Ages 2–3

crocodile chopsticks, need I say more? under $10 is a good deal.

if you're anywhere near waves, this is going to be a hit. I've never seen the price drop below $20, so if you can get anywhere near that, it's a deal.

i upgraded to this nap mat at the start of preK and it's great. it's made it thru a full year of weekly washing with no signs of wear. It's longer too, so better for preK kids to grow into.

I love that this little set just packs up into itself to store. I don't think it's worth the buy at full price, but anything 50% off or more is a good deal.

if you have the space, this thing is a kid magnet. not a single kid has come to this house and NOT ended up on this climber. It's a bit sun-faded now, but going strong otherwise.

because you can never have too many name labels. I bought these at the start of daycare and the stash is still going strong. they handle the dishwasher really well if they're on a flat surface.

duplo needs no introduction. this is another staple of my gift stash, especially for 2-3. the storage container is key.

i truly have no idea why this is so loved, but it is. and we read it constantly. you can usually find it ~50% off or more in a sale.

throwback thermos - no frills, gets the job done, no leaks. we've had the same one for 3 years now.

i bought this almost as a joke because I enjoy photography, and I'm still shocked by how much use it gets! excellent for the gift stash.

if you have the space for this, I could not recommend it more, but only if you can get it on sale. ours is almost 2yo and has survived dozens of kids and parties. it pays for itself in entertainment.

this is a classic for a reason. it doesn't go on sale very often, but worth it for the years of play you get out of it. the spikes now serve as fodder for the dump trucks and excavator scoops.

we've gotten years of daily warm-weather use out of this helmet. It's really light and adjusts easily. I think we started using it around 2 years old.

snack boxes are one of my go-to's for something on the run, watching a movie, or taking to the beach. I've had these for years. They're reasonably spill-proof.

pretty sure this will still be in the holiday reading rotation for years to come. I've seen it go under $2, which is a steal.

another on-the-go back must. I'm actually surprised by how long these have lasted considering they don't appear to be the sturdiest. I like them under $10.

trust me you will use these so much more than you ever imagined. bath time, 4th of july fireworks, camping. I use it as a stocking stuffer.

one of our go-to games - great for non-readers and still interesting enough for adults.

there's a reason this lunchbox appears on pretty much every lunchbox list. it's sturdy, it doesn't leak, and it actually makes my lunch planning easier because I just use a formula for filling in each section. 10/10.

This has been a fixture in our house for a couple of years now. IMO the price is inflated. It’s a good buy closer to $30.

The GOAT of pretend play sets. I know 12 year olds who are justttt willing to part with theirs now. And it holds up for that long. 10/10.

an absolute MUST in the entertainment bag if you have a magnatile kid. I target under $15

i use this for an airplane/travel activity bag. I load it up with entertainment. it keeps it all in one place and fits in a backpack.

these live in the on-the-go bag. good paper quality, good illustrations. the self-watering brushes are the key here. target price: under $12

we've got a couple pairs of these - they've survived disneyland, beach summers, you name it. They're the only ones whose lenses haven't scratched really easily.

another baby gift go-to. it never goes on sale, but worth the $7.

our go-to house cup for a couple years now. it's not PERFECTLY spill-proof - it can suffer from some condensation pooling in the lid, but it cleans easily, keeps water cold, and hasn't dented despite many trips down the stairs.

i love a basic cap. these are really well made, there's a ton of color variety, and the fit is especially good for toddlers. ours are going strong for over 2 years now.

i like the square versions of these for holding snacks that need to be labeled for time of day. i don't put food in them directly - too much washing, but I like them for organizing.

our snack box for a good 2-3 years now and still going strong. i often pair this with a thermos lunch. my target price is under $15

according to the amazon page, i've purchased this 4 times - and that's the 60 packs. great scents, no dyes, works for my kid's sensitive skin.

i'm not ready to splurge on a serious kids' electric toothbrush yet and i've tried others in this price range. this is the best - lasts the longest, quietest, good brushing action. i shoot for these under $5

this was actually MINE until my kid spotted it and i realized it's actually a *great* little kid game - fine motor skills, super simple rules, and NO NOISE unlike a certain tumbling block game. as soon as they can use plastic tweezers, they can play.

maybe not the most exciting item in my recommendations, but when you need it, you'll LOVE it. I almost never see these go on sale, but I still get them because they're that useful.

seriously the BEST goggles (at least for short hair). i buy them in multiples when they go on sale. my target price is under $12. instant buy under $10.

grabbed this from the library at the recommendation from another mom and it was one of those "read it every night" hits. it's a little bit more advanced humor - you might even enjoy it yourself!

a workhorse for every bathtub. toys dry really well in this and we got over 3 years out of it. great shower gift. my target price is 9.99.

if this isn't in your winter rotation yet, it should be! very solid price.

another favorite in our house. this is the best price on the hardcover I've seen in a while - actually cheaper than the paperback.

The pigeon books are always a hit. This one would be great for the gift stash.

This series is always a fave in our house. This is a solid price for it!

These are a favorite for the on-the-go entertainment bag. They are very tactile, they don’t make noise when they fall in restaurants, and they can be washed.