The 20 best gifts for toddlers ages 1 to 3 (that parents love too)

This sweet train set is a fantastic gift option, from a toddler-joy standpoint and also from a developmental one. "The Brio My First Railway hits a lot of these assets — fine motor, creative, interactive," says Byrne. Plus you can trust that Brio uses safe, high-quality materials. Lights, sounds and wooden tracks make this the perfect first train set. You can get other wooden Brio sets and accessories to add later if your child takes to the world of trains. 

PicassoTiles are the magnetic tiles we recommend for parents who want more bang for their buck. While less durable than competitors like Magna-Tiles and Connetix, PicassoTiles actually have stronger magnets, according to some parents. They also win on price. This set includes 50% more tiles for only about 70% of the price of comparable sets from other brands. And any toddler will tell you, the more tiles you have, the better designs you can build.

“At this age, kids are really starting to engage with characters,” says Byrne of TV and movie tie-in toys. Animated Australian series Bluey is a hit with parents and kids alike. “The important thing about characters, however, is that if they exist in an on-screen environment, they have to be compelling enough so that kids want to take that character off the screen and express themself through play with it.”

This playset reproduces Bluey's family home and comes with movable furniture and four figures — to quote the theme song, there's "Mum, Dad, Bingo, Bluey!"

Tegu blocks have hidden magnets to help them stick together and create cool designs, and they have a serious fan base among people who love their high quality and impressive magnetic ability. Rounded edges also protect little fingers. This eight-piece set is a great starter kit with endless possibilities. And, since all Tegu blocks worth together, you can add more to the mix later.

"Both my toddler and 10-month-old love playing with Tegu blocks and this robot is a pretty cool addition to their set," a happy customer wrote.

Toddlers gravitate toward play kitchens like moths to a flame. But don't worry — despite its realistic stove burners and included pots and pans, this retro-inspired kitchen has no flames. Besides cooking at the stove, your tyke can wash pretend dishes in the sink, fill up a glass with the ice machine, or nuke some play food in the microwave. Kitchen implements like a spatula and knife are also included. The best part of this play kitchen is that it won't ruin your living room's mid-century vibe, unlike your toddler's other toys. 

Got a Disney fan on your list? This trunk of princess clothes is an Amazon exclusive (and bestseller), and offers plenty of wardrobe-styling possibilities for little fashionistas. This 21-piece trunk features tops, bottoms, and stretchy princess crowns that can be mixed and matched to create royal looks.

"We bought this for our 2 year old granddaughter. She loves playing dress up and wears them all the time," shares a satisfied shopper.

Lovevery is a subscription brand that also sells toys a la carte. Each box, or Play Kit, is designed for a specific three-month developmental period, from newborns to 4-year-olds, with toys and activities specifically curated to challenge and entertain based on common baby and toddler milestones. The Helper Play Kit is for toddlers aged 25-27 months (that's young 2-year-olds) and includes a popular functioning sink for pretend dishwashing. These boxes are pricey, but the high-quality materials and uniquely curated toy collections make it so worth it. 

Gone are the days of training wheels; the balance bike is here to stay. This 12" model comes with tires that can't go flat, an adjustable seat that requires no tools and a sense of satisfaction at watching your toddler zoom down the sidewalk independently.

"Toys that really give kids a chance to immerse in fine or gross motor activities are usually excellent," Byrne says.

Part water table, part fishing activity, this Little Tikes toy makes a great backyard staple for any toddler. Just fill it with water and your toddler can use the included cups to fill the fishbowl to its tipping point, catch "fish" with the included fishing pole or send the aquatic critters flying on the spinning lily pad. 

"There are just enough accessories to keep the interest of a child without being too much," one shopper wrote. "Straight out of the box it is so easy to put together. Add water and have fun."

Help your favorite toddler expand their vocabulary with this pick, which is packed with cool graphics and sounds to keep toddlers engaged. Your child can play the words on the page, along with sound effects and fun facts, simply by pressing buttons.

"Bought this for my 2-year-old son's birthday. He loves pressing the pictures, plays with it for about 10 minutes or so at a time and especially loves to play with it together with me, dad or sister," says a five-star fan. "He often tries to repeat the words. Great learning tool."

