Best Gifts for a Toddler Boy
Looking for the best gifts for a toddler boy? These ideas are both practical and fun all at once! When you’re done, check out these gift ideas for the 5 year old girl who has everything! This post contains affiliate links and gifted product.
Toddlers are so much fun to buy gifts for and today I’m going to share with you some of my favorite picks for toddler boys – tested by my very own prince charming!
The toddler stage is a bit ambiguous but primarily addresses ages 1.5/18 months through age three. It depends heavily on the child but I figured I’d share ideas for the full range.
First, as usual, I’m going to share some general gift giving tips for this age group. As a fourth time toddler mom (and a third time toddler boy mom) here are some of my best practices.
How to find the best gifts for a toddler boy
You really can’t go wrong with this age group. Anything they can unwrap – and even the wrapping paper itself – is a great gift!
My goal here is to share some ideas for when you’re stuck – some practical ideas as well as some fun ideas. At this age, a gift for the kid is still a gift for the parent, so this list includes some really fun finds that Mom & Dad will love too.
Some category tips for finding the best gifts for a toddler boy:
- This is the age where non-toy gifts are a win! Anything cozy or colorful that’s also practical will be something kid and parents love. Think of essentials – but take them up a notch and get a higher end version.
- At this age, many kids have favorite characters. They absolutely love seeing those characters in gifts – whether it’s on clothing, toys, or accessories.
- Lifestyle – it’s really helpful to know what the family’s lifestyle is like. Do they travel a lot? Is the toddler in childcare at all? Do they have a large or small house? Do they have occasions to dress up?
- Personality – again, knowing personality will always help with gift giving. Is the little guy an active one? Does he prefer tabletop play? Is he a snuggler?
I hope these tips and specific ideas help you in finding the best gifts for a toddler boy!
Disclaimer: Some of these toys are labeled 3+/choking hazard toys! Please read the instructions and use discretion when purchasing for kids under three. I include some of these toys in this guide because I personally like purchasing ahead – if I’m getting for a 2.5 year old, I’m thinking of what he’ll play at age three and beyond. I also personally allow my child to play with such toys before three since he does not tend to mouthe them – but only with close supervision.
12 Best Gifts for a Toddler Boy
The Best non-toy Gifts for a Toddler Boy
If you’re a fan of non-toy gifts, this is the age to gift it! J loves anything cozy, so that gift with a cozy element? Straight win! Non-toy gifts are almost foolproof at this stage, as they have a practical spin. Here are some favorite picks for the best non toy gifts for a toddler boy.
CozyCo💤™ Blanket with Hand and Foot Pockets
With CozyCo💤™ the snuggles are everything! These blankets have built-in hand and foot pockets to allow for a swaddle-effect. The hand pockets have finger holes so that they can still be used while wearing it.
CozyCo💤™ is the kid version of CozyThrow💤™ (the full-size one that that I’m enjoying – and shared in my list of gift ideas for a wife.) J absolutely loves it – the plush is soft and embracing. As he says, it’s cozy!!
WeeWander Backpack, Stuffy, and Bottle
For the family that likes to travel a lot – whether it’s weekends at grandmas or bigger trips- WeeWander makes fabulous high end travel gear for little ones!
Their backpack is just the right size for a toddler – but with maximum use of the space. It has loads of pockets for activities, devices, snacks, blankets, and more! It has an insulated compartment to keep things fresh and a chest strap for extra support. All the straps are adjustable so they grow with the little one. Individual pockets means that it’ll take more work for J to unload its contents – and it’ll be much more organized.
It’s designed to be perfectly compatible with optional other WeeWander accessories that are really cute when bundled with the backpack.
The water bottle is a very well-made stainless steel straw tumbler. It’s leak proof, and has the most adorable little print on it. I love that it’s slimmer than the typical tumbler, perfect for tiny hands. And it fits right into the side pocket of the backpack!
And the stuffy is a really cute little travel companion that comes with its own tiny backpack! It fits into either of the water bottle pockets (which has special slots for its feet) and can be a special “travel toy” for the kid who’s a bit antsy in the car.
The backpack comes with a mini travel “passport” activity book with stickers too. And of course, there’s a strap for the suitcase handle too – making it great for air or car travel!
Feltman Brothers Heirloom Lattice Knit Set
Classic fine knitwear makes for a fabulous gift that both mom and the little one will enjoy! Feltman Brothers makes heirloom quality, timeless clothing that is a favorite in our house. J loves this lattice knit set that is gorgeous with his red hair.
This set manages to be gorgeously dressed-up while still being comfy and fun for an active toddler to wear! It’s 100% cotton and breathable, and yes, of course it’s machine washable!
The fit on the sweater is a bit looser and the pants are a bit slimmer, for a really sweet combination.
Hobibear Barefoot Winter Shoes
Shoes are a really fun gift for toddlers for two reasons: they’re still new at walking and are kind of obsessed with their shoes, and they keep outgrowing them!
Hobibear makes fabulous barefoot and wide toe shoes that allow for more freedom of movement for little ones. Their Spruce winter barefoot shoes come in toddler sizes and Y LOVES them. They have a plush (“cozy” inside and ample support around the ankles. But they’re still unrestrictive and allow those toes plenty of movement – and they’re easy to get on and off.
