If you want to cut down on how much you're spending this year while being environmentally conscious about what you're buying, then we've found the best toddler stocking fillers for your family.
Traditional stocking fillers are a variety of small treats which are fun or useful, and inexpensive. Things which usually went into a stocking were cheap, easy presents which were seasonal. So there was always a satsuma at the bottom, some gold coins added a little sugar rush and a couple of little toys would usually end up in there too. Sometimes a new toothbrush was given!
While we all feel the pressure to spend at Christmas, there's no need to go overboard on your toddler's stocking fillers, with our top recommendations for the best toddler stocking fillers under £25.
The best toddler stocking fillers
Best overall
Shortlisted for the Mother&Baby 2021 Awards, the Classic World Crocodile Balancing Game is a fun toy, but it'll also allow you to teach your toddler skills like turn-taking, hand-eye coordination and shape recognition.
Review:
One of our expert parent reviewers, Nicola, had this to say, "This product is a great family activity or an activity for just you and your little one to enjoy. The design of the product ensures your little one can have fun, whilst learning colour recognition and developing their motor skills. It is very competitively priced and well worth the cost when considering the benefits the toy has to offer."
Read Classic World Crocodile Balancing Game full review here.
Pros
- Balancing game encourages strategic thinking and problem-solving skills
- Bright and colourful game suitable for the whole family
Cons
- Does not come with a storage bag so pieces can get lost
| Suitable from: | 3 years and up |
| Material: | Wood |
- Colourful wooden blocks
- A friendly crocodile
- Dice
The best toddler stocking filler for a creative activity
If you're worried about your baby chewing on crayons, then look no further than these beeswax crayons. So, the beeswax used to create these fun honey sticks is a natural by-product of honey production. We love that this sustainable process causes minimal impact on the environment and gives the crayons a wonderful honey scent.
Review:
One happy reviewer said, "Bought these crayons for my two-year-old grandson who has severe food allergies. Normal wax crayons contain animal derivatives, which make him sick.
"These are brilliant. He can happily use them with no adverse effect. They are just the right size for small hands, and they smell amazing. More expensive than normal wax crayons, but worth every penny."
Pros
- Hand made with natural beeswax and food grade pigments, making them safe for your baby
- Chubby shape makes them easy for small hands to hold
Cons
- While the chunky crayon is great for small toddlers to grip, older children might find it a bit short and uncomfortable to hold
| Suitable from: | 1 year + |
| Dimensions: | Each crayon is 5.5cm long and 2cm wide |
| Material: | 100% pure New Zealand beeswax and non-toxic pigments |
- 12 colours in the box
The best toddler stocking filler for musical children
www.my1styears.com
Nothing quite says Christmas like waking up early to the sound of your little one playing on their new xylophone toy. This traditional gift is the perfect stocking filler because it's a small bundle of joy.
Review:
One reviewer had this to say, "Fun, brightly coloured, educational and personalised for a special touch. Can't fault this product."
Pros
- Can be personalised with up to 12 characters making it extra special and perfect for gifting
- Made from wood, so it's more environmentally friendly and sturdy
- The bright and colourful design makes it more engaging, keeping children interested and entertained.
Cons
- Xylophones can be noisy
| Suitable for: | 12 months + |
| Material: | Xylophone: Beechwood<br>Beaters: Teawood |
| Dimensions: | 23 x 31 x 5 cm |
- Xylophone
- 1 x beaters
The Desert Dino Kids' Tea for Two Set is both practical and pretty, made from tin in a cute Desert Dino pattern, its the ideal gift for kids who love to host tea parties.
Review:
"This is such a lovely giftset, it comes beautifully presented that even I was excited to open it! My boy loves dinosaurs and playing host, but it's so hard to find tea sets that aren't steered towards gifts. I was thrilled to find this pattern, and he loves it too. The tin is good quality and the box feels like it will last a while too."
