San Diego Moms: Holiday Gift Guide 2024

It is hard to believe the holidays are just around the corner and we’ll soon have to find the perfect gifts for our loved ones. For our annual holiday gift guide, we gathered a list of new products (including many toys) as well as classic favorites. Here’s our gift guide for everyone in the family — including our fur babies!

FOR KIDS

PLAYMOBIL has unveiled new toys to help stir your child’s wonderful imagination, including the Cinderella Castle, which uses stacking cups to promote fine motor skills. Little ones can create music by shaking the towers of the castle and listening to the different noises. The characters encourage children to tell their own stories during early role play. Includes Cinderella, the Prince,and other accessories. The new Pirate Ship is also a fantastic option with 138 pieces of salty-sea-faring characters, creepy deep-sea monsters, swiveling cannons, movable sales. and unfolding shrouds. Miraculous Ladybug fans will love Marinette’s Loft where they immerse themselves in this imaginative  recreation of Marinette’s cozy loft in her parent’s bakery. 

Little ones can keep their fidgety fingers and inquisitive minds busy with BIZYBOO Holiday Seek ’N’ Find Busy Bags. These mess-free, portable bags feature three adorable new characters—a cheerful Christmas Tree, Spirited Stocking, and a Sweet Snowman—each holding 30 hidden holiday-themed objects. 

The iconic game of Stratego is back with a fresh new take from Jumbo Play, perfect for a new generation of players! While staying true to its classic roots, this updated version introduces innovative battle cards, female soldiers, and a budget-friendly price! So plan your campaign, secretly deploy your forces, then engage in battle!

Take your kids on a journey with an assortment of high-quality, creative toys from Adventure Town, including the natural cork blocks, night vision goggles and puzzles. 

Kinetic Sand this year launched the Project Planet Collection, which makes learning about our environment fun. Kids will love the Turtle Beach Playset, which allows kids to learn about a turtle’s life cycles with the fact card and link to more resources. The Deep Sea Playset is another option, which gives the kids the opportunity to learn about ocean biodiversity with the fact card and after play, snap the container’s lid closed for convenient storage.

GUND has many wonderful holiday gift options, including the My Little Artist Playset to inspire future artists through tactile play with different sounds and textures; the adorable Buttermilk the Cow, an animated 12” cow. Press Buttermilk’s left foot to play an animal-sound guessing game and press her right foot to sing along to “Old MacDonald Had a Farm;” and the Toothpick Pumpkin Pie, a festive 15” spice-colored teddy bear loves the autumn air, cozy sweaters and fall ciders. Finally, there’s the Animal Collection of Solana the Giraffe, Regis the Lion, Chai the Elephant aimed at bringing safari play to life! 

Grind, master tricks & catch big air with the Tech Deck Sk8 Crew Ultra Sk8 Bus. When you’re done skating, fold up the ramps & place everything inside for easy storage and on-the-go fun. 

Rubik’s Cube is getting more fun with the 3×3 Speed version. The Speed Cube features a stronger core and has a mechanism designed to make it faster, smoother and more reliable than ever for solvers at any level.

Calling all Batman lovers! Snag the Ultimate Transforming Batmobile, 2-in-1 transforming playset armed with lights, sounds and four projectile missiles, this Batmobile is a must-have for any Batman fan. 

Have a roaring good time with the Snack-O-Saurus Rex. Young players must help hungry Cavepeople find grub like Taco-dactyl, Prehistoric Pizza and Tricerachips while avoiding the legendary Snack-O-Saurus Rex and his super-long tongue.   

What do you get when you combine rainbows and cakes? The fun CAKE-N-BAKE CHALLENGE. A fun and frantic family game centered around a colorful rainbow-layer, foam cake that’s adorably packaged in a cake box! Players compete to see who the fastest “baker” is by stacking the layers of their cake slices.

Get crafty and accessorize with STICKI ROLLS, wearable, shareable sticker bracelets let you peel, tear, and share with friends. Stickers just got even more fun with this fun jewelry. 

