Picking out things to go in a toddler’s Easter basket can be tricky.
You don’t want to go all out like you do for Christmas, but you want to get them something special other than just chocolate and candy.
Here are 21 relatively cheap ideas to help you out!

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1. Bath Toys
Toot loves squirt toys like these.
A few of her other favorites are foam letters and numbers, this fun bathtime fishing toy, and these Melissa and Doug sea creatures. All are relatively cheap and great for an Easter basket.
2. Ball Pit Balls
You don’t actually need to have the ball pit to play with ball pit balls. You can put them in a Pack N Play.
If you get 200 balls, it’s just enough to fill the bottom of a Pack N Play. You can buy a smaller set of 100 if you don’t want to spend that much. There are a few different things you can do with ball pit balls.
3. New Clothes
Who doesn’t love new clothes? I like to buy pretty fancy dresses for Toot even though she never has anywhere to wear them.
If you’re the church-going type, buy a new church outfit for your little one! Or just get some new play clothes or dress-up clothes!
4. Bouncy Balls
I wouldn’t get a bunch of little bouncy balls for a toddler under 3, but there are some bigger ones they can have fun with.
And these spiky balls light up when you bounce them.
5. Play food
I love Melissa and Doug. They have fantastic play food too.
If you don’t want to do wooden food (or plastic food), they also have felt food play sets like the sandwich making set.
6. A Stuffed Bunny
The Easter Bunny leaves stuffed bunnies, right?
Toot absolutely loves stuffed animals. I have my eye on this one for her Easter Basket.
But there are tons to choose from.
7. Books
Of course, I’m going to suggest books. Books are my favorite thing. (And Toot’s favorite thing!)
You can get a whole set of board books relatively cheaply or get a pretty picture book like The Day the Crayons Quit.
Or get Easter or bunny themed books like these!
8. Bubbles
Bubbles are always a good inexpensive item to throw into an Easter basket.
If you want to go all out, get a bubble machine. It does the work for you!
9. A Kite
What’s a better spring activity than flying a kite?
Look, this one’s an ice cream cone!
Of course, you can go traditional. But FLYING ICE CREAM!
10. Toddler Plate Sets
Kids love things with their favorite characters on them.
Why not take this gift-giving opportunity to get them something that they can actually use practically.
Here’s a Paw Patrol set, but there are so many options when buying toddler place settings.
11. A Tunnel
We have this tunnel, and I’m surprised at how much she wants to play with it.
We originally bought it to help her learn to crawl, but she uses it much more now that she’s a toddler.
It folds up flat pretty easily.
12. Cars
Toot could play with cars all day. Fun little cars can fit in Easter eggs or just pile them in the basket!
13. Movies
What kid doesn’t love a new movie?
I want to get Sing for Toot because it looks really cute.
I also have my eye on Zootopia and Trolls.
14. Build-a-Bear
I love Build-a-Bear! I have probably three myself. Toot has two now.
You can buy a gift card to put in the basket or just order a bear yourself.
15. Blocks
These nesting blocks are fun. But you could always go with traditional wooden blocks.
They build engineering skills!
16. Snacks
Instead of giving candy, the Easter Bunny could leave fruit snacks or crackers.
Toot loves Annie’s Cheddar Bunnies! They’re perfect for Easter!
17. A Photo Book
We have this photo book that Toot likes to flip through and look at all of the photos of her family. There are also a couple photos of herself in it.
Toddlers are so narcissistic. They love to look at themselves.
18. Hand or Finger Puppets
Cute little finger puppets are small and inexpensive gifts that look great in an Easter basket.
If you’d rather not have tiny little guys, go with hand puppets. The ones that Melissa and Doug make are really soft.
(Do you sense a Melissa and Doug theme? I love that brand!)
19. Magnets
Magnet letters are a great addition to an Easter basket!
You have to be careful when letting a toddler play with magnets, though.
Toot likes to try and bring them into the living room and put them near my phone and laptop. Not cool.
Also, they’re kind of a choking hazard, but what isn’t? She’s learning her letters!
20. New Shoes
Toddlers are in constant need of new shoes because their feet grow so fast!
You might as well throw some new shoes into the basket as a “gift.”
The best gifts are things they need.
21. Stickers
Toot loves stickers. She puts them everywhere. I’ve found stickers on the bottom of my foot. lol
Plus, they’re cheap! Check out these Eric Carle stickers I found!
What’s going in your toddler’s Easter basket?
Let me know in the comments below!
Jaclyn Quinones says
All great ideas! Love the wooden play food sets!
Kristen says
This is a great post. I never thought to put clothes in the Easter basket but it is a great idea!!
Emily Young says
I love the idea of Annie’s Cheddar Bunnies!! Our daughter is getting stuffed carrots, tsum tsums of Frozen, a crocheted bunny lovey and a book called “that’s not my bunny”
Niki @ Toot's Mom is Tired says
I love the That’s Not My books! We have the dragon one.
Brittany | A Mindful Geek says
This is a great list. Figuring out what to get toddlers can be pretty tricky. Thanks for elevating that.
Stephanie Lynch says
These are great ideas! I always struggle with what to get my boys because we don’t spend a lot on Easter, but I don’t want it to be all candy either…. they have enough energy as it is!!
Niki @ Toot's Mom is Tired says
Exactly! I don’t want to buy too much candy because I just end up eating all of it. Lol
Kira | A Better Life Lived says
We have all of those Sesame Street books. I actually found them at our local Dollar Tree, but they may not all have them.
And Annie’s snacks are so good!
Great ideas!
Niki @ Toot's Mom is Tired says
Yeah I think I got mine at the grocery store! I only saw them for like a week or two there.
Rhonda says
Stopping by from Sunday’s Best. These are great ideas for an Easter Basket. My grandson and granddaughter love Hot Wheels. Useful ideas and better than candy. Thanks for sharing.
Niki @ Toot's Mom is Tired says
Thanks for stopping by!
Shauna says
Great ideas!! I love the books and bubbles!
Laneic Lavalle says
This is a great list of ideas especially if you dont want to overfill the basket with sweets! I would have never thought of a tunnel but what a fun idea!
Connie @essentiallybroken.com says
Such cute ideas!! As my girls are getting older, I now do all summer stuff in their Easter baskets (new bathing suits, cover ups, flip flops, goggles) everything they need for sunmer fun!!
Niki @ Toot's Mom is Tired says
That’s a good idea!