Toy trends come and go — some lasting much, much longer than others (looking at you, collectibles) — and this year, toy store shelves are going to see a few new trends in the bunch. The one that surprised us the most? Well, it's poop. Apparently toilet humor and poop-based games are going to be all the rage with kids this year, and every brand seemed to have something relating to the theme. Add those toys to the collectibles craze and all of the new "pet" toys your kids can play with before you think about getting them an actual pet, and you've got yourself some trendy toys perfect for gift-giving throughout the year.
See all of the coolest toys ahead, and don't forget to check out our sneak peek at so many more toys coming out in 2018.
This sweet plush toy reacts to your every move through sounds and its multicolored light-up eyes. Kids 4 and up can attach a Pomsie ($15) to their backpack or wrist to take their new BFF on the go.
The Shake Shack fiends in your life will want to get their hands on Yummy World's plush Shake Shack Burger and Fries ($15 each).
The KumiKreator ($30) is going to be a serious game changer for kids who love to craft. The friendship bracelet maker, which allows the crafter to create up to 10 unique and colorful bracelet designs in a flash, will be available this Fall.
The newest L.O.L. Surprise Confetti Pop balls have a twist — literally. The special spin top opens up a number of different surprises until you open up the largest section to find the best surprise: a doll. If you're lucky, you may find a L.O.L. Surprise Punk Boi — a boy doll with color-changing hair. The new collection hits shelves in March at $13 a ball.
The Zoomer Playful Pup ($100) is about as close to a real dog as it gets. Give it a name that it'll respond to, rub its belly, and train it to perform tricks!
If collecting PooPeez's line of collectible figurines isn't enough for you, try its new Toilet Launcher playset. The goal of the game is to fling the poop into the toilet bowl using the toilet seat launchers.
Squishy toys are all the rage, and with the Color Me Sqooshies kits, kids can decorate their own!
New to Spin Master's collectibles category, Twisty Pets ($6-$10) are fun fashion accessories that turn from a bracelet into a tiny pet in just a few twists.
The brand's fan-favorite kitchens are back with a new modern model: the Farm to Table Kitchen ($200). Little cooks 3 and up can practice their knife skills on fake veggies, play with the superrealistic ice maker, and get cooking in the oven. This play kitchen comes with EZ Kraft Assembly and will hit stores in August.
This spin on one of the year's best toys is an upgrade in one category: color! That's right. You can bet your kiddos ages 5 and up will be begging for this two-toned Fingerlings Baby Monkey down the road.
It's time to party, and the 18th series of Lego Minifigures ($4 per each blind bag) is here to have fun.
The unicorn trend is hitting the Little Live Pets line. Princess My Dancing Unicorn reacts to her owner's actions, and the more you play with her, the more she dances.
Your bath-loving child can make four Monster Bath Bombs with this kit.
One of the sweetest toys at Toy Fair, Rescue Runts, are down-on-their-luck plush puppies and kittens in need of loving homes. The animals come in need of a some grooming with "fleas" in their hair and "tears" in their eyes. Once kids clean them them up, they turn into adorable pets. Rescue Runts will be available this Summer for $20.
An interesting toy theme this year comes in the form of, well, poop. Flushin' Frenzy ($20) combines reflexes and plunging toilets in this Russian roulette-style game for silly little ones.
Zoomer is adding an adorable little bunny to its lineup this Fall with Hungry Bunnies ($30), which come with over 80 paper treats that the bunny then "poops" out in the form of confetti.
Available this Fall, season four Hatchimals CollEGGtibles are going to shine bright. The "Hatch Bright" series features over 80 characters who shine bright thanks to glitter and metallics or the fact that they're glow-in-the-dark or translucent.
What could be better than a life-size unicorn sprinkling water out of its magical horn? Nothing! That's why Big Mouth's seven-foot-tall Gignormous Unicorn Sprinkler ($50) will be the hit water toy of the Summer.
A second series of Lego Minifigures in honor of the Lego Batman movie ($4 each) is out now.