PAW Patrol remains a top hit among little ones so you won’t want to miss these new toys. PAW Patrol  Rescue Wheels Super Loop HQ Tower is  nearly 4-feet tall, with lights and sounds, for an immersive experience. The Super Loop HQ is specially designed to launch most PAW Patrol vehicles, so gather all your PAW Patrol toys for a vehicle launch party! Also, check out the Paw Patrol Instant Camera. 

Upgrade your Gabby’s Dollhouse with the new Celebration Dollhouse. Standing at over 2 feet tall, this dollhouse features a rainbow roof, multicolored windows, and all new celebration themed rooms! The included Gabby figure comes with a new outfit including a party hat headband. Separately, you can snag the new Party Room Playset, which features Gabby in her new skate party outfit and new character, Marty the Party Cat, balloons, a skating rink, that both figures can really skate on, and so much more. The playset attaches to both versions of the Gabby’s Dollhouse. Also, check out the Gabby’s Dough House. 

Is your kid loving the LankyBox videos? The first ever Lankybot remote control toy is inspired by the iconic Lankybot character from the YouTube content! Lankybot moves, dances and spins with your RC control! Lankybot sings 4 Lankybox songs, including the super popular LANKYBOT song LANKYBOX LANKYBOT MYSTERY R/C. 

Become a champion with the Monster Jam World Finals Supercharge Speedway Playset, a replica of the over/under track seen at the World Finals. This playset comes with a booster that launches your vehicles through the figure 8 loop track giving endless fun and epic jumps. 

Capture iconic Disney movie moments with the new Bitzee Disney! Explore the world of Disney by catching the wishing star to reveal your favorite characters like Minnie Mouse, Olaf, Nemo and more. Each character comes with movie moments that highlight some of their best-known scenes from the movies they are in.

Place a finger inside the Punirunes toy and discover a squishy button that responds to touch. The LED color display mirrors your movements on screen as if you’re really touching the Punirunes character. Move the button and watch how the character reacts. Build friendships with your squishy BFFs and keep them happy with lots of squishes, prepare their food, give them a bath, clean their room, play games and more. 

Take your littlest adventures to a whole new level with the Littlest Pet Shop Playful Pet Hotel! This special 2-in-1 playset acts as both a luxurious play hotel for your littlest bobblin’ pets and as a beautiful display case for your animal pals! Fold down the front of the case to reveal a delightful green courtyard, 6 bobblin’ pets, 3 accessories and 9 unique hotel rooms that your pets will love to explore. 

Inspired by the latest social craze of cotton candy character art, Cotton Candykins are irresistible scented plush collectibles that feature fluffy, colorful “cotton candy” hair that’s just waiting to be styled by you! Each lovable new pet comes wrapped up in a fun mystery container. Pop the top off, twist, and spin to unveil your new Cotton Candykins plushie.

The Sky Viper Nova FX Drone is a light show performance drone for indoor and outdoor flying. Twenty-four super bright and color-changing RGB LED lights on the propellers illuminate the night sky with 25+ different color patterns. 

The new Chuck E. Cheese Mystery Egg brings excitement together into the ultimate unboxing experience! This mystery unboxing experience includes 11 amazing mystery surprise toys, including a squishy, a spinner, a mini skateboard and more! Each Egg also includes 500 free E-Tickets redeemable at any Chuck E. Cheese location. 

Speaking of mystery eggs, Hatch in a whole new way and experience all-new effects including glowing mist and rainbow lights plus over 100 sounds and reactions with Hatchimals Mystery Hatch. Cuddle, tap, lift, and rock the egg to hear your Hatchimal respond to your love revealing one of two surprise characters inside. Many fun characters are available!

This holiday you can rejoice in the first officially licensed Moriah Elizabeth mystery surprise set! Moriah Elizabeth, the popular craft YouTuber, is known for her interactive art and craft videos, and adorable collection of characters. This set is the ultimate unboxing experience with over 10 unboxing surprises, including exclusive Moriah Elizabeth figures, plush, stickers, clips, and more. 

