If you’ve just bought your toddler a mud kitchen and you’re wondering what to put in it, you’re definitely not alone! When we first got ours, I had no idea what would actually get used and what would end up forgotten in the bottom of the garden.
After plenty of trial and error (and buying a few things that were definitely a waste of money!), I’ve finally found the mud kitchen accessories that my toddler comes back to again and again.
Whether you’re setting up a brand new mud kitchen or looking for some fresh mud kitchen ideas, these are the bits I’d genuinely recommend.
This post contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
A Water Dispenser
If I could only recommend one mud kitchen accessory, it would be a water dispenser. Mostly because then you don’t have to keep getting up to re-fill their cups and jugs!
Having running water completely transforms imaginative play. It becomes a café, potion shop, bakery, science lab and car wash all in one afternoon.
Shop my favourite water dispenser here →
Squeezy Bottles
Perfect for mixing colours, making potions and practising fine motor skills.
They’re cheap, easy to refill and somehow never stop being exciting.
Mica Powder
One of our favourite mud kitchen ideas is making colourful potions.
A tiny amount of mica powder turns water into magical potions without using food colouring.
Flowers
Lavender.
Rose petals.
Cornflowers.
These make every potion feel extra special.
They’re also surprisingly inexpensive when bought in larger bags. Or you can get some artificial flowers to use again and again!
Bugs
Because who doesn’t love bugs in the garden and this way, they leave the real one’s alone! We have a selection of bugs from life cycle sets to random insects and even squishy wiggly worms!
They get used all the time, often to make bug soup for everyone to eat…yummy!
Shop bugs here →
Bowls, Jugs, Sieves and Spoons
Basically a load of kitchen utensils for them to get creative with! If you can pour or scoop with it then it needs to be in your mud kitchen!
Shop bowls and jugs here →
Lemonade Ingredients
You can of course use real lemons, but we have fake lemon, lime and orange slices and strawberries too so our toddler can make lemonade. Just add water (and ice!)
Shop lemonade ingredients here →
Jelly Cubes
We use these all round the house and garden. They’re little acrylic blocks that catch the light and you won’t believe how many ways toddler’s can use these things!
Shop Jelly Cubes →
Rock Food
We painted some rocks to look like food for him to cook with in his mud kitchen and they’ve been brilliant! Just make sure to seal them well and they’ll last for years and add to the rustic vibe
Shop rock food painting supplies →
Sticks and Pine Cones
Anything they can add to their potions or ‘food’. Pine cones are a really good one and super easy to find. And toddler’s love collecting sticks anyway so they can be put to good use here!
Shop sticks and pine cones →
What else to put in a mud kitchen
- Plastic trays
- Muffin tins
- Whisks
- Toddler Tweezers
- Cups
- Cookie cutters
- Measuring spoons
- Silicone cupcake cases
- Buckets
- Watering cans
- Small baskets
- Shells
- Child-sized apron
- Waterproof gloves
- Sand timer
What I Wouldn’t Buy Again
Not everything we bought earned a permanent place in our mud kitchen.
I’d skip expensive themed mud kitchen toys and instead spend the money on versatile accessories that can be used in lots of different ways.
Simple items like scoops, bottles and bowls have had far more use than the more expensive gadgets.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I put in a mud kitchen?
Some of the best mud kitchen accessories include a water dispenser, measuring cups, scoops, funnels, potion bottles, bowls, dried flowers and child-safe kitchen utensils.
What age is a mud kitchen suitable for?
Most mud kitchens are suitable from around 2 years old with supervision. Toddlers love sensory play, pouring, mixing and imaginative role play.
Do you need mud?
Not at all! We use water, flowers, leaves, herbs, sand and even pretend food. A mud kitchen doesn’t have to be muddy to be fun.
Final Thoughts
You don’t need to spend hundreds filling your mud kitchen.
Start with a few good-quality accessories like a water dispenser, scoops, bowls and bottles, then add extra bits over time.
These are the products we’ve found ourselves reaching for week after week, and they’ve helped turn our mud kitchen into one of my toddler’s favourite places to play.