I am SO EXCITED for spring! I love that Easter is right around the corner and I can finally start thinking about flowers and warm weather. Every holiday, since we had Asher, has been unique and special as we celebrate them with him for the first time. Now that he’s older and more aware of his surroundings, new experiences are even more fun and exciting. Even though he’s still too little for some of the traditional basket fillers like candy, I plan to go all out for his first Easter basket using baby-safe products that he will love. I can’t wait to see his face light up!
So you can get the same reaction from your own little Easter bunny, I’ve put together this ultimate list of baby basket fillers that I found and love. Whether you’re opting for a small celebration at home or party-hopping with your little one in tow, this list is guaranteed to help you plan a happy, colorful Easter season for your family!
Don’t Forget the Basket!
Of course, you have to start with the basket itself. A sweet woven basket is always a favorite that you can reuse each year to start your own family tradition! Rustic buckets are also a fun way to shake things up, or a cute bunny-themed fabric bin that little gums can chew on without worry. If you want to get unique with it, opt for a cloth storage bin that you can use later for baby’s toys.
Now Fill it Up
Remember the traditional plastic Easter grass that filled our own childhood Easter baskets? It’s still the staple filler and can be collected to use year after year (although there are now guilt-free recyclable options, too.) What we probably don’t remember is that the grass gets everywhere. Seriously. It has a way of avoiding even the deepest cleaning. And as we all know, babies chew on everything! You may find pieces of it hanging out of his mouth if you turn your back for one second. A colorful, fun alternative is ordinary gift tissue paper. Babies love the crinkly sound and it’s easy to gather up after the festivities. I especially love this fresh, pastel pattern!
Bunny Outfit
Your baby has to have a bunny outfit right???? I love this super cute and comfy Bunny unisex romper. It is so adorable and babies love playing with the ears! Plus, you can easily get it on and off for diaper changes. 🙂 Plus it will look so sweet for family pictures!
Get Ready to Read
Children’s books are perfect for any Easter basket. A bonus is that a lot of really well-done children’s TV shows based on beloved book series are now available, like Llama Llama on Netflix, based on the books by Anna Dewdney. The Llama Llama books walk kids through the best way to deal with powerful emotions, and the Llama Llama Easter Egg board book can start that important conversation before baby even says his first word! Pete the Cat is another favorite character with an Easter book. Pete’s stories teach lessons about friendship and handling basic social situations, and you can follow the book up with the new Pete the Cat series on Amazon Prime. Curious George is a classic name, also with a TV series that is currently available on Hulu along with several full-length movies. Start out with the Curious George and the Bunny board book for an instant favorite!
Pick Out Some Super Fun Teethers and Toys
Of course, Easter baskets should be filled with fun! Some basket-sized toys are not safe for babies, but there are smart alternatives that will still get those perfect squeals of delight. I am in love with these little zippered eggs by Plushland. They’re soft and snuggly with a surprise friend zipped inside. For teething babies, there’s no better time to surprise them with a classic teething toy like Sophie the Giraffe. (Now there’s also a colorful Sophie teething ring!) Moms of babies who use pacifiers will adore a fuzzy Wubbanub pet that comes attached to a Soothie pacifier. These are perfect for the littlest babies. They are even given out in some NICUs! A snuggly lamb Wubbanub or a bright yellow duckling would be perfect for the Easter season.
One thing that would go perfectly in an Easter basket is a set of these colorful links by Bright Start. Babies love the different textures, and they’re easy to attach to a car seat, stroller, or high chair. You can also use them to hang these fun Infantino Tag Along Travel Pals for extra play anywhere you go. (Hint: links are also super for babies in the throwing stage. Toss whatever you want, buddy. Nothing’s hitting this mama’s floor!)
Stock Up On Supplies for Solid Foods
Solid foods are a big transition and an Easter basket is the perfect place to stock up on baby tableware. Whether you’re scoping out the best deals for jars of Gerber, lovingly pureeing your own fruits and veggies, or going for baby led weaning, you’ll need the right stuff! This genius one piece mat with a built-in plate suctions to nearly any surface. Fewer spills, more fun! Afterward, just throw the whole thing in the dishwasher and forget wiping goo off your dining room table. Pair it with Bumkins Chewtensils, a soft fork and spoon specially designed for tiny hands. These make for worry-free chewing during meal time (the back of the spoon even has stimulating bumps for teething gums) since they include a ventilated choke barrier.
For on-the-go snacking, Skip Hop makes a fantastic snack and formula container for the diaper bag. It would be a great Easter basket companion for these healthy treats by Happy Baby:
Happy Baby Organic Yogis Freeze-Dried Yogurt & Fruit Snacks
Happy Baby Organic Superfood Puffs
Happy Baby Organic Baby Food in a clear pouch
Go a Little Crazy
If you just can’t resist throwing a big gift in there, make it this one. Available in pink or blue, this fun crawl around car by Fisher-Price has it all. Sorting, sounds, lights, spinning wheels…and it has three levels of play to take your little one from the baby months through his preschool years! It’s also light enough to easily move from room to room. It encourages development through fine motor skills like shape sorting and ball play while also getting that tiny tushy off the floor to crawl, pull up, and eventually walk.
One Last Thing…
Now that you have your basket all figured out, there’s one more thing to take care of. Even if you’re not flying home or road-tripping to visit family, holidays can mean lots of get-togethers at not-so-baby-friendly houses. Since you don’t want to miss out on all the fun but you also want to keep your baby safe and entertained, you’re going to need a plan. For outside events like Easter egg hunts, the Summer Infant Pop N’ Jump Portable Activity Center is a lifesaver. It folds easily to fit in your car and has a mat attached to keep those kissable feet clean. Not only is baby surrounded by toys, she’s protected from the sun by a removable UV canopy.
Babies who still aren’t sitting up independently for long periods of time might do better with a canopied Pop ‘N Play Deluxe Ultimate Playard. They can still see all the action with lots of room to roll around away from the sun. For extra-little ones, a play yard might be overkill but the DockATot would be just perfect. See my review for more information on this great baby product!
Have a Happy Easter!
Anything in this guide (or all of it!) would bring a big smile to those baby cheeks this Easter. Comment with your favorites and make sure to post those sweet Easter pictures when the big day arrives. Remember: baby’s first Easter only happens once!
You might also enjoy these adorable costume ideas for baby’s first Halloween!