Behind every convention door, a stylish surprise is in store with the Disney Doorables ADOORBS Dolls. Unbox 1 of 12 possible collectible dolls – ready to play all day with the Doorables’ biggest fans. Follow the package prompts. Open 5 numbered compartments to discover lots of “ADOORB-able” accessories. Find a VIP convention lanyard, Club Card, a pair of shoes, an EXCLUSIVE Disney Doorables mini figure that snaps onto a bag clip, and more. Also, check out the Disney Doorables Micro Motion Capsules and the Disney Doorables Squish’alots Whatcha Gotcha Mini Machine.

Based on the retro toy you love; this modern version brings POKEMON to life in a whole new way with the Lite-Brite Super Bright HD: Pokemon Edition.

Experience the magic of Unicorn Academy with Sophia & Light Magic Wildstar! Inspired by the NETFLIX animated show and best-selling book series where friendship reins, this duo celebrates the unique bond between rider and unicorn. Also, check out the Rainbow Light-up Wildstar.

Bring all your favorite stories to life with the Yoto Player. The bluetooth speaker builds independence and inspires creative thinking. Simply pop in one of many Yoto cards to hear an assortment of stories. 

Inspire creativity with the classic Connetix Tiles magnetic toys. Build everything from skyscrapers to cars to castles. This year, Connetix Tiles unveiled the Roads Pack where children can design towns and streets with bridges, overpasses and more.

Gather the entire family for a night of fun with Nex Playground. The indoor game system includes five options, including the popular Fruit Ninja. These video games are a perfect combination of dance, sports and fitness that the whole family can enjoy. Great for promoting movement, focus and coordination. Just play like you were born to play.

Merge your child’s love for Disney and STEM with magnetic tiles by Tytan Toys. The brand has a variety of options including Frozen, Mickey Mouse and Stitch, among other favorites.

Go big with the all-new John Deere Mini Tractor from Peg Perego! This electric ride is loads of fun for little ones and can be used indoors or outdoors. 

Bring comfort this holiday season with Warm Pals, weighted stuffed animals that can be warmed in the microwave or Kyte Baby‘s line of soft and gentle clothing – even better, you can score matching pajamas for the whole family! Kids needing some extra soothing will also love the Woven Woven Weighted Blanket and the Zenimal, a device that helps lead children into meditation.  We also love the snuggly collection from GUND, including this lovable bear. With his wispy, multi-hued brown fur and luxuriously soft faux suede textures, Boe isn’t just a bear—he’s a forever companion.

Finally, upgrade your stroller or bassinet with Unilove. The brand’s on-the-go 3-in-1 stroller makes going out with your little one easy while the bassinet makes co-sleeping a breeze. We also love the Unilove wagon stroller that’s lightweight, foldable and transitions to multiple seating options. 

FOR TEENS

Upgrade your teen’s art set with a kit from Ohuhu, high-quality supplies with a bit of inspiration from the Hawaiian islands. We love this 48-piece markers set, 30-piece acrylic pen set and this gift box set. 

Get some fancy earbuds for your teen with the help of ASTRUM by Rome. The XZ PIA Earbuds uses triple-driver technology that offers powerful speakers and hybrid active noise cancellation. The brand also offers the MZ Pro Headset with Quantum in-uniut acoustic processing and Neodymium magnets. 

Take your holiday party to the next level with the ultimate music party game of the century that guarantees an instant party vibe! Experience 100 years of music history through 300+ unforgettable songs that feature some of the biggest hits from multi-generational artists with Hitster. 

Gather your girlfriends and embrace your wild side with Bad Girl Era. Players advance on their “Evolution of a Bad Girl” card by answering “Bad Girl” and “Virtue” prompts. This game has over 300 prompt cards! From cheeky confessions to virtuous acts, the first player to finish is crowned the ultimate Bad Girl and loses the game.

Bring the mani home with Le Mini Macaron. The Le Sweet Holiday Trio is the sweetest treat for your nails this holiday season. Get three irresistible full-size nail lacquers that capture the magic and charm of the holidays.

