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Best gifts for three-year-olds
Shopping for a three-year-old can be tricky. They're not babies any more, but not quite big kids either (as much as they try to convince you they are), and any parent knows they'll tell you when they don't like something.
To save you from the guesswork – and a mild existential crisis in the toy aisle – we've asked the parents, aunts, uncles and honorary family members at Which? to tell us the gifts that earned toothy smiles and kept little hands busy.
From trampolines and balance bikes to books, read on for more of the best gifts for three-year-olds.
Looking for more of the best gifts for kids? We've got you covered, whatever their age. Head to our guides on the best gifts for one-year-olds and best gifts for two-year-olds
Best gifts under £10
Dinosaur hatching eggs
Our son has been obsessed with egg toys since he was much smaller than he is now. The premise is simple - you put the egg in water and it hatches a dinosaur!
We like Affordable
Watch out for Style varies, can't choose which specific egg you get
The Awesome Animals Hatching Dinosaur Eggs are water-activated toys designed to reveal a small dinosaur figure.
After placing an egg in water, the shell gradually softens and cracks open over 12 to 24 hours. Each egg contains one of six mystery dinosaurs, with possible figures including a Triceratops, Spinosaurus or T-Rex.
How to Hide a Lion from Grandma
This is such a fun book for children to read with parents and grandparents. Grandma is coming to stay with Iris, which means the little girl has to hide her friendly lion pal. But maybe Grandma has a trick or two of her own...
We like Easy read
Watch out for Full series sold separately
This picture book is the follow-up to How to Hide a Lion and continues the story of a young girl and her unusual feline companion.
Aimed at early readers, the book features full-colour illustrations and a narrative structured for read-aloud engagement.
Support your growing family: our expert advice can help you make the right choices, from improving your home to planning your finances
Usborne Sticker Books
Both my kids loved these sticker books - they're really good quality and last for ages. There are loads of different themes, and they're really useful for restaurants, flights, or to keep smalls one occupied when you're waiting around. It helps with fine motor skills and concentration, too.
We like Plenty of themes to choose from
Watch out for Take care with stickers
Usborne sticker books are activity books that include reusable or peel-and-stick stickers for children to place on illustrated scenes. The range covers various themes – from animals and vehicles to history and fantasy – and is designed to support creativity, fine motor skills and topic exploration.
The books are available for different age groups, with some featuring more detailed scenes and facts suited to older children. For younger children, including those around age three, the My First Sticker Book series offers simpler layouts and larger stickers.
Best gifts under £20
Orchard Toys Jigsaw Puzzles
My son loved doing puzzles. They're good for hand-eye co-ordination and developing their motor skills.
We like Large pieces for easy handling
Watch out for Careful not to lose any pieces
These are designed for children aged three and up, featuring themes such as animals, vehicles or everyday scenes. Each puzzle includes large, sturdy pieces that are easy for small hands to handle, designed to support the development of fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and problem-solving abilities.
The puzzles vary in piece count and complexity to suit different skill levels, and many sets come with an accompanying poster and learning guide.
For more of the best board games for kids, adults and families, head to our guide
Tippi My First Remote Control Car
My daughter loves the basic RC we bought for her. Endless fun either driving it (badly) or chasing it around the house
We like Durable
We don't like The jingles are hard to stop once they've started
This simple remote control car from Tippi weighs just 300g and is designed as an introductory car for kids. There are three interactive buttons, which make noises and play jingles. You'll need five batteries (2 x AA and 3 x AAA) to power the car and the remote.
To see our expert's full verdict, head to our Tippi My First RC Car review.
Whether for toddlers, kids or grown-ups, see the best remote control cars from our testing
Squishmallows
My niece really likes these - I bought one that was accidentally massive but it's a mainstay in her play area. They're cute and you can lay on them, wrestle with them, jump on them etc. The have all sorts of brand collaborations, I bought a Pokémon one, but they also do generic ones, like unicorns and other animals.
We like Lots of different plushies available
Watch out for Quite large and many are a similar shape
Squishmallows are known for their distinctive designs and wide range of characters and styles. They are available in various sizes, from approximately 18cm to 60cm, which is relatively large for plush toys.
You can find options for under £10, though most will cost between £10 and £20, and some up to and over £25. We've rounded up a few under £20 below.
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Best gifts under £40
Lego Duplo
I've got a photo of my son at nursery, concentrating hard as he played with Duplo. He progressed to Lego, and now, aged 18, he's off studying architecture! As well as a colourful set like the Brick Box I'd buy a green building plate, too - it forms a base for their creations plus you can pop it into a bag as a way to keep them occupied wherever you are.
