(Step 2 $117.99) When asked what to buy for an older baby who is beginning to pull up and cruise -- this is our number one recommendation. It's not new this season -- but the baby on your list is and should have the best play settings. Older babies and toddlers love have spaces that are scaled for them -- so going in and out of this house will be great fun. Toddlers will appreciate the mailbox , the little kitchen area and the ball run. Assembly note: You will need tools to

(Gund $27.81 each) Bluey and her little sister Bingo are the most popular sister duo this season. Both of these plush dolls have all stitched features - making them a safe choice as a first huggable. A great first birthday gift and will be equally adored by the toddler set that loves this wonderfully written family-centered show from Australia. Ages: Infants, Toddlers Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award 2025 Click here to purchase Bluey from Amazon.com Click here to pu

(Gund $31.51) Muttsy is 14" of sweetness with floppy ears and very soft teddy bear brown colored shaggy plush. An armful for toddlers and preschoolers. Also notable, Toothpick Bear is truly skinny like a toothpick with easy-to-grab arms and legs. Perfect gifts for 2 & up. Ages: Toddlers, Preschoolers Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award 2025 Click here to purchase the product from Amazon.com Click here to purchase Toothpick from Amazon.com

( Beverly Hills Teddy Bear $29.99 ) Cute, delicious, beyond soft --- pick your favorite way of describing the sweetest 16" plush dog. The company says these are the "World's Softest Plush" -- while we can't verify -- we definitely don't want to let go of this adorable pup. A great gift for preschoolers or anyone who needs a huggable. Also sweet, the company's Bunny called Bri Bri Rose ($29.99) Ages: older preschool, early school Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award 2025

( Educational Insights $15.99 ) We love this set of binoculars that are designed for younger kids. They have soft plastic where you place the binoculars to your face - making them more comfortable to use. They are scaled for kids and also come with a break-away neck strap. And while it seems weird to say, these really work. Many that we have tested really don't work that well. A STEM toy at it's best. Marked 3 & up, will be most enjoyed by older preschoolers and early schoo

( Fisher-Price $39.99) The Little People Caring Fun Animal Farm is a small pretend setting just right for toddlers to explore. The set comes with a horse, a chicken, a pig, a cow, a farmer and a bale of hay. Our tester's favorite part was opening the barn doors to hear the cow moo and snore! Talk about the animals, what sounds they make and where they can be placed. This type of setting is really a great opportunity for language development. As your child grows, you can star

( American Girl $80 each) The new AG Sisters collection from the iconic doll company are notable. We love the diversity of the collection as well as the lower price point. Still pricey but significantly less than the $135 price tag for the American Girl Doll. These dolls are 14.5 inches vs the 18" of the original doll. They come with an assortment of accessories that provide added play opportunities. Ages: Early School Years Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Awards 2025 Sh

( American Girl $135) Raquel Reyes is the American Girl’ doll of the year for 2026. Like all of her predecessors, she is 18" tall, comes dressed in one of her favorite outfits. Our tester noted right away that she loved Raquel's platform shoes that compliment her pink and red gingham dress. Raquel is from Kansas City, loves DJing and tasting paletas from her family's shop. She also loves her rescue pup, Luzita. We always love that American Girl dolls come with a book that

( Mattel $25.54 each) Each of these fashion dolls make that "wow-wee" kind of gift for kids in the fashion doll zone. The house of Barbie brings all their magic to these two stunning dolls. Glinda is resplendent in her lavender gown and tiara - and her magic wand is pink perfection. Elphaba comes with her broom, hat (the one Glinda gave her), and Grimmerie. Marked 6 & up, but we have a feeling this will be big with adult collectors too. Ages: Preschool, Early School Oppenhe

( Mattel $24.99 each) If Wicked is big in your house, you'll want to consider these special dolls from Mattel. Push each of the doll's middle and you'll hear a snippet of For Good. We wish they sang more of the song, but will still be a memorable gift. These are marked 4 & up. There are more elaborate versions (non-singing ) for the next age group. Ages: Preschool, Early School Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Awards 2025 Click here to purchase Elphaba on Amazon.com