Easter basket ideas for babies

Baby Easter baskets are a tradition for the parents and the camera. Baby won't engage with most of it. Baby can't eat the candy. Baby doesn't know what Easter is. But the basket can still be photo-worthy AND useful — if you skip the plastic-egg trap.

The baby Easter basket safety filter

Before any item goes in baby's Easter basket:

• No small parts. Plastic eggs are not baby-safe.
• No candy. Honey is unsafe under 1 year. Sugar in general isn't needed for under-1s.
• No button batteries or magnets. Real ingestion hazards.
• No string or ribbon longer than 6 inches. Strangulation risk.
• Skip artificial grass. The plastic shredded "grass" is a swallowing hazard. Use real shredded paper or muslin instead.

The 14 picks

1. A wooden teether or teething ring ($6 to $12)

PlanToys, Hape, or local wooden makers. Sized too big to swallow. Always check current CPSC standards.

2. A small soft fabric book or Indestructibles book ($6 to $10)

Lamaze cloth books, Indestructibles books (which are literally indestructible), or a fabric Quiet Book.

3. A high-contrast board book ($5 to $10)

Tana Hoban's Black on White, White on Black, or Look, Look! by Peter Linenthal. Babies stare at these for real visual development.

4. A baby-safe stuffed bunny ($15 to $30)

The one stuffed animal of the year. Jellycat, Cuddle + Kind, or a smaller GUND bunny. Sized small enough not to overwhelm the crib (no stuffed animals in the crib under 12 months for sleep).

5. A pair of sized-up socks or mittens ($5 to $10)

Spring-themed if you can find them, but mostly: sized up by 2. The current size won't fit by summer. Buy ahead.

6. A hooded baby towel ($12 to $25)

Bunny-eared or animal-themed hooded towel. Photogenic. Used daily for the next 6+ months.

7. Baby-safe puffs or freeze-dried fruit (6+ months only) ($5 to $8)

Happy Baby Organics puffs, Serenity Kids freeze-dried fruit, or Plum Organics fruit. Only for babies 6 months and up who have started solids.

8. A small wooden block or stacker piece ($5 to $10)

A single wooden block or a 3-piece small stacker. Sized to grip but too big to swallow.

9. A play silk or muslin scarf ($8 to $12)

The most open-ended toy you can put in the basket. Sarah's Silks, Aden + Anais muslins.

10. A teething necklace or bracelet (for mom) ($8 to $15)

Wooden or silicone teething jewelry that doubles as something baby can chew on while mom is holding them.

11. A small wooden rattle ($6 to $10)

Plan Toys, Hape, or Bannor wooden rattle. Sized for grip, not chokeable.

12. A baby grooming kit (brush, comb, nail file) ($10 to $25)

Practical, useful, and Easter-basket-appropriate. Frida Baby or local makers.

13. A real-feeling baby spoon or sippy starter set ($8 to $15)

For approaching-6-month babies. EZPZ tiny spoon, OXO Tot starter spoons. Practical first-foods gift.

14. A wooden Easter ornament for the future tree ($10 to $20)

An heirloom-style wooden bunny or egg ornament with baby's name and the year. Etsy makers.

What to skip in a baby Easter basket

• Plastic Easter eggs with small parts. Choking hazard for under 3.
• Chocolate or candy. Babies under 1 don't need sugar; some candies have honey (unsafe under 1).
• Artificial "Easter grass." The plastic shredded filler is a real swallowing hazard.
• Battery-powered noise toys. Loud, annoying, often a battery-ingestion risk.
• Plush bunnies in unsafe sizes for crib. Stuffed animals are not crib-safe under 12 months.
• Bath bombs / face products. Skin irritants for under-1 skin.
• Anything that fits in a toilet paper roll. The standard small-parts test.

The Easter basket template for under-1

A sample basket for a 6-month-old:

• Wooden teether ($8)
• Indestructibles book ($6)
• High-contrast board book ($8)
• Hooded bunny towel ($18)
• Sized-up socks ($5)
• Plan Toys wooden bunny rattle ($10)
• EZPZ first-spoon set ($10)
• Real muslin shredded "grass" (free if you tear up a muslin)

Total: $65. Eight items. All useful. All safe.

The "from baby's older sibling" basket

If the new baby has an older sibling, let the older kid help "make" the baby's basket. The older kid picks a small toy (one), helps with the basket setup, and gets credit for "making baby's basket." Builds the bond, makes the photo special, costs nothing extra.

The 5 things to leave OUT

If you do nothing else, leave these 5 things out of a baby's Easter basket:

1. Plastic Easter eggs (small parts)
2. Plastic Easter grass (swallowing hazard)
3. Chocolate / candy / honey-based sweets
4. Battery-powered noisemakers
5. Anything with small magnets, buttons, or sharp edges

The "no" list is more important than the "yes" list for baby Easter baskets.

The photo setup

The Easter basket is for the photo. Some tips for getting a good one:

• Natural light. Sit baby in front of a window at 10 AM or 4 PM.
• Real grass instead of plastic. If your yard is green, the photo can be outside on a blanket.
• Bunny ears optional. Cute for a photo, not necessary.
• Skip the perfect setup. The real Easter basket photo is the messy one where baby is reaching for a wooden block.
• Print one. Make a 4x6 print and put it in the family photo book.

The honest baby Easter basket takeaway

You don't have to do a full Easter basket for a baby under 1. A single wooden teether and a hooded bunny towel is enough. The photo will still be cute. The baby will still not understand.

If you're a grandparent or aunt giving the basket: ask the parents what categories they need. "We don't have any wooden teethers" or "we need a hooded towel" beats guessing and getting a basket that doesn't fit the household.

And: skip the candy. For real. Babies under 1 don't need it. Save the chocolate eggs for the parents.