Easter is a joyful time of year, filled with pastel colors, sweet treats, and fun activities like egg hunts. For little ones celebrating their first Easters, it’s an especially exciting holiday! As a parent, you want to make your toddler or baby’s Easter special with gifts and surprises.
But with so many options out there, it can be tricky to find age-appropriate Easter basket items and gifts. To help you out, we’ve rounded up some of the best Easter gift ideas for toddlers and babies.
Easter Baskets for Toddlers
A decorative Easter basket overflowing with goodies is a classic way tocelebrate the holiday. When filling your toddler’s Easter basket thisyear, look for toys and activities suitable for their age anddevelopmental stage. Here are some great picks:
- Board books – Sturdy board books with Easter themes are perfect for little hands. Look for titles like “Here Comes Peter Cottontail” and “The Berenstain Bears and the Easter Story.”
- Plush animals – Cute bunnies, lambs, and chicks make sweet Easter basket stuffers toddlers will love to cuddle. Opt for super-soft designs sized just right for little arms.
- Sidewalk chalk – Give their creativity an outlet with colorful sidewalk chalk in spring hues like pastel pink, yellow, purple and more.
- Bubbles – Few toys delight toddlers as much as bubbles! Add aplastic bubble wand and solution for active outdoor fun.
- Mini puzzles – Simple wooden puzzles with big puzzle pieces foster hand-eye coordination and problem solving skills.
- Crayons and coloring book – Get their artistic side started with washable crayons and an Easter-themed coloring book.
- Play-Doh – Let their imagination soar with a pack of Play-Doh in springtime colors.
- Easter-themed toys – Mini plush toys, figurines and plastic eggs filled with treats add a festive touch.
Along with toys and activities, stock your toddler’s basket with sweet snacks like goldfish crackers, fruit snacks, jelly beans and bunny-shaped graham crackers. Just be mindful of choking hazards for little ones under age three. For extra excitement on Easter morning, have an adult hide the filled basket for a fun hide-and-seek style hunt!
Easter Gifts for Babies
Delight your baby this Easter with gifts tailored to their stage and age. Here are gift ideas your infant will love:
- Soft stuffed animals – Plush bunnies and lambs with satin ears or crinkly sounds make cuddly keepsakes.
- Rattles and teethers – Colorful plastic eggs filled with rattles or teething toys stimulate senses.
- Picture books – Books featuring simple Easter images and bright colors hold baby’s attention.
- Ball pit – Fill a plastic ball pit with soft pastel balls for tummy time fun.
- Baby gym – An activity gym with dangling bunnies, chicks and other Easter-themed toys boosts coordination.
- Blankets and clothing – Cozy blankets and cute outfits featuring Easter motifs keep them comfy.
- Bath toys – Squirt toys and rubber duckies make bathtime extra fun.
- Play mat – A soft mat printed with Easter designs creates a safe place for play.
For their basket, incorporate developmental toys like fabric books, soft blocks and grasping toys. And don’t forget essentials like diapers, wipes and formula or snacks if needed. With gifts tailored to your baby’s age and stage, you’re sure to give them a memorable first Easter!
Easter Outfits for Toddlers
An adorable Easter outfit is a must for those heart-melting holiday photos. For your toddler, look for outfits that balance seasonal style and comfort:
- Pastel dresses – Nothing says Easter like a pastel dress in shades of pink, lavender, yellow, blue or mint. Look for soft knit fabrics that allow freedom of movement.
- Dressy tops with leggings or jeans – Pair a colorful floral blouse with white jeans or pastel leggings for a dressy yet comfy look.
- Plaid shorts and suspenders – Give him a handsome preppy look with tan shorts and pastel plaid suspenders.
- Bunny ear headbands – Top her outfit with a delicate headband sprouting bunny ears for a photo-ready touch.
- Sweaters and khakis – A lightweight pastel sweater over khakis gives him a polished but comfy ensemble.
- Flower hair clips – Tiny fabric flower clips add a pop of color and holiday cheer to her hairstyle.