Bring the whole family together with Mind the Gap, a trivia game where you hum, dance, act & answer through the generations! This deluxe edition comes with new challenge cards & player pieces to determine which generation is truly the greatest: Boomer, Gen X, Millennial or Gen Z.   

FOR PARENTS

Bring sweetness into your home with Fabrizia Lemon Baking Company, a brand offering an assortment of tasty treats made with lemons from Sicily. Try the Fabrizia Grande Cheer Box for the ultimate indulgence.

Add some fancy, new appliances to the kitchen such as the Vinci Express 2 Cold Brew Electric Coffee Maker, which delivers exceptionally smooth, superior tasting, fully-extracted cold brew in minutes. For the big families or offices, snag a Gevi 10 Cup Drip Coffee Maker with Built-in Grinder, which maintains its temperature for a whopping two hours! No more cold coffee for mama! 

Make your life easier with the ICEBREAKER Nordic 4-in-1 Dispenser. It’s a patented container designed to be 100% watertight so you can place and turn the tray in your freezer and it will not spill. It is also a perfect solution to pack in your cooler for keeping beverages cold and adding clean ice to water bottles on road trips as it works great as a freezing element.  

Savor the crispest, cleanest sparkling water straight from the spout with Carbon8. The state-of-the-art carbonator revolutionizes the way people can enjoy bubbles without bottles in the comfort of their homes. 

The UVI Self Heating Lunch Box is the solution for enjoying hot and healthy meals on the go. It features a plug-in design with a powerful heat source that can heat refrigerated food in 25 minutes, cook rice and steam vegetables. 

The Fritaire Air Fryer is the ultimate solution for smart, chic, healthy and more convenient cooking! Its 1500W – 400F Degrees Halogen Heater and engineered vortex convection achieve crispy and even results every time, meanwhile the unique self-cleaning glass bowl makes for effortless post-cooking clean up. 

Take steps towards sustainability in style with Bamboozle. The biodegradable compost bin looks like ceramic but is made from repurposed bamboo for an impeccable design that completes the look and feel of any kitchen. 

Toss out your old cookware and replace it with GoodCook’s 12-piece Healthy Ceramic Cookware set made to last you for years. The cookware is toxin-free and titanium-infused, which requires less oil and heats quickly! It’s also just beautiful! 

Help get the house in order in the new year by purchasing the Gevi cordless vacuum that can be converted in six different ways and is strong enough to pick up pet hair!

Add style to your parents’ comfortable style with Everyday California’s line of apparel. We love the Bayside Performance Joggers for stretch, comfort and durability and the Breakers UPF50+ Sand-Resistant Hoodie for its sun protection and sand-resistant technology. 

Show your dad some love with Dad Gang Co., embroidered snapback hats that symbolize respect and connection during the loving, turbulent, sleep-deprived, and ever-changing world of fatherhood. Or, give dad a sustainable gift with Coalatree’s button-down Switchback shirt, which is made from recycled material and is lightweight, wrinkle and odor-resistant. We also love the Outset Pant by NOMATIC and Core Tee by Forme for dad.

For mom, we love JOJU’s line of apparel, which is made of buttery soft clothes that offer the highest protection from the sun. Not only does it protect and feel great – the clothes fit well and look sleek. Add extra style to mom’s closet with Simone Smith, a brand that supports sisterhood while making impeccably designed jewelry. We also love Think Unique, a line of products including bracelets, crystals, candles and more with a portion of proceeds going to charities that support LGBTQ mental health. 

You can’t go wrong with adding to the shoe collection. Jump on the Alegria bandwagon with the most comfortable shoes out there. We personally love the burnish boots and the Orygin Jean Jeanie! Dream Pairs is always reliable – this  year find the classic mini boots for mom and the oxford sneakers for dad. 

How about some matching apparel for mom and dad? Check out Free Country’s holiday gift guide and early Black Friday deals for clothes made to last a lifetime. Speaking of lasting a lifetime, snag a bag that will last for ages with WANDRD. We love the versatile PRVKE bag.

Does mom or dad need a new watch this season? Be sure to scour the G-SHOCK store for stylish, new watches with the perfect touch of color. 

