3 Easter Baskets That Are Way Better Than Chocolate and Jelly Beans!

by Ashley Fagan

     With Easter just around the corner, you've probably noticed your supermarket shelves adorned with chocolate bunnies, marshmallow Peeps and bags upon bags of rainbow colored jellybeans. Sweet treats have always been the Bunny Man's go to gift choice for your little one's holiday basket but it's a hard pill to swallow when your trying to cut back on the sugary snacks. I propose an alternative solution! Surprise your child with a fun theme inspired basket instead! I'm not saying cut the candy out completely, I'm not a monster! I enjoy chocolate just as much as the next guy but scale back on the candy and stuff that basket with fun and useful gifts to accompany those adorable chocolate confections. You and your little will be much happier for it!
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Bedtime Basket: 

Make your bedtime routine a little bit sweeter with these cute night time inspired Easter Basket gifts!

Cute Stuffed Animal: I love Jellycat brand stuffed animals! The designs are durable, creative and whimsical! Check out these cute Easter themed characters from Amazon.com.

​Bedtime stories: Add a few books to your Easter Basket this year! My daughter is currently in love with Julia Donaldson books. The stories are creative and rhythmic, each one offering a positive message to your youngster. The illustrations are also adorable! I don't mind reading these over and over again and your little one will be happy to add a few new stories to their bedtime collection! You can find Julia's books on Amazon.com here. 

Super Soft PJ Set: Who doesn't love a new cozy pair of PJ's? We love Gaps bedtime jammies which come in a bunch of cute patterns and can usually be found on sale! And they are 100% cotton! Find the perfect set here.

Slippers: Throw in a fun cozy animal slipper! I love these cute slippers from Pottery Barn Kids found here.

Bath Toys: Add a few bath toys to your basket to sweeten the deal! We like these adorable dish washer safe suction toys by Fat Brain Toys found on Amazon.

Star Projector: Project the night sky in your little one's bedroom! Parents and kids will both enjoy this incredibly cool starry night projector! Find it here. 

​Summer Time Basket

Let's get excited for summer! This year the Easter Bunny is bringing all the Summer essentials! Including a new bathing suit!

New Bathing Suit: A new suit is the perfect way to roll in summertime! Boden.com has some adorable swim and summer attire for your little one! Check out this super cute bunny suit from Boden!

Sandals: Add a new pair of summer kicks to the mix! Target has a great selection of comfortable and affordable summer time sandals. Find them here. 

Hooded Towel: Add a personalized beach towel that will last all summer long! I love Pottery Barn's cozy hooded towels! Find them here.

Beach and Summer toys! It's time for some outdoor fun! I like to add some chalk, bubbles and a new beach pale to the basket! Check out this Eco friendly sand pale from Green Toys found on Amazon.com

Backyard Sprinkler: When you don't have access to a pool or beach, a fun backyard sprinkler can be a great alternative! We love this one by Melissa and Doug! Find it on Amazon.com

Arts & Crafts Basket

I don't think there is a kid on this planet that doesn't love making art! Let's encourage our little Picasso's to get creative by adding to their art supplies!

Giant Art Pads: I love these Melissa and Doug Giant Paper pads. The're durable, and large enough to create beautiful masterpieces! They can be used with crayon, paint and marker too!

Paint Sticks: Avoid the mess of paint and opt for these clean and fun paint sticks that come in a variety of cool colors! You can find them from Ooly for a great price here. 

Craft Projects: Every year my little one paints me a critter to add to my garden! We love working on these together and they add a fun element to your garden bed! I like ALEX brand craft projects which can be found here. 

The Ultimate Art Case: This Crayola brief case is filler with crayons, markers and pencils and is perfect for both beginner and advanced artists! Find it on Amazon for under $20 here!

Sticker Books: My kid loves stickers...me not so much! These creative paint by sticker books eliminate those sticky little buggers from landing all over your house! You still get all the fun but the stickers actually have a purpose and place to go besides your living room walls. Check them out here. 

Books About Art: Diane Alber's art inspired children's books are fun and also informative for young artists! You can find them on Amazon.com.