The Best Toddler Cameras for Junior Photographers

Kidamento’s instant camera is a consistent fan favorite, and with good reason—it’s both adorable and functional. This camera, which is intended for kids aged 3 and up, comes in a sweet panda design and has an exterior that’s easy for smaller hands to grip. The camera instantly prints out black and white photos in both a paper roll and sticker roll. Worth noting: You can get up to 70 pictures with the paper roll and 35 with the sticker roll, ultimately saving you money on film compared to many other options. There’s also a selfie camera, in case your child prefers self portraits. The camera has a rechargeable battery, as well as a soft lanyard to make it easier for your child to carry around.

Screen size: 2.4" | Storage: 32 GB | Resolution: 4,096 x 2,160 pixels

This instant camera was a great choice for my 3-year-old last Christmas. She’s repeatedly snapped photos at home, on vacation and of her siblings, and loves to display them around our home. The camera has an exterior that’s grippy enough for small hands to hold and isn’t heavy—it’s under 11 ounces. It also dispenses mini photos that are 55 by 85 millimeters in size, with a solid white space at the bottom that your child can hold without interfering with the picture itself. My daughter isn’t exactly delicate with her photos, and I’m impressed at how well they’ve held up despite being toted around the house and even handled by her little sister. The Instax Mini 11 comes in several kid-friendly colors. Just stock up on extra film when you purchase it or plan to help oversee your little photographer in action—they can run through film pretty quickly.

Screen size: N/A (none) | **Storage: N/A (not digital) | *Resolution:* N/A (not digital)

Let’s face it: Toddlers are tough on their toys. With that, you need a camera that can stand up to their rough and tumble lifestyle. The Seckton Upgrade Kids Selfie Camera does just that. It has a shockproof outer shell for fall protection, with a petite enough size that small hands can easily get a grip on. (There’s also an included lanyard to keep the camera from hitting the ground if it slips.) This toy has a dual-camera configuration to allow kids to take selfies. There’s even a video and voice recorder to make additional memories, as well as built-in games when your child is done shooting. This camera is rechargeable and offers up to two hours of battery life before it needs to be plugged in again.

Screen size: 2.4" | Storage: 32 GB | Resolution: 8 megapixels (camera); 1080 pixels (video)

Most kids love their stickers. The VTech KidiZoom Print Cam gives them the option to create their own by shooting photos of loved ones and their favorite objects. This camera features more than 110 templates, including comic strips, greeting cards and play money, to give kids a wide range of options. There are also filters and borders that can be easily added. There are parental controls to set daily time and printing limits, as well as to turn off the included games. You’ll get up to 80 pictures with the included paper, giving you plenty of mileage out of the film that comes with the device. Just keep in mind when purchasing film refills that the sticker paper is different from the standard film roll.

Screen size: 2.4" | Storage: 32 GB | Resolution: 5 MP

The VTech KidiZoom Camera Pix Plus allows kids to get creative with their pictures beyond the conventional point and shoot. This camera lets little ones record voices and play with more than 40 camera effects, including picture frames, stamps, collages, and more. Kids can even stitch together up to five pictures to make a panoramic shot and can do animations with up to 100 pictures. Once your child creates photos, simply transfer them to your computer. The camera's memory goes up to 32 GB, although you’ll need to purchase a MicroSD card separately. The camera comes in blue and pink exterior options, and features a built-in wrist strap to lower the risk of drops.

Screen size: 1.8" | Storage: 32 GB | Resolution: 2 MP

Kids that love to shoot video will get a kick out of the Kidamento digital camera and video camcorder. This video camera has a cool unicorn and plane theme, along with a flip-out screen kids can use to get a better view of the action. A built-in hand strap in the same silicone as the camera’s body keeps the device securely in your child’s hand as they shoot away. Your little one can flip through filters, frames and even a selfie timer for the built-in “regular” camera. While this camera packs a lot in, it comes in a surprisingly petite package.

Screen size: 2" | Storage: 32 GB | Resolution: 20 MP

Whether you’re interested in seeing if your child will enjoy a camera before upgrading to a pricier model or just want to save a little, you can’t go wrong with the Sineau Kids Camera. This device is just $25, making it affordable for many. The camera offers digital zoom up to 4x, along with a front and rear camera for shooting from all angles. Kids have options for jazzing up their photos, too, thanks to seven color filters and 28 picture frame options. It can even shoot video! The included lanyard helps protect this camera from accidental drops.

Screen size: 2" | Storage: 32 GB | Resolution: 12 MP

VTech’s KidiZoom Creator Cam has everything aspiring directors and YouTubers need to get up and running. This camera allows kids to shoot pictures and video, and even comes with its own small tripod for quick and easy set-up. A fun perk: The camera comes with a green screen to help kids use animated backgrounds, like getting chased by a dinosaur or floating in outer space. Kids can also enjoy a selfie stick for self-portraits. An included wrist strap makes it easy to shoot pictures and video safely on the move. Choose from pink or red themes.

Screen size: 2.4" | Storage: 32 GB | Resolution: 5 MP