And the colors are just so fun! Yes, they do have them in black too – but we went with this icy blue.
The Best Interest-based Play Gifts for a Toddler Boy
At the toddler stage, kids start to show very specific interests – some might even say obsessions! J is starting to recognize favorite characters (and tell me how cute they are), and he loves trucks. Find out what they love and go with that! Here are some common toddler favorite themes and gifts to give based on them!
Mighty Wheels 16″ Toy Crane
For the construction obsessed kid, the Mighty Wheels 16″ toy crane is an epic toy! This is a 3+ toy that little boys will just love. It’s a nice size toy with solid construction and realistic sounds that’ll make little boys smile.
And it even comes with traffic cones! The wind up hook provides plenty of pretend play opportunity, and winding it up requires some fine motor musclework.
I love that it’s a bit of a more unique pick than your typical dump truck or excavator (though Mighty Wheels makes those too) while still fitting in with the whole construction fascination. And J loves using it to hook onto and move other toys around.
FAO Schwartz Bluey Vending Machine
J loves Bluey and got so excited when he saw this vending machine from FAO Schwartz. This is a 3+ toy that is actually a win for birthdays, holidays – and yes, potty training!
Everything about this is so charming and giftable – and yes, they make other characters too (such as Marvel and Disney) for kids who like different shows.The front flap of the vending machine has the iconic Bluey letters and Bluey and Bingo sit atop the machine.
No need to insert a coin – just twist the lever and one capsule is released. Inside are small collectible figures. J loves playing with this type of figure with his favorite characters and this is just a really cute way to gift it.
This can be gifted all at once, or use it as smaller gifts to hand out one at a time. Refill the capsules with new prizes when you’re done – they’re reusable! Includes common, rare, and limited edition figures.
Cocomelon BooBoo JJ
In every gift guide, I like to include at least one holdover recommendation – something we’ve featured with our older kids but is still very much loved! This one is a holdover from A but J loves it too!
BooBoo JJ is fabulous for a Cocomelon fan, and brings an element of nurturing to the table. JJ sings the booboo song and has his own medical case with hook and loop bandages. The part of him with a booboo lights up so that little ones can put a bandage on it.
The Best Educational Gifts for a toddler boy
Kids learn through play and exploration and while all play has the potential to be educational, our favorite type is when the kids are encouraged to try things! These picks nurture that exploration and make favorite gifts for a toddler boy.
Mindware Konvertibles Transforming Wooden Cars
With my kids superfans of converting vehicle toys, I was so excited to see Mindware make a toddler-friendly version! This one isn’t a puzzle like the big-kid ones – it simply folds and unfolds. But it provides plenty of problem solving exploration for little ones.
Turn it from a long car to a tall car easily for more play value from a classic toy.
These are made from high quality wood – but still bright, colorful, and kid-friendly (no sad beige), these toys are heirloom quality. The box turns into a play scene as well, and of course, it’s made from safe paints.
Milestones & More Play Kit
If you’re looking for a well-presented bundle gift, Milestones & More has you covered. They curate age-targeted gift baskets filled with an assortment of toys and gear for little ones, as well as educational activity and parenting resources.
These are quality items from real brands. The 24-30 month box featured a pounding block from IKEA, a Munchkin bath temperature duck that says “Hot” if the water is too hot, a bilingual Priddy book, and a little plush bear.
This is a really fun gift for younger toddlers who can benefit from milestone-targeted toys.
Battat Light Box Sensory Set
The Battat Light Box is a multi-functional sensory play set that is fabulous for the toddler stage. It features a wooden base with a light box, and loads of activities to do on it. Our favorite are the translucent geometric shapes. Kids can play with them on their own, but it also comes with transparency sheets for matching those shapes up.
Included pattern cards are a next level way to play with the shapes, and of course, layering them teaches about color in a natural play-based environment.
It comes with a sensory bin topper as well that can be used with the included tools for water or other sensory play. It even comes with some grass bin filler, but of course, it can be used with other sensory fillers too.
This is a great all-around toy for tabletop play, fine motor, and sensory exploration.
The Best Active Play Toys for a Toddler Boy
For little ones that love to be active, these gifts will help get out all that energy! While they don’t quite need help getting moving, these best gifts for a toddler boy help channel that energy – and will be enjoyed at least the next few years! Build those gross motor skills!
Pikler Triangle
Here’s another holdover: this Pikler Triangle is a multifunctional toy that is one we keep out and available all the time! kids love climbing on this toy (we’ve since moved it on top of a foam playmat) but there are other ways to play.
The triangle can turn into a tent with a throw blanket tossed on it. Flip over the arch, add some cushions, and it’s a rocking chair.
The kids switch it from slide, to climbing wall, to bridge, and back to slide again – again and again…
Trampoline
Sometimes the classics are a classic for a reason – and J loves jumping on his trampoline! This is one of those toys that you save from sibling to sibling and is loved for many years. It is great for indoors and out.
Literally just a ball.
If you’re looking for an easy, low budget gift that’ll charm any active toddler, just go with a ball! I recommend the lighter weight plastic balls (rather than rubberized playground balls) – but you can even give them a beach ball.
What are your best gifts for a toddler boy? Got any to add to the list? Comment below!