Skip scratchy uncomfortable fabrics, frilly dresses, and stiff shoes. The key is finding an Easter look both you and your toddler will love! Accessorize with white tights, a bowtie, or colorful socks to complete the outfit.
Easter Outfits for Babies
There’s nothing cuter than a baby all dressed up for Easter! You’ll want to get in lots of cuddles and photos when your little one is wearing these special outfits:
- Footed bodysuits – Pastel footed bodysuits printed with bunnies, chicks and Easter eggs are perfect for babies. Look for soft breathable fabrics like cotton.
- Bubble rompers – Rompers with ruffle “bubbles” on the bum are fancy yet comfy. Stick to light colors like white, yellow or mint.
- Bloomer sets – Nothing says spring like a bloomer set with floral embroidered bib overalls and a matching onesie.
- Sweater vests – Layer a knit pastel vest over a long-sleeve onesiefor dapper holiday style.
- Bonnets – Finish her outfit with a bonnet accented with flowers, bows or bunny ears.
- Suspender pants – White or black pants paired with colorful suspenders give him a fun look.
- Headbands – A stretchy cotton headband with a big fabric flower or bunny ears adds cheer.
Whatever you choose, make sure it’s machine washable and comfortable for all-day wear. Pick soft natural fabrics so they stay cozy and happy while celebrating!
Easter Dinner Ideas for Toddlers
The Easter feast is a highlight of the holiday, but toddlers can be notoriously picky eaters. Keep these tips in mind when planning your Easter dinner menu:
- Keep it simple – Avoid elaborate dishes with mixed ingredients. Stick to simple foods your toddler already enjoys.
- Add color – Brightly colored fruits and veggies appeal to little ones. Roast rainbow carrots, make raspberry pasta salad and serve berry kabobs.
- Cut it up – Cut foods into fun bite-sized pieces so toddlers can easily handle them. Cut a ham steak into cubes or slice veggies into stars using cookie cutters.
- Feature finger foods – Finger foods make dining more fun and less messy for toddlers. Offer pieces of baked ham, toasted rolls cut in sticks, cheese cubes and sliced soft fruits.
- Make it dippable – Serve healthy dips like hummus, guacamole, yogurt and nut-free pesto for dipping fruits, veggies and bread pieces.
- Hide the veggies – Blend carrots, sweet potatoes or butternut squash into mac and cheese or add pureed veggies to muffins for bonus nutrition.
- Skip salt and sugar – Go easy on added sugar and salt, allowing toddlers to explore each food’s natural flavors.
By catering to your toddler’s preferences, the whole family can enjoy a delicious and stress-free Easter dinner! Don’t force them to overeat or try unfamiliar dishes – the goal is creating a pleasant mealtime experience.
Easter Meals and Snacks for Babies
Preparing Easter meals for your baby? Their diet likely consists of either breastmilk or formula along with pureed solid foods. Here are some tips for nourishing your infant this holiday:
- Feature familiar flavors – Avoid introducing new or mixed flavors, which may upset their stomach. Stick to single-ingredient purees like sweet potatoes, bananas, applesauce and avocado.
- Look for single veggies – For variety, try purees showcasing one vegetable at a time, like carrots, peas, green beans or squash. Always test a small amount first.
- Skip added sugar and salt – Allow them to experience each food’s natural flavors – don’t add sugar, salt, spices or condiments which their palate can’t handle yet.
- Make it thick – Thin purees can pose choking hazards. Make sure any purees are thick, smooth and easy to swallow.
- Choose iron-rich foods – Meats, eggs, and iron-fortified cereal are great first foods to prevent iron deficiency. Talk to your pediatrician.
- Offer safe finger foods – As they approach one year, babies can handle soft diced or mashed fruits, cheese, toast and mentee-sized pieces of egg or meat.
For snacks between meals, look to healthy whole milk yogurt, pureed fruit pouches, puffed rice cereal and teething crackers.
Easter Crafts and Activities for Toddlers
In addition to gifts and goodies, Easter is a great time to engage your toddler’s creativity with fun crafts and activities. Here are some ideas to try:
- Egg painting – Hard boil eggs and set out food coloring, stickers, and glitter to decorate. Supervise closely, as the eggs will be slippery when wet.
