Growing up, my mom made Easter as special as Christmas. She planned Easter egg hunts, we dressed up, and her ideas for Easter baskets were always unique and inspiring. I knew when I had children, I wanted to make Easter just as special, because I had such fond memories of the holiday as a kid.
What I didn’t anticipate was this: filling Easter baskets is HARD when you want to stay away from candy, and get as many things locally and second-hand as possible. I have been on the hunt for baby-friendly, eco-friendly, and budget-friendly Easter basket additions for months. With Easter right around the corner, I’ve put an end to my search and tied up loose ends. I’ve finally settled on a basket that I am proud of and I’m sure my son will love!
The Basket
I have to admit – I searched for a basket WAY too late this year. None of the thrift stores had any, and I was on full panic mode. Finally, I stumbled upon a sweet older lady on Facebook Marketplace that had one for $5! It’s in great shape, was found locally, and was budget friendly.
Instead of a plastic store bought basket that will last just this once, I now have a basket that I can use for other things and many Easters to come. We used it for an Easter egg hunt already, and I can’t wait to see what other uses we get out of it. No waste here!
The Gifts
My son already has so many toys and books, so I didn’t want to go overboard on the gifts. I kept it minimal and age appropriate, mixing in fun with things he needed.
I stumbled upon this organic cotton bunny blanket on Etsy and was so pleased to find out that it was locally made by someone in South Carolina! It is so incredibly soft and perfect for my son. I know he’ll love it. They come in several different colors, but I chose the classic “cream” so that I can pass it down to future children. This shop has so many other organic cotton options to choose from!
Last month’s KiwiCo box included two bamboo shaped shakers, so I held off on adding them to his toy rotation and added them to his Easter basket! At this age, any new toy keeps him entertained for hours, so instead of buying more toys, I used what we already had to create a special moment for him.
Our Little Adventure to the Farmer’s Market is a book I found while browsing a local shop called The Good Market in Traveler’s Rest. I couldn’t resist the style and the content – I mean, how cute is a baby book about a fox going to the farmer’s market??
Lastly, I added in some wildflower seeds that will serve as a fun activity between my son and I. Although he’s a little young to understand gardening, I’d like to get him started in the dirt and mud, helping out and seeing the benefits of his actions.
A Word on Easter
No matter how or if you celebrate, I’d like to wish each and every one of you and your families a very Happy Easter!