Looking for some unique, toxic-free, minimalist gifts for babies and toddlers? Here’s my full list of the best eco-friendly gifts for babies and toddlers!
Non-toxic toys for toddlers (18 months-3 years)
Raise a hand if you ever bought your kid an amazing, really expensive, shiny toy, but he eventually preferred to just play with your remote control/set of key/spoon? Kids actually don’t need too much toys, and I know I can even get overwhelmed sometimes by the amount of stuff we have!
But what is actually too much? Well, ideally, you should have at least one activity or toy of each of the below categories, as each one of them provides different skill-sets and benefits for your little ones:
- Movements (Gross Motor)
- Fine Motor
- Musical Instruments
- Building and Blocks Play
- Dramatic Play and Language Development
- Arts and Crafts
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1. Movements (Gross Motor)
I just can’t rave enough about our Wobble Balance Board! Seriously, if you only get one item, I urge you to get the Wobble! It is on the pricey side, we got it for my little one on his 2nd Bday and it’s frequently used. Such an awesome versatile toy, with so many benefits.
It stimulates the vestibular system which relates to the inner ear, and how the body analyses balance and movement, which is of great importance for general development and learning. It also supports the muscles responsible for the correct posture develops a sense of balance.
Now, you are probably wondering what can you do with it? I asked the same question, but apparently, my kid knew exactly what to do with it, the minute he saw it!
It is so versatile, kids can play with their imagination (something that we adult lack of sometimes lol) and use the wobble in so many different ways.
The Wobble can be simply a balance board, or a swing, a bridge, a shop, a cabin, resting or reading spot, a stepping stone, a racetrack, a lounge chair, a bridge, fitness equipment, or maybe a tunnel? As you can see, the possibilities are endless!
Materials: Highest quality natural beech wood and birch wood, ecologically friendly lacquers. The wood has unique coloring, texture, grain, and mineral patterns in the outer layer. These are variations that make each board one of a kind.
Brand: HAN-MM
Good old Rubber Playground Ball. Go outside, practice kicking, throwing, and catching using this rubber ball which is PVC & BPA Free.
Materials: High-quality natural and synthetic rubber, PVC & BPA Free
Brand: Crocodile Creek
Another Ultimate favorite of ours is the Kinderfeets, Bamboo Balance Bike. My kid is crazy about these and uses them every day (his kindergarten used to be 15 minutes walk, but now it takes only 5 using the balance bike!).
There are so many benefits to these, but in a nutshell:
- Great for gross motor and learning balance and coordination
- Easy transition to a pedal bike, as toddlers who start on a balance bike early (at 18 months – 24 months) are often riding a pedal bike without training wheels by 3 years old.
- Exercise
- and also, these are just really really fun!
Materials: “Kinderfeets products are made using fast-growing Bamboo, an extremely adaptable and resilient crop that has the ability to self-regenerate. Bamboo also doesn’t require toxic chemicals or artificial pesticides for growth and maintenance, which makes it both toxin-free and more cost-effective. When we’re not using Bamboo, we’re using eco-friendly birch wood and/or FSC-certified German beechwood. We also use non-toxic, water-based paints and lacquers, minimal packaging, and recycled paper for product information to set children up for a lifetime of planet-friendly living.“
Brand: Kinderfeets
2. Fine Motor
This Melissa & Doug Kids Beading Set helps children develop strong fine motor, cognitive, and visual perception skills while promoting hand-eye coordination.
Materials: Wood
Brand: Melissa & Doug
This cute Wooden Alligator Toy can be used as a pull toy or a shape-sorter, and encourage hand-eye coordination, color and shape recognition, and encourages toddlers to walk with their new friend.
Materials: Made of sustainably harvested wood and non-toxic water-based paints.
Brand: Petite Collage
Montessori inspired Wooden Sensory Bin Tools for Toddlers.
Contains scoops, tongs, cups, and pots which simulate fine motor skills and sensory play.
Of course, you can make your own DIY version, using tools you have in your kitchen, but if you are looking for wooden tools that fit PERFECTLY for little hands, this is a recommended choice!
Also, store toddler-safe silverware, plates, and cups on a low shelf for easier access.
Materials: Raw wood. The SimplyToPlay Sensory Bin Tools, with the exception of the tongs & larger scoop, are milled by wood mills in the USA. Bamboo tongs & large scoops are sourced from Asia. The kits are assembled in the USA.
Brand: SimplyToPlay
3. Musical Instruments
Musical Wooden Eggs, when each brightly colored egg makes a different noise. Kids will learn to distinguish sounds, fosters creativity, shape and color recognition and develop a feel for rhythm.
