You’ll find my top picks for ages 0–2.5, our go-to travel toys, Addie’s current wishlist, and a few thoughtful gifts for loved ones — whether you’re celebrating Hanukkah, Christmas/Navidad, Kwanzaa, Día de Reyes, or just looking to make the season feel a little more fun.
If you’re looking for holiday ideas that have been toddler-tested, subway-carried, upstate-traveled, and stroller-stored, this is our family’s true list!
Addie’s favorites
This list comes straight from our toddler Addie’s favorites. She’s 2.5 now, so I looked back through a few years of gifts and online orders and pulled only the toys we actually used, loved, and kept — the ones that survived daily toddler life, tiny NYC apartments, stroller baskets, and more than a few playroom purges.
Disclaimer: I get a very small commission from some of the links in this post (at no extra cost to you). I only include products we’ve actually used, loved, or have genuinely on our wishlist — no random filler, no sponsored additions. Prices of items may change.
Addie loved this — and honestly still plays with it sometimes. It’s my go-to gift for new parents because it’s simple, durable, and instantly engaging with lights and music. A fair warning: the tunes are a little on the zippy side but there are two volume levels. Great for tummy time — prop it up and let your baby follow the lights.
A sweet, sturdy board book celebrating NYC in a way babies can enjoy now and grow into later. It’s a perfect subway read and one of our favorite “welcome to the city” gifts. Confession: I also genuinely love reading this one — and yes, it even includes a little drawing of a rat stealing a slice of pizza.
A great all-in-one mat for newborn to toddler months. The piano keeps them kicking, the toys keep them reaching, and it folds easily for apartment living. Note: Our toddler outgrew this in about 7 months but she loved it while it lasted and we even travelled with it to Houston several times.
Soft, sensory, and truly travel-friendly. We kept this as a travel-only toy so it stayed exciting — perfect for flights, long car rides, and airport floor-time when you need something engaging while you’re trying to figure out if you missed a left-turn or not.
Lightweight, foldable, and still provides endless entertainment. Addie still does laps around the apartment with stuffed animals strapped in. And likes to load and unload the storage basket. Apologies to our neighbors below (thank god for pre-ward buildings and carpeting).
Not glamorous — but our toddler adores it. She calls it “Call,” plays with it like a phone — which also keeps her away from our real AC controls. This toy hasn’t lost its appeal and earlier this week, she was walking around making an important call to a bunny and telling them to “hop, hop, hop.” I’ll soon be updating this to an Elmo phone because she loves Elmo and be able to use this one again!
I bought this for Addie’s first birthday in the park. We keep it stored and only bring it out on bad-weather days, which keeps it exciting. It’s compact, creates an instant cozy play nook, and packs away easily in the closet. It also just feels kind of magical each time.
These live in a small jar in Addie’s drawer and match every outfit. Bright, sturdy, and great for her to get creativity and choose whichever colors she’s feeling that day. They look cute and are also so much easier to put in her hair when she doesn’t want to wear a hair tie!
Reusable, mess-free, stroller-friendly water art. Just fill the little tube with water and you’re set for fun on the go. She’s loved the “fishies” but we may be switching it up soon to one with cars and construction sites.
We got a set after Addie kept seeing me put on my make up every morning for work. She uses them for pretend play, sensory play, and hair brushing dolls. Soft and durable.
This set is beautiful (solid beechwood!) and has gotten a lot of use. Toddlers love copying what they see us do — sweeping, mopping, “tidying.” I’ve found it to teach Addie real-life skills and it’s cute to sweep when she’s helping me.
We’re a big crafts family and a craft kit library that keeps everything contained (NYC parents, rejoice!). Great for quick after-nap activities without taking over your whole table. We removed some choking hazards and keep an eye on her while using it. Tip: We also use this and play-doh to calm down when we’re having a rough moment. Something about exploring and sorting the items helps ground her.
Nana gave Addie this scooter for her 2nd birthday after she kept pointing at every kid zipping by on the sidewalk on the UWS. She’s getting the hang of it and starting to zoom around. Don’t forget a helmet too so that when they open it, they can use it immediately— we use this one.You can also pay more for one that folds up here.
