Christmas presents for toddlers that are still being wrapped in March
Everyone knows the scene: Boxing Day, a living room full of unwrapped toys, and by mid-January, three-quarters of them are at the bottom of the toy box. A waste of money, a waste of stuff, and frankly, a waste of the moment too.
There is another way. Some gifts are actually only really used after the holidays, because they grow with what a toddler can and wants to do. In this guide, you will find our keepers: gifts that will simply still be in use next Christmas.
How do you recognize a keeper?
Three features keep recurring. The gift can be used in more than one way, so the game grows with the child. It is sturdy enough to withstand intensive use and a second child. And it is beautiful enough to remain on display, because what is tucked away in a cupboard doesn't get picked up.
This year's keepers
Teddy beanbag from MeowBaby (98.95 euros)
Our best-selling classic. A beanbag is the go-to spot for reading books, resting after playing outside, and watching TV on Sunday mornings. The teddy fabric and soft colors fit in both the living room and the nursery, and it lasts for years. The perfect gift from grandma and grandpa.
Wooden Pikler climbing ladder from MeowBaby (99.95 euros)
Climbing, building dens, hanging over it: the climbing triangle grows with your child for years and challenges them anew every day. Especially during the winter months, when playing outdoors is less of a given, this gift pays for itself many times over.
View the Pikler climbing ladder
Playset with ball pit from MeowBaby (from 198.95 euros)
The big joint family gift. Soft climbing blocks plus a ball pit: a complete play area in one gift. Ideal for aunts, uncles, and grandparents who want to chip in for something that really matters.
View the playsets with ball pit
Wooden vending machine from Coco Village (89.95 euros)
Nine buttons, nine compartments, and a toddler who "sells" drinks and snacks all day long. This machine combines the best of role-playing with puzzles and fine motor skills. The kind of gift guests invariably want to play with themselves first.
Wooden camping set from Coco Village (54.95 euros)
Campfire, marshmallows, and indoor camping gear. Today they are camping under the dining table; in the summer, the set goes into the garden. Role-playing that moves with the seasons.
Little Lights wooden lamp (from 132.99 euros)
A night light made of solid pine wood in the shape of a shell, whale, or dinosaur, with a dimmer and timer. Decoration by day; the constant beacon at bedtime in the evening. This is a gift for years to come, and secretly, a little bit for the parents too.
Wooden safari wall decoration from Cut It Now (from 74.95 euros)
A lion, zebra, or giraffe for the wall, to be assembled together like a giant puzzle. Not a toy that can break, but a gift that makes the nursery special for years to come. An original alternative for those who do not want to give toys.
Mr. Bear backpack by Trixie (46.95 euros)
For the toddler who will soon be going to daycare or preschool. Their own backpack is a small gift with a big feeling: carrying it themselves, packing and unpacking it themselves, being grown up themselves.
This is how you prevent the mountain of toys
Make the rounds among the family beforehand. If everyone buys something individually, you will end up with five mediocre gifts. If three people give one keeper together, the child gets something they will use for years. Moreover, most parents are happy with it, because they see the toy cupboard filling up as well.
Undecided between two gifts? Then choose the gift with the fewest functions. Toys that do nothing on their own let the child do all the work, and that is exactly what a toddler learns from and continues to love. You can find more inspiration at our gifts under 100 euros.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do you give a toddler who already has a lot of toys?
Not toys, but a place or an experience: a beanbag, a climbing triangle, a beautiful lamp, or wall decoration. These add something without making the box fuller.
Which Christmas gift stays fun the longest?
Gifts without a fixed function: climbing equipment, a ball pit, role-play sets. The more ways to play with them, the longer they last.
What is a good joint gift from the whole family?
The playset with the ball pit or the Pikler climbing ladder. Large enough to give together, and the child gets something out of it every day instead of just one afternoon.
Read also
Sinterklaas gift for a 1-year-old child
Sinterklaas gift for a 2-year-old toddler
