Baby’s First Easter Basket Ideas (Candy-Free + Baby-Safe Fillers)

Illustration of a baby rattle and an alphabet block
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These baby’s first Easter basket ideas skip the candy and fill the basket with things a baby can actually use. Bunny books, egg-shaped shakers and a soft friend feel festive without anything sticky or sweet.

This guide covers Easter books, soft bunnies and spring friends, egg-shaped toys, candy-free teethers, bath and mealtime fillers and a keepsake or two. Age grades, care needs and sizes are noted for each item, since a first Easter can land anywhere in the first year. Everything was checked in October 2026, and details can change, so confirm on the listing.

Quick Picks

GiftBest for
Indestructibles: Happy Easter!A first Easter story
Pat the BunnyTouch-and-feel reading
Jellycat Bashful Bunny JuniorA soft Easter bunny
Skip Hop Jungle Beats Egg ShakersEgg-shaped fun
Manhattan Toy WinkelA candy-free chew
Munchkin White Hot Safety DuckySpring bath time
Green Toys Stacking CupsBasket filler
Munchkin Miracle 360° CupOlder babies
Pearhead Clean-Touch Ink PadFirst Easter footprints

Looking for more options? See our guide to Amazon and brand gift cards, or check the gift-giving calendar so you never miss an occasion.

Board books stack

Indestructibles: Happy Easter!

Why it’s a good gift: Easter traditions fill this rip-proof, waterproof book by Amy Pixton, so baby can grab, gum and wave it around during the egg hunt.

Best for: A first Easter story for any baby

What to check before buying: Graded for ages 0 to 3 and meets ASTM standards. Wipe or wash it when it gets sticky.

Board books stack

Guess How Much I Love You (board book)

Why it’s a good gift: Little Nutbrown Hare makes this classic board book a natural Easter fit, and the gentle story is easy to read again and again.

Best for: A bunny book to keep for years

What to check before buying: It was out of stock online at Barnes & Noble when checked, so order early from Amazon.

Children's picture book

Pat the Bunny by Dorothy Kunhardt

Why it’s a good gift: Babies pat the soft bunny, peek under flaps and touch different textures in this classic, which makes it a sweet book for an Easter basket.

Best for: Touch-and-feel reading with a grown-up

What to check before buying: Paper flaps and inserts mean it’s a book for reading together, not a chew book for babies.

Soft Bunnies and Spring Friends

Plush bunny toy

Jellycat Bashful Bunny Junior

Why it’s a good gift: A smaller version of Jellycat’s classic long-eared bunny in soft cream fur sits neatly in an Easter basket and makes a sweet photo prop.

Best for: Grandparents choosing a forever bunny

What to check before buying: Read the sewn-in tag for the age label, which wasn’t shown online. This bunny is for supervised play, keep out of the crib/sleep space.

Toy barn

Lamaze Peek-A-Moo Friendly Barn

Why it’s a good gift: A soft barn with a crinkle cow, lift-up roof flaps and an in-and-out hen brings a little springtime farm into the basket.

Best for: Babies six months and older

What to check before buying: Rated 6 months and up. It’s a soft toy, so it’s for supervised play, keep out of the crib/sleep space.

Plush toy animal

Lamaze Fidget Caterpillar

Why it’s a good gift: A bendable spring caterpillar holds its pose and hides a chime in its head, with a textured back and high-contrast belly to explore.

Best for: Older babies who love to twist and bend

What to check before buying: Graded 6 months and up. Being plush, it’s best kept for supervised play, keep out of the crib/sleep space.

Egg-Shaped and Spring-Themed Toys

Egg shakers

Skip Hop Jungle Beats Egg Shaker Set

Why it’s a good gift: Three egg-shaped shakers, a zebra, an elephant and a lion, look right at home in an Easter basket and each rattles with its own sound.

Best for: A baby-safe swap for plastic eggs

What to check before buying: Rated 3 months and up. Each egg is about 2.75 inches tall, so stay close during play.

Baby rattle toy

Bright Starts Oball Jingle & Shake Pal (Frog)

Why it’s a good gift: A green frog rattle with a chime ball and bead chasers adds a springtime pop of color, and it needs no batteries at all.

Best for: Young babies, from newborn up

What to check before buying: Graded newborn and up. Buy it new, since older Oball Rattles were recalled in 2017; Kids2 had it sold out.

Egg shakers

Hape Beaded Raindrops

Why it’s a good gift: Beads patter through this wooden rattle like April showers, and the rounded edges are comfortable for baby to hold in one or both hands.

Best for: A calm spring-themed rattle

What to check before buying: Rated 0 months and up. Since the beads are sealed inside, inspect the wood for cracks before gifting.

Wooden toy blocks

Sassy Fruit Fill n' Spill

Why it’s a good gift: Six soft textured fruits in a clear container make a playful basket filler that baby can pull out, squeeze and drop.

Best for: Babies past the six-month mark

What to check before buying: Rated 6 months and up; check the elastic bands. The soft fruits are for supervised play, keep out of the crib/sleep space.

Candy-Free Teethers

Silicone baby teether

Manhattan Toy Winkel Rattle & Teether

Why it’s a good gift: Bendable loops around a rattle cube give baby a chew toy that can be chilled in the fridge, a good trade for Easter candy.

