Light up toys for Christmas come in three kinds: toys with no batteries to install, toys that come with batteries in the box, and toys that plug in or run on USB. Our Spineez LED tops and Jumpeez poppers have no batteries to install. The LED ball wand ships with its AA batteries. The 6- and 8-inch plasma balls plug in. Here is which of our light up toys sits in which group, and how to check any battery toy before you wrap it.
Which light up toys have no batteries to install?
These three have the LEDs built in, and their listings say there is nothing to put in.
- Spineez LED tops: 12 tops in a blue or a red pack. The listing says no batteries or charging required. Twist and press to launch. Listed for ages 3 to 9.
- Spineez flying saucer tops: a 12-pack of tops with flying saucer discs, in three styles: Red, Individually Wrapped and Animals. No batteries or charging required here either. Also ages 3 to 9.
- Jumpeez LED rocket poppers: 24 soft rubber poppers with emoji faces and LEDs inside. No batteries to install. Push one down and it bounces and blinks.
These are the easiest pick for a stocking that gets opened at 6 a.m. Nothing to install, and a 12-pack or 24-pack goes a long way when the cousins come over.
Which light up toys come with batteries included?
The spinning light up wand with the LED ball runs on AA batteries, and the listing says they are included. It is 7.5 inches long, listed for ages 3 to 7, and comes in a gift box, so it is ready to go under the tree. Press the button and the LEDs spin in a light show.
Even when batteries are included, a quick test before wrapping saves a disappointed kid on the day.
Which Christmas light up wand should you pick?
For a Christmas look, two of our wands stand out: the snowflake light up wand (14.5 inches) and the spinning diamond wand (13.5 inches). Both come single or as a pack of 2, both come in a gift box, and both light up at the press of a button. The snowflake fits a snowy, winter-themed morning. The diamond suits a princess costume.
Straight answer on power: we don't have the battery details for these two on their pages yet. So yes, open the gift box a few days ahead, while the stores are still open, and press the button (both wands, if you bought the pack of 2). If it lights, box it back up and wrap it. If it doesn't, the battery door will show you what to buy.
Which light up toys plug in instead of using batteries?
Our 6-inch and 8-inch plasma balls run on the included 12V adapter. The 3-inch mini plasma ball runs on the included USB cable, or on 4 AAA batteries that are not included. Put a hand on the glass and the lightning follows your fingertips. All three sizes are in our plasma ball collection.
A glass globe belongs on a desk or a shelf, not on the floor by the tree. For sizes, ages and safety rules, see our plasma ball gift guide.
Are button batteries in toys dangerous?
They can be for young children, and December brings a pile of new battery toys into the house at once. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's button cell and coin battery page says toys with these batteries must have a closure that needs a screwdriver, coin or tool to open. It asks parents to "check the toys in your home to make sure battery compartments are secured."
Three habits that help on the day:
- Keep spare batteries in a drawer, not loose on the floor with the wrapping paper.
- After the gifts are open, look over every battery toy, including the tops and poppers, for a loose battery door or a cracked case.
- If a child may have swallowed a button battery, the CPSC says to seek medical attention right away and call the National Battery Ingestion Hotline (800-498-8666) or Poison Help (800-222-1222).
A lights-off game for Christmas morning
Christmas morning starts in the dark in a lot of homes, and that is the best time to open a light up toy. Turn off the lights, launch the Spineez tops on a hard floor, and see whose top glows longest. Line up the Jumpeez poppers and push them all at once for a blinking jump. Then let the youngest kid (3 or older) run the wand's light show.
It takes ten minutes, nobody needs a screen, and it buys the adults time for coffee. Pick the tops and poppers up afterward if there is a baby in the house. For more small gifts that fit a stocking, see our stocking stuffers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which light up toys need batteries?
Of the toys in this post, the LED ball wand runs on AA batteries, and they are included. The 3-inch mini plasma ball runs on its USB cable or on 4 AAA batteries, which are not included. The 6-inch and 8-inch plasma balls plug in. The Spineez tops and Jumpeez poppers have no batteries to install. The snowflake and diamond wand listings don't state their batteries yet, so test them before wrapping.
What toys have button batteries?
Some toys and many small electronics do, so read the battery line on each product page. The CPSC says toys with button or coin batteries are required to have a closure that takes a screwdriver, coin or tool to open. It also says to keep remotes, electronics and other products with accessible button or coin batteries away from children.
Do light up toys count as screen time?
No. A spinning wand or a light up top has no screen, no app and no video. It is a physical toy that happens to glow, so it is not the same thing as a tablet.
Are light up toys bad for toddlers?
Go by the age on each listing. Our light up tops are listed for ages 3 to 9 and the LED ball wand for ages 3 to 7. For a child under 3, pick a toy listed for that age.
Browse all our light up toys, and check the battery line on each page before you order.