The best Christmas presents for toddlers

Best Christmas presents for toddlers

by Emily Gilbert |
Updated on

Although the Christmas countdown starts earlier each year (decorated shops in August?) it never hurts to be prepared with Christmas gift ideas for thefamily, especially if you want to buy one of the best Christmas presents for toddlers. Your little one has probably already started writing their list, thanks to endless toy adverts on the television, but it is still hard to know what to choose.

With so many baby toys on the market, making a choice on what to buy for Christmas can be hard. Is this toy within budget? Is this toy age appropriate? Does this toy have any small parts that could be a hazard? To help you decide on the best Christmas presents for toddlers, our round up includes a variety of age appropriate toys at a range of prices.

Best Christmas presents for toddlers at a glance:

Best LEGO DUPLO Christmas present: LEGO DUPLO My First Animal Train Toy for Toddlers - buy here at Argos.
Best climber Christmas present: Woodandhearts Set of 3 Montessori Triangle, Ramp Arch Climber and Ladder Slide - buy here at Amazon.
Best classic Christmas present: Little Tikes Princess Cozy Coupe Car - buy here at Amazon.

Not to mention, getting it all sorted now means you'll be able to save yourself a dreaded last minute shop where you're searching for out of stock toys. So to save you the hassle, we've already found the best toys for two year olds that make the best Christmas presents for toddlers.

Best STEM Christmas presents for toddlers

Best Christmas present for toddlers Design and Drill Bolt Buddies Crane

Rrp: $44.99

Price: $25.99

Description

The Design and Drill Bolt Buddies Crane is a great gift for children to help them develop their fine motor skills, with a vehicle that they love. They can have fun while learning core development skills. They can attach the wheels and take them off, and the package box can be used for play too!

One review said: "It's a good toy - it has lots of elements for learning, everything from the little people to the crane and the drill (which is better than I thought it would be!) A lovely set that has so far entertained my nephew's for many hours."

Pros

  • Helps with motor skills
  • Encourages imaginative play

Cons

  • You need to open the box carefully as it's part of the play

Best Tonies Christmas presents for toddlers

Description

Offering an intuitive, interactive experience, simply place a Tonie character on the top of the speaker cube, and the story or song related to that character begins to play. As well as pre-recorded Tonies, such as The Gruffalo, The Lion King and Peppa Pig, kids can also enjoy recording up to 90 minutes of their own audio on a Creative-Tonie; a fantastic way to connect with loved ones.

Reviewed by Digital Writer Emily Gilbert: "I gifted a Toniebox to my niece who loves the wide range of stories and songs available, suitable for all ages. Her mum loves that it's screen-free and that my niece can work it herself without any help. It's been so handy for bedtime listening and long, boring car journeys where she can plug in with her headphones."

Pros

  • Screenless
  • Easy to use
  • Portable
  • Bump-proof

Cons

  • Might be better buying a bundle

Best doll Christmas presents for toddlers

Description

Cry Babies Newborn Coney is like a real baby! This lightweight and cuddly doll with have your little one in awe. Coney cries with real tears, makes over 20 baby-like sounds, and even falls asleep when you lay her down. She also comes with accessories, including a dummy, bottle, baby blanket and toy.

One review said: "The interactive doll from Coney, perfect doll for both my daughters aged 2 and 4 together. My girls loved rocking to baby to stop the crying and the accessories too glad the options for the doll not to only to be played on its own but with others. This doll is a new favourite."

Pros

  • Over 20 baby sounds
  • Cuddly doll

Cons

  • Some mentioned the tears were very watery

Best Maths Christmas presents for toddlers

Description

The Numberblocks Step Squad Mission Headquarters encourages fun while learning. The unfolded playset has counting steps that little ones can walk the figures up to slide down the slide. It also comes with a sticker sheet to decorate the playset.

One review said: "My 5 year old grandson absolutely loves this set. He is amazing with numbers and number blocks has become a favourite so now he has somewhere for them to go and play!!"

Pros

  • Three figures included
  • Can be folded away

Cons

  • Other figures sold separately

Best puppy Christmas presents for toddlers

Description

Just like a real pet, take Baby Paws everywhere you go! Once you give them its dummy your cute puppy will go to sleep, but take it away, their eyes will open and make the most adorable sounds!

One review said: "My little one absolutely loves his baby paws Dalmatian! He is obsessed with putting the dummy in and out of its mouth to listen to it bark and carrying it around in its little handbag style carrier. Perfect present for any child who loves dogs!"

Pros

  • Three different characters to choose from
  • Adorable

Cons

  • Some mentioned there's not a lot to do with it

Best cubed Christmas presents for toddlers

Best Christmas presents for toddlers InnyBin
Price: $27.95

Description

An incredibly unique shape-exploration experience! The InnyBin six chunky shape blocks are each designed with fascinating textures that are sure to thrill the fingers. There's a cube, a diamond, a sphere, a triangle and flower. It sparks curiosity and encourages them to explore, experiment, and discover.

