Easter Basket Ideas for Babies and Toddlers That Don’t Involve Candy
March 14, 2022
Easter is right around the corner—time to celebrate! Your little bunny may be too tiny to take part in an egg hunt and craft activities, but you can still dress them in an adorable Easter outfit, and present them with a basket of goodies—from the Easter Bunny, of course.
So what do you put in Easter baskets for babies and toddlers? Our advice is to avoid sweet treats in favor of fun gifts your kiddo can enjoy long after the holiday’s over. While it may be tempting to stuff a basket full of tiny trinkets, remember that many small toys are choking hazards for children under 3 years old. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) warns against giving children items with small or loose parts as well as toys that can fit entirely in an infant’s mouth.
Planning an epic basket for baby, or looking for a few ideas for your bunny-believing toddler? We’ve rounded up our favorite Easter basket ideas for babies and tots, with the goal of skipping the candy and the inevitable sugar crash. Keep reading to discover 21 toys and gifts that are small, adorable and safe.
Chances are your baby won’t remember their first (or second) Easter, but that’s no reason to skip the celebration. From bunny-themed apparel to loveys and books, these Easter basket fillers for baby are hard to beat.
Veggie teether
What’s up doc? This chewy carrot teether will keep baby’s gums happy as they cut their first teeth—plus, it’s pretty darn cute to boot. It’s also BPA-free, and the grippy handles make it easy for little hands to grasp.
Buy it: Infantino Go Gaga! Textured Carrot Teether, $3, Target.com
Bunny book
Build baby’s library with a bunny-themed book. A classic choice, like Pat the Bunny, is always a winner. The touch-and-feel book stimulates kids’ senses for an extra-special storytime experience.
Buy it: Pat the Bunny by Dorothy Kunhardt, $10, Bookshop.org
Sweet lovey
Your baby may be too young to have a lovey in her crib, but this bunny lovey will be a comforting friend during daytime hours. The animal head is perfectly sized for tiny hands and the blanket is deliciously soft.
Buy it: Jellycat Bunny Soother Blanket, $24, Nordstrom.com
Rubber ducky
Aside from bunny rabbits, chicks and ducklings are the unofficial mascots of springtime. So a rubber ducky is an awesome Easter basket idea for babies. This clever bath toy is suitable from birth, and reveals the word “hot” when the water temperature is too high. Genius!
Buy it: Munchkin White Hot Ducky, $3, Munchkin.com
Bunny bodysuit
Treat your baby to a new outfit, perfect for a family photo opportunity or a snuggly day at home. Little Sleepies has tons of pajamas, dresses and rompers adorned with sweet Easter prints. Bonus: The jammies come in adult sizes too.
Buy it: Little Sleepies Rad Rabbits Short Sleeve Bodysuit, $20, LittleSleepies.com
Booties
Keep little toes cozy with a pair of bunny booties. Crafted from knitted organic cotton, these boots have a pastel peach lining, adorable ears and stitched features. The best part? They’re small enough to fit inside baby’s Easter basket.
Buy it: Meri Meri Peach Bunny Baby Booties, $28, MeriMeri.com
Easter bib
Searching for practical Easter basket ideas for babies? Look no further than this super-absorbent bib from Carter’s. It’s got a lovely yellow color scheme and reads “my first Easter.” How cute is that?
Buy it: Carter’s Easter Bib, $8, Carters.com
Baby bowtie
Dress up any outfit with this dapper baby bowtie. It’s decorated with a whimsical rabbit character, complete with hipster glasses! And thanks to a pre-tied bow and a touch-strap fastening, this tie is super easy to put on.
Buy it: Janie and Jack Bunny Bowtie, $22, JanieandJack.com
Bunny costume
How about this sweet bonnet and bunny tail set? Crafted from cotton, the hat has an under-chin strap to keep it securely in place during egg hunts and general festivities. Meanwhile, the fluffy tail is attached to a comfy, elasticated belt. Talk about hoppy-go-lucky Easter basket ideas for babies!
