Three Easter mornings ago, my then-2-year-old cracked open her first egg. Inside? A chocolate bunny melting all over her dress before 7 AM.
That’s when I realized: candy-filled eggs are a parenting trap disguised as tradition.
But here’s what nobody admits—finding stuff that actually fits inside those tiny plastic eggs while keeping your toddler entertained? That’s the real hunt. After three years of trial, error, and one memorable incident involving 47 scattered pom-poms, I’ve cracked the code.
These 53 non-candy fillers work. They fit. They’re toddler-tested. And most cost under $2 each.
The Ultra-Quick Wins (Grab These First)
1. Mini Board Books
Those pocket-sized board books from Dollar Tree? Three inches square, thick pages, farm animals or trucks on the cover. Slide perfectly into large eggs. Your toddler gets a book. You get 90 seconds of silence while they flip pages. Win-win.
2. Crayon Packs (3-Count Mini)
Crayola makes 3-packs that fit eggs like they were designed for this. Costs: 50 cents per pack at Target. Reality check: you’ll find these crayons in your couch cushions until July, but at least they’re not Smarties.
3. Plastic Farm Animals
Just the small ones. Cows, pigs, horses under 2 inches. Your toddler lines them up, knocks them down, repeats 400 times. That’s toddler gold right there.
Practical Stuff That Actually Gets Used
4. Hair Ties & Clips (The Toddler Hair Warfare Kit)
Tiny clip-in bows, elastic bands with plastic flowers, those no-slip grips that actually work. Pack 3-4 per egg.
Here’s the thing about toddler hair accessories: they vanish into an alternate dimension within 48 hours of purchase. Easter eggs solve this by providing 12-15 new ones all at once, creating a brief window where you might actually locate a matching pair.
Pro tip: Stick to solid colors or simple patterns. Those character clips with Elsa’s face? Your kid will have a meltdown when the “wrong” Elsa is in the egg.
Cost reality: $8-12 for a 30-pack at Target = 27-40 cents per egg’s worth
What actually works:
- Snap clips under 1.5 inches
- Elastic bands (not rubber—they snap and cause tears)
- Ribbon bows with alligator clips
- Avoid: anything with gems, glitter, or pieces that pop off
5. Sticker Sheets (Cut Into Strips)
Take those 100-sticker sheets from Walmart ($1.50), cut into 4 strips. One strip per egg. Your toddler decorates themselves, the furniture, the dog. Standard toddler Tuesday.
6. Play-Doh Eggs (The Tiny Official Ones)
Play-Doh sells 1-ounce eggs specifically designed to fit inside plastic Easter eggs. Someone at Hasbro deserves a raise.
Comes in packs of 4. Costs $4-5. That’s about $1 per egg-sized serving. Your toddler mixes all the colors into brown sludge by noon, but they’re occupied for 45 minutes first.
7. Jingle Bells (The Loud Gift That Keeps Giving)
Three small bells per egg. Your toddler shakes them. And shakes them. And shakes them until you question every life choice that led to this moment.
But here’s the sneaky parent move: bells = auditory tracking device. You always know where your toddler is.
The catch: These bells will end up inside your air vents, behind the radiator, and in your washing machine’s drain trap. Accept this now.
Sensory Winners For Toddler Development
8. Finger Puppets
Felt farm animals, mini monsters, tiny people with painted faces. Two inches tall, fit four per egg.
Your toddler won’t use them as finger puppets. They’ll line them up, assign them names, create elaborate social hierarchies. That’s actually better.
Cost: $12 for a 20-pack on Amazon = 60 cents each
9. Pom-Poms (Craft Store Bulk Buy)
The 0.5-inch size in every color. Costs $3.50 for 200 at Michael’s. That’s 40 eggs’ worth of fuzzy chaos.
Toddlers sort them by color, stick them in containers, build “snowmen,” lose them under every piece of furniture. Standard pom-pom lifecycle.
Warning: If you have pets, pom-poms become the most expensive vet visit you’ll ever have. Trust me on this.
10. Googly Eyes (Self-Adhesive)
Pack of 100 for $2. Stick on everything. Banana gets eyes. Remote control gets eyes. The dog gets eyes while sleeping. Your toddler thinks they’re a comedic genius.
The Deep-Dive: Bath Time Revolution (Because You Asked)
11. Mini Rubber Ducks (But Make It Strategic)
Here’s what the parenting blogs won’t tell you about rubber ducks: the standard ones grow mold inside within 3 weeks. The holes on the bottom? Bacterial water parks.
The solution: Amazon sells “mold-free” ducks with sealed bottoms. Cost: $15 for a 12-pack = $1.25 each.
