Our top picks for infants, toddlers, pre-schoolers and school-aged
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There is absolutely nothing better than watching the joy and wonderment on a child’s face during the holidays. Kids revel in the lights, music, sweet treats and general magic found at this time of year. A time to snuggle up close to loved ones and celebrate life. What else gets a kiddo revved up? Gifts, of course.
Whether you’re a traditionalist and stick to gifting toys or you like to think a little more outside the box, we’ve got the perfect gift for all of the kids on your list.
Read on for our favourite tried and tested kids’ gear that’ll make any little one smile.
Infants (under one)
GUND Baby My First Dolly
Why we love it: These plush dolls are available in a variety of skin colours and are designed to meet the highest safety standards for baby toys, including embroidered facial details to ensure safe use for babies 0+. The dollys are machine-washable and come in a protective poly bag to ensure cleanliness upon arrival.
Patagonia Baby Reversible Tribbles Hoody
Why we love it: This reversible hooded jacket sizes from three months up to 5T. Is your baby (or toddler) the coolest kid on the block? They will be in this extra-warm and cozy fleece-lined jacket, backed by Patagonia standards and the quality you would expect from the outdoor adventure gurus. The jacket is made from 100 per cent recycled materials (inside and out) and produced in a Fair Trade Certified factory. Plus it’s available in a ton of fun colour combos. I suggest sizing up to get extra wear.
First Foods Set
Yeti Snow Day Zippy
Why we love it: Little Sleepies has absolutely mastered children’s clothing. The “zippies” come in an array of colours and patterns and sizes from newborn to child. Made from buttery soft bamboo viscose, these are all-season jammies (fold-over foot and hand cuffs included) that are breathable, hypoallergenic and gentle on sensitive skin. The brand offers consistent sizing and high-quality pieces that can be passed down from one child to the next.
Little elf Camera
Why we love it: This highly-rated baby cam is affordable and extremely sharp for the price point. The video quality, night vision, smart-motion detection and two-way audio features all work very well. The camera connects to an app on your phone, so your little one can be viewed from anywhere in the world (think grandparents or overseas relatives) depending on who you share your password with.
Daily Bath Time Solutions Gift Set
Why we love it: Everything you need for baby’s bathtime in one handy (and reusable) canvas box. Aveeno Baby’s skincare products are pediatrician-recommended and approved, and perfect for sensitive and delicate skin. This set includes full-size bottles of Baby Wash & Shampoo, tear-free Baby Calming Comfort Bath, Baby Daily Moisture Lotion, plus an adult Stress Relief Body Wash because guess what? Mom likes to shower once in a while, too.
Toddlers (one to two years old)
Montessori Pull String Toy
Why we love it: This toy ticks a lot of boxes for this age group: it improves fine motor skills, encourages touching and pressing, is perfect size for travel, is made with food-grade silicone, it’s great for sensory stimulation and won’t look terrible in your home.
Hape Pound & Tap Bench with Slide Out Xylophone
Why we love it: This multi-functional bench is one part music and two parts pound and tap. Three things babies love. Need I say more?
Remi Ribbed Knit Set
Why we love it: Perfect for cozy nights in or out exploring, these knit sets are expertly crafted and cute all year round. They’re warm, comfortable and most importantly — machine washable — without sacrificing quality. Made from 100 per cent cotton, these sets will keep your kiddos toasty as a base or layered over top of thinner clothing.
Play-Doh Shape And Learn Discover And Store
Why we love it: I challenge you to find a toddler that doesn’t love Play-Doh. This kit comes with the junior Fun Factory tool with rail for cutting shapes, eight animal stampers, five vehicle stampers, a roller, a knife, three double-sided playmats, six cans of Play-Doh and a Together Time Guide for parents and kiddos to read together. Play-Doh is excellent for promoting motor skill development.
Pre-schoolers (three to six years old)
Bluey 3-in-1 Transforming Plane Playset
Why we love it: This toy has been flying off the shelves — likely because Bluey is such a well-loved character, enjoyed by kids and appreciated by parents. It’s a funny and relatable show, so what’s not to love? This set transforms from plane to resort to boat and includes 15 play pieces and two sweet Bluey figurines for hours of fun and something your kiddo will reach for time and again.