Squishmallows stuffed animals are still so popular even toddlers want in on this trend. “Squishmallows are the hottest thing out there,” says Byrne of this popular line of stuffed toys. There are so many adorable critters to choose from, including this Stitch plush.

So much creativity can be unleashed with this compact toy van. Dolls and picnic accessories are included, so toddlers are ready to play. Bonus: Assembly is quick and easy. "This toy was purchased for my three year old grandson and he loves it," says a satisfied shopper. "We play together. The detailed accessories are a bit advanced ,but not too. He especially loves the felt campfire and the fish in sticks for cooking. I think it will be a favorite in the coming years. I love that there are so many alternative activities. Surfing, hang gliding, and camping are not a usual feature on toddler toys."

Toddlers love to imitate adults, and this lawn mower toy is a fun way to copy yard work. It also functions as a push toy and is great for tots learning to walk. Plus, as your toddler walks, the built-in bubble machine releases hundreds of bubbles in their wake.

This sweet stuffed owl isn't just snuggly, he also functions as a night light and sound machine. Soothing sounds and songs will lull toddlers to sleep, and the glowing belly is reassuring in the dark.

Sleepy Eyes Owl has two modes for bedtime relaxation: one is 20 minutes of tranquil, volume-controlled music with a nightlight and the other is a sound machine featuring 7 different options. The owl’s eyes slowly start closing, encouraging your toddler to do the same. What a great gift!

Toddlers love to pretend to prepare food, so this wooden baking set is super-popular. Manipulating the pieces improves fine motor skills — everyone wins! This wooden cookie set pairs perfectly with a play kitchen, but works just as well on its own. Included are 12 sliceable cookies that store in a dough tube, 12 toppings, knife, spatula, cookie sheet and a kitchen mitt.

There are over 15,000 5-star ratings on Amazon — it’s a solid buy! “The ‘decorations’ are removable (velcro) so they can add or remove them if they desire,” explains one satisfied Amazon reviewer. “When they are removed, the cookies all velcro together and the toy knife allows them to ‘slice and bake’ the cookies. We look forward to many baking sessions and cookie parties over the next few years!”

Fine motor skills will grow by leaps and bounds when toddlers manipulate this educational toy. Put the pegs into Spike's back and then store them conveniently inside the toy. Fourteen colorful pieces are included in this set, which helps with color recognition and counting as well as fine motor skills. Over 44,000 positive Amazon ratings agree that Spike makes a great gift! “This hedgehog is adorable,” writes one happy Amazon customer. “My nephew who is 18 months old loved it and played with it for weeks. Would gift again to someone else.”

This high-quality doll from iconic brand Madame Alexander is posable, sports lots of hair for styling and comes with styling accessories like a headband and elastics. (Best for ages 3 and up due to the small accessories.) Choose from a variety of skin tones.

Get your toddler shooting hoops and developing social, motor skills and coordination with this classic No. 1 bestselling basketball set. The hoop adjusts to 6 different heights to grow with your child, making this a gift that’ll last. The base can be weighted with sand for more secure play, and this set can be used indoors or out. “This is the second one we have owned,” comments a two-time buyer on Amazon. “The first one lasted 15 years sitting outside by the pool. GREAT PRODUCT.” The caps lock lets you know it’s a winner.

Gift your toddler their very own comfy chair. We love this sweet unicorn option for bedrooms, nurseries, play rooms or living rooms — and others do too: It's a No. 1 bestseller at Amazon. This toddler-sized seat (it’s 19" high) has a cover that comes off for easy cleaning (and yes, you can toss it in the washing machine) and handy side pockets where kiddos can stash toys. There’s even a handle on top so it can be dragged around the house.

Gift your toddler their very ice cream truck! Well, Play-Doh ice cream. There are 12 cans of the squishy stuff included, so little ones can scoop and create colorful cones, then serve them from the window. This ice cream truck playset, which comes with an impressive 27 accessories and 12 cans of Play-Doh, is large enough for friends to share.

“Creative play is always good, particularly when it involves paints, compounds, or other things,” says Byrne. “That’s why I think you’re right on with the Play-Doh Ice Cream Truck.”