As a mom of one-, two-, and four-year-old boys, I have so many thoughts on the best gifts for toddlers and which toys have stood the test of time in our house, but suffice it to say this gift guide features many of our most tried-and-true toddler favorites!

This Melissa & Doug cleaning set has been a household favorite since Teddy was 15 months and is a great buy at under $30. And all three of our boys have adored the Tonies box — it’s a screen-free audio player that uses characters to sing songs or tell stories and I just ordered a few of these Paw Patrol Tonies for Peter to open on Christmas morning.

But the toy that’s captivating our two- and four-year-olds most at the moment is this magnetic marble run set that we’ve had for close to a year now. The marbles are too small for a one-year-old, but once you’re out of the let’s-not-put-everything-in-your-mouth-please phase, this set is endlessly engaging (for both toddlers and parents alike!) and occupies both of them for longer than probably all their other toys combined. It’s sturdier than other marble runs we’ve experimented with (this phase has been ongoing for quite some time haha) and the magnetic tiles make it easier for younger children to participate without constantly knocking things over. 10/10 recommend!

A few bigger ticket items, some more for toddler parents vs. things that are instantly gratifying to open on Christmas morning: our kids’ table and chairs which you can score on major sale right now, this toddler stand that Teddy and Peter eat many of their meals in at our kitchen island, and this simple, under $300 swingset that’s been a great bang for our buck (swingsets can be so pricey so I’m proud of myself for not getting carried away on this one haha). I hope this list helps as you holiday shop for the toddler(s) in your life!