32 creative Easter egg fillers for toddlers
Easter is a sugary holiday. It seems there are three full aisles dedicated to candy in every store. Marshmallow treats, chocolate bunnies, eggs in every size color and flavor imaginable. Everything in moderation right? Well yes, but the idea of sending a toddler out to find a couple dozen eggs all filled with sugar, food coloring, artificial flavor, and preservative laden candy is a bit scary really. Now, I’m not saying you shouldn’t give any candy at all, that choice is up to you. I am saying you have other options. Lots of them. And they are all toddler-friendly and very fun.
Incredible Edible Options 1. Dried cranberries, raisins, dried cherries or other favorite dried fruits
2. Annie’s Homegrown Bunny Crackers – These crackers come in a number of flavors including cheddar, pretzel and whole wheat and are made with good ingredients. What’s more perfect than bunnies in an Easter egg?
3. Popcorn
4. Pretzels – Look for a different shape than you usually by to changes things up.
5. Animal crackers – Barbara’s Snackimals come in lots of varieties and are made with quality ingredients. Just don’t try one yourself of you might end up eating all of them and not have any left for the eggs. Not that I’m speaking from experience or anything.
6. Sugar snap peas
7. Grapes
8. Trail mix
9. Yogurt melts – Happy Yogis yogurt melts are a family favorite in my house.
10. Dehydrated fruit
11. Nuts – Nuts are a great healthy snack, just make sure your little one is old enough to handle eating them.
12. Miniature or fun-sized granola bars
13. Berries – Strawberries and blueberries both make for surprising Easter egg fillers. It’s so fun to open an egg and find a big juicy, rip strawberry or plump blueberries.
14. Cereal – Kids love cereal, fill a few eggs with some of your toddler’s favorite cereal and they will be thrilled.
15. Cherry or grape tomatoes
16. All natural Fruit leather
17. Banana chips
Egg-stra Fun Playthings
18. Stickers
19. Stamps
20. Matchbox cars
21. Bouncy balls
22. Alphabet magnets – A single set of alphabet magnets could fill all your eggs if you want, or you could fill some eggs and save the rest to add to an Easter basket.
23. Colorful band-aids
24. Jewelry – Bracelets or necklaces fit perfectly into eggs.
25. Mini Play-Doh – The small party favor size is perfect for little hands.
26. Mini dinosaur figures
27. Temporary tattoos
28. Rubber bugs or animal figures – You can find these at the dollar store.
29. Hair bows, clips, or ties
30. Miniature bottles of bubbles – The small bottles given out at wedding receptions are the perfect size.
31. Rubber ducks – Sites such as Oriental Trading Post usually carry a variety of seasonal mini-rubber ducks.
32. Coins – Even two and three-year-old kids get excited about a little money. Pennies and quarters are pretty exciting. Just make sure your little one knows not to put coins in their mouth.
What are your favorite creative things to put in Easter eggs?
Great ideas! I never thought of using fresh fruit, but that would definitely be a toddler’s paradise. A few years ago I started buying the cheddar bunnies and I fill up a carrot-shaped cello bag and tie it with a green ribbon. My boys love it!
These are fantastic!!! I’m always at a loss for coming up with good ideas for filling Easter eggs!!
[...] 32 Creative Easter Egg Fillers for Toddlers by Catherine Moss at the Right Start Blog [...]
just b careful alot of these are choking hazzards for toddlers like coins, grapes,if it fits in a tp paper tube its 2 small 4 toys, raisens not till age 4, nuts age 4, popcorn age 4
That’s a great point, Teresa, as I mentioned above I strongly suggest assessing what is safe for your child when choosing what to give them.
I am putting party favors to some of their favorite themes, tube animals, little sweatbands, bath squirties, wind up toy, and lots of other fun ideas I found in the toy department, even little bubbles. For most kids it is the thrill of the hunt, my kids love to hunt eggs even if there is nothing in them.
Great ides, Nicole. Thanks for sharing. Kids do seem to love the hunt. I know we’ve hid eggs only to have our daughter find them and immediately ask for them to be hidden again.
This year I’m doing mini boxes of raisins, penguin crackers (didn’t think of the bunny ones, but that would be more appropriate), goldfish, lego, coins, and some m&ms and jelly beans. I’m also planning to use eggs for clues in a treasure hunt. Anything to make it fun without too much sugar!
Lego is a great idea! Larger blocks for younger kids and regular Lego for bigger kids. Love it!
dont forget you can put cute socks in them, or big girl/boy panties!!
I must admit my girls are getting some socks in their eggs this year, Cindy. Colorful socks are fun and practical. What’s better than that?
LOVE this post! I keep going back to it for ideas as I am filling up those Easter eggs tonight. Would have never thought of the coin idea and Little Man LOVES his piggy bank with coins. : )