One review said: "So many great games you can play with this! My son is 15 months now and has played with it for months on end, never gets bored of it! He loves finding the shapes, finding the colours and we count them together! Highly recommend!"

Pros

  • Encourages shape sorting and colour recognition
  • Aids fine motor skills development

Cons

  • Difficult for babies less than 1 year

Best climber Christmas presents for toddlers

Description

The Woodandhearts Set of 3 Montessori Triangle, Ramp Arch Climber and Ladder Slide helps with more than 10 development skills for your child. They can build on their motor skills, balance, logical reasoning and even get sensory stimulation from the set. They are also interchangeable, so can be played with individually or as a set.

One customer wrote: "We ordered this for our 2-year-old who loves climbing on things he shouldn't be on. So he has spent every minute now climbing on his new climbing frame. It's great to know it's safe for him to be on & learn whilst doing it. Easy to put together, very sturdy would highly recommend"

Pros

  • Helps support key development skills
  • Rounded edges for safety

Cons

  • Slide side of the ramp doesn't have sides

Best Janod Christmas presents for toddlers

Description

The Janod Sardine Fishing Game is a game you can play alongside your little one, teaching them how to count while trying to catch the most fish! A simple but effective game that means they'll be occupied for ages, it also helps them to develop their hand eye coordination skills as well.
**
One review said:** "Great quality product, both my 2 and 4 year old choose this game often and love it. Good value and they love it a lot more than I thought they would. Great item."

Pros

  • Fun for the family
  • Encourages counting and numbers

Cons

  • Only two fishing rods

Best tractor Christmas presents for toddlers

Best Christmas presents for toddlers John Deere Build A Johnny Tractor
Price: $24.99

Description

Inspire your young farmer’s imagination with the John Deere Build A Johnny Tractor farm toy. This 16-piece set has 2 ways to play: a free-rolling tractor toy or a buildable set. Use the battery-powered drill to take off the wheels, lift open the roof, and then piece your tractor toy back together again for building fun.
**
One review said:** "Absolutely love this toy. Got it for my 2-year-old for her birthday and it is brilliant! Was suprised that the drill came with batteries already installed. And you can use the drill head, too. All of the bits are fairly large, but the screws do fit nicely into a mouth. The details on the whole toy are also pretty good. Overall this is a fantastic item and I am very glad I got it. Highly recommended."

Pros

  • Encourages problem solving
  • Two ways to play

Cons

  • Some mentioned the drill isn't always reliable

Best carolling Christmas presents for toddlers

Best Christmas presents for toddlers Christmas Songs and Carols Tonie
Price: £14.99

tonies.com

Description

This lovely little penguin will take your little one on a musical trip through a winter wonderland. They will be able to enjoy lots of festive favourites and traditional carols such as, Deck the Halls, 12 Days of Christmas The First Noel and Jingle Bells along with many more.

Pros

  • Lots of festive favourites to enjoy
  • Cute penguin character

Cons

  • Just songs, not stories

Best bath toy Christmas presents for toddlers

Description

The Tomy Toomies Bubble and Bake Bathtime Kitchen will help toddlers cook up a mouth-watering feast. Pop the pot on the hob and pump the yellow button to see the bubbles appear. There's a pump the handle for water to flow from the tap and a plug to empty the sink into the bath. You can also use the hooks to hang the ladle and pan to dry.

One review said: "Bought this for my toddler as a gift for becoming a big sister and she absolutely loves it! Great fun and would highly recommend!"

Pros

  • Great for roleplaying
  • Includes suction cups

Cons

  • Sometimes suction cups can fall off

Best 4-in-1 Christmas presents for toddlers

Best Christmas presents for toddlers VTech 4-in-1 Alphabet Train
Price: $47.14

Description

The VTech 4-in-1 Alphabet Train can be used for sit-down play, as a ride on, pull-along wagon, or walker. Little ones can use it to help build their confidence with taking those first few steps! Complete with sing-along songs and melodies, there are stacking blocks and a turning book bursting with colour and sound.

One review said: "Very nice little train for my 1-year-old son. He loves pressing all the buttons and pushing it around. I also like that you can store all the bits that come with it inside the seat part. Thank you!"

Pros

  • Encourages learning
  • Includes different colours

Cons

  • Child may quickly outgrow this

Best classic Christmas presents for toddlers

Best Christmas presents for toddlers Little Tikes Princess Cozy Coupe Car
Price: $73.33

Description

A classic gift for any little one, this magical Little Tikes Princess Cozy Coupe Car would make the perfect Christmas present to help your tot with their motor skills. It comes with a removable floor, a door that opens and closes and a clicking ignition switch!

