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Because why weigh down Santa’s sleigh in December when you could get a head start in October, you smart reindeer, you.

I am a contributor who has been writing for BuzzFeed Shopping for over two years with an emphasis on home goods, parenting items and toys, beauty products, and anything that can make your day-to-day life run a little smoother.

Promising review: "Got way more than expected from this 'toy.' The recipient explained all the options and the quality of them, and jumped right into programming a maze game with a Pikachu character. They said the tutorial is super easy to follow, endless options, and fun!" —Gifter

Promising review: "My niece won't move out of her mushroom!" —Suz

Price: $60 (also available in a starry night version)

There are long-armed huggable versions, too!

Promising reviews: "Got this for a family member who now uses it every night. People in my family now think higher of me because of this purchase." —Jack

"My daughter and I both love our sloth Hugimal. She uses it for comfort during bedtime and I use it while relaxing on the couch. It's great that our Hugimal is soothing for all ages, adults and kids, and everyone in our family uses and benefits from it. The quality of the plush and the fact that it is machine washable make it worth every penny." —Lauren

Price: $60 (available as a sloth, puppy, or koala)

Just a heads up: An expansion pack and a whirlwind accessory pack are available as add-ons if you want to be crowned The Ultimate Gift Giver.

Promising review: "It is very easy to use. Depending on the intricacy of how we set up the tubes, sometimes it won't stay upright, but the kids LOVE IT. We play with it more often than not. The expansion back with the wheel and the wacky inflatable arm man is a must." —Yealcb the Mother

Promising review: "Love the quality of these pajamas. They are true to size. My daughter had a great time coloring and was so excited to wear them. I love that I can wash them, and she can experience the fun over and over again." —Saed

Promising reviews: "The Doodle Pillowcase is as advertised. I bought it for an 8-year-old, and she loves it. As many have stated, it is not the most comfortable pillowcase. However, that is not the reason we bought it. It is only used for the doodle process, and it works great. Has been used for hours already." —lar the biker

"Our kids have loved these, and I'm such a huge fan of the zero mess/zero cleanup creativity. The light drawings stay for around five minutes and fade as time passes, so it's easy to draw over stuff too. It's all very satisfying to watch and participate in, I'd get these again in a heartbeat." —Kamat

Promising review: "If you like to nibble on baby toes (and who doesn't?), this is the gift for you. Not only are these booties the cutest thing ever, but my granddaughter still plays with the dumplings and steamer two years later! Beautifully made." —Granny Laurie

Promising reviews: "Although they haven't received the gift yet, I am anticipating that my science-loving granddaughters are going to LOVE this Advent Calendar! What an imaginative way to count down to Christmas, and practice science, too!" —Grandma Lulu

"Perfect family gift — all the kiddos can participate in one way or another. As soon as it arrived, I knew I had to order another for a different household!" —j from KC

Promising review: "We have had for a few years now. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT. We use it regularly." —Mama OKiddo

Promising review: "I bought the mini golf set as a gift for my child! She sets it up and plays with us but also independently. Any parent of a toddler knows this is a huge win. The product is well made, visually appealing and easy to store!" —Lindsay

Promising review: "I bought this book as a gift for my sister, who is a big fan of Wicked. The book is high quality, and upon my second viewing of the movie, Elphaba, as a kid, is seen playing with an identical book! (This occurs about 8-9 minutes into the movie, in case you want to see for yourself) I hadn't even noticed that when I bought the book, but I think it's so cool! I would definitely recommend this as a gift if you know anyone who likes the movie or the musical. Or you could buy it for yourself!" —CM

Promising review: "This plate is adorable and great quality — my 3-year-old nephew loves eating his snack from this plate every day!" —MC

Promising reviews: "I bought this construction plate set for my grandson for his second birthday. He loves it! He got the hang of the 'pusher' utensil pretty quickly. I'm impressed with the quality of the plate and utensils. They do not feel cheap, and they can go in the dishwasher! Bonus!" —Katz

"I got this for my 2-year-old nephew for Christmas. As soon as he saw what it was, he had to have it opened. He pretty much spent the rest of the time pretending to feed himself and one of his stuffed animals. Anyone who has/knows a toddler who is into construction equipment should absolutely buy this." —Uncommon Goods Customer

Price: $36 (also available as just the utensil set without the plate)

The kit includes eight sparkly ingredients, a charm booklet featuring five potion recipes, and four unique necklace styles, you can craft, wear, sparkle and repeat!

Promising review: "I bought this for my granddaughter's birthday. It is cute in the pictures, but even nicer in person. The main doors are magnetized so they stay put, but are easy to open. There are places to hang necklaces, hold rings, and it has two drawers. I am very happy with the purchase and she is going to love it!" —Tina

The set includes one net, two paddles, and two indoor pickleballs, all stored in a handheld zip-up bag.