- Egg hunt – Fill plastic eggs with treats or small toys and hide them inside or in the yard for your toddler to find.
- DIY Easter cards – Glue pom poms, foam shapes, stickers and glitter to make homemade cards for loved ones.
- Bunny handprint craft – Paint their palm pink or white for the bunny’s head, adding a cotton ball tail and wiggly eyes.
- Chick finger puppets – Glue yellow paper, orange feet, and googly eyes to their fingertips to make adorable chick puppets.
- Egg sensory bin – Fill a bin with plastic Easter eggs, flowers, grass, and jelly beans for sensory play.
- Easter egg printing – Cut a real egg in half and let your toddler dip the rounded side in paint to stamp shapes onto paper.
- Play dough eggs – Roll play dough into egg shapes and let them decorate with sequins, beads, or toothpicks.
- Egg and spoon race – Boost coordination by having them balance a plastic egg on a spoon and race from point A to B.
Supervise closely with tiny items like sequins or beads to prevent choking hazards. Have a basket of art supplies like crayons, scissors, and glue ready for endless Easter creativity!
Easter Activities for Babies
Though babies have a shorter attention span for crafts, there are still lots of fun ways to engage their senses this Easter!
- Tummy time eggs – Place plastic Easter eggs near your baby during tummy time for them to swat, grasp and explore.
- Egg photo shoot – Pose your dressed up baby next to baskets of eggs and other festive props for adorable photos.
- Sensory bin play – Add plastic eggs, chicks, bunnies, and flowers to a sensory bin along with crinkly paper or jelly for discovery fun.
- Egg bath – Drop a few plastic eggs in the tub for bath time entertainment as they float, pour and spill water. Always supervise.
- Egg music – Partially fill empty eggs with rice, beans or beads and tape closed. Have them shake the eggs to experience different sounds.
- Book look – Sit with your baby and read board books with Easter themes. Point out bunnies, chicks, flowers and eggs on each page.
- Egg crawling course – Place plastic eggs throughout a crawl space for your baby to bump into as they maneuver around.
The key is finding sensory activities that capture your baby’s interest and stimulate their growing minds this Easter. Even just spending time together enjoying the holiday magic makes for precious memories!
Conclusion
Easter is a wonderful time to celebrate new life and springtime with little ones. The holiday offers lots of opportunities for creativity, sensory play, and quality time together as a family. By tailoring gifts, activities, outfits and meals to your toddler or baby’s age and stage, you can make this Easter engaging, fun and memorable.
Focus on their interests and developmental abilities when stuffing baskets, planning crafts, and preparing food. And don’t forget to capture plenty of pictures of your cutie pie all dressed up! The simple joy of celebrating traditions together is what Easter is all about.
FAQs on Easter Gift Ideas for Toddler/Baby
What type of Easter baskets work best for toddlers?
Look for small, lightweight plastic Easter baskets that are easy for little hands to carry. Baskets with handles make it simpler for toddlers to tote around. Avoid heavy baskets or those with sharp edges.
What foods can I add to my baby’s Easter basket?
Stick to non-food items for babies under 1 year old. Once they start solids, add toddler-safe snacks like puffed rice cereal, organic yogurt melts, and teething crackers. Check with your pediatrician for age-appropriate food suggestions.
How can I get eggs for toddler Easter crafts and activities?
Pick up a carton of hard boiled, dye-free eggs from the grocery store. For mess-free crafts, use plastic eggs or egg-shaped objects like pom poms or foam shapes. Supervise closely with real eggs due to choking and salmonella risks.
What Easter books are best for babies?
Look for sturdy board books with simple Easter-themed images, bright colors, and touch-and-feel elements. Short books with one image per page hold baby’s attention the best.
How can I save keepsake photos of my kids in their Easter outfits?
Capture poses with your children together, close-ups of their expressions, and shots focused on outfit details. Print your favorite pictures to frame or compile them in a photo book so you can reminisce each Easter.