One review said: "My oldest granddaughter has had her red Cozy Coupe for a couple of years and loves it. However, when her little sister reached the age of 1, she wanted to ride in it. We had quite a few screaming matches before we decided there was nothing for it but to get another. Needless to say, big sister claimed the new one because it's pink and says Princess Coupe on the back. Her wee sister is delighted, though, to get the red one"

Pros

  • Available in different models
  • Great for all ages

Cons

  • Difficult to assemble

Best wooden toy Christmas presents for toddlers

ON SALE

Description

A sweet wooden toy playset, based on Mr McGregor's garden. The Orange Tree Toys Peter Rabbit Play Set includes all the pieces to create the perfect garden as well as Beatrix Potter favourites, Peter Rabbit, Jemima Puddledock and more.

One review said: "Lovely Peter Rabbit garden set - we created Mr McGregor’s garden with the miniature carrots & cabbages, wheel barrow & watering can. Peters friends are adorable & lovely and chunky for little hands. Some parts but small for my 19m but I’ll just remove those until she’s a bit bigger. We’ve been reading the book & watching the film so this is perfect for play ideas & Easter. We love Orange Tree toys."

Read our full review of the Orange Tree Toys Peter Rabbit Play Set here.

Pros

  • Promotes early development
  • Made from sustainable wood

Cons

  • Some mentioned some parts could be too small for young toddlers

Best Advent Tonies Christmas presents for toddlers

Best Christmas presents for toddlers The Little Reindeer's Christmas Wish
Price: £14.99

tonies.com

Description

Give your child an advent calendar with a difference with this adorable little reindeer Tonie, Noel. This makes the perfect countdown to Christmas because your little one can pop him on top of their Tonie box to hear a new chapter of Noel's festive tale, The Little Reindeer's Christmas Wish, from the first to 24 December.

Pros

  • A great alternative to traditional advent calendars
  • Your child can look forward to a new chapter each night

Cons

  • Only one story option available

Best robot Christmas presents for toddlers

Description

The Fisher-Price Bright Beats Dance + Move BeatBo will have your little one boogie their way through the day with the fun and energising music! With dance and move songs, learning, games and a customised sing-a-long mode, toddlers will never get bored of this toy, and it will grow with them.

One review said: "There's multiple modes, and thankfully sound levels. It's bright, colourful and fun. My boy's favourite mode is the record feature. You push the red button, Beatbo gives instructions and you have a few seconds to record something. That recording is then sped up and the pitch alerted, which can make for funny playback loops. Great present, despite the earworms. I'd certainly recommend and buy again."

Pros

  • Different modes to choose from
  • Encourages gross and find motor skills
  • Great sensory toy

Cons

  • Batteries provided don't last long

Best triclimb Christmas presents for toddlers

Description

The Triclimb is one of the best climbing toys a child can have from a young age, as it teaches them how to pull themselves up, build confidence, their core strength and gross motor skills. It can even be used as a den!

One review said: "Easy to assemble. Good quality, strong and sturdy. Children love it and it folds away easily to store under the sofa in the evenings" Another review said: "Great quality product. It was helpful to know before buying what the weight limit was for the item. Many similar products have much lower limit. I was happy to pay more to have a sturdy product which I was confident would stand up to rigours of multiple children using it. Easy to assemble. Children love it."

Pros

  • Builds confidence and core strength
  • Folds for easy storing

Cons

  • Need enough space to have it open

Best personalised book Christmas presents for toddlers

Description

Create a book for up to four children, to show your little one just how much you love them in every moment of every day. The Wonderbly Personalised I Love You This Much Book is beautiful for you to read together as a family. It's written in rhyme and will be something your youngster will treasure for years to come.

One review said: "This is such a beautiful book! The illustrations are gorgeous, and the personalisation is amazing. I could make the little boy look just like my son, which meant he recognised himself in the book instantly. The text is just the right length and style for a 2-year old to enjoy."

Pros

  • A sweet keepsake
  • Customisable

Cons

  • Only up to four names can be included

Best stacking Christmas presents for toddlers

Best Christmas presents for toddlers Fat Brain FA110-1 Spin Again Toy
Price: $34.95

Description

This is a stacking toy with a spin. Simply drop the vibrant discs onto the threaded corkscrew pole and watch as they spin fast then settle onto the reversible base. With the Fat BrainFA110-1 Spin Again Toy your toddler can choose a wobble base or a solid seat. Each disc is dual-coloured, and from largest to smallest, they form a dynamic rainbow utilising fun shades.