Why we love it: It’s three and a half feet tall, so its sheer height is fun for little ones. Kids can set Chase on his next adventure. They can set a car at the top of the tower and press a lever to release it into the loop. The lever activates different fun sounds, which keeps the kiddos coming back for more.
Sand Baby Hooded Pram
Why we love it: A latte-coloured one-piece puffer snowsuit that is genderless, stylish and made by one of our favourite Canadian kids brands, Miles the Label. Ranging in size from three months to 24 months, these suits are perfect for tiny explorers, offering a full range of motion and a high level of protection from wind and snow. They’re machine washable and have fold-over hems and cuffs for the wee ones.
Lumi FG.
Lumi FG
Why we love it: These winter boots are a win for so many reasons. While this may seem like more of a gift for parents, kiddos love these boots because they’re capable of putting them on (and taking them off) themselves. They’re complete with a thermal insole with built-in temperature-regulating technology that absorbs, stores and releases heat, making them ultra-toasty even during harsh Canadian winters (and waterproof!). They also happen to be one of the lightest toddler winter boots on the market, so gone are the days of watching your kiddo drag their feet around.
HapRavensburger GraviTrax JUNIOR Starter-Set
Why we love it: It’s $50 well spent. This toy enables toddlers to become mini engineers and watch with glee as a ball circles a jungle landscape built entirely by their own little hands. Great for kids aged three to seven, this will challenge young minds and trigger problem-solving skills, as they build multiple variations of the track.
Angelcare Magical Dreams Mushroom Projector
Why we love it: Create your very own starry night with this adorable and affordable mushroom projector meets white noise machine. Enjoy soft lullabies or white noise heartbeats, with an automatic shut-off option and volume controls. The projector changes between white, blue or green and is complete with a cry sensor detector for those extra-small bundles.
Magic Scholars ABC Magnets
Why we love it: This magnet set is perfect for children 3+ who are learning to identify numbers letters and symbols. It’ll be a gift that helps improve cognitive development for many years, as children learn to create words and practice math problems. Built with easy grip, non-toxic foam and fully backed magnets making them easy to stick and stay in place.
Huffy Frozen 2 Electro-Light 3-Wheel Preschool Scooter
We Are Little Feminists Box Set
Why we love it: This five-book bundle is the perfect set to teach our young ones about inclusivity. Each book features real kids and families representing the LGBTQ community, people with disabilities and many different cultures and races. Each ends with thought-provoking (but age-appropriate) questions for parents, family or educators. A gift that encourages kindness, empathy and acceptance.
School-aged (six to 12 years old)
New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe – Nintendo Switch
Why we love it: This new adventure game is family-friendly and has proven to be a crowd-pleaser for all ages. Get lost in the world of Mario and friends and help save the Mushroom Kingdom with your little ones. Younger (less-experienced) players can play as Toadette and Nabbit, offering extra assistance during gameplay. There are 164 levels to keep your kids entertained for hours upon hours.
Fujifilm Instax Mini Link 2 Smartphone Printer
Why we love it: This little smartphone printer is perfect for kids and their parents — easily print smartphone images of family milestones and events to keep forever. It comes with a funky InstaxAiR feature to help you personalize our images.
Squishmallows – Cow Plush
Why we love it: These giant plush cushions seem to be all the rage right now. They come in a wide variety of designs (we love this cow but there are so many to choose from) and price points (some limited editions are hundreds of dollars). They’re soft, cute and cuddly and they may soon take over your home.
Yoto Player (3rd Generation)
Why we love it: A smarter speaker, pixel display, nightlight and audiobook player all in one and designed specifically for kids. The player is controlled by inserting physical cards that include the best children’s stories, music, activities and podcasts — there’s even a kid-friendly radio station. Hours of entertainment for littles without the screen. Don’t travel without it!
ltaveroff@postmedia.com