Step-by-step duck selection process:
- Check The Bottom First
- Flip it over before buying
- If you see a hole, put it back
- Sealed = safe
- Hole = science experiment you don’t want
- Size Matters For Eggs
- Measure before buying: 1-1.5 inches max
- Standard ducks (2-3 inches) won’t fit
- Test with your egg at the store if possible
- One duck per large egg, two per jumbo
- The Color Coding Trick
- Get 3-4 different colors
- Tell your toddler: “Find all the blue ducks!”
- Instant bathtub game for the next 6 months
- Keeps them from dumping shampoo for 90 seconds longer
- Material Check
- Squeeze it hard at the store
- Should feel like a stress ball, not a water balloon
- Soft rubber = squirts water everywhere
- Firm rubber = lasts longer, less mess
Cost breakdown:
- Cheap ducks with holes: $5 for 20 = 25 cents each (lasts 3 weeks)
- Mold-free sealed ducks: $15 for 12 = $1.25 each (lasts 2+ years)
- Do the math: sealed ducks cheaper long-term
Common mistakes to avoid:
- Buying character ducks (licensing doubles the price)
- Getting squeaker ducks (squeaker fails in 48 hours)
- Mixing mold-free with regular (you’ll forget which is which)
- Buying white ducks (shows every water stain, looks dirty)
Pro move: After Easter, keep 3 ducks out, hide the rest. Rotate them monthly. Your toddler thinks they’re getting “new” ducks. You’re just managing inventory.
Installation note: After bath time, shake them upside-down hard. Any water inside means a hole you missed. Throw it out immediately before mold starts.
When it’s worth it: If your kid takes 5+ baths per week, this is a legitimate quality-of-life upgrade. If baths are occasional, standard cheap ducks work fine—just replace them every month.
What actually works:
- Rubber Duckies Mini 12-Pack Sealed Bottom ($15 on Amazon)
- Green Toys Mini Duck Set (pricier at $18 but dishwasher-safe)
- AVOID: Dollar Tree ducks (all have holes), character licensed ducks (overpriced)
12. Bath Crayons (Crayola Triangular Grip)
Not just any bath crayons—the Crayola triangular ones with the grip design. Fits toddler hands, doesn’t roll into the drain, washes off tile with just water.
$6 for a 9-pack = 67 cents per crayon. Three crayons fit in a large egg.
Your toddler draws masterpieces on the tub wall. You wipe it clean with a wet washcloth in 10 seconds. Everyone wins.
The catch: They work ONLY on clean tile. If your tub has soap scum buildup, the crayons won’t adhere. Clean your tub first, or you’re buying art supplies for no reason.
13. Foam Letters & Numbers
Those squishy alphabet letters that stick to wet tile when you throw them. Educational! Bathtime! Alphabet soup without the mess!
Reality: Your toddler throws them at the wall, watches them stick, and laughs. Repeats 60 times. Letter recognition? Accidental.
Cost reality: $8 for 36 pieces = 22 cents each. Pack 3-4 per egg.
Active Play Essentials
14. Bouncy Balls (But The Right Kind)
Not the superballs that ricochet like bullets. The soft foam ones from Target’s dollar section. Pack of 6 for $1.
They bounce 2-3 feet max, won’t break windows, don’t hurt when thrown directly at your face (which will happen—toddlers have terrible aim).
15. Matchbox Cars (The 1-Inch Mini Fleet)
Hot Wheels makes 1-inch versions specifically for party favors. $10 for a 20-pack = 50 cents each.
Your toddler lines them up, crashes them together, makes engine noises, loses them behind the couch. That’s the entire toddler car ownership experience.
Pro tip: Stick to basic colors and vehicle types. If you buy the special edition neon green monster truck, your toddler will develop an obsessive attachment and lose their mind when it inevitably vanishes into the toy abyss.
16. Jump Ropes (18-Inch Toddler Length)
Those short plastic segmented jump ropes. Your toddler won’t actually jump rope. They’ll swing it around, drag it behind them like a tail, tie it to things. All acceptable uses.
$12 for 24 ropes on Amazon = 50 cents each.
Creative Construction Zone
17. Wikki Stix (The Bendable Wax Art Sticks)
Wax-covered yarn that bends into shapes and sticks to itself. Make circles, letters, weird abstract blobs. Whatever.
Your toddler twists them, unsticks them, resticks them. Zero cleanup. Zero mess. It’s basically parent magic.
Cost: $8 for 48 sticks = 17 cents each. Pack 4-5 per egg.
The catch: They leave waxy residue on certain fabrics. Keep away from your nice throw blankets unless you want permanent weird texture spots.
