Gifts for 2 year olds & toddlers: ideas for ages 1 to 3

First birthday gift ideas for one year olds

At one year, kids explore the world with all their senses: they grab things, put them in and take them out, pull themselves up and take their first steps. Good gifts for a 1 year old are things to touch, stack and push, sturdy board books or bath toys. A keepsake for later also makes a lovely first birthday gift – for example a photo book of the first year.

If your child’s birthday is in spring or summer, a cap of their own for the playground is a practical idea. One year olds usually fit our size KIDS M – you’ll find all models under caps for toddlers (KIDS M).

Gift ideas for 2 year olds

At two, kids want to do lots of things themselves: get dressed, choose, try things out. That’s exactly what a gift can build on. Popular choices are pretend-play toys like a play kitchen or play shop, large building blocks, art supplies with chunky crayons and books with simple everyday stories.

Clothes your child gets to choose often go down well at this age too. A cap or hat “just like mom” or “just like dad” is especially popular – as a matching look, it becomes a real favorite. We show you what that can look like in our article Mini-me look for parents and kids.

Gifts for 3 year olds

At three, play becomes more imaginative. Kids build, dress up, act out scenes from everyday life and often already have favorite topics – from animals and vehicles to princesses or dinosaurs. A gift that ties in with that favorite topic almost always hits the mark. Many kids also start daycare at this age. We’ve gathered ideas for this step in our collection Daycare start gifts.

For three year olds, size KIDS L usually fits our caps and beanies. Here are the caps for kids from 2 years (KIDS L).

Hats and caps for toddlers: the right size

If you’re giving a hat or cap to a toddler, you should know the size. According to our size chart, KIDS M fits snapback caps, performance caps and beanies for a head circumference of 45–49 cm, KIDS L for 49–54 cm. For trucker, sports and dad hat caps, the values are 1 cm lower. Age is only a rough guide – what counts is the measured head circumference. We show you how to measure it in our article Measuring kids’ head circumference.

Our KIDS caps can be adjusted with the snapback closure, so they fit for a while as your child grows. For babies there’s also size KIDS S with a soft elastic band. You’ll find all sizes and styles in our overview Kids caps & beanies. An honest note: a cap protects the head, forehead and eyes from the sun, but the neck and ears stay uncovered. For long days at the beach, a sun hat is the better choice – more on this in our article Kids’ cap or sun hat?.

Christmas gifts for 1 and 2 year olds

At Christmas, toddlers quickly receive lots of gifts – from parents, grandparents, godparents and friends. It’s best to coordinate so nothing arrives twice. Good Christmas gifts for 2 year olds or 1 year olds are things that suit winter: a book for cozy evenings, something to build indoors or a warm hat for walks in the snow.

A lovely idea for the whole family is a matching set that parent and child unwrap together. You’ll find our ideas in Christmas gifts for dad & mom. For St. Nicholas Day it can be something smaller: a kids beanie is a practical little gift that gets worn every day in winter.

Gifts for siblings and the whole family

The toddler has older siblings who shouldn’t miss out? With our sets of 3 of one ADULT cap or beanie and two KIDS sizes, everyone is included. You’ll find more ideas in our gifts for siblings. Want to mix colors, styles or sizes? With our Mix & Match Bundle Builder for caps & beanies you put together your own set and save up to 25 %.

What to look out for when buying gifts for toddlers

• Check the age labels: toys with small parts are not suitable for children under three – look for the warning on the packaging.
• Sturdy, not complicated: toddlers need things that can take a lot and are easy to use.
• Things that grow with them: adjustable caps or books you look at again and again over the years stay interesting for longer.
• Talk to the parents: a quick question about wishes or the right size avoids duplicate gifts.

FAQ

What do you get a 2 year old?

Popular gifts are pretend-play toys, large building blocks, art supplies and books – or something your child gets to wear and choose themselves, for example a matching hat or cap with mom or dad.

What is a good first birthday gift?

Things to touch, stack and push, sturdy board books or a keepsake like a photo book of the first year. A cap or hat usually fits one year olds in size KIDS M.

What hat size does a toddler need?

At Soulbuddy, KIDS M is designed for toddlers approx. 1–2 years, KIDS L for kids from approx. 2 years. You’ll find the exact measurements in our size chart. If in doubt, measure the head circumference.

What is a good Christmas gift for a toddler?

Something that suits winter and gets used often: a book for cozy evenings, a toy for indoors or a warm beanie – matching mom or dad if you like.