Little Live Pets will expand its line to include sweet puppies that just want to give their owners kisses. Rollie My Kissing Puppy wags its tail and sticks out its tongue in reaction to its owner's actions.
Num Noms Snackables: Dippers ($7) have a very Dunkaroos-esque feel. Peel back the wrapper to find dippable fruits and treats as well as a pot of slime (some are glittery!) that contains another little surprise.
In April, Pikmi Pops will hit the market, combining the fun of a push pops and scented small plush characters. Simply push up the pop to reveal the character you've received with a confetti welcome.
A challenge game, Plunge It! requires kids to pass around the plungers until it's time to plunge the poo — first person to plunge it wins the round!
This minisize Zoomer Zupps Pretty Ponies ($13) can be held in the palm of your hand and come with all new secret tricks and musical games.
Consider Fizz 'n' Surprise Mermaids and Dinosaurs bath bombs for kids. Place the mysterious ball in a bowl full of water and wait while it fizzes and dissolves to reveal the mermaid or dinosaur kids can add to their collections.
Inspired by the work of Dr. Pimple Popper, Pimple Pete ($20) is a game hitting shelves this Fall that will give your kids a chance to get in on the weirdly satisfying trend of popping pimples, but competitively.
Yummy World's plush food toys are a fun addition to any kid's room. The upcoming Jeni and the Jelly Beans (available this Summer) set takes the cuteness to a new level, as the beans are scented and can be played with outside of their packaging.
Fill the Num Noms Snackables: Cereal's bowl with water and let the magic milk spoon (which is just like a fizzy bath bomb) sit in the water to reveal a surprise within. Find 12 other surprises within the packaging to create the rest of the "bowl of cereal" ($9).
Shopkins will introduce microsize characters with its new Lil Secrets line. The characters come in lock boxes that open into playsets.
Give your kiddo a new pet pal with L.O.L. Surprise Pets ($10), which comes with a pet and all its accessories and hits shelves in March.
With one of four brand-new mystery creatures inside each Hatchimals Mystery egg ($60), the hatching fun stays as exciting as ever but becomes random!
Pet owners may have this problem IRL, but nonetheless, the concept for this multiplayer game is pretty hilarious. In Don't Step in It ($20), players ages 4 and up craft piles of poop out of clay and scatter them about before one player gets blindfolded and tries to dodge the mess. Yuck!
Hatching dragons is a trend that will continue in 2018 with the introduction of Little Live Pets Surprise Dragon. The dragons can be hatched again and again.
This Toy of the Year winner is getting a full-blown sparkly makeover! The Fingerlings Glitter Monkey is made for kids 5 and up and makes over 40 sounds.
Season 3 of Hatchimals CollEGGtibles features a twist: two surprises inside! Each CollEGGtible has a best friend, squad, or twin to find.
CakePop Cuties combine two of our favorite things: cake pops and foam squishies! The mystery packs come wrapped like a lollipop, and kids unwrap them to discover which squishy they received.
It's a game of gross-out when it comes to the new Snot-It. Players wear glasses with a "runny nose," spin the dial, and try to collect "snot pieces" with the dangling boogers. The game will be available this Fall.
The poop trend continues with PooPeez's line of collectible — you guessed it — poop blind packs. Each toilet paper roll comes with two of 36 characters that are hidden in the roll.
This Summer, Little Live Pets will expand its line to include sweet rescue pets that need some love. Scruff a Luvs are plush puppies, kittens, and bunnies that come balled up with matted hair. Simply place them in some water and start brushing them out to reveal the adorable pets they really are.
Blue Orange games will introduce Who Did It this year. The card game is a race to see who can get rid of their cards so they avoid blame of owning the animal that pooped!
Playfoam Pals ($8 for a two-pack) will be hitting stores in March and put an entirely new spin on collectibles. Kiddos ages 5 to 10 get to dig through the foam to find a tiny (and totally random!) little figurine.
What's That Smell? ($20) is a party game that will send kids ages 13 and up into sensory overdrive. Guess the smell of household items and write down your answers on a pad, but make sure you get them all right — the loser has to smell something truly disgusting. This game hits stores in August.