Pros
- Part of the Desert Dino collection, this set is perfect for tea party lovers and especially for little dino fans
- Made of metal, making it durable enough for many hours of play
- Perfect for role play, helping children develop social skills and creativity
Cons
- Only design for two players
| Suitable from: | 3 years and up |
| Material: | Metal |
| Dimensions: | 17.5 x 9.5 x 9.5 cm |
- Includes tea tray, 2 cups and saucers and teapot
- Tin presentation and storage box
The best personalised toddler stocking filler for story time
If you read a story to your toddler at bedtime, then we've found the best stocking filler for you. It's a little book of nursery rhymes and modern poems that puts your child at the centre stage of its pages. Not only are the stories cute, but the illustrations are too.
Review:
One Amazon reviewer said, "A beautiful children's book, with their name on every page - very impressive. Lovely rhymes and stunning colours. Love the fact that you can include pets name and street name etc. A truly amazing book that will be cherished for years to come."
Pros
- Every nursery rhyme can be personalised with your child's name, making it extra special
- A perfect keepsake gift for a child's birthday or any special occasion
- Beautifully illustrated on thick durable paper
Cons
- The presentation gift box is an additional cost
| Material: | High quality environmentally friendly paper |
| Dimensions: | 28.1cm x 21cm Portrait<br>28.1cm x 41.5cm Open |
- Handmade to order
- 34 pages
The best toddler stocking filler for fine motor skills
www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk
Remember Buckaroo? Well, this stacker tower from JoJo Maman Bebe feels like a mixture of the 1989 toy (we know we couldn't believe how old it was either) and the classic Jenga game. The aim of the game is to stack the wooden animals as high as you can before they tumble down.
Review:
One lovely review about this toy says, "Our first child loved these, I’ll be taking them out again soon for our second little one to play with." How sweet!
Pros
- Chuncky pieces for small hands to grab and hold
- Comes with a drawstring bag to keep everything together and for easy transportation
- Made from FSC®-certified materials makes it more environmentally friendly compared to plastic
Cons
- Although the pieces are chunky, they are small enough that they may get lost during play
| Suitable from: | 12 months |
| Dimensions: | 16 x 12 x 14.5cm |
| Material: | Figures: Rubberwood<br>Bag: Cotton |
- 9 wood animals
- Drawstring storage bag
www.sassandbelle.co.uk
A lovely comforting night light featuring an array of amazing colours. Its warm glow is the perfect stimulator for vivid and wonderful dreams that will take your child over the rainbow.
Review: "My little girl loves this night light - the rainbow pattern glows with such lovely colours, it is very soothing and ideal for bedtime. The timer goes off after about 10 minutes so I can leave it on after story time and it will turn itself off which is great to know I don't have to go switch it off again. The button is easy to find too, so I know if she wakes up in the night she can easily turn it on herself too."
Pros
- The rainbow shape provides a calming, colourful warm glow perfect for bedtime or any cosy space
- Small size so it doesn't take up much space
- Batteries are included, so it’s ready to use right out of the box
- Automatically turns off after 15 minutes to conserve battery
Cons
- Not rechargeble so batteries needs to be replace periodically
| Material: | Polystyrene, Polyvinyl Chloride |
| Dimensions: | 6.5 x 17 x 9.5 cm |
| Battery required: | 3 x LR44 |
- Rainbow-shaped night light
- Automatically turns off after 15 minutes
The best sustainable toddler stocking filler for motor skills
Teach your child about the importance of recycling thanks to this water play toy from KIDLY. Not only will this gift's message last a lifetime, but the plastic used to create this toy would have otherwise headed straight for the ocean.
Review:
One reviewer said, "These ocean-inspired recycled plastic toys are great for teaching kids about the importance of looking after our planet."