Promising reviews: "This was the perfect gift for an active family that has everything. We set it up in a rec room, and the whole family has had fun with it." —Jinsie

"Kids love it. Great way to get out extra energy. Easy to set up in a garage or basement on hot or rainy days." —A Mom

Price: $100 (also available with a doubles add-on set)

Promising reviews: "Perfect for a lovely bath time with my grandbaby. She just loves the lights! :)" —Nanny

"I loved that these are Sesame Street. I have bought these for other family and friends. Always a hit." —Julie the Giftologist

Price: $22 for a pack of eight (available in either Elmo/Abby or Cookie Monster/Big Bird)

It's worth noting that some reviewers take issue with the photo quality (which I actually find to have a charming early 2000s digital camera vibe), but I'll take durability over photo quality any day where kids are concerned!

Promising review: "My 5-year-old received this camera as a Christmas gift. Imagine my surprise when he told us he didn't want to play with his other Christmas gifts. Instead, he asked to learn how to use it and then walked around our house taking pictures and videos of everything and everyone. This camera is easy for him to hold and control, and he has used it every day since. My only criticism is that the quality of the images on the screen is blurry (although my son hasn't said a word about it). For a first camera, it's perfect." —Kate H

Price: $65 (available as a bear and a fox)

Each kit comes with everything needed to create a soapstone sculpture, including a precut stone, kid-safe carving file, sandpaper, polishing wax, and buffing cloth. Features a simple five-step guide to make carving fun and accessible for beginners.

Promising review: "The kit materials are good, the instructions are good, and this carving was fun to do with my grandson. The kit pictures of the animal are obviuisly after a pro carver has finished, our carving was not "quite" that good but ended up very nice. Thank you for these great kits!" —Debbie G

Price: $30 (available as a bear or a turtle)

Promising review: "Got this as a gift for my niece, and she absolutely adored it!!! The amount of options for each roll of the dice will ensure that she can read it again and again! It's a game and a story-building tool all in one." —Liz

Keep one for yourself and give the other to your long-distance kid-shaped human, and every time one of you taps the lamp, the other one lights up, too! It can even be used with groups, as you can assign different colors so each person gets their own special hue!

Promising reviews: "I purchased this as a gift for my therapist and his granddaughter, whom he loves above and beyond all people. I can't imagine a sweeter gift that enables each person to show the other person that they are in their thoughts and hearts." —Mel the Human

"When I walk in the door and see our lamp lit purple, it brings a smile to my face. We always know when our out-of-state g-kids are standing by their lamp because they press it numerous times - back and forth we go (purple/green/purple/green). So far, the novelty has not worn off. I think this is such a great way to stay in touch with loved ones from afar. Love it!" —hrpro

Price: $170 for two (also available as a single)

Promising review: "Perfect for my Grandbaby. Now she 'plays' piano with her daddy — he on the piano and she next to him on hers. 🤗🤗" —Nanny

Promising reviews: "I bought this for a 4-year-old's birthday, and she immediately put it on and started running around, so I'm pretty sure that was a seal of approval. Great fit for a little one and cute concept." —LI

"The quality and material of the cap were superb. My niece loved it. It was a little big for her, being 3 years old, but she still wore it around the house, and it is something she can use for some years to come. Great purchase!" —Ally

Price: $34+ (available in dragon/knight and dragon/unicorn)

Promising reviews: "LOVE THIS! Excellent quality and so fun for any parents who are interested in science or math. I stacked these as a centerpiece on a buffet table for a baby shower with a bunch of medical residents, and it was a HUGE hit!" —LaLa D

"My son-in-law loved these blocks! He can now play and teach his baby daughter at the same time. He was impressed that the set even included newer elements. The blocks are also color-coded, depending on where they fall on the periodic table." —Manon57

Promising review: "Expecting parents saw this in our home and requested it for their future sailor...beautiful, funky home decoration as well as a kite that works!! Fabulous." —Aunty Margy

Promising review: "Super cute. Perfect gift or stocking stuffer for the holidays. —Marissa

Psst. There's also a comic book version!

Promising reviews: "My 6-year-old grandson is excited to be creating his own book! My son created one when he was 5-years-old, and was extremely proud to receive his hard-bound book in the mail. This was a wonderful way for him to see where his imagination can lead him, and to experience the feeling of accomplishment that comes from completing a project from start to finish." —Antoinette

"This gift made my niece feel so special when she saw her own work published. The quality is great and it encourages creativity and wonder." —April

Promising review: "I got this for my four-year-old nephew's birthday, thinking it would be something he would enjoy doing with other kids. But as it turns out, the adults had fun too. Nothing like a soothing coloring session, learning about the world around you, and something you can do with your hands to make for a great time." —Auntie

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Plus, the parenting products we gave a 2026 Buzzy Award to, next-level school supplies, durable toys, and finds from Amazon, Walmart, and Wayfair.

BuzzFeed Shopping is service journalism first: our writers and editors spend all day shopping so you don’t have to, vetting products, fact-checking brand claims, and surfacing what actually helps in real life. We center readers over revenue, recommend products with authenticity (using real experiences, not ad-speak), and reflect our diverse audience, inclusive of a variety of price points, people, and needs. We cut through fake deals, favor useful info over glossy fluff, and recommend both budget and splurge options with context so you can decide what’s right for you — and still have a little fun along the way.

Reviews for this post have been edited for length and/or clarity.