Don't let the pressure of toy-buying overwhelm you this year; as long as you start your shopping preparations early, you can avoid the dreaded moment of showing up at the toy store and staring at a pillaged shelf. Whether you have a tiny tot who is on the move and curious about everything or a budding kindergartener who is into challenging games and other building sets, we put together the ultimate gift guide for you. Not to worry. It's all broken down by age to make it easy for you.
Your kiddo can have a make-believe ocean adventure with this Gund Plush Mermaid Adventure Playset ($25).
This Carter's Elephant Plush Security Blanket ($14, originally $18) will make them feel safe and warm.
This Melissa & Doug Fill & Spill Sports Bag ($25) includes soft balls that will be safe to play with.
Dinosaurs won't be extinct in your house thanks to this soft and sweet plush Dennis the Triceratops ($25).
Who says babies can't keep up with the trends? Let them go unicorn crazy with this soft knitted Booties ($27).
This Care Bears Stuffed Animal ($28) will introduce your kiddo to your childhood-favorite bears in the cuddliest way!
Welcome to the toddler years! Document all of their achievements with these Milestone Toddler Cards ($10, originally $24), which are perfect props for Instagram photos.
The Road Map Play and Go Storage Mat ($38) is the perfect way to bring toys over to a pal's house or just to keep your playroom a bit tidier!
A baby board book with an artistic edge, So Many Stars ($11) features 26 pages of the iconic Warhol's most playful and imaginative illustrations.
Why mess with perfection? The timeless appeal of an old-fashioned jack-in-the-box pairs with a beloved kids' literary character with this Curious George in the Box ($20) that plays "Pop Goes the Weasel."
Little ones whip up their picnic faves using a Smoby BBQ Plancha Play Grill With Accessories ($40) that lets them grill just like you, minus the flames.
Get them helping around the house early thanks to a Smoby Ironing Board Playset ($40) that ensures all those pesky wrinkles get out.
These Nesting and Sorting Garages and Cars ($25) help teach color and number skills, all while your kiddo stacks away.
This Glow-in-the-Dark Tent ($132) comes with space stickers that can light up the fabric for their late-night playtime adventures.
Who needs a horse when you have a zebra? This adorable Zebra Rocker ($149) is the perfect seat for your squirmy little one.
The Wishbone Bike ($199) grows from a trike to a first running bike to a big-kid balance bike with little more than a flip of the body — meaning little ones can use it for at least two years.
HABA's Rainbow Whirls Pegging Game ($29, originally $40) is a fun take on the classic stacking rings. It's a combination puzzle and ring game, so tots can pile up the rings by color or any other category they see fit.
Jakks Pacific's Mrs. Potts and Chip — from Beauty and the Beast — get a fun upgrade with the Disney Princess Belle Musical Tea Party Cart ($38). As the cart is pushed, the teapot and cup spin and play "Be Our Guest."
Fisher-Price Think & Learn Code-a-Pillar ($48) gives preschoolers their earliest introduction to coding. Kids control how they want the caterpillar to move and watch as he follows their commands.
This nautical rocker ($100) will have your little one dreaming of the seashore in no time.
The Rescue Bots's newest playset looks very familiar to fans of the show. The Firehouse Headquarters ($27) is an exact replica of the one on TV.
This retro Lite Brite ($15) comes with new piece shapes — including elbows, triangles, and fish — four light modes, and a translucent carrying case to make finding pieces easier (especially on the go).
Bring the fun of going to the mall home with a Build-A-Bear Workshop Stuffing Station ($19). With this exciting kit, kids can stuff and dress two furry friends without having to leave the house.
The star of Trolls, Poppy (played by Anna Kendrick), comes to life for little ones via the Hug Time Poppy Doll ($49). Both tots and the doll wear matching watches that allow the two to "talk" to each other.
Magna Tiles ($60 for 32-piece set) allow tots to build up and out with pieces that feature magnets on every side.
She'll be crooning out "Let It Go" regardless, so why not give her center stage? The Frozen Boom Box ($21) serves as a real, functioning mic, comes preloaded with music from the movie, and can connect to any MP3 player.
Set your little one up for some superconstructive fun with Janod's Grow-With-Me Tool Bench ($130). The wooden set includes every tool tots will need and is magnetic, meaning a smaller chance of lost pieces!
File this one under gross toys that kids love and parents just cringe at. Gooey Louie ($7) has kids pick things out of Louie's nose in hopes of finding the right object. If the wrong one's picked, Louie goes a bit crazy!
Just like Elsa in Frozen, your little one can soon wave their hands and watch their ice castle rise a full 20-inches before them. Yup, using magic, the castle ($54) actually rises.
Just how steady is your tot's hand? With Hape's Super Moose ($35), kids test their dexterity and stability as they try to add antlers to the moose's head — without knocking down the wooden pieces!
Your kiddo can see Lightning McQueen's ($36) victory dance after making him race competitively for first place.
Your child will love singing along to the Moana soundtrack with this Disney Moana Singing Feature Doll Set ($40).
Your little one will love creating with the Crayola Silly Scents Marker Maker ($15, originally $20).
These adorable Hatchimals eggs ($65, originally $70) hatch into — surprise! — two friends that will interact with your child and each other.
Whether they use it to lay on while they watch YouTube videos on their iPad or to lounge on during family game night, this Soft Sidekick Giant Dog Stuffed Animal ($119) is a comfy place for them to land.
What's cooler than a remote control car? One that's outfitted with lightsabers on the side! The Hot Wheels R/C Star Wars Darth Vader Vehicle ($22) is packed with authentic sounds from the movie as well as glowing light sabers and the ability to steer forward, left, or right!
Thanks to a licensing agreement with the NHL (and there aren't too many of those out there!), Playmobil introduced the NHL Arena ($36, originally $60). The set comes with movable figures that can actually shoot the puck into the goal and stickers so you can outfit the ice to represent your kids' favorite teams.
The Minions get themselves into the funniest situations, and we have a feeling this Mega Bloks Minions Flying Hot Dogs set ($8) was probably inspired by a very funny scene!
The FurReal Friends Torch, My Blazin' Dragon ($63) is all of the fun of having a real pet dragon (OK, so we don't know what that would be like). Torch breathes fire (kind of), toasts marshmallows, and moves in response to your child's touch.
The Razor Graffiti Chalk Scooter ($33) features sidewalk chalk near its rear wheel so kids can look back on their path after they've reached their destination.
A coloring book that nurtures an active imagination, Outside the Lines ($18) features one-of-a-kind illustrations from the likes of everyone from Keith Haring and Shepard Fairey to Jesse LeDoux and Logan Hicks. With a little guidance from some of the contemporary art world's most renowned talents, your kids will have the confidence to get creative!