Every year we get the same message from friends in December: what do I get a toddler that is not plastic, not loud and not $200. So here it is, in two budgets. Everything ships from the US, everything is something a toddler in our own families has played with past January, and we kept the list short on purpose.
Under $50
Start December with a first advent calendar. This one has a little farm animal behind every door, no candy, and the animals become a play set on the 25th. It is the gift that gives you twenty four small good mornings.
Nesting blocks are the best under $50 toy we know. They stack, nest, hide and count, and they are the box your toddler plays with instead of the box.
For the toddler who copies everything you do, a wooden coffee maker set. It is the pretend play toy that gets the most laughs, and it works with or without a play kitchen.
An activity cube in a soft Morandi palette is the quiet toy that lives in the middle of the room and gets visited between everything else. Under $45.
A rolling cart of play tools for the fixer. Two year olds push it around the house all day and the tools go back in, which is more than we can say for the real ones.
The under $30 pair that always wins: a first golf bag for the yard and a plush doll for the crib. One for daytime, one for bedtime.
And a wooden push walker with storage, which is a walker at 12 months and a doll stroller at 2.
Under $100
The foot to floor Jeep is the toddler ride on: no batteries, just a steering wheel, a horn and two little legs. From 18 months to about 3, indoors and out.
Foam climbing blocks with a slide and a tunnel are the best answer to a rainy December. Six pieces, new course every day, stacks into a corner.
A rocking climbing arch is the wooden climber that also rocks and flips into a chair. It is the gift under $60 that looks like it cost twice that.
A teepee with a padded mat is the calm corner every toddler needs by 4pm. Books go in, stuffed animals go in, sometimes the toddler goes in and stays.
A wooden workbench with a chalkboard and real tool storage. Hammering pegs is the big arm movement two year olds need, and it keeps them busy while dinner happens.
A 4 in 1 push walker for the almost walker: folds flat, adjusts in height, activity panel on the front for the sitting days.
A little something from us: 15% off any pick in this guide with code GIFT15
Works on discount eligible items at checkout. Pair two under $50 picks and the order ships free in the US.
Shop Toddler GiftsThe Christmas morning math
One under $50 pretend toy, one under $100 movement toy, one book. That is a full Christmas for a toddler, it fits under a small tree, and every piece of it is still in use by spring. Ships from the US, free over $100, and if the toddler had other plans, our 30 day returns are easy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are good Christmas gifts for a toddler under $50?
A first advent calendar, nesting blocks, a wooden stacker, a play coffee maker, a plush doll, an activity cube and a baby golf bag are all under $50 and all get real daily play. Pick one pretend toy and one building toy.
What is a good toddler gift under $100?
A foot to floor ride on, a push walker, foam climbing blocks, a teepee, a wooden workbench and a rocking climbing arch are the ones we see used most. All are under $100 and ship free at $100 when you pair two.
When should I order toddler Christmas gifts?
By the first week of December for anything shipping from a US warehouse, and by mid November for made to order pieces like personalized items. Popular colors sell out first.
How many Christmas presents should a toddler get?
Three is plenty: something to play with, something to move on, something to read. Toddlers stop opening after the third box anyway.
About the Editor
Eda Ulger is the editor at Moogco Baby and a mom of two. She curates and edits our guides so every piece is honest, practical, and genuinely helpful for the early days of motherhood.