25 Best Stocking Stuffer Ideas for Toddlers
Christmas stockings are a big deal in our house and the kids are almost just as delighted by the stockings on Christmas morning as they are the gifts under the tree. Sometimes though, the hustle and bustle of the holiday season gets me off track. If I’m not careful, I will forget about stockings until the last minute and then I’ll be scrambling to find things to fill them.
This year, I’m hoping to get ahead of the game and stockings are the first thing I plan to check off my holiday to-do list. Finding great stocking stuffers for each of my kids can sometimes be a challenge as it probably is for you too. So I’m helping us both out by putting together this list of toddler stocking stuffer ideas.
This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Read more about these links in my disclosure policy.
Best Stocking Stuffer Ideas for Toddlers
My kids seem to have a lot of everything, but I still enjoy making the holidays special. In the months leading up to Christmas, we try to compensate for what’s coming by cleaning out closets, toy boxes, and craft supplies – donating what we can. It’s a great way to clean up and reevaluate what we love and don’t love.
So when it comes to choosing the best stocking stuffers for toddlers (and any age child), I love a mix of educational, useful products and things that are fun and playful. Here are a few great ideas to check out!
Related: 50+ Non-Toy Gift Ideas for Kids
Practical Toddler Stocking Stuffers
Animal No-Slip Socks
Cute socks are a must for tiny toddler feet. Socks with no-slip grips on the bottom are even better so your little one can practice walking without in their sock without you worrying they will slip. These Animal Socks are cute and fun (my little girl loved them!).
Hat and Mittens
Protect those sweet little hands and ears from the cold when you are toddling through the snow and rain this winter. Hats and mittens are so easy to misplace so tucking an extra set in their Christmas stockings is a great idea. This hat and mitten set from Carter’s comes in a variety of colors so you can choose your child’s favorite.
Squeasy Snacker
Snacks are a must when heading out with a toddler in tow but as parents we also want to avoid any unnecessary messes. Enter the Squeasy Snacker! This refillable, reusable silicone pouch is the perfect size for packing smoothies, yogurt, applesauce or any soft food. Your kids can snack with confidence using this virtually mess-free pouch.
Water Bottle
A water bottle that’s easy for little hands to hold and open is perfect for keeping around the house or packing in the car for trips. The Yeti 12oz. Rambler with Straw is easy for kids to open on their own and keeps their drink cold for hours.
Electric Toothbrush
It’s time to start learning to brush, and what better way to get your kids excited about oral hygiene than with a playful electric toothbrush. The Brusheez® Kids Electric Toothbrush Set comes with a rinse cup, time, and extra brush head and is available in several different styles.
Educational Toddler Stocking Stuffer Ideas
Veggie Tattoos
Got a picky eater? Help your kids to recognize vegetables and encouraging them to try new ones with these fun temporary tattoos. Tater Tats Temporary Tattoos are easy to apply and don’t stay on forever. Toddlers with love this educational and motivational reward.
Plus 10% of their sales goes to supporting sustainable farms. It’s a win win!
Stacking Rocks
Stacking helps children to improve dexterity, motor skills, and hand-eye coordination. Building blocks also promote creativity and problem-solving. These unique Wooden Stone Blocks have several flat surfaces, so the stacking possibilities are practically endless.
Scissor Skills
This book is a good idea for little ones learning to use scissors. The easy tear-out pages in this Scissor Skills Book include lines, shapes, animals and patterns for loads of scissor practice for kids that already have a basic grasp on using scissors.
Many of the pictures can be colored for even more fun.
Alphabet Flash Cards
Double-sided Alphabet Flash Cards include both upper and lower case letters and a picture with the same beginning sound. Add these to your toddler’s stocking and have fun working on letter and sound recognition.
Pattern Blocks
Kids love to build and make pictures and these Wooden Pattern Blocks combine both. This Montessori activity encourages children to mimic the provided pattern cards or get creative and make their own designs.
Wrist Watch
Your little one will feel so grown up when wearing a watch. Teach your child about telling time and time management. The Potty Training watch has a programmable timer that will go off to remind your child to try to use the potty.
Playful Toddler Stocking Stuffers
Pop Tube
Pop Tubes Sensory Toys are so fun your toddler won’t even realize he’s learning! They stretch and bend and can even connect together to make different shapes. Spin them around for a cool sound that any kid would love.
These have been a great fidget for my son who’s a sensory seeker, but they are really fun for any kid!