One review said: "I bought this as a gift for a toddler and a ten-month-old. They both loved watching the cogs spin. The cogs themselves are very tactile and easy to grip. It is beautifully made with no sharp edges. The toddler quickly learned how to put the cogs on and watch them spin. I can see it being a toy to keep for the next generation if my daughter doesn’t lose the parts!"

Pros

  • Great for hand-eye coordination
  • Encourages recognition of colours and shapes

Cons

  • Pieces could be lost

Best personalised toy Christmas presents for toddlers

Description

This adorable Personalised Dinosaur Toy makes a lovely gift for any toddler. The huggable soft dinosaur will be their best new Christmas companion and you can even personalise the dino's tummy with the name of your little one, choosing from choice of font and colour.

One review said: "Gorgeous!! Bought the dinosaur for my nephew's birthday and he absolutely loves it. Very good value for money, would highly recommend."

Pros

  • Can also choose an elephant
  • Can be personalised
  • Safety tested

Cons

  • Not machine washable

Best LEGO DUPLO Christmas presents for toddlers

Description

This LEGO DUPLO My First Animal Train Toy for Toddlers features bold animals, shapes and colours for your toddlers to learn while keeping your little ones entertained for hours on end. As well as stacking, your tot will also be able to build the animals, helping with their construction and problem solving skills.

One review said: "I bought this for a friends child and they instantly loved it! The colours are a great educational matching game and the train wheels are also fun."

Pros

  • Stackable
  • Good for brain stimulation

Cons

  • Doesn't include many animals

Best bathtime Christmas presents for toddlers

Best Christmas presents for toddlers Nuby Octopus Floating Bath Toy

Rrp: $8.99

Price: $6.88

Description

For great bathtime fun, the Nuby Octopus Floating Bath toy is a brilliant Christmas present for toddlers. It features three funky rings to throw on the octopus's tentacles while they bathe, plus it is completely sealed so won't hold any water.

One review said: "Love this bath toy. Was having to chuck ours away every other month due to them holding water. This doesn't at all so will last my daughter a long time."

Pros

  • Good value for money
  • Doesn't retain water
  • Stays upright on its own when floating

Cons

  • Only has six legs, not eight

Best building blocks Christmas presents for toddlers

Best Christmas presents for toddlers Mega Bloks First Builders Big Building Bag
Price: $30.99

Description

With the Mega Bloks First Builders Big Building Bag, toddlers will love creating their own world out of these incredible building blocks. These have been crafted with tiny hands in mind, as the bulky designs are easy to hold. Plus, it also has a storage bag for easy clean-up.

One review said: "This is the first set of Mega Bloks I've bought my toddler and he loved them! Building up then BASHING down, what's not to love? 60 pieces isn't a many as it sounds but it's amazing how far a 2-year-old can spread them!"

Pros

  • Encourages construction skills
  • Includes storage bag

Cons

  • Pieces can get everywhere

Best flossing sloth Christmas presents for toddlers

ON SALE

Best Christmas presents for toddlers Pets Alive Fifi the Flossing Sloth Electronic Pet 
Price: £10 (was £20)

www.thetoyshop.com

Description

Get ready to dance and have a fun time with th Pets Alive Fifi the Flossing Sloth Electronic Pet. Fifi is ready to move along to 3 cool songs and inspire everyone to sing along! Her floss-like body movements copy everyone’s favourite dance. The whole family is bound to get involved with this charming, blinking eyes, bottom wriggle, and amusing toy. 

Mother and Baby reviewer, Adejumoke Ilori says: "My little one was in awe when this bottom wiggling sloth started showing us incredible dance moves, it’s fantastic! Fifi the sloth waves its arms from left to right and is functioned to close and opens its sparkly blue eyes A great toy to keep your little one entertained, intrigued, and amazed. Its purple material s super attractive and will help introduced your child to the world of music and dancing."

Pros

  • It features fun songs
  • Fun and engaging

Cons

  • Might get a bit annoying for parents

What makes the best Christmas present for toddlers?

It is always so exciting to see their little faces light up on Christmas morning as they unwrap their favourite toy or book. But how do you know you are buying the right gifts, there is always a long and varied list. We suggest that while soft toys are always popular, it is also great to have something interactive. Tonie have released new festive characters this year which will make Christmas extra special and your little one will be able to use them for many Christmases to come. If they are sad on Christmas Day when their friend, the elf, has gone back to Santa's workshop for another year, you can definitely make them smile with this Elf on the Shelffrom Tonie.

Don't worry too much though, Christmas is about more than just the presents and while it is lovely to find the best Christmas presents for toddlers, they will be just as excited that Santa has been and less bothered by what is under the wrapping paper, so choose something you think they need, or have been asking for all year.

Emily Gilbertis the Features & Reviews Editor for Mother&Baby and has written for the website and previously the magazine for six years. Specialising in product reviews, Emily is the first to know about all the exciting new releases in the parenting industry.

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