Pros
- Free from BPA, phthalates, and PVC making them safe for childre
- Comes with a seaweed-patterned storage bag with holes to allow water to drain, keeping the toys clean and dry
- Perfect for the beach, bath time or even water play
Cons
- While the storage bag is great for drying, it may need cleaning occasionally to prevent mould from building up
| Suitable from: | 6 months and up |
| Material: | Recycled plastic |
| Dimensions: | 25.4 x 12.7 x 22.86 cm |
- Includes: 1x Squid, 1xJellyfish, 1xStarfish, 1xSnal Shell, 1xScallop Shell, 1xAbalone Shell
- Storage bag
The best toddler stocking filler for problem-solving skills
www.notonthehighstreet.com
Are you looking for a toy that introduces problem-solving skills? This 3D shape puzzle reveals an adorable zoo animal hidden beneath each chunky piece.
Pros
- Bright and colourful with different shaped pieces makes it engaging and help develop shape recognition
- Made from wood so it's durable and long-lasting
Cons
- With only 5 pieces, it may not be challenging enough as children grow
| Suitable from: | 12 months and over |
| Material: | Wood |
| Dimensions: | 23cm x 23cm |
- Five chunky wooden puzzle pieces
The best toddler stocking filler for active children
A traditional pull-along toy with a Peter Rabbit design is the perfect stocking filler gift this Christmas. Its charming design is dazzling for little ones over the age of 12 months.
Review:
One reviewer said, "Lovely gift, excellent value for money. It seems very well made. As far as I know, my nephew liked it."
Pros
- Hand crafted and and-painted with non-toxic paint making it safe and durable
- Made from sustainable wood and 100% recyclable packaging, making it environmentally friendly
- Motivates little ones to take their first steps, helping them develop their walking skills
Cons
- Does not have sound or lights, so it may not be as engaging as other toys with these features
| Suitable from: | 12 months and up |
| Material: | Sustainable wood |
| Dimensions: | 11 x 6.5 x 19.05 cm |
- Pull along Peter Rabbit
- Cotton string to pull Peter along
The best toddler stocking filler for building
www.ebay.co.uk
Does your toddler love to shout, "I see a rainbow" every time the seven colours fill the sky? If the answer is yes, bring the magic to them with this incredible rainbow wooden block toy.
Review:
One review says, "I got this wooden rainbow for my young toddler daughter to play with as the others are so pricey. It’s lovely! Wonderfully bright colours which she enjoys naming out loud and matching to other items around our house. She also enjoys stacking it, which is a great skill for her to learn and practice."
Pros
- Designed with waterborne paint that is non-toxic and odourless
- Helps develop cognitive and motor skills by learning about shapes and colours
- This design allows kids to stack and build in a variety of ways, helping to stimulate their creativity
Cons
- No storage bag included
| Material: | Wood |
| Dimensions: | 24.5 x 2.5 x13cm |
- 7 wooden blocks
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How to make sure stocking fillers are eco-friendly:
Want to do your bit this Christmas and ensure that all your toddler stocking fillers are eco-friendly? Here are some easy ways that you can make sure your stocking fillers are kinder to the planet.
1. Create your own gifts - The best way to ensure you have an eco-friendly stocking filler is by making it yourself. Think homemade treats like cookies and more.
2. Stay away from plastic toys - Except for recycled plastic toys, avoiding plastic is a must to ensure any gift is eco-friendly.
3. Ensure packaging is recyclable - Many listings or retailers will have information around whether or not their packaging is recyclable.
4. Re-gift presents - Have you thought about re-using your child's stocking fillers from last year or opting for toys that their older siblings have grown out of?
How we test and choose recommended products
Our product recommendations are based on a combination of real-world testing from our burgeoning army of mum testers and the extensive knowledge of our experienced editorial team and product specialists. Where we can, we also consult experts who specialise in that field to ensure you get the right advice along with the right product, and we listen to what you say as well.
Our thriving mum community on our Facebook group #mumtribe consistently provides great insights into which products mums like best and why, helping us highlight the products that will meet your needs. For essential products, our annual Mother&Baby Awards shortlist the top products tested. Full reviews from our mum testers can be found on our product pages. The winners and runners-up for each category will also appear in our top picks article for that product, along with other products that were rated highly by our team.