Buy it: Band of the Wild Bunny Bonnet & Tail, $45, TheTot.com
Finger puppet book
The classic tale Guess How Much I Love You, has been given a revamp with this cute finger puppet edition. Kids will be delighted to see the story come to life as the fluffy bunny pokes through each page in a fun game of hide-and-seek.
Buy it: Here I Am!: A Finger Puppet Book: A Guess How Much I Love You Book, $13, Bookshop.org
Now that they’ve got a couple of years under their belt, tots will be far more familiar with and excited about Easter celebrations. Steer the bunny away from the traditional deluge of chocolate and candy and supply super-cool gifts for their baskets. From wooden toys to craft kits and more, here are a few of our favorite fillers to keep toddlers busy during the warmer months ahead.
Sidewalk chalk
Take the fun outside this spring with a pack of sidewalk chalk. Letting your child use their imagination to draw shapes and play simple games like hopscotch will keep them entertained and help improve fine motor skills. And how cute is this egg-shaped set?
Buy it: TWEE Bunny’s 6 Eggs Handmade Sidewalk Chalk, $40, Maisonette.com
Bubble wand and bubbles
Replenish your bubble supply and include a few fun wands for sunny days ahead (or playtime in the tub). The large wands are easy for toddlers to wave while they learn to master the skill of blowing bubbles.
Buy it: Super Fun Bubble Wand Assortment, $8, Amazon.com
Craft kit
Looking for Easter basket ideas for toddlers that love arts and crafts? Check out Crayola Scribble Scrubbie Pets. The mess-free set includes two cute animal characters (in this case a bunny and a guinea pig) that kids can color-in, clean and decorate all over again.
Buy it: Crayola Scribble Scrubbie Pets, $10, Crayola.com
A plush toy
Jellycat is a go-to brand for stuffed animals—and we adore their funny collection of food-themed toys. This egg-cellent pick is touchably soft, and comes complete with a cheeky smile.
Buy it: Jellycat Amuseable Happy Boiled Egg, $15, Jellycat.com
Alphabet flash cards
Designed for ages one to 6, Poke-a-Dot learning cards are the ultimate Easter basket fillers for babies, tots and preschoolers. Each card features a letter, along with a corresponding object and poppable dots.
Buy it: Melissa & Doug Poke-a-Dot Alphabet Learning Cards, $17, MelissaandDoug.com
Wooden counting carrots
Teach your child to count with this adorable set by Tender Leaf Toys. Little kids love repetition, so they’ll happily pass time stacking the numbered carrot rings on accompanying pegs. Trust us, educational Easter basket ideas for toddlers don’t get better than this.
Buy it: Tender Leaf Toys Counting Carrots, $28, TheTot.com
Bangle set
You can only imagine our delight when we came across these fun Easter-inspired bangles. Decorated with polka dots, chicks and eggs, this set would make an adorable Easter basket filler for toddlers that love to dress up.
Buy it: Lilies & Roses Chicks And Eggs Print Bangle Set, $18, Maisonette.com
Color-in cape
Creative Easter basket ideas for toddlers are always a winner. Case in point: This color-in cape from Selfie Clothing Co. Illustrated with comical bunny rabbits, it comes with markers so your little one can decorate the cape their way.
Buy it: Selfie Clothing Co Toddler/Big Kid Color-In Cape Bunnies, $34, TheTot.com
Musical egg shakers
No Easter basket is complete without some eggs. Add these egg-shaped shakers and encourage an impromptu dance party. It’s an ideal Easter basket idea for toddlers.
Buy it: Baby Noise Egg Shakers, $18, TheTot.com
Stacking dolls
Head to Meri Meri to find tons of inspiring Easter basket ideas for babies and toddlers. Our top pick? These adorable stackable bunny dolls. Crafted from wood with soft felt ears and gold foil details, this set will delight kids and adults alike.
Buy it: Meri Meri Stacking Bunnies, $25, MeriMeri.com
Play-Doh
Last up is a tried-and-true pick that’s perfect for rainy spring days. Play-Doh is an affordable Easter basket idea for toddlers that love to mold, shape and create.
Buy it: Play-Doh Modeling Compound 4 4-Ounce Cans, $3, Walmart.com
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