18 Gifts That Parents of Toddlers REALLY Want and Need

When you’re searching for the perfect gift, it’s important to really consider the lifestyle of the recipient. For instance, you’re not going to get your friend with a drinking problem a monthly wine subscription, you know? If you’re looking for gifts for friends with kids, here’s a tip: parents have needs that they won’t necessarily broadcast. And while some of these realistic gifts for parents of toddlers might seem odd, trust us. THEY WILL LOVE THEM.

Realistic gifts for parents of toddlers include some things you might not have considered. For example, every parent of a toddler will appreciate ear plugs.

realistic gifts for parents of toddlers
Image: Amazon

Kids are noisy. Toddlers are noisy on a level that can’t be quantified. These easy-to-use silicone ear plugs will give parents of toddlers some much needed respite from the constant noise. 

You know what toddlers don’t do a lot of? Sleep. Help a parent out.

realistic gifts for parents of toddlers
Image: Amazon

Sometimes (most of the time?) toddlers need a little help going nigh-nigh. Parents swear by these melatonin bears, and they’re safe for the little ones. Or, you could give the gift of sleep to the parents with this adult version.

A fancy cocktail set for the parents who never get to leave the house anymore.

realistic gifts for parents of toddlers
Image: Amazon

Let’s be honest: parents of toddlers know that if they want to leave the house for a night away from the kids, it’s gonna cost them. Give them a nice date night in with this fancy cocktail set. They can slip the little ones a melatonin bear and shake up a martini without having to shower or put on real clothes.

Give them the gift of time!

realistic gifts for parents of toddler
Image: Amazon

Here me out: there is nothing, LITERALLY NOTHING, in the world that toddlers love more than an empty box. Give a pack of these shipping boxes as a gift, and your friends will always have something to toss at the adorable little monsters when all the toys have lost their luster. 

Fancy pajamas are always a good choice, because your friends with toddlers have likely been sleeping in the same grimy shirt and sweats for 2 years.

realistic gifts for parents of toddlers
Image: Amazon

You may notice many of the gifts on this list have to do with sleep. SLEEP IS AMAZING AND PARENTS OF TODDLERS DON’T GET ENOUGH. So the kids’ll be knocked out with the melatonin, mom and dad will have a nice buzz going from the fancy cocktail they made themselves, and then they can slip into these bamboo pajamas for a night of sweet, soft sleep.

How about some books that don’t have pictures? Those exist, right?

realistic gifts for parents of toddlers
Image: Amazon

Parents of toddlers have been reading the same cardboard picture books every night for a year. They need mental stimulation. They CRAVE it. A few months of Kindle Unlimited is a great escape for the mom or dad who’s tired of shit that rhymes. 

Simplify their lives with technology! Or, make it worse with something that runs on voice commands, it’s a toss-up.

realistic gifts for parents of toddlers
Image: Amazon

The Echo and it’s lady on the inside Alexa can be a godsend or an absolute nightmare. Yes, it’s incredibly helpful to be able to turn Bubble Guppies on from the kitchen. But 12 hours of their toddler screaming unintelligible commands at it will start to wear on their nerves. 

Help them protect their phones from butterfinger toddler hands.

realistic gifts for parents of toddlers
Image: Amazon

No matter many tablets a kid has, they somehow always end up with mom or dad’s phone. But toddlers are gross, and they drop shit, and they generally don’t give a crap that the device they’re holding costs a thousand dollars. Give parents peace of mind with an indestructible phone case

Let your friends with toddlers eat like actual grown-ups for a night.

realistic gifts for parents of toddlers
Image: Amazon

An adult can only eat so many dino nuggets before they start to actually lose their mind. But who has time (or the money) to shop and prep for two separate meals? A lovely meal delivery for two is just what they need to enjoy a night of real food. 

Don’t forget the wine!

realistic gifts for parents of toddlers
Image: Amazon

Yes, they can just buy wine when they do their weekly grocery shopping. But wine delivered right to their door is even better. Plus the cashier won’t give them that look when they buy a case and stick it next to the box of dino nuggets in the cart. Amazon even has a wine delivery service, so get on that.

Again, realistic gifts for parents of toddlers aren’t always something you’d think they want. But every parent in the world needs these.

realistic gifts for parents of toddlers
Image: Amazon

Even if their kid isn’t particularly accident-prone (not sure such a kid exists, but anywho), parents of toddlers go through an insane amount of bandaids. Why, you ask? Well, because kids are weird and bandaids make really cool stickers/toys/barbie boob covers. 

When in doubt, go with pain relief.

realistic gifts for parents of toddlers
Image: Amazon

Between the noise and the whining and the lack of sleep, parents of toddlers seem to have a constant headache. Make sure they never run out of pain meds by stocking their medicine cabinet with plenty of Excedrin.

Another one to help them sleep! (We can’t stress this enough, they really need more of it.)

realistic gifts for parents of toddlers
Image: Amazon

Sure, this hooded neck pillow might be meant for travel. But you know what else it’s good for? Catching some zzzzz’s on the couch at 4 fucking 30 in the morning when their 3-year old wakes up ready to start their day. 

CAFFEINE.

realistic gifts for parents of toddlers
Image: Amazon

They won’t always have time to swing through the Starbucks drive-thru (and maybe their kid was an asshole that morning and they don’t want to get them a milk or cake pop on principle). But with this coffee bar, they can insert caffeine directly into their veins as often as they need. 

Everything in a house with toddlers should be unbreakable.

realistic gifts for parents of toddlers
Image: Amazon

Because it bears repeating: toddlers are animals and nothing is safe from their destruction. With these silicone wine glasses, at least all they’ll be crying over is spilled wine (and not blood from the wounds their toddler received from a shard of glass). 

Not everyone unwinds with a glass of wine, but every parent of a toddler needs some stress relief.

realistic gifts for parents of toddlers
Image: Amazon

This spray is a blend of essential oils, designed to help melt away stress and anxiety. SIGN ME UP. Realistic gifts for parents of toddlers are nothing if not practical.

Help them stay healthy!

realistic gifts for parents of toddlers
Image: Amazon

If their kids are in any sort of daycare or preschool or spend any amount of time around other kids, then it’s guaranteed that they are walking petri dishes of germs. That throat tickle starts to feel permanent after a while, but a little pre-cold medicine may help them fend off whatever plague their kids brought home. 

The best and most realistic gifts for parents of toddlers don’t cost any money at all.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BcrBZHTDQvN/?tagged=babysitting

Listen, having kids is a lot of work. And sometimes the thing your friend with a toddler or baby or tween or whatever wants? Is time. To her or himself. Time to unwind. A little alone time to read a book or go shopping alone or just sit undisturbed. Get them a nice card and inside, give them a few dates when you’re available for a couple of hours of babysitting. Trust us, they will cry the happiest tears of joy you’ve ever seen.

Are you a parent who’d love to receive one of these realistic gifts for parents of toddlers?? Or do you have a friend who’d love to unwrap one of these during the holidays? Which is your favorite?

(Image: iStock / AntonioGuillem)

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