What's In My Toddler's Easter Basket?

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It is no secret that we love the holidays around here. We are one of those families that recent articles complain about. The ones that make our events over the top magical and go way overboard. And guess what? We are completely okay with that! In fact, we love it. I start buying things on sale the day after most holidays, and purchase throughout the year when things go on clearance or when I see a great deal. I buy mostly things Kingston needs, but also a bunch of stuff he will want. K is currently 18 months so he will be really into his basket this year! If you have a toddler around the same age (especially if you have a boy) you may find a few fun ideas in here. If you have an infant, you can peek at Kingston's Easter basket from last year. Or if you would like to peek at a larger list of Easter basket goodies, you can check out our Ultimate Toddler Gift Guide.

For Kingston's "Easter Basket" this year, I used a large clear storage bin. I put Easter Basket Grass in the bottom, and have actually yet to find a cellophane bag large enough to go around it! I started with the largest toys and books and worked my way to the smaller ones. Some of his larger gifts and the clothes will be set up next to the basket on the day of. 

A few months ago, I won a Melissa and Doug shopping spree giveaway, so several of his larger items were from that. I got all of them to use in our toddler homeschooling, and I think he will be really excited to see them. In his basket is the: Melissa & Doug Upper & Lower Case Alphabet Puzzle, Melissa & Doug My First Daily Magnetic Calendar, and the Melissa & Doug Shape Sorting Clock. 

Other educational items I got him were ALEX® Toys - Early Learning String My Abc'S (which I got on a super lightning deal around Christmas time) and Lauri Tall-Stacker Pegs & Pegboard Set. Both of these will be phenomenal for practicing fine motor and problem solving skills. I think he will get a lot of use out of both for quite awhile.

His largest gift that will sit next to his basket is the Little Tikes Gas 'n Go Mower Toy. He is going to be obsessed with this, and I'm so excited. It is ages 18 months + so he is at the perfect age for it, and he will love using it outside. 

For trips to the Glamparent's house and trips out and about, I picked Kingston up the Skip Hop Zoo Packs Little Kid Backpacks, Giraffe and also the Skip Hop Zoo Lunchie Insulated Lunch Bag, Giraffe. As K makes the transition from a baby/toddler to a bigger kid (so bittersweet), he is going to love to carry his little backpack around. Whenever we leave for the day, I find he consistently needs a few things and bringing them in his little backpack will be a lot easier then trying to stuff two kids things in my diaper bag. We are also in desperate need of a lunch bag for him, so both of these will get a lot of use!

Outdoor toys and accessories are a very common thing that always make an appearance in our Easter baskets. I picked up a pail and shovel for really cheap at Ocean State Job Lot. He needed a nice large pail for the summer. At the Dollar Tree last year, I picked up these adorable carrot shaped baseball bat and ball set and carrot golf club and ball set . I also got him a 20 piece sidewalk chalk set and some bubbles from the Dollar Tree. 

I bought some incredibly adorable Mickey Mouse gardening tools at The Christmas Tree Shop for incredibly cheap. I think he will have fun using these in the garden with me this summer. Next year when he has his own garden bed, these will be his official tools! I couldn't resist picking him up a bubble gun at Walmart. This will be a lot easier for him to use this year than attempting to blow his own bubbles! 

Last year Kingston really young when we swam, so we held him. This year however, I would like him to have more independence in the pool. The COLEMAN Stearns Deluxe Kids Puddle Jumper Swimming Life Jacket Vest is the perfect solution!! It is both pool and boat approved. It is a must have if your toddler is learning how to swim and gets impeccable reviews, so I am psyched to try it. I can't wait to see my little fish swimming around in it. I also picked him up a long sleeve swim shirt on clearance (at Target for only $3.00!) last summer in size 2T. It should be perfect for him this summer, and we love putting him in long sleeves because he burns so easily. 

It wouldn't be a holiday for us without lots and lots of books! Currently, most of the board books on Amazon are super bargain priced, so most of these are from Amazon. Others were either second hand or super clearanced from the previous year! 

For Bentley's impending arrival, I picked up You're a Big Brother by David Bedford and My New Baby by Rachel Fuller to read with Kingston. I love My New Baby because it depicts breastfeeding throughout the entire book, which is obviously a really big part of our life. You're a Big Brother is an adorable book too, and I love that it focuses on K's new tasks at hands. Plus the baby looks like a boy, AND they both seem to have reddish hair so it was a must have! Also, having to do with Bentley's arrival, will be K's transition to a big boy bed, so I picked up Big Enough for a Bed (Sesame Street). I hope this cute book will help him during his big move!   

For Easter themed books, I got him:

The Golden Egg Book (Big Little Golden Book) - This book is a classic and the illustrations are beautiful. It's such a sweet little story that we will read every year!

Owen's Marshmallow Chick - We have a lot of these cute Kevin Henkes holiday board books. They have cute, simple stories.

Duck & Goose, Here Comes the Easter Bunny! - K loves Duck and Goose! I had to get this for him!

Biscuit's Pet & Play Easter - He also really enjoys this pet & play series. We have quite a few!

I also picked up a few bargain random books. The Napping House by Audrey Wood is one of my favorites. I can't wait to read it to him, as he heard it often while in utero. (I read it daily to my daycare kids!) Sheep in a Jeep by Nancy Shaw is an adorable book, and K loves sheep! Things You Never Knew About Dinosaurs was an impulse buy because I found it on serious clearance and my boy loves dinosaurs!

I couldn't resist buying Kingston some clothing items that he needs. One of the things that we do around the holidays is buy a bunch of necessities and include them with the gifts. I got these two Carters pajamas sets and this adorable polo and short set at Costco. He is in desperate need of summer pjs in size 24 months, so these will be great. The outfit is just adorable. The shirt has little whales on it and adorable pinstriped shorts. Too cute! These will be laid out next to Kingston's Easter basket. 

I also picked him up a bunch of odds and ends that don't really have a specific category. Two of his "bigger gifts" were these Leapfrog DVDs: LeapFrog: Letter Factory and LeapFrog: Talking Words Factory. He loves letters, so I'm hoping he will enjoy these. They have phenomenal reviews! 

At Target last year right after Easter, I purchased an Easter plate and chick sippy cup for insanely cheap. I also picked up these adorable "handy helper" Mickey utensils at Babies R Us with a gift card last week. He will love them! 

At the Dollar Tree, I bought him a puppy dustpan and brush set so that he can continue to help us clean up his messes, and a wind up chick and bunny. He loves those!! The little colorful duckies I had left over from some event. I got him a dinosaur egg that hatches into a dinosaur at the Christmas Tree Shop. He will get a kick out of it I'm sure. And lastly, some jumbo crayons!

I also hit the mother load at Ocean State Job Lot and picked up about 20 matchbox cars (Kingston is car obsessed and doesn't own any!), so he is getting half for Easter and the rest will go in his Christmas stocking!! 

So, there you have it! Kingston's 18 month old Easter basket! I managed to fit everything in the basket itself besides the clothes, puddle jumper swimmies, and of course the lawn mower. I hope you got some great ideas and that everyone who celebrates has a wonderful Easter! 

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