Easter Basket Ideas for Toddlers and Babies: Goodies to Put in Their Baskets That are Sugarless and Fun!

I am cringing at the thought of candy/chocolate/sugar filled Easter baskets for my toddlers. First of all, does a toddler need any more energy or another tool with which to make a mess? I dare say not!

What can a parent do? It wouldn’t be right to exclude children of a younger age from such a holiday tradition, so one must modify the Easter basket goodies.

Keep on reading for fun basket ideas and fun goodies to put in Easter baskets!

Basket Ideas

For my kids, I find functional and practical Easter baskets. I start with a small-ish plastic or woven basket that later can be used as a storage container for little toys or trinkets. I like theCirco Elephant Fabric Drawer for my son and the Circo Hippo Fabric Drawer for my daughter, both from Target. These actually are large enough to be used as small toys or small stuffed animals containers as well. If I choose, I also can fold these up and store them away to be used again year after year. Another basket idea would be to buy a shovel and pail combo from Target or any other store. Those could be used in the summer either in the backyard or on vacation. The choice is yours depending on how you want to use the basket after the Easter holiday.

Look below for ideas of goodies you can put in the baskets!

Here are some ideas for little goodies to fill those baskets for toddlers (almost all could be found for $5 or less!):

• Playskool Weebles Figure 2-Pack—They’re egg-shaped and tons of fun, right?
• Coloring books--What little kid doesn't love to color? Coloring books of any kind would be fun for a toddler. Don't forget the crayons!
• Bouncy, stretchy, light-up balls--Think: entertainment for hours. They bounce. They stretch. They light up. So much fun!
• Small watering can and shovel--Pretty soon, it's going to be warm enough to play outside, but for now, the kids can pretend they're gardening inside.
• Character socks (dollar aisle!)--My son loves these, especially the Disney ones. Choose a favorite character/characters and fill up that basket!
• Character sippy cups--Another favorite for toddlers that can easily be found in abundance. Make sure to buy cups with adequate spill-proof measures!
• Fruit Snacks with Vitamin C--It's like giving them candy, only that it's good for them. These too you can buy with character themes.
• Small ABC or 123 books--Learning can be fun! There are a variety of cute learning books for toddlers out there.
• Bubbles--Play bubbles or bath time bubbles...Need I say more? Even if it's not warm enough outside to play with them yet, they can always be used in the Make sure they're non-toxic and hypo-allergenic.
• PlayDoh or Moon Dough--I personally prefer PlayDoh (okay, I really just like the smell...) but toddlers love playing with the squishy stuff.
• Baseball cap or sun hat--For those sunny days when you get outside!
• Kids’ sunglasses--Keep those little eyes protected.

Here are some ideas for little goodies to fill those baskets for babies:

• Teething rings--Great for teething babies or for those who will be teething.
• Bath toys--"Rubber ducky, you're the one..You make bath time lots of fun!" Ernie says it best.
• Socks with grips for walking--These are great for babies who live in houses with hardwood floors, like my house.
• Soft books--It's a great idea to expose babies to reading at an early age, even if at this age all they want to do is eat the book.
• Sippy cups--Pretty soon the babies will be ditching the babas and using the sippy cups. It's great to have a few on hand.
• Pacifiers--Binkies can be fun to buy, especially if they sport a fun graphic or phrase. I personally prefer the "Mama is the best" phrase...

If you still want to add snacks, here are some ideas,(some from the Gerber Graduates line of foods, organic, or other brands):

• Animal crackers
• Fruit snacks, made with 100% fruit
• Dried fruit pieces
• Fruit or veggie puffs
• Fruit or veggie melts

Here's the long story short (we're parents and short on time, right?)

1. Small, functional plastic or woven basket

2. Small, fun/usable goodies, age appropriate

3. No sugar rush

4. No mess

5. Lots of smiles

©ThePracticalMommy