Addie’s absolute favorite right now — huge thank you to tía Rosana. This game gets kids moving with solo and group activity cards (and yes, a banana involved in many challenges). Perfect for rainy days or quick after-dinner connection. Tía Tori’s tip: When Addie wants to play near bedtime, the activities all become done by “sleepy monkeys” to keep the excitement nice and mellow.
Pete the Cat has been great at teaching that it’s ok when things break. While aged for 4 and up, probably due to the subtraction, Addie loves counting those buttons. This was a gift from our neighbor (and amazing librarian!) and she loves it.
A funny, energetic picture book that follows Fergus, an enthusiastic, slightly naughty, totally lovable dog, as he bounces through his idea of a perfect day. Addie loves “doggies” and saying ‘meatballs.” Another slam dunk from our neighbor!
NYC apartment-safe, washable, and vibrant. Has come out of Addies clothes and the walls. Because, even though I try to be tidy, we all need a little art, and mess, in our life.
Our go-to travel toys
We keep a small stash of “fun bag” toys that only come out when we travel — flights, road trips, trains, hotel rooms. Saving these just for travel keeps them exciting and buys us precious stretches of calm when we need them most. Some of our top hitters for ages 0–36 months:
Endlessly entertaining and incredibly portable. We make shapes on tray tables, stick pieces on our hands, or play simple “find the blue one” games. Zero mess, infinite mileage.
These little suction-cup giraffes stick to airplane or car windows. Thank you to Nana who always brings a great new travel toy: Addie loves placing them high, waiting for them to fall, and shouting “Kaboom!” every time. The suction cups can fall off but can be put right back in.
Whatever toy Dad brings home from his latest conference or something from Five and Below. There’s always a random toy in the mix. Dad’s tip: that toy always has “sensitive ears,” which encourages our toddler to use her inside voice.
Mom’s iPad with downloaded shows. We keep a small set of downloaded shows just for trips, and our toddler knows she only gets to watch them on travel days. This makes it something she looks forward to and treats like a special treat. And mom gets to talk to dad, read, or listen to a podcast.
Addie’s 2025 holiday wishlist
When our family and friends have asked what to give Addie this year, we always say no gifts are necessary. But for those who insist and genuinely want ideas based on her current interests (i.e. building, dogs, plants), here’s what we shared:
Addie has gotten more interested in building with blocks. Most of my friends have these so I’m excited to give them a go. Tip: I watched her play with these at the Children’s Museum so I know she likes them.
We want to bring more science into Addie’s library, and this looks like a collection of bright, simple board books that turn big STEM concepts into toddler-friendly fun.
Looks like a sweet, simple intro to how apples grow – from seed to tree to applesauce. And Addie loves apples so I’m hoping it’s a good hook to introduce some plant science.
We splurged on these for our parents over the last two years. Our parents don’t live nearby so it’s a big hit! You can upload photos and videos through the app anytime, and they pop up instantly in your family’s home. Easy setup and such a sweet way to share daily memories when you don’t live in the same place. Or even if you do!
Feeling creative and not wanting to overspend? Make a simple book with your toddler: pick photos of you and your loved ones (i.e. if the gift is for grandparents, include pictures with them), print them, and glue them into a keepsake album. Here’s a cute album you can paste them into!
A gift for loved ones who like to write, reminisce, or share stories. We gifted Storyworth to my parents three years ago, and the finished books are truly special. Each week, Storyworth sends a question to spark a memory — they can reply by email, write on the website, or even record their voice. At the end of the year, all their stories are collected and published into a beautifully bound book you can keep, reread, and pass down.
This was a gift from my sister and it’s been life-changing. Quick, effective, and apartment-friendly. Not recommended for cashmere. Though yes, I still do it. Here’s what my husband uses for trimming his sweaters.
Happy holiday shopping!
Hope these holiday picks bring some fun to your home (and maybe even buy you a few peaceful minutes). If you give any a try, share below or tag me on Instagram — I’d love to hear what your toddler enjoyed.
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