I’ve seen a lot of mom posts on Facebook asking for non-candy Easter basket ideas recently and I’m here to tell you – DON’T STRESS!! We have two weeks until Easter and you can still pull off a fabulous basket filled with non-sugary surprises!
Ever since Grace’s first Easter I’ve always tried to stuff her basket with non-candy treats, sure I include the traditional chocolate bunny and the marshmallow yumminess that are Peeps, but I really don’t want it to be all sugar-filled. Each year it gets a little tougher to keep it fresh and not duplicate the non-candy options but the one thing I’ve learned over the past (nearly) 5 Easter seasons — KEEP IT SIMPLE AND DON’S STRESS! Kids don’t care or keep track!
The first couple of years I went all out (i.e. monogramed beach towels from PBK – but in all seriousness I do love their towels.) But in more recent years I learned to shop the dollar bins at Target and local dollar stores. Sure I throw in a few “nicer” items from time to time, but my girls are just excited to get a basket full of surprises each year.
The one challenge for me this year is that Rae is now almost 2 and wants whatever her older sister has. This means when big sister plays with legos (you know the kits with the super small pieces that come with a choking hazard disclaimer for little ones,) little sister wants to get her hands right in there too. Luckily many of the things we’re planning to include this year can work for both girls…whew!
So all that said, I thought it’d be fun to I’d share my non-candy options for anyone looking for ideas. I’ve broken my ideas down by infant, toddler (1-2 year old) and preschooler (3-5 year old) and I’ve also included photos of our Easter baskets from years past.
INFANT
sun hat / finger puppet books / bubbles / sippy cup / egg-shaped crayons / bunny / pajamas / socks / baby’s first Easter bib / leg warmers
Here’s a basket from years past…
TODDLER (1-2 year old)
sun hat / board book / bubbles / CamelBak / playdoh / finger puppets / bunny / bath paint (@ Target dollar bin section) / first words flash cards / paint with water sheets
Here are some of my baskets from years past…
PRESCHOOLER (3-5 year old)
sun hat / Read-Along Book with CD / bubbles / character cups / chalk (dollar store or Target dollar bin) / kite / bunny ears (dollar store or Target dollar bin) / stampers (Party City or Target dollar bin) / nail polish / reusable stickers
Here are some of my baskets from years past…
FOR ALL
flip flops (Old Navy or Carter’s) / sunglasses (Target dollar bin or Carter’s) / magic towel wash cloths (I’ve found them at both the dollar store and the Target dollar bins) / stickers (I found these Oriental Trading stickers at a local dollar store but Target also has cute stickers in their dollar bin section) / hooded beach towel
Hopefully this was helpful and provided lots of ideas for you. I’d love to hear what you include in your baskets! Hoppy Easter!!
Cheers ♥
Lots of fun ideas! I try to do a good mix of candy and non-candy, too! This year each child is getting books, bubbles, a jumbo notebook with colored pens, a water gun, and shoes for the spring (easy slip on shoes for the younger ones and a pair of flip flops for my oldest. They will also get some candy!
Just found your blog through Instagram.
Those are great ideas! My oldest would love the colored pens but my youngest would end up with pen everywhere haha, in another year or two we’ll try it. Thank you so much for stopping by!!