18. Pipe Cleaners (Chenille Stems)
The thick, fuzzy, bendable wires in every craft store. $3 for 100.
Your toddler bends them into “bracelets,” pokes them through colander holes, connects them end-to-end into a 6-foot fuzzy chain. All valid.
Warning: The wire inside can poke through the fuzzy coating after excessive bending. Check regularly, toss any with exposed wire ends.
19. Modeling Clay Eggs (Not Play-Doh—The Good Stuff)
Crayola Model Magic comes in egg-sized portions. Air-dries in 24 hours, doesn’t crack, weighs nothing.
Your toddler makes a “snake,” a “cookie,” a “moon.” You keep them forever because throwing away toddler art causes guilt spirals.
$8 for a 14-pack = 57 cents per egg’s worth.
Musical Chaos Makers
20. Egg Shakers (Actual Music Instruments)
Those plastic eggs with beads inside that actual music teachers use. Rhythm instruments. Educational!
Your toddler shakes them to the beat of nothing in particular for 30 minutes straight. You contemplate soundproofing.
$15 for 12 = $1.25 each.
21. Mini Maracas
Tiny wooden maracas, 3 inches long. Your toddler becomes a one-person mariachi band before breakfast.
Cost: $10 for 12 pairs = 83 cents each.
Reality check: These make approximately the same noise level as a small helicopter. Gift these to people you like. Keep them away from people you love.
22. Kazoos
The world’s most annoying instrument that requires zero musical talent. $1 for a 4-pack.
Your toddler blows into it, creates sounds that vaguely resemble music, thinks they’re a concert performer. You hide them after 15 minutes.
Outdoor Adventure Gear
23. Sidewalk Chalk (Chunky Toddler-Grip)
Not regular chalk—the fat triangle-shaped ones designed for toddler hands. Crayola makes 12-packs for $4.
.
Three pieces fit in a large egg. Your toddler draws masterpieces on the driveway. Rain erases them. Repeat weekly.
24. Flower Seeds (Fast-Growing Easy Stuff)
Sunflower seeds, zinnia seeds, anything that grows in 2 weeks with zero effort. Pack seed packets (the mini size) in eggs.
Your toddler “helps” plant them, forgets about them, freaks out with joy when flowers appear 3 weeks later. You’re the hero.
Cost: $1 per pack at Dollar Tree.
The catch: You’re committing to actually planting these. If you forget, you’re explaining to a crying toddler why the magic seeds didn’t work.
25. Bubble Wands (Mini-Sized)
Those tiny bubble wands that come 12 to a pack. Not the bottles—just the wands. You provide the bubble solution separately.
$5 for 12 wands = 42 cents each.
Your toddler dips, blows, and watches bubbles float. Simple joy. No batteries. No screens. Just wind and soap.
The “They’ll Actually Use These” Category
26. Silicone Cupcake Liners (Mini Size)
Not for baking—for playing. Toddlers stack them, nest them, fill them with toys, pretend they’re cups.
$8 for 24 = 33 cents each. Dishwasher safe. Basically indestructible.
27. Cookie Cutters (Plastic Mini Shapes)
Hearts, stars, circles, flowers. 1.5 inches max. Not for cookies—for Play-Doh, mud, sand, therapeutic pressing into things.
$6 for 24 cutters = 25 cents each.
28. Snap Bracelets
Those metal strips covered in fabric that curl around wrists when you slap them on. $12 for 24 = 50 cents each.
Your toddler spends 20 minutes straight snapping them onto their wrist, your wrist, the table leg, the dog’s paw. Peak entertainment.
Practical Life Skills (Montessori Vibes)
29. Clothespins (Mini Wooden)
The tiny 1-inch clothespins from craft stores. $3 for 50.
Your toddler clips them onto everything—shirt collars, paper edges, basket rims. Fine motor skill development disguised as chaos.
30. Plastic Measuring Spoons
Not metal—the colorful plastic ones. Measuring spoons become sand scoops, water pourers, pretend cooking utensils.
$4 for a set of 4 = $1 per set. One set fits in a jumbo egg.
31. Plastic Tongs (Toddler Training Size)
Those child-sized tongs from Lakeshore Learning. Your toddler practices picking up pom-poms, moving them between containers. Montessori teachers everywhere approve.
$12 for 6 = $2 each. Worth it.
The Surprise Favorites (Trust Me On These)
32. Plastic Eggs (Inception Mode)
Put smaller plastic eggs inside the medium eggs. Your toddler opens an egg to find another egg. Mind = blown.
Costs basically nothing since you’re using eggs you already bought. Maximum impact, zero additional expense.
