JuicyTalk
Just thinking about toy lists and the holiday season around the corner has us feeling all cozy and nostalgic! But… we totally get it if it has you feeling a mild sense of panic too.
It seems like every year — over the past few years — there’s a new hurdle blocking us from experiencing complete holiday shopping bliss. And if the impact of tariffs and inflation on toys is top of mind for you right now, you’re not alone.
To help you navigate it all, and scoop up some of the hottest toys for the kiddos in your life (including you, the kid at heart) — without breaking the bank — we curated a list of 10 of the hottest toys from the 2025 toy lists of Amazon, Macy’s, Walmart and The Toy Insider.
We also caught up with Marissa Silva, Editor-in-Chief of The Toy Insider, to get her take on what’s trending this year, when to shop for toys and more.
But first, let’s share those toys!
Table of Contents
- Our Top 10 Toys – Holiday Season 2025
- Toy Shopping Advice
- 2025 Holiday Season Toy Lists
- How to Keep Kids Safe
Top 10 Toys – Holiday Season 2025
Toniebox 2
Parents love Tonies for their ability to give kids a screen-free opportunity to engage with stories. The newest product from the brand, Toniebox 2, is coming out this October. The main difference between this and the original is the structure is more rounded, soft and durable, it includes features that are good for sleep (a timer, nightlight and gentle sunrise alarm) and it has more storage capacity and faster performance.
Care Bears x Wicked
Your childhood fave meets the modern-day movie hit! These Elphaba and Glinda Care Bears are perfect for the Wicked fan of any age in your life.
LEGO Speed Champions Ferrari SF-24 F1 Race Car
If you have a kiddo who loves LEGO and Formula 1, this gift is a guaranteed hit. It’s also a great price — currently under $25! This model was released this past March, and it features the real-life 2024 design details your avid little fan is sure to recognize.
Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World Bundle
Is Nintendo Switch 2, budget-friendly? No. Is it likely to see deep discounts this holiday season? Also no. But if you’re planning to invest in a new console for the gamer in your life, this one is getting a lot of hype — mostly as a result of its higher quality graphics and improved performance.
Gabby’s Dollhouse ‘The Movie’
“Gabby’s Dollhouse” is heading to the big screen. And your little one can have a piece of the film at home with this interactive dollhouse. It might look like an ordinary dollhouse, but it actually includes 60+ animations and 6 play modes.
Bluey Supermarket
This newly-released toy supermarket lets kids take Bluey and Bingo on adventures through its three stories full of interactive details. From the beep sound at the checkout to the tiny groceries, every element is there and ready to foster your little one’s imagination and fine motor skills!
Barbie Play-Doh
Almost every 2025 holiday season toy list featured a Barbie Play-Doh set. While in this one Barbie is gardening, you can find other options where the Play-Doh is intended to make fashion show looks, and you can even find Play-Doh patterns to use to create outfits on existing Barbie dolls you might have at home. This collaborative line between Barbie and Play-Doh launched this past February, and the combination of imaginative play and budget-friendly pricing makes it a win in our books too!
Just Play furReal Maggie The Feed & Follow Cow
Highland cows are among the cutest of the animals, and this little interactive plushy version looks equally adorable. Maggie the cow features over 50 different combinations of sound and motion reactions, including drinking from her included bottle. This toy, happened to be featured on Amazon, Walmart and The Toy Insider’s top toy lists.
Fisher Price 4-in-1 Table
We couldn’t forget about the youngest little one on your list. Fisher Price, of course, has built up a solid reputation for providing toys that are both fun and beneficial for building skills. This 4-in-1 table is no different. It converts from a sit-at busy board to a toddler activity table to an open play table and an art easel — meaning you will get use out of it for years to come!
Toy Shopping Advice
We caught up with Marissa Silva, Editor-in-Chief of The Toy Insider to get a sense of what toys are trending this year — beyond the top picks featured above and in their toy list. How tariffs will impact prices and when to start shopping for toys to ensure you get the best price — while also avoiding items selling out.
Which classic toys continue to be popular?
Lite-Brite, Stretch Armstrong, Care Bears, Tamagotchi, Furby, Easy Bake Oven, and more are back and better than ever! These toys all feature modern upgrades for today’s kids, and they are sure to be hits this year.
Which toys are the most and least impacted by tariffs?
Toys made in America won’t be impacted by tariffs, but pretty much all other toys will be. Most toys are made in China and India, and tariffs will impact large, heavy toys like large dollhouses, ride-ons, and toys with tech upgrades the most.
Toys may also increase in price later in the season, if the tariff situation worsens, so it’s a good idea to shop early.
When do you recommend parents/shoppers start to buy toys for the holiday season, if they want the best deals?
Now is the best time to start shopping, it’s genuinely never too early to start checking things off your list. Many toys are likely to be sold out by Black Friday, so it’s a good idea to shop early and often and at your local retailers if you are looking for the hottest toys of the year.
Always make sure you know the MSRP (manufacturer suggested retail price) to ensure you are paying the right amount for a toy. Always buy from trusted retailers and trusted manufacturers to ensure you are purchasing affordable, quality toys for the kids in your lives.
You can expect some great deals around Black Friday and Amazon Prime Big Deal Days, too!
2025 Holiday Toy Lists
As we shared above, shopping from retailers’ toy lists makes it easier to find popular and age-appropriate gifts without the hassle of extensive research. These curated lists offer inspiration and highlight trending or educational toys, saving time for busy shoppers. Our sister site BlackFriday.com publishes annual toy lists and Black Friday ads as soon as they are released, a super helpful tool for planning your holiday shopping.
How to Keep Kids Safe
In addition to taking expert recommendations when buying the best gifts for kids you love, it’s important to check recall lists. Besides doing a Google search to see if there are any recent recall alerts or news stories about what you’re buying, you can also sign up for KidsAdvisory — North America’s only children-focused recall alert service. The platform, which launched in September 2024, issues important recall alerts. Their location-based notifications ensure parents receive only relevant updates for their area, too.
The post Hottest Holiday Toys: Guide for 2025 appeared first on The Real Deal by RetailMeNot.