Best for: Teething babies of almost any age

What to check before buying: Rated 0 and up. Buy new rather than secondhand; the 2017 recall was limited to older Winkel Colorburst lots.

Silicone baby teether

Manhattan Toy Squiggle Loops

Why it’s a good gift: Textured silicone loops twist together into a light, bright teether that tucks easily into a corner of an Easter basket.

Best for: A small chew toy for little gums

What to check before buying: Rated 0 and up and dishwasher safe. It’s small, so it can go missing easily.

multicolored learning toys

Green Toys First Keys

Why it’s a good gift: Four colorful rattle keys on a ring are made from recycled food-safe plastic, giving baby something jingly to chew instead of a chocolate egg.

Best for: Babies who reach for car keys

What to check before buying: Ages appear only as a site tag of 0-1 years, so check the box. Dishwasher safe.

Silicone baby teether

Green Toys My First Twist Teether

Why it’s a good gift: Made in the USA from recycled plastic with no BPA, phthalates or PVC, this twisty teether has textured charms to explore.

Best for: Parents who prefer recycled materials

What to check before buying: The site tag says 0-1 years, but confirm the age on the package. It can go in the dishwasher.

Bath and Mealtime Fillers

Rubber duck

Munchkin White Hot Safety Bath Ducky

Why it’s a good gift: A little yellow duck is a springtime classic, and this one is watertight and shows HOT on its base when the bath is 104°F or warmer.

Best for: Any baby who gets a bath

What to check before buying: Rated 0 and up. The disc is only a guide, so feel the water yourself too.

Colorful bath toys

Munchkin Bath Bobbers 3-Pack

Why it’s a good gift: An octopus, a walrus and a dolphin with weighted bottoms bob upright in the tub, and their hole-free bodies never trap water inside.

Best for: Sitting babies who love splashing

What to check before buying: Graded 6 months and up. Let them air-dry after each bath.

Stacking cups toy

Green Toys My First Stacking Cups

Why it’s a good gift: Six numbered cups nest together to take up little room in a basket, then come out for stacking on the floor and pouring in the tub.

Best for: A useful filler with lots of play

What to check before buying: The site tags start at 0-1 years, so check the package for the age. Dishwasher safe.

Silicone baby plate

Munchkin Miracle 360° Trainer Cup, 7 oz

Why it’s a good gift: A spoutless trainer cup with easy-grip handles seals when baby stops sipping, and it fits nicely among other basket fillers.

Best for: Babies who have started drinking water

What to check before buying: Rated 6 months and up. Reassemble the valve after washing on the top rack.

Baby spoon silicone

ezpz Baby-Led Tiny Spoons (Twin Pack)

Why it’s a good gift: Two small textured silicone spoons slip into the basket for babies who are eating purees or learning to feed themselves.

Best for: Babies eating solids by Easter

What to check before buying: Graded 6 months and up, so save them until baby has started solids.

First Easter Keepsakes

green leaf in tilt shift lens

Pearhead Clean-Touch Ink Pad

Why it’s a good gift: A mess-free pad captures tiny Easter hand or footprints without ink on baby’s skin, and two imprint cards come in the pack.

Best for: Parents who save first-holiday prints

What to check before buying: Fits hands and feet up to 2.25 x 3.5 inches. Each pad handles roughly two uses.

Baby clothes flat lay

Burt's Bees Baby Organic Sleep & Play

Why it’s a good gift: A GOTS-certified organic cotton footed one-piece with a two-way zipper makes a cozy, comfortable outfit for those Easter morning photos.

Best for: Easter morning photos in comfort

What to check before buying: Sizes go from NB to 9M with a snug fit, so size by weight and length and wash it cold.

How to Fill Baby's First Easter Basket

  • Go candy-free. Swap sweets for teethers, shakers and books a baby can use.
  • Match the age grade. A first Easter can fall at 2 months or 11 months, so read each label.
  • Skip plastic grass. Line the basket with a cloth instead of loose filler.
  • Add one keepsake. A book or ink pad gives the basket something to save.
  • Keep soft toys for playtime. Bunnies and plush toys stay out of the crib.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do you put in a baby's first Easter basket?

Board books, a soft bunny, egg-shaped shakers, teethers and a bath toy are popular. Older babies may also use a trainer cup or spoons.

Should I put candy in a baby's Easter basket?

No. Babies can’t have candy, so fill the basket with age-graded toys, books and practical items instead.

Is plastic Easter grass safe for babies?

Loose plastic grass is easy for babies to grab and mouth. Many families skip it or use a cloth liner instead.

Can a baby have a stuffed bunny?

Yes, for supervised play. Keep plush bunnies out of the crib and sleep space.

Ordering and Delivery Tips

  • Order early for big dates. Shipping times vary by seller and season, so check the delivery estimate at checkout.
  • Check the seller. Buy from the brand or an authorized seller, especially for baby and kitchen products.
  • Keep the receipt. Gift receipts make returns and exchanges easier.

Before You Buy

  • Every item has an age grade
  • No candy or loose plastic grass
  • Plush bunnies stay out of the crib
  • Feeding items only if solids have started
  • Rattles bought new

Product photos are representative stock images from Pixabay, not the exact products listed. Some photos by Vanessa Bucceri, Buse Doga Ay on Unsplash.


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