These Are the Holiday Toys to Buy Before They Sell Out

I’ve been a Jellycat stan for close to a decade; the brand turns 25 this year. But I have never seen the stuffed fruit, veggies, sports balls, and baked goods sell out quite as quickly as they have in 2024. I have heard from three separate tweens that the brand’s mini plush bag charms are the toy-slash-accessory they most want to receive over the holidays. While this adorable soccer ball with arms is still available, they are all going fast. And a word to the wise: Make sure to buy from a reputable retailer, as fakes, unfortunately, abound.

NeeDoh squish toys are on another level, with cool retro packaging and fun, unique shapes. So it’s not surprising that thegiant NeeDoh Nice Bergis now among Amazon’s top selling holiday toys. It’s also very hard to find one that’s available to buy online and will arrive before Christmas. But you can still buy the original NeeDoh Nice Cube, which is featured in oursensory-toys gift guide.

This year there are a lot of cartoon characters and cuddly animals thatcrawl,dance, andjump up and down. But this goat named Daisy that does yoga, drinks from a water bottle, meditates to soft music, and farts is my favorite of the bunch. I like that it’s not a specific licensed character, so it’ll appeal to a broad group of kids; it’s also more unique than the classic interactive baby doll, dog, or cat. The box says it’s for children 4 years old and up, but the sweet spot is probably between ages 4 and 6.

Squishmallows recently released adorable animal-shaped bean-bag chairs in three different designs: There’s apurple cow, acat, and this pink axolotl, which will undoubtedly be the most popular. The chairs are just under two feet tall, making them an ideal size for preschool and elementary-school kids.

The recently released LEGO botanical garden is among the brand’s most sought-after new sets —even my editor is asking for one! — because it’s a challenging big-ticket build with a nice-looking payoff. It comes with 12 mini figures and 35 species of plants.

If youdon’t dillydally, you can still get the mini Nugget play couch in lavender, yellow, or pink. The brand made a small-scale version of its popular foam furniture for the first time in 2023 and it sold out remarkably fast; it’s now back again for another limited run in five colors, though blue and green have already sold out. It’s the perfect size forAmerican Girlsand many other dolls. Or kids can use it as a fort for stuffed animals or action figures, a ramp for toy cars, or simply a set of soft blocks to stack and knock down.

This giant interactive hatching egg takes kids through a series of prompts that culminates in the birth of a pink or purple winged baby unicorn. To coax your Hatchimal out of its shell, you must cuddle, tap, rock, and lift the egg until it starts to crack and a poof of magical mist and music drifts out; I watched a demo of this process at one of the toy fairs I attended this year and could not look away. After the baby unicorn hatches, kids can feed it, teach it to “talk,” play peekaboo, and tickle or pet it to make it flutter its wings and dance. It’s a bit like a cross between a Magic Mixies and a Furby, and great for kids from 5 to 7 years old, with plenty of play value even after it’s hatched.

Speaking of Furby, this year the brand released a new line of mini Furblets that tap into two trends: miniatures andbag charms. They are small enough to wear on a backpack, but just as interactive as a full-size Furby: They sing, move their ears and eyes, and even harmonize with each other.

My almost 2-year-old son is a car guy, so I am drawn to toys that go vroom, especially this Spidey-themed dual racetrack. It has an elevator in the back that lifts two (very cute) cars up to the control center and ramp launch. Once released, the cars break open double web bridges, soar over jumps, and blast through doors.

The Little Tikes Story Dream Machine has been a nice baby step toward letting my son watch TV. But because it projects still images on the wall while reading a story, it doesn’t feel like true screen time. I’ve watched it climb in popularity over the last few months and have been happy to see such an excellent toy get the recognition it deserves. We have theoriginal version, but this primary-coloredSesame Streetspecial edition is nicer looking and what I would buy as a gift.

Monster High dollsare skyrocketing in popularity. I love that older kids now have a line ofcool goth fashion dollsto play with that don’t feel babyish. Of all the Monster High toys, the thing to get is this Barbie Dreamhouse–esque haunted high-school play set that comes with a secret potion room and a trapdoor.

This year marks the 25th anniversary ofSpongeBob SquarePants, so there’s been an influx of new toys featuring characters from the show. Since SpongeBob and his pals trigger big-time nostalgia among young adults who watched it as kids, there are a ton of collectibles to choose from, includingFunko Popsand lots ofblind box toys. But I’m particularly fond of these cuddly TeeTurtle reversible plushies that are available in nine different combinations, my favorite of which is this Mr. Krabs that transforms into a Krabby Patty.

Though the much-anticipatedMoanasequel doesn’t come out until Thanksgiving, there are already lots of great tie-ins, including thisAmerican Girl Moana doll. It’s the most majestic of all theMoana 2toys and the one that’s most likely to remain in play the longest. The doll’s necklace opens to reveal a sea star like the one Moana receives from her sister in the movie, and for $40 extra you can get anaccessory setthat includes a doll-size plush Pua, a Heihei toy with eyes that bug out when you squeeze it, a floral lei, and an oar.

[Editor’s Note: The Moana doll is backordered until January 10 online. But you can still pick one up in select American Girl stores.]

Peg Perego is most widely known for baby gear likestrollersandhigh chairs, but it also makes extremely popular and very realistic ride-on vehicles for kids of all ages, fromtoddleron up. The brand sellsutility trucks,John Deere tractors, and even amini Ducati, but of all the ride-on toys it offers, I’d suggest this four-wheeler that’s designed for kids ages 3 to 8: It’s less expensive than many of the other vehicles, though still a splurge, and the realtree camo design gives it fashion-world cred that will appeal to cool parents.

[Editor’s Note: The camo Polaris is currently sold out, but you can still get some of Peg Perego’s otherride-on toysin time for Christmas.]

I have been writing about (and wearing) jewelry from the kids’ dress-up and accessory brand Super Smalls for the past few years. Certain in-demand items like thegiant sticker booksandholiday craft kitsare always at risk of selling out around this time of year. But now that this adorable decorate-your-own-sunglasses kit has made the list ofOprah’s Favorite Thingsfor 2024, I recommend ordering it and other goodies from the brand ASAP.

[Editor’s Note: This specific kit is currently sold out, but you can still get most of the brand’sbead kitsandjewelry setsin time for Christmas.]