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I have so many sweet memories of running down the stairs to see the Valentine’s Day gift baskets my mom would prepare for my sisters and me while growing up. I loved all the red, pink, and hearts you could find. Now it’s even more fun — I get to make Valentine’s gift baskets for my kids!
I don’t need much of an excuse to pamper my kids with fun new things, and Valentine’s gift baskets are no exception. There’s nothing like bringing a smile to their faces on this sweet holiday that reminds them just how much they are loved.
If putting together themed baskets stresses you out, don’t worry, mama! It doesn’t take much to make sweet and memorable DIY Valentine’s gift baskets your kids will love. Read on for tips on making the perfect Valentine’s basket for kids of all ages.
DIY Valentine’s Day Gift Baskets for Kids
I like to select an item or two from different categories when making Valentine’s gift baskets. This gives the basket some variety and makes it so much fun for kids!
1. Valentine’s Basket or Container
First, you want a basket or container to hold and display all your Valentine’s goodies. Here are my pro tips for how to get the best bang for your buck:
- Purchase extra special Valentine-themed baskets you can store and reuse each year. These retro jelly basketswould be perfect.
- Check out the Dollar Store or the Target Dollar Spot for an affordable one-time-use option. Another affordable option is this heart-shaped plastic container, which comes in a two-pack if you are looking for a good deal!
- Use a basket you can repurpose, as I did. You can use this peony pink pompom bin from Pehr. I love that this bin comes in different colors like fountain blue and sage. Then, you can use each basket to store toys or books year-round in their bedrooms! Another great repurpose bin is this shower caddy. The pink and the blue/green are our favorites!
Other Valentine’s gift basket options:
- These red woven bins are so bright and fun!
- These heart storage bins would be an excellent reusable option, especially if you have a lot of basket fillers.
- Or, for a more minimalistic look, these metal baskets or coiled white rope baskets are great options.
2. Valentine’s Day Pajamas
My kids can always use a new pair of PJs. We love having special pajamas for each holiday, and Valentine’s Day is no exception!Heart jammies like this two-piece set work well for little girls. Even if you don’t want to go wild with hearts, you can get something in solid red or pink, like this solid red PJ set I got for my son.
Other great Valentine’s pajama options:
- Heart love pajamas — I love MORI’s products, and the Heart Print Pajama Set is too precious.
- Heart snug fit jammies — These soft, warm pajamas are perfect for lounging and sleeping.
- Valentine’s Long John pajamas — I also love this fun, colorful print with hearts for your sweetheart.
- This cutetwo-piece set has a pink and red heart print for older kids to wear.
3. Books
It’s so fun to pull out seasonal books and share them over and over when the holiday rolls back around! My 5-year-old is a big fan of Pete the Cat, so he’s getting “Valentine’s Day is Cool.” I grabbed the “Ollie’s Valentine” board book for my 1-year-old. It’s such a sweet option for babies and toddlers.
Other Valentine’s picture books:
- “Mirabel’s Missing Valentines” by Janet Lawler
- “Love from the Crayons”by Drew Daywalt
- “The Day It Rained Hearts” by Felicia Bond
- “Hugs and Kisses for the Grouchy Ladybug” by Eric Carle
- “Valentine’s Day Jokes for Kids”by Chrissy Voeg
- “Love Monster and the Last Chocolate” by Rachel Bright
- “L is for Love: A Heartfelt Alphabet”by Greg Paprocki
- “Love from The Very Hungry Caterpillar” by Eric Carle
Check out more of our favorite Valentine’s Day books for kids!
4. Toys
You’ve got to have a fun heart-shaped toy in your Valentine’s basket! These stackable hearts are a great learning toy for babies, and they even double as a teether. Older kids will like this mini heart puzzle. Or grab this set of 12 mini heart-shaped slinkies. My kids both love them!
My kids also love getting new stuffed animals and little pillows. These plush sets from Slumberkins areso sweet and soft, and this Squishmallows roseis the cutest plush toy for Valentine’s Day. This set of heart pillows is also adorable. Your kids will love them! And for your littlest Valentine, this personalized silicone heart teether is the perfect thing.
5. A Special Treat
I made my kids’ treats extra special by getting personalized heart cookies! You can order them at a local bakery or make your own, as I did. It doesn’t cost much and is more thoughtful than bagged candies. But if you’re short on time, we understand! These mini chocolate chip cookies are a quick, healthier option. These Valentine-shaped pretzels are also a great choice if you’re looking for something with less sugar.
6. Something Practical
Finally, I like to have something practical in the baskets. Think about something they need anyway, and see if you can make it work for a Valentine. For instance, I got my son a red Disney “Cars” toothbrush and this black beanie. For the baby, she’s getting a heart-shaped plate and new socks. I just found these items in a Valentine’s color, and it’s killing two birds with one stone!