We like Huge variety to choose from
Watch out for Some sets can be pricey
Lego Duplo is designed for children aged 18 months to around five years. The sets feature larger, easy-to-handle bricks that are twice the size of standard Lego bricks, making them safer and more manageable for younger children. There are a variety of themes to choose from, from basic building blocks to animals, vehicles and characters such as Peppa Pig and Mickey Mouse.
Sets are available for a range of developmental stages, with simpler builds for toddlers and more detailed scenes for pre-schoolers. Prices vary depending on the size of the set: the smallest ones are just under £10, while the most expensive cost more than £300, though there are plenty of mid-range options under £40.
Want a Lego set for bigger kids (or yourself)? See our round-up of the best Lego deals
Chicco First Bike
Both of my children loved their balance bikes as I'm sure it made them feel more grown up than they actually were and it was a great first option before an actual bike.
We like Adjustable
Watch out for Doesn't come with helmet or additional safety gear
Balance bikes are intended to serve as a stepping stone to pedal biking, designed to help with balance and coordination.
This particular model is suitable for kids aged two and up, and has a lightweight metal frame, 10-inch puncture-resistant wheels and an adjustable non-slip saddle. Both the handlebar and seat height can be adjusted to accommodate a child’s growth over time.
See our buying guide to the best balance bikes for expert shopping tips and to browse popular models
Wooden Vet Kit
Kids love playing at being vets. The wooden case is perfect for storing the bits and pieces when the kit isn't in use.
We like Comes with 20 accessories
Watch out for Smaller pieces can get lost
A perfect gift for animal-loving little ones, this wooden vet kit includes loads of accessories, such as a stethoscope, thermometer, x-rays, cone and bandages, designed to encourage imaginative play and the development of fine motor skills. It also comes with a wooden carry case for storing parts or carrying around poorly toy animals.
This option is available at Great Little Trading Co. (£32), or you can browse more wooden vet sets from other brands below.
The baby products the parents at Which? couldn't live without
Blow-the-budget gifts
Wooden Balance Beam Set
A great way to entertain kids indoors without needing loads of space; you can put the stones/beams in any combination so there's endless fun (particularly if you involve other furniture).
We like Customisable shape combinations
Watch out for Large amount of floor space needed
This rainbow wooden balance beam and stepping stone set is designed to support the development of balance, coordination, and gross motor skills in children. The set includes six balance beams, eight connectors, and six stepping stones, allowing for various obstacle course configurations.
Made from wood and coated with child-safe paint, the pieces are suitable for both indoor and outdoor use.
Mini Trampoline
The perfect way to tire energic toddlers out!
We like Folds away for storage
Watch out for Take care little ones don't tumble off
This foldable kids’ trampoline features a padded safety cover, foam-covered handle, and non-slip rubber feet designed for stability and protection. It uses 30 bungee cords instead of springs to reduce noise and impact, making it suitable for indoor or outdoor use.
According to the manufacturer, it has a rust-resistant steel frame and supports up to 150kg.
Our experts have found the best trampolines for safety and ease of assembly
Toniebox
My son and his nursery friends love this! It's not a cheap gift, but it's one that will keep on giving. Once they have the Tonie player, it opens up new (cheaper) gift ideas as there are scores of characters to collect (about £15 each). It's an engaging screen-free toy which plays music and stories from lots of genres of kids TV, toys and film. You can even record yourself reading stories and load them onto a player.
We like Box available in six colours
Watch out for Tonie characters sold separately
The Toniebox is an audio player designed for children, and it works in combination with Tonies – small figurines that play pre-loaded songs and stories when placed on the device. With more than 200 Tonies available, it offers a wide range of audio content to support early literacy and language development.
It features simple, kid-friendly controls, no microphones, screens or cameras, and up to seven hours of battery life, according to the manufacturer.
Little Tikes Splash Water Table
Water play is invaluable for little ones at this age, it can help them to regulate when they're having big feelings. A splash table can also help develop hand-eye coordination, such as pouring water from one bucket to another.
We like Multiple stations for playing with friends
Watch out for The splash zone!
It goes without saying that you'd be better off keeping this toy outdoors. It features multiple water play elements, including boat-sinking targets, spinning sprayers, a fillable bucket, and a central pillar that activates a large sprayer when filled.
The table connects to a standard garden hose for continuous water flow. It requires assembly but no batteries.
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