"Easter basket" suggestions for MIL

[simplicityissanity]

Hi all, my soon to be 18 month old son has a very loving granny who has recently asked what the easter bunny should bring. Since she openly asked for suggestions (albeit it was towards my son who does not "talk" yet) I feel like I should provide some. Just some background info, she is generally a very mainstream person, likes to give chocolates, sweets, plasticy type, loud-battery type items that we generally prefer to avoid. I'm not sure what to suggest..... any ideas for little items? The closer to mainstream but not would be great. Hope this makes sense...... any other suggestions on how to handle her question would be great as well. 

[fyrwmn]

what about board books?

[happysmileylady]

Even most mainstream parents/grandparents that I know avoid giving 18 month olds lots of candy and sweets.  For one thing, most candies are still a choking hazard for little ones that age.

DD2 was 17 months old last easter.  She got some books, a small stuffed easter bunny (shaped and colored like a chocolate bunny, super cute) some M&Ms, some hardboiled dyed eggs, some little toy cars (ie hot wheels) a ball, and an outfit.  Some was from us, as "easter bunny" and some was from grandparents.  My mom also gave some cash, which she didn't actually see and wouldn't understand anyway but it was nice to put in her savings account. 

This year, she will be almost 29 months.  She will be getting some bubbles, some sidewalk chalk, some coloring and sticker books, MAYBE a tricycle from us, if I can find one super cheap or free on CL or FC, some more hardboiled dyed eggs, probably some more m&ms, I might get her a chocolate bunny this year, I haven't decided. I will be getting her a stuffed bunny, that's a tradition I like to set for my kids, a suffed bunny each easter.

[JamieCatheryn]

Annie's bunny crackers (cheese or graham), colored hard boiled eggs, a *little* bit of chocolate. Last year I got green silky scarves at the thrift store to use as the grass bedding in the basket and they still play with those some. Stuffed animals. Flowers or silk flowers. Those cute little toy chicks that peep softly when you touch their feet and complete the circuit. Those 100% juice bottles with characters on the lids.

[JBaxter]

Books, swim suite w/ rash guard top,  Annies bunny crackers ( single packs)  bubbles, ? sandals maybe,  sand bucket or small bath toys,  stickers, new tooth brush, balls that bounce, cars/trucks, band in a box   fun socks ,  Preschool Prep videos  Meet the colors, Meet the numbers Meet the shapes are all great.   My first Thomas the Tank engine.

Im not much on candy in the kids baskets esp at that age.

[crunchy_mommy]

I'm anti-holiday-candy So can't help on the food front... but some other things my DS would love (or would've 6mos ago!): markers, crayons, stickers, playdough, books, bath toys, balls, paints, chalk, CD's, etc...

[HollyBearsMom]

At that age my son loved to find a cute stuffed bunny or chick, stickers, brightly colored clay/playdo, books about Easter (or the Easter Bunny if not religious) and an egg dying kit in his easter basket.

[sunnygir1]

Some of these are seconding things already mentioned:  bubbles, stuffed bunny, chalk, crayons, Cheerios-type cereal and animal crackers in plastic eggs, books, applesauce cup, dyed eggs, bathtub toys (like rubber duckies), rain boots, rain coat, sun hat, sun glasses, beach towel (my dd LOVES her beach towel with animals on it), my kids have a toy like these Hide 'N' Squeak Eggs http://www.amazon.com/International-Playthings-Hide-27N-Squeak-Eggs/dp/B00068Q7LC my 18mo loves them and so does my 4yo.

[JudiAU]

My LOs would love some snacks in individual packages, those organic pouch fruit purees, veggie booty, no candy but I'd sneak in a small chocolate cupcake, board books, some little animals like schliech or duplo, a bag with a handle, playdough, stickers, musical instrument http://www.amazon.com/Voila-S239D-Bear-Cymbals-by/dp/B0019JIYNG sand toys, bath toys,

These belong to her older brother but she uses them all the time, pair with the shorter lyra pencils, for coloring and putting in and out http://www.novanatural.com/creative-learning/coloring/snake-pencil-holder

[simplicityissanity]

Thanks so much for the ideas! What great suggestions, I think the MIL will especially like the cheddar bunnies suggestion, do you think it's rude to include with the suggestions that my LO doesn't eat chocolate yet? I'm not saying she cannot put it in the basket, a gift is a gift and will be accepted with due respect, but I also don't want her to feel slighted if the basket has chocolate in it and she then asks how he liked it and we then inform her of this. 

[crunchy_mommy]

Maybe you could word it like, "Since he doesn't eat chocolate yet, cheddar bunnies would be perfect!"

[HollyBearsMom]

Originally Posted by crunchy_mommy 

Maybe you could word it like, "Since he doesn't eat chocolate yet, cheddar bunnies would be perfect!"

[LeighPF]

I love the toothbrush idea. And the Annies bunnies.

My son loves shaker eggs and I though that would be a wonderful Easter present. Think of other little snack things like fruit leathers, or the Trader Joe's freeze dried fruits (which my son calls cookies). Little Playmobile or Duplo toys, stickers, crayons, finger paints, play doh, big toddler stamps, rain boots, first gardening trowel and bucket stuff, balls. And in a good basket since then it too can be a toy (perhaps a bucket or sand pail).

I think you can really spark her creativity and get her to go beyond the standard ideas while still having her really enjoy putting it together. I would also play the choking hazard thing with the candy. My mother was so excited when we told her that my son is into stickers since there is endless variety for her to choose from and she can easily pop some in the mail when she wants to give him a treat.

[JudiAU]

I love the bathing suit idea. We get the expensive ones with full sleeves. I would love free!

We also got "sound blocks" from wonderworl recently. Would be great in a basket.