Materials: Made of solid beech wood from sustainable forestry in Germany and treated with multiple layers of water-based stains that penetrate into the wood, followed by a clear protective coating making them totally safe for toddlers who still explore with their mouths.
Brand: HABA
This is an amazing Set Of Musical Instruments, which is great for toddlers, providing a wide range of beautiful sounds.
What’s included:
- Hand-bell with 7 Bells
- Triangel with Metal Beater
- Tambourine
- Xylophone (C6-C7)
- 1 Pair Claves
- 1 Pair Wood-maracas
- 6 bell rhythm clapper
- Egg-Shaker
Materials: Natural Wood, High-quality construction, smooth and safe finish that’s built to last. All wood products are FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certificated. FSC sets high standards that ensure forestry is practiced in an environmentally responsible, socially beneficial, and economically viable way. Great quality with non-toxic material. BPA free, Lead-free, Phthalate-free.
Brand: Musicube
This wooden guitar/Ukulele is the perfect introduction to teach kids about the world of music, Learning to play guitar can be a great advantage for children, and an amazing way to express themselves. We got this when my kid was 2 years old, and he is playing with it daily!
Materials: Non-toxic finishes and child safe materials complete this fantastic product
Brand: Hape
4. Building and Blocks Play
WOW, I can’t recommend these Magnetic Magna-Tiles enough! Even though it’s made of plastic (boo), it’s non-toxic and great quality, beautiful game, providing hours (Yes! HOURS!) of imaginative free play in children. There’s no limit to the way kids, can use these Magnets. It helps children move from two-dimensional to three-dimensional creations.
Materials: 100% Non-Toxic, Food-grade ABS Plastic, BPA Free, Phthalate Free.
Brand: Magne-Tiles
My kid has been playing with these Melissa & Doug Natural Building Blocks since he was about 2 years old (as these may be a bit heavy for smaller kiddos), these blocks are great for imaginative play, help to develop hand-eye coordination and fine-motor, and ideal for introducing early math concepts, shapes and sorting.
Materials: Sixty natural-finish, smooth-sanded hardwood unit building blocks
Brand: Melissa & Doug
Grimms Wooden Rainbow is becoming super popular and trendy, and for a good reason! It’s a Montessori inspired, Beautiful minimalist toy, which is also amazing as a display item! It’s an open-ended toy, which inspires creativity. These arches can be used as tunnels, a tower, little houses, or rocking chairs for tiny dolls.
Materials: Grimms Product’s wood is only sourced from sustainably managed forests in Europe ( they use alder, lime, beech and maple wood). They are also FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) Certified.
Brand: Grimms
5. Dramatic Play and Language Development
Mini Broom and Dustpan, to help toddlers sweep up crumbs after a messy meal.
Materials: Bamboo, recycled plastic, silicone, rubber
Brand: Full Circle
Montessori inspired Rainbow Wooden Peg Dolls are good for developing early sorting skills, teaching colors, promoting hand-eye coordination, and encouraging creativity and imagination. They are a great matching toy of the Grimms Wooden Rainbow Stacker.
Materials: Made of safe and non-toxic material, vibrantly colored with environmentally friendly water-based paint. All toys edges are smooth and won’t hurt the baby’s delicate skin.
Brand: MONT PLEASANT
Wooden Gourment Kitchen encourages Creative Thinking and Story Telling, verbal skills, and healthy eating habits.
Materials: Made using high-quality wood, Non-toxic finishes, and child safe materials.
Brand: Hape
Have a picnic or pretend to shop with this little Basket Toy Food Playset, and when playtime is over, encourage your kid to put all the things back in the basket!
Materials: Felt
Brand: Hape
6. Arts and Crafts
These Honey Sticks Crayons are made of 100% beeswax, which gives them a scent of honey! Designed to encourage correct finger and hand grasps for writing in older children.
Materials: 100% pure New Zealand beeswax with non-toxic pigments so they are safe for infants, kids, and children of all ages. Contains no paraffin wax or cheap fillers.
Brand: HoneySticks
Shape, squish, mix, and turn the Play-Doh into something amazing and unexpected.
Materials: non-toxic, non-irritating & non-allergenic dough.
Brand: Play-Doh
Kinetic Sand looks like regular sand but is available in different colors and can be molded into any desired shape. It mimics the physical properties of wet sand.
Kinetic Sand stimulates children’s creative and sensory skills, allowing them to create anything they can imagine! It never dries out & is non-toxic, gluten & casein free.
Materials: Made from natural sand, non-toxic, Hypo-allergenic and free of wheat, gluten and casein
Brand: Kinetic Sand
We hope you find this minimalist gift guide useful and found some gifts and non-toxic minimalist toys ideas and inspiration!
