Throw Me Your Toddler Hamper Ideas!

[SpoopyStuff]

Afternoon, MN!

I have a toddler in the family, and for Christmas her DM and DF have asked for eco friendly gifts that don't take up space, and no toys or clothes, so I thoughts I'd put a hamper of toddler snacks together so it's not a permanent addition to the house.

...it's been many, many years since I've had a toddler, so what do you recommend?

Bumping for the late afternoon crowd...

How old are they? I always think of toddlers as 1-2 year olds.

There's a brand called bamboo bamboo that do really lovely weaning plates and spoons.
Food is tricky because I imagine they eat really healthily already and might not want prepackaged snacks?
The only thing I can think of is a gift basket of expensive tropical fruit? They'd probably quite enjoy playing/feeling things like lycee and pineapple before eating them.

Gardening hamper so they can grow their own? It's eco friendly and doesn't have packaging. I have a 4 year old and a 16 month old. They love "gardening" and we've managed to grow a variety of things including tomatoes, cress, basil and chilli peppers.

What about a little greenhouse from Ikea, a fork, trowel and a load of seeds?

We have this greenhouse (www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/socker-greenhouse-white-in-outdoor-70186603/).

Or what about a child friendly mixing bowl filled with cooking related items such as cookie cutters, maybe the ingredients for a relatively healthy bake, apron etc, appriopriate cookery book etc.

Mine would love the exotic fruit bowl but it maybe falls down on eco friendly due to air miles? And I'm not sure I'd be happy if someone just bought mine snacks as I prefer their snacks to be homemade wherever possible. Plus at Christmas there tends to be loads of chocolate and other sweets floating around.

These are great ideas, thank you! Toddler is almost 2 at Christmas. A mixing bowl and cake mix would work... I am actually looking for prepacked snack suggestions as there must be some fancy ones out there!!

Also, it's worth pointing out that eco friendly is preferred, but they don't mind a few less healthy treats for Christmas. It is once a year, after all!

I would have LOVED the gardening hamper for my son at that age. You could create a treasure basket of loose parts? Loose parts play is very eco friendly and won't take up too much space depending on what you choose. There are loads of ideas on Pinterest etc.

Pre packaged don’t tend to be eco friendly though really? Just single use plastic.

I’m vaguely eco conscious although far from good and even I try to avoid many packaged snacks for kids because I feel awful just throwing away packet after packet.

I do love www.biscuiteers.com/biscuits/letterbox-biscuits though for fun Christmas biscuits.

I don’t think the packaging is too bad.

I wonder if there is anything out there with eco-friendly packaging...

I wonder if there is anything out there with eco-friendly packaging...

£10 notes

I wouldn't waste my money buying bits- 1 gift if you must but making up a hamper is just buying for buyings sake. Then cash.

I am actually looking for prepacked snack suggestions as there must be some fancy ones out there!!

Have a look in the imported/world food aisles of the supermarkets. If there are no allergies, Bamba peanut snacks are a favourite of my 16 month old. Our local Sainsburys also has some really interesting Japanese sweets and biscuits in small portions that my kids and I like. You could always include a map/information about the countries you picked food from.

Vegetable crisps and/or crackers. Costco does some nice sweet potato or beetroot ones if you have access to a card. I and dc2 really like the Organix tomato slice finger food as well.

The For Aisha pouches have some interesting flavour combinations and the packaging can be recycled (along with Ella's) in special recyling bins (there is one in our chemist and we're in the middle of nowhere in NE Scotland).

Love the gardening hamper and cake mix ideas.

Maybe some dried fruit / fruit leather?

Or maybe an afternoon out for the toddler? As in, you give an IOU for you to take the toddler out for a treat and parents get a break.

Those bear paw snacks, the packaging is paper and can be recycled.

Ask them to make her a list? We’re trying to avoid waste and plastic this year but we’ve made wish lists for both boys to send to family. It isn’t totally eco, but stuff they’ll definitely play with and love.

This is DS2s. He is 2:
www.thingstogetme.com/20840a3387b
Although there are a few toys on there, there are also things he needs like the lunch box (and pyjamas- I am squashing him in 18-24 month ones ) and also play passes for a local play facility.

Ikea do a big box of cardboard building blocks. They are pretty solid but fantastic for a toddler as they are big and lightweight. And they fold flat.

I think the idea of taking toddler for a day out would be better. Snacks in individual packs arent really eco friendly and it's not very exciting for a 2 year old who won't know what the different things are.

I also think the grow your own plant is a good idea. My 2 year old loved growing her own tomatoes this summer. The only issue might be finding a plant which can be grown in the winter.