30 Best Stocking Stuffers for Toddlers, Because the Tiniest Gifts Are the Best Gifts

What better book for a noodle-loving toddler than one that celebrates pasta in all its many forms? The book describes the many fun shapes the pasta comes in, and die-cuts keep things interesting. “My son was so intrigued by the book,” one parent tester said. “He just loved the pasta shapes and pointing out to me things in the book including the pasta, peas, beans, fish, and even the colors.” Ages 0 to 3

Stick these to the side of the bath (or the wall above it) with suction cups, and bath time becomes magic. Kids can pour water in the tops, and watch as wheels spin or the stream comes out in ways they didn't expect. Ages 1+

Toddlers will love getting a set of four new cars to add to their fleet, while parents can appreciate that each one is 100% recyclable. This set comes with a taxi, a retro car, a 4x4, and a roadster, but there’s also another set with a race car, pickup truck, police car, and a hatchback. Ages 1+

Each spread of this adorable board book has a textured shape that kids can trace with their fingers while they breathe in and out, and also a description of a different feeling. For example: “If you feel like a thundercloud, breathe a rainbow,” one page says, while instructing kids to trace their fingers over the arc of a rainbow. “[It] actually made my toddler calm down!” said one tester parent. Ages 0 to 4

RELATED: The Good Housekeeping Kids’ Book Awards

This toddler-friendly LEGO set gives kids enough pieces to build chunky versions of eight different animals: a dog, a cat, a rabbit, a mouse, two birds, or two fish. Or, if they’re feeling creative, they can use the same pieces for open-ended play. Ages 18 months+

The biggest splurge on this list at just over $20, this set keeps kids from getting the dinnertime blues with construction-themed utensils they can use themselves! The forklift (get it?), front-loading spoon, and bulldozer pusher will help them with the motor control they need to feed themselves. This set is utensils only, but you can also get one that comes with a plate ($36). There are also garden-themed utensils and a garden plate set; dinosaur-themed utensils and a dinosaur plate set; and a tractor utensil set for $17. Ages 1+

Get a jump on those early DIY projects with these Crayola crayons, which have an egg shape perfect for little hands. Each one is equivalent to 14 crayons! Ages 1+

This adorable, smiling Christmas tree is just 5 inches—the perfect size for a stocking. The size—small enough to fit in the palm of an adult's hand, according to the brand—also makes it a good one to bring on holiday trips to relatives' houses. In addition to a Christmas tree, there's also a snowflake, holiday star, snowman, mug of cocoa, gingerbread man, and others. Ages 0+

At the Good Housekeeping Institute's in-person toy testing day, even adults were enamored by these building blocks, which are squishy and stretchy instead of rigid. Some of them have beads, stars, or other fun goodies inside that look cool when the blocks are squished. Ages 2+

There's a reason Potato Heads have endured in popularity—they're just as fun today as they were when they were invented in the '50s. This set comes with one potato body and 13 accessories, or you can upgrade to the Express Yourspud set ($15), which includes new, revamped items like arms with tattoos. As usual, when playtime is over, the pieces can be stored inside the body. Ages 2+

Nothing is universal when it comes to toddlers, but I've never met one who didn't love bubbles. Parents like these especially because the design of the container allows for less mess—kids can knock it over without the bubble solution going everywhere. Ages 18 months+

You can get these for the kids of your avocado-toast-loving friends, and feel good knowing that they work on teaching kids colors, emotions, and fine-motor coordination. Kids can strengthen their hands as they pop apart the avocados, match the colors of the pits to the matching avocado halves, and talk about the emotions in each facial expression. Ages 18 months+

For toddlers who like to have their nails painted, this polish is praised by fans for drying quickly and having a minimal smell. It also comes in several colors, as well as a base coat and a top coat. Ages 3 months+

Kids will work on their fine-motor coordination, especially their pincer grasp, when they pluck the carrots from this Montessori-inspired game. Then, it becomes a puzzle to figure out which carrots fit in which hole again. Ages 1+

Good Housekeeping Institute experts were impressed by Melissa & Doug's building line, in which pieces can be connected side-to-side as well as stacked on top of each other. Our kid testers were able to figure it out on their own, and this set comes with pieces to make a lion, giraffe, elephant, zebra, and alligator. If they like it, bigger Blockables sets are available. Ages 2+

This BPA- and phthalates-free set replaces the real car keys they're always trying to grab. Bonus: the "beep beep" sound that the buttons make is designed to be less annoying to parents' ears. Ages 10 months+

Caring for baby dolls helps toddlers practice nurturing and empathy, and these 8-inch baby dolls are just the right size to fit in a stocking (and take on the go). They still have the quality that Madame Alexander is known for, and the body is soft. Ages 0+

The whale and puffer fish are fun bath toys on their own—they strain water when you pick them up—but stick a Munchkin Color Buddies bath bomb inside and things really get exciting! The bath bombs turn the water brilliant colors. The set comes with two buddies toys and 20 bath bombs with different colors. Ages 2+