33. Rubber Finger Lights
Those LED lights that slip onto fingers. $8 for 40 = 20 cents each.
Lights up when you press the button. Your toddler wears them, makes their hands glow, thinks they have superpowers. Instant win.
Warning: Batteries die fast. These are single-use entertainment for about 2 hours total. Accept it, move on.
34. Dinosaur Eggs (Shrink-Wrapped Mystery)
Those shrink-wrapped foam eggs with tiny dinosaurs inside. Soak in water for 24-48 hours, foam dissolves, dinosaur emerges.
$10 for 12 eggs = 83 cents each.
Your toddler checks the water every 15 minutes for two days straight. Peak engagement.
Seasonal & Holiday Crossover Hits
35. Mini American Flags
The 4-inch flags on sticks. Works for Easter, Memorial Day, July 4th. Multi-purpose egg filler.
$5 for 24 = 21 cents each.
Your toddler waves them around, sticks them in sandbox, declares themselves president of the backyard.
36. Heart-Shaped Erasers
Valentine’s Day erasers work for Easter too. Nobody cares about seasonal accuracy when you’re 2.
$4 for 50 = 8 cents each. Your toddler doesn’t erase with them—they sort them by color, stack them, lose them under the refrigerator.
37. Shamrock Stickers (St. Patrick’s Day Leftovers)
Hit the clearance aisle after St. Patrick’s Day. Shamrock stickers for 50 cents per sheet.
Green is green. Easter basket is green. Close enough.
Tech-Light Entertainment
38. ViewFinder Reels (Yes, They Still Make These)
Those circular image reels from the ’80s. Amazon still sells them. $12 for 3 reels = $4 each (split between multiple eggs).
Your toddler clicks through images, doesn’t understand the technology, enjoys it anyway.
39. Plastic Kaleidoscopes (2-Inch Travel Size)
Tiny telescopes that show trippy patterns when you look through them and rotate. $8 for 12 = 67 cents each.
Your toddler spins them, looks through them, says “whooooaa.” Solid 15 minutes of entertainment per unit.
40. Plastic Magnifying Glasses
The kid-safe plastic kind. $7 for 6 = $1.17 each.
Your toddler examines grass, carpet fibers, their own fingers. Everything becomes fascinating. Accidental science lesson.
Movement & Gross Motor Builders
41. Bean Bags (Mini Tossing Size)
Those 2-inch square bean bags filled with rice. $10 for 12 = 83 cents each.
Your toddler throws them at targets, balances them on their head, stuffs them in containers. All acceptable uses.
42. Stretchy String Fidgets
Those rubber-band-like strings that stretch 3 feet long. $6 for 12 = 50 cents each.
Your toddler pulls them, releases them, giggles when they snap back. Repeat 200 times.
Safety note: These can snap and sting if pulled too hard. Supervise or wait until 3+.
43. Plastic Harmonicas
Real working harmonicas, plastic, $1 each.
Your toddler blows into it, creates sounds that technically qualify as music. You regret this choice within 30 seconds but commit anyway.
The Absolute Tiniest Stuff That Works
44. LEGO DUPLO Single Bricks
Individual DUPLO bricks, not sets. Buy a bulk bag, distribute 3-4 bricks per egg.
$25 for 80 pieces = 31 cents per brick.
Your toddler adds them to their existing collection, builds taller towers, experiences pure joy.
45. Mini Erasers (Puzzle Style)
Those 3D animal erasers kids collect. $8 for 60 = 13 cents each.
Your toddler doesn’t erase with them. They arrange them, name them, create elaborate storylines. It’s like American Girl dolls but affordable.
46. Tiny Notepads
Those 2×3 inch notepads with 20 pages. Your toddler scribbles on them, thinks they’re doing important work like grown-ups.
$5 for 24 = 21 cents each.
47. Jacks (The Old-School Game)
Remember jacks? Still sold. Your toddler won’t play the actual game, but they’ll collect them, sort them, appreciate their pointy aesthetic.
$3 for a set (10 jacks + ball) = works for 3 eggs if split up.
Absolutely Zero Cleanup Required
48. Stencils (Plastic Templates)
Small plastic stencils with shapes, letters, animals cut out. $6 for 24 = 25 cents each.
Your toddler traces shapes, colors inside the lines (or doesn’t), makes approximately 47 “art pieces” per day.
49. Cotton Balls (The Sensory Bin Staple)
Regular cotton balls. Costs $2 for 300 at Walmart.
Your toddler sorts them, sticks them to things, builds “snowmen,” discovers texture. It’s basically free sensory play.
Pack 10-15 per egg. Total cost: about 7 cents per egg’s worth.