Let’s get active with YUNE YOGA, a line of high-quality yoga mats, towels and accessories that are also eco-friendly. We love all the Southwestern flair added to these products too. 

Ready to enjoy more of the great outdoors this season and into the new year? Lax & Daisy make it easy with Luxe Picnic Backpack complete with a cooler section, an oversized blanket, tumblers and more. Speaking of outdoors, the Mozy Lower-Body Thermal Wrap is perfect for those cold nights. It’s a wearable and weatherproof wrap that goes around your waist so you are hands-free to enjoy your favorite outdoor activities.

When it comes to luxury, look no further than the Livly line of cashmere blankets. The brand will make you feel like you are in heaven this holiday season!

For the gardeners, snag a pair of HandsOn Gardening Gloves. The gloves are a first-of-its-kind with nodules on all the fingers and palm to make it easier for hand digging, breaking up soil and planting. 

FOR THE HOME LIBRARIES:

You can’t end the year without adding some great books to your home library. Check out this selection of new books.

“We Are Free You and Me” by Colin Kaepernick and Nessa Diab is based on the Know Your Rights Camp, an international movement that inspires young people to rejoice in their inherent goodness. This is a great book for all children – particularly ages 3 to 8. 

“The ABCs of Queer History” is the perfect picture book that celebrates the joys and challenges of queer history in the U.S. Written by Seema Yasmin, the book is geared toward children ages 5 and up. 

Hooray for more “My Weird School” books! “My Weirdtastic School #4: Miss Nichol is in a Pickle” is the 100th book in this beloved series. You’ll definitely want to add this to your collection. Also, check out “My Weird School Christmas.”

For middle schoolers, check out “Unstuck” by Barbara Dee, which tells the story of a 7th grader navigating unexpected changes in her life while writing her own story. 

The newest installment of the “Nat Enough Series” is “All is Nat Lost” featuring Nat during an overnight class trip to Philadelphia — her first trip without her parents! 

If your child loves graphic novels, you’ll want to snag copies of “Sophie” from the same creator of “Dog Eat Doug.” Sophie tells the story of a snarky dog who wants it all! 

Finally, R.L. Stine is coming through with more “Goosebumps” this holiday season. Check out “Goblin Monday” and “Night of the Living Mummy.” Also, be sure to check out his novel “Shark Night.” 

Teach your children all about the Earth we live on with the help of “What on Earth” books. Snag copies of “Britannica All New Kids’s Encyclopedia,” “Britannica’s First Big Book of Why,” “Where in the World Are You?,” and “Science FACTopia.”

FOR PETS

Make your life easier and give your pup some peace with the popular, Impact Dog Crates. These high-quality, durable crates help relieve separation anxiety, injuries and stress. It’s also a collapsible crate — making travel easier for parents. 

ChewMate is the creator of the award-winning TreatBrush, an innovative pet toothbrush disguised as a toy that brushes and flosses your furry friends’ teeth while they play (versions for both dogs and cats). 

Super Feedy 4-in-1 solution combines a slow feeder, a reversible lick mat, a food prep bowl, and a travel dog bowl. It’s equipped with an anti-skid suction cup base and is vet-approved, ensuring that it meets the highest quality and safety standards.

HandsOn Grooming Gloves and HandsOn Finishing Gloves lend a helping hand to your daily care for your beloved pets! HandsOn offers a variety of gloves to lend a helping hand to add TLC and pamper your pets for good health all year round. 

The Bone Company, a division of Nature’s Animals bakery fresh, handmade, all-natural biscuits for dogs is now presenting their Maple Bacon Doggie Donuts, The Original Bakery Bone and Jumbo Bones in a variety of flavors like BBQ Chicken, Peanut Butter and Beef. They are made with the following all-natural ingredients. 

Have a suggestion for this year’s Holiday Gift Guide? Add it to the comments. 

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San Diego Moms is published on Saturdays. Have a story idea? Email hoaq@timesofsandiego.com and follow her on Instagram at @hoawritessd.