Pop It! Fidget Toys
These super cool fidget toys are the most popular item this year, and even toddlers love to play with them! With their favorite characters like Olaf and Darth Vader, kids of all ages are going to love getting these Pop It!s this year.
While parents may think these are just another fun gadget, Pop It!s are actually great for kids who need sensory input to regulate or to help them with attention (it works great for my kiddos!).
Toss and Catch
What kid doesn’t enjoy playing catch with someone? These velcro paddles in the YoYa Toys Toss & Catch 3000 Ball Game make it easier for toddlers to catch the ball and give them confidence in their ability. This worked really well for my son when he was younger. You can have a good time and practice hand-eye coordination at the same time.
Mini Doll
The American Girl Mini Dolls are only 6.5 inches tall and are perfect for smaller children who aren’t quite ready to take care of a larger doll. They are posable and come with a shortened version of the companion book.
Toy Cars
These tiny pullback construction trucks fit perfectly into a Christmas stocking. They have movable parts and the pullback action lets kids race them to the job site. Some other smaller items like Hot Wheels or Matchbox cars are perfect for a little boy (or girl) who loves to vroom vroom with pretend play.
Bath Toys
Toddlers love bath time so bath toys like this Munchkin Fishing Bath Toy are lots of fun. There is a magnet in the “float” ball that attracts a small magnet in the little ocean friends. (No safety worries – the magnet is internal and can’t pop off to be swallowed.)
We actually have this toy and my own kids think the scuba diver looks like a character from Octonauts. Whatever distracts them from being washed, right? Add in some bubble bath or bath bombs (my kids love these bath bombs with a surprise toy inside) and your little one will be ready for lots of bath time fun.
Fidget Toys
These Pocket Sized Bubble Popper Fidget Toys are perfect for keeping tiny hands busy and occupied. They can easily clip on a backpack, purse or jacket zipper pull so your little one always has a tiny toy when needed.
Fidget toys have actually been popular with older kids too (my teen has some, and I saw a couple of 10 year olds playing with them the other day).
Animal Figurines
These tubes of Animal Figurines will open up a world of adventure for your kiddo as they create their own zoo, underwater scene, or safari. My son got one of these sets when he was 3 and he still plays with his beloved animals!
Flash Light
The VTech Flashlight was maybe the best thing my youngest son got in his stocking one year. It is designed for small hands to easily pick up. It’s perfect for kids who love to explore or kids who may have a little trouble with the dark.
The learning modes help with color recognition and the concept of opposites.
See all of our gift guides and fun gift ideas here!
Creative Toddler Stocking Stuffers
Wikki Stix
Wikki Stix are a fun sensory toy that’s suitable for kids of all ages. Kids can twist them, turn them, and make them into all sorts of shapes. Bonus points – they are easy to clean up!
Bath Crayons
Bath time is about to get exciting! These Bath Crayons are allergen-free and made with natural beeswax. Kids can draw in the tub and the mess easily washes away. It’s the perfect stocking stuffer for creative toddlers.
Toddler Crayons
Toddlers love to experiment with marking on paper, but their little fingers aren’t developed enough to properly grip standard crayons. Toddler Crayons are egg-shaped, and they can easily grip them in their palm to begin creating.
These make great Easter Basket Stuffers for Kids too!
Etch A Sketch
Kids love doodling on an Etch A Sketch and the Mini Pocket Etch A Sketch is perfect for tucking into a Christmas stocking. The pocket-sized no-mess drawing tool is perfect for toddlers that love to draw.
We keep this in our bag of road trip toys to keep the kids from being bored on a long ride!
Play Doh
Working with play doh is fun and builds fine motor skills. The Play Doh Party Pack contains an assortment of 1 oz. cans in a variety of colors. Since the cans are so small you don’t have to worry if your child mixes all the colors together.
I hope this list of great stocking stuffer ideas helped you to find the perfect gift for your toddler’s stocking. If you have other great ideas, please let me know in a comment below. Sending you warm holiday thoughts and wishes!
MEET AMANDA
Amanda is a mom of 4 living a mostly crunchy lifestyle outside of Atlanta, GA with her husband, 2 dogs, and a cat. As a former special education teacher who also has her personal training certification — Amanda really enjoys teaching others how to do things!
When she’s not working, Amanda enjoys DIY projects, exercising, photography, hiking, and long walks through Target.