50. Plastic Chain Links
Those plastic C-shaped links that snap together. $7 for 100 = 7 cents each.
Your toddler makes chains, wears them as necklaces, connects every toy in the house into one long line. Peak toddler behavior.
The Final Surprise Hits
51. Whistles (Pea-Less Plastic)
Pea-less whistles (won’t break or become choking hazards). $8 for 16 = 50 cents each.
Your toddler blows them. That’s it. That’s the entire appeal. You question your sanity.
52. Plastic Animals With Babies
Those realistic plastic animals where the mom and baby come together. $12 for 12 pairs = $1 per set.
Your toddler enacts elaborate family scenarios. The mama cow protects the baby cow. Everyone naps. It’s wholesome.
53. Silly Putty Eggs
The OG. Silly Putty in its original egg container. Bounces, stretches, copies newsprint, never dries out.
$3 per egg. Higher cost, but worth it. Your toddler stretches it for 45 minutes straight. That’s $4/hour of entertainment. Theater tickets cost more and last less time.
How To Actually Pull This Off (The Strategy)
Here’s what the Pinterest-perfect moms won’t tell you: you’re not filling 50 eggs with 50 different items. That’s chaos masquerading as festivity.
The real system:
Pick 6-8 categories from this list. Get 6-8 of each item. Mix them across your eggs. Your toddler gets variety without you needing a spreadsheet.
Example 6-item setup for 24 eggs:
- 4 Mini board books
- 4 Crayon packs
- 4 Plastic animals
- 4 Sticker sheets
- 4 Play-Doh eggs
- 4 Bouncy balls
Total cost: approximately $25-30. Each egg contains something different. No duplicates within the same category.
Or go simpler:
The 3-Category Method (12 eggs total):
- 4 eggs with Play-Doh
- 4 eggs with small toys (cars, animals, figures)
- 4 eggs with art supplies (crayons, stickers, chalk)
Total cost: $15. Done in 15 minutes.
Budget breakdown by filler type:
Under 25 cents each: Cotton balls, pom-poms, pipe cleaners, googly eyes, heart erasers
25-50 cents each: Stickers, mini crayons, plastic animals, bouncy balls, hair accessories
50 cents – $1 each: Small toys, vehicles, books, musical instruments, bath items
$1-2 each: Specialty items (tongs, Silly Putty, egg shakers, DUPLO bricks)
Mix price points. Three 25-cent items feels equivalent to one $1 item to a toddler. They can’t do math yet.
What Doesn’t Work (Learn From My Mistakes)
Temporary tattoos: They peel off before your toddler even finds the egg. Also, application requires patience neither of you possess at 6 AM.
Goldfish crackers in sealed bags: Seemed brilliant. Crumbs. Everywhere. In the grass. In the eggs. In dimension you didn’t know existed.
Friendship bracelets: Too small, too delicate, too much tangling. Immediate tears.
Real coins: Choking hazard + teaches your toddler that eggs contain money = every future Easter is now a cash grab.
Nail polish: What was I thinking? I wasn’t. Don’t do this.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many eggs should I actually fill for a 2-year-old?
12-15 max. More than that, and they stop caring midway through, abandon the hunt, and just want to watch Bluey. Save yourself the prep work.
What if my toddler only wants to collect eggs, not open them?
Let them. Toddlers love collecting things into containers. Opening eggs is a separate activity that happens 3 hours later when they randomly remember.
Can I reuse these eggs next year?
Yes, but here’s the thing—half will be cracked, missing tops, or lost in the toy bin by June. Budget for replacing 50% annually.
What about kids with allergies or sensory sensitivities?
This entire list avoids food allergens. For sensory issues, focus on categories 8-13 (sensory items) and avoid anything with strong smells, rough textures, or loud noises.
How do I keep my toddler from eating non-food items?
You can’t completely. Supervise egg opening. Remove immediately anything smaller than a toilet paper tube. Accept that you’ll fish a googly eye out of their mouth at least once.
The bottom line: Noncandy Easter egg fillers work when they’re small, cheap, and interesting for approximately 15 seconds each. Your toddler doesn’t need heirloom-quality items in plastic eggs. They need stuff that fits, won’t kill them, and provides brief joy.
Pick 6-8 items from this list. Buy them in bulk. Fill your eggs the night before while drinking wine. Wake up to a sugar-free Easter morning where the biggest mess is scattered pom-poms instead of chocolate handprints.
You’re doing great. The eggs will be fine. Your toddler will be thrilled. And in three weeks, all of this will be lost under the couch anyway.
Happy Easter. May your egg hunt be short and your cleanup minimal.