect of the Christmas story.

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Collage image of various make ahead breakfast ideas for Christmas.

25+ Make Ahead Christmas Breakfasts

We have rounded up the BEST ideas for Christmas breakfast or brunch on the internet. The good news is that all of these can be prepped ahead of time so you can relax and enjoy the morning.

25+ Christmas Breakfast Ideas

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Polly Conner

Polly Conner

As co-founder of Thriving Home, Polly’s passionate about helping busy parents get dinner on the table. With a house full of kids, dogs, and (usually) a DIY project in the works, she knows firsthand how every minute (and every dollar) counts. As a business owner, she enjoys wearing multiple hats and serves best as a project manager for Thriving Home.

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  1. Debbie says

    Posted on 11/17/20 at 8:50 pm

    The kids loved the play tunnel, whether crawling through with someone trying to catch them or just hiding inside. I did like the submarine play station, they like to play while bathing.

    Reply
  2. Jessie says

    Posted on 11/17/20 at 8:43 pm

    The play farm! My almost 18 month old just became very interested in animals!

    Reply
  3. Beth says

    Posted on 11/17/20 at 8:37 pm

    I love the baby Einstein take along tunes. Soothes infants and toddlers!

    Reply
  4. Brenda says

    Posted on 11/17/20 at 8:32 pm

    #8 -Puzzle. These puzzles are great for little hands.

    Reply
  5. Julie says

    Posted on 11/17/20 at 8:28 pm

    My kids love the water wow books!

    Reply
  6. Anne says

    Posted on 11/17/20 at 8:27 pm

    My daughter loves to climb so she would love the little tikes slide!

    Reply
  7. Dale M says

    Posted on 11/17/20 at 8:26 pm

    WOW I found several that looked cool but i would still pick the old classic …. the metal dump truck since i enjoyed playing with one as a kid !!!!!

    Reply
  8. Corinne says

    Posted on 11/17/20 at 8:21 pm

    We have several of those items – your list is awesome! I would say our top toys are the metal dump truck & the tunnel! Fun for all ages!

    Reply
  9. Hillary says

    Posted on 11/17/20 at 8:08 pm

    The play farm is such a classic, but has great benefits! The imagination young children can experience is perfect for free play!

    Reply
  10. Paige T. says

    Posted on 11/17/20 at 8:01 pm

    We enjoy lots of these but #1 – the musical take along toy – has been a great distraction and simple toy for all our kids.

    Reply
  11. Danielle says

    Posted on 11/17/20 at 7:52 pm

    The slide is my favorite idea – I have a 2 year old that would go nuts over that😍

    Reply
  12. Ashley says

    Posted on 11/17/20 at 7:52 pm

    The metal truck is great, my boys love playing with trucks in the dirt!!

    Reply
  13. Amy Fisher says

    Posted on 11/17/20 at 7:48 pm

    I love the little tykes slide!!! Fab idea!!

    Reply
  14. Linda says

    Posted on 11/17/20 at 7:40 pm

    I love the Water Wow Books. I think they’re fun and make little mess.

    Reply
  15. Erica Carlson says

    Posted on 11/17/20 at 7:31 pm

    The toddler swing would be at the top of my list!

    Reply
  16. Denise says

    Posted on 11/17/20 at 7:28 pm

    We had so many of these! I guess favorites for my kids were probably the Sound Puzzles and Stacking Cups. 🙂

    Reply
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