You don’t have to break the bank to have a great holiday season. Toy Insider Senior Editor Jackie Cucco stopped by News 12 in Brooklyn to show off items from Toy Insider’s 12 Under $12 toy list, featuring the best toys for shoppers on a budget. For more on the items featured in this segment, check out the product notes below, and for the complete rundown of the best toys of the holiday season, be sure to check our complete Toy Insider Holiday Gift Guide.

FLUFFY CLOUDZ JAR

This colorful, super-stretchy Cloud Slime assortment features fruit-flavored scents, including Berry Blast, Cococraze, Grape Squeeze, Melon Mania, Peach Paradise, and Piney Party. Each jar includes a surprise charm.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $4.99
  • Age:
  • 4+

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CRY BABIES MAGIC TEARS

Available in blind bottle houses and dressed in animal onesies, these dolls cry real tears and come with eight accessories and a sticker sheet. There are 12 characters to collect, including one rare character. Available in blind bottle houses and dressed in animal onesies, these dolls cry real tears and come with eight accessories and…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $9.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

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FOODIE SURPRISE

Open the mini mystery food cart and reveal surprise ingredients and supplies to make edible candy, then pack it in the “to go” keychain containers. Available in themes such as sushi, pizza, ice cream, and more.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $9.99
  • Age:
  • 6+

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5 SURPRISE MINI BRANDS

Kids can unwrap, peel, and reveal these capsules to find five miniature collectibles based on real brands that are found in any grocery store — it's like they've been hit with a shrink ray.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $5.99
  • Age:
  • 4+

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Piñata Fiesta

Kids pull three strings to open different compartments to reveal all the surprises inside the reusable piñata, or pull the middle string to open them all at once. Available in 12 designs in six different themes. Kids pull three strings to open different compartments to reveal all the surprises inside the reusable piñata, or pull…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $7.99
  • Age:
  • 4+

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CUTETITOS BABITOS SERIES 1 & CUTETITOS SERIES 3

Cutetitos Babitos are 3-inch, burrito blanket-wrapped plush baby animals with a surprise gender reveal. Plus, kids can unbox the full-sized Cutetitos, featuring new fabrics, characters, and personality “hot spots.” Sold separately. Cutetitos Babitos are 3-inch, burrito blanket-wrapped plush baby animals with a surprise gender reveal. Plus, kids can unbox the full-sized Cutetitos, featuring new fabrics,…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $7.99-9.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

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MÜSHMEEZ

These tactile plush are soft, moldable, and stretchable. Available in three sizes, Müshmeez come in bright, fun characters, each filled with unique materials. These tactile plush are soft, moldable, and stretchable. Available in three sizes, Müshmeez come in bright, fun characters, each filled with unique materials.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $6.99
  • Age:
  • 7+

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NANABLES

Each highly detailed Nanables dwelling features built-in hangouts and includes two unique Nanos. Using the integrated viewer, kids can peek inside each house, or download the free Nanables app to bring the house to life. Each highly detailed Nanables dwelling features built-in hangouts and includes two unique Nanos. Using the integrated viewer, kids can peek…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $5.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

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MORPHIMALS

Kids can twist, mold, and squish these collectible characters, including TwistiCorn, SkulptySloth, and ShapeyApey. Kids can reshape the Morphimals as many times and ways as they want.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $9.99
  • Age:
  • 8+

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JIXELZ

Each puzzle set comes with hundreds of precision-cut, micro jigsaw pieces. Kids can use the included templates to create pre-determined designs or create their own. Jixels hold together strong and fit together with ease. Each puzzle set comes with hundreds of precision-cut, micro jigsaw pieces. Kids can use the included templates to create pre-determined designs…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $9.95-16.95
  • Age:
  • 6+

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POP POP HAIR SURPRISE

Each includes a Pop Brush with spray bottle to reveal a surprise, a Pop Roller, and a Pop Hair Pet with long, brushable hair. More than 25 characters to collect in four themes: Girly Q's, Disco ‘Dos, Pretty in Punk, and Bed Heads. Each includes a Pop Brush with spray bottle to reveal a surprise,…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $9.99
  • Age:
  • 6+

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UNBOXME GIRLS

Each exclusive 8-inch Boxy Girl doll has articulated arms, legs, hips, wrists, and heads. With 36 different dolls to collect, kids can unbox a variety of shoes, hair, makeup, and clothes. Each exclusive 8-inch Boxy Girl doll has articulated arms, legs, hips, wrists, and heads. With 36 different dolls to collect, kids can unbox a…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $9.99
  • Age:
  • 6+

Buy Now

The Toy Insider participates in affiliate programs that may generate revenue for the site when a purchase is made through the links below.

About the author

Bill Reese

Bill Reese

Bill Reese is Business Operations Manager at Adventure Media & Events, where he's worked since 2014. A former editor at Playbill and graduate of SUNY–Purchase, he spends most weekends rooting for the New York Red Bulls pro soccer team and making subway systems out of Brio trains with his little boy Jonah.

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