Other practical items:
- Here are the most adorable bows for the little girls in your life!
- These bandana bibs come in perfect Valentine’s prints.
- The sleep sacks I use with my daughter come in a pink heart print.
- This beadless pacifier clip is super adorable and perfect for V-day and after!
- I love these pink and white winter mittens and these gloves for your babies!
- Theseheart-shaped sunglasses are an excellent item for your basket.
- And if you want to add something for them to wear for the day, we love this cool Valentine’s shirt and this heart sweater set. Too cute!
How To Display Your Valentine’s Gift Baskets
Finally, you can make your Valentine’s gift basket display extra fun with simple decorations like balloons, garlands, and/or a banner.Hang a white sheet on the wall, add your decorations, and you’ve got a DIY Valentine display corner. It’s also the perfect spot to take photos of your kids with their gift baskets. Just remember to have them put on their new Valentine’s jammies first!
I hope you are inspired to make your DIY Valentine’s basket with as many or as few of these items as you would like. Knowing my children will remember these special moments as they grow up sure makes it worthwhile for me.Enjoy loving on your little ones, and may you have an extra sweet Valentine’s Day together!
Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
As a parent and enthusiast of creating memorable experiences for my children, I can confidently share valuable insights on how to make the perfect DIY Valentine's gift baskets for kids. Over the years, I have cherished the sweet memories of my own mother's Valentine's Day gift baskets, filled with love and thoughtfulness. Now, as a parent myself, I take great joy in pampering my kids with these special treats.
When it comes to assembling Valentine's gift baskets, I believe in selecting items from different categories to add variety and excitement for the kids. Here are some concepts and tips to consider:
-
Valentine's Basket or Container: To hold and display all the Valentine's goodies, it's essential to choose the right basket or container. Here are a few suggestions:
- Purchase special Valentine-themed baskets that can be stored and reused each year, such as retro jelly baskets.
- Explore affordable options at the Dollar Store or Target Dollar Spot for one-time-use containers.
- Repurpose baskets that can be used beyond Valentine's Day, like peony pink pompom bins or shower caddies.
- Consider other options like red woven bins, heart-shaped storage bins, metal baskets, or coiled white rope baskets.
-
Valentine's Day Pajamas: Every holiday deserves special pajamas, and Valentine's Day is no exception. Consider these options:
- Heart-themed pajamas like two-piece sets for little girls or solid red or pink pajama sets for boys.
- Explore brands like MORI for heart-print pajamas, snug-fit jammies for lounging, or long john pajamas with colorful heart prints.
- For older kids, a cute two-piece set with a pink and red heart print can be a great choice.
-
Books: Seasonal books are a wonderful addition to Valentine's gift baskets. Some recommendations include:
- "Valentine's Day is Cool" by Pete the Cat.
- "Ollie's Valentine" board book for babies and toddlers.
- Other options like "Mirabel's Missing Valentines" by Janet Lawler, "Love from the Crayons" by Drew Daywalt, "The Day It Rained Hearts" by Felicia Bond, and more.
-
Toys: A fun heart-shaped toy adds excitement to Valentine's baskets. Consider these options:
- Stackable hearts that can also double as teethers for babies.
- Mini heart puzzles or a set of mini heart-shaped slinkies for older kids.
- Plush sets from Slumberkins or a Squishmallows rose for cuddly companions.
- Heart pillows or a personalized silicone heart teether for the littlest Valentine.
-
A Special Treat: Make the treats in the gift baskets extra special by adding personalized heart cookies, which can be ordered from a local bakery or made at home. Alternatively, mini chocolate chip cookies or Valentine-shaped pretzels are quick, healthier options.
-
Something Practical: Include something practical in the baskets that the kids need anyway, but in a Valentine's theme. Some ideas include:
- Red Disney "Cars" toothbrush or a black beanie.
- Heart-shaped plate and new socks for babies.
- Other practical items like adorable bows, bandana bibs, pink heart-print sleep sacks, beadless pacifier clips, winter mittens, gloves, heart-shaped sunglasses, or Valentine's-themed clothing.
To display the Valentine's gift baskets, add simple decorations like balloons, garlands, or a banner. Hang a white sheet on the wall, arrange the decorations, and create a DIY Valentine display corner. This corner can also serve as a perfect spot to capture beautiful photos of your kids with their gift baskets, especially after they put on their new Valentine's pajamas.
I hope these ideas inspire you to create your DIY Valentine's gift baskets, incorporating as many or as few of these items as you'd like. The joy of knowing that your children will cherish these special moments as they grow up makes it all worthwhile. Enjoy showering your little ones with love, and may you have an extra sweet Valentine's Day together!
