feeling a bit lost with lego duplo for a 2 year old?

[enormouse]

Just that really.
I've bought all the stocking bits for DS and decided on Lego duplo for his main present but I'm not sure what to get.

Do I need to get a baseplate?
Should I get a tub? Or a set by itself? Or both? I like the zoo/fire station/construction sites and the number train. I would get the cars but I have an awful suspicion that his grandparents are buying him more v tech toot toot cars.
Is it worth it? Is amazon the best place to buy?

So many questions. TIA
Dp is useless as he thinks the Lord of the rings ship and star wars jabbas palace are appropriate for a 2 year old.

[dyslexicdespot]

My DS is two and loves duplo. We have bought, and have been given several sets, his favourite so far has been a steam engine train set.

[ilovepowerhoop]

argos has some of the stuff on offer plus 3 for 2 on toys

[AnnoyedByAlfieBear]

My 15 mo loves Duplo. We have the number train (no base-plate needed) and spends all day taking all our lovingly built models apart!

I would recommend a tub as bits get everywhere. He's getting the zoo set for Christmas from my SIL so it's only gonna get worse!

[MrsHowardRoark]

I've just bought a load of Duplo for my DD and I definitely recommend getting a baseplate.

It means that you can build all kinds of things and you get the best out of the blocks. I also bought a large tub of blocks and the zoo, which is very cute.

[Rootvegetables]

The number train is a big hit here and we have the zoo from last year and I've got him the abc set this year. They were all half price at sainsburys last week but think that's finished now. My ds is 3 in feb.

[TheOnlyPink]

My Ds is almost 2 and between Santa and his grandparents he is getting a small tub of bricks, the market set and the animal centre set.no idea if any of it is good, but the biggest thrill of his life is when he is allowed to play with ds1 and dh Lego, so we are hopeful!

[CocktailQueen]

We have the fire station and it's brilliant. We don't have a base plate but have a big random tub of the stuff too, and that's great.

[homeworkmakesmemad]

Yes to a baseplate, in fact I would buy 2 - my lot would regularly make "models" and want to keep them until Dad got home to show him so would then use the 2nd baseplate to keep building in the meantime. Also useful if you have friends round and more than 1 wants to play at the same time.

Buy basic blocks in the cheapest way you can - it's what most models are made of and you will get the most value from them.

Try to get some windows and doors - vital for building houses!

The cars/boats are good and versatile for game-playing while building. We also have some older stuff including an old helicopter which is a firm favourite of my 3 year old DTs. Check out ebay for older second-hand bundles or individual items.

Don't expect him to build specific models yet though - you can get the sets but most children just build what they like and ignore the idea of building something specific - esp at age 2! Some of the smaller favourite character sets are good though because it links the duplo in with other toys - when my eldest was little he had some Bob the Builder duplo with some of the vehicles and they were very popular. My middle one liked the Winnie the Pooh stuff and my DTs like their cinderella/ariel sets. They don't bother with the big sets though - just the characters and then build their own things around that using their imaginations.

The 2 sets around at the minute which I think are particularly good however are the number train and and the cakes set - not just for girls and leads to lots of imaginative play around birthday cakes etc...

(apologies for the loooong message - we are a bit of a lego mad house )

[ZenNudist]

We are wall to wall duplo. A large green base plate is a good idea. Never bought a tub if bricks. Ds loves his sets. Dh got a bit carried away & started empire building!

If your ds like Disney cars/planes/ jake and the never land pirates get some of the themed stuff. Is easy to get off duplo website as well as amazon Argos etc.

I'd just go for a few bits from one type of set this time. it depends what your ds is into. Maybe fire station plus a big fire truck, or police station & prisoner van thing. Personally I love the circus stuff. The farm or the zoo are lovely too.

My ds plays more with bits from the sets, takes his jake characters everywhere with him ATM. He love things like the windy hose from the fire engine. The slide from the fire station is a favourite bit to play with too.

We used to have various sets made up that he played with but then he got bored so we made them into one big 'castle' and he loves that right now.

[enormouse]

Oh wow, so many responses! Thank you!

I've seen Lego on offer on asdas 2 for £20 so I'll get a bucket and baseplate from there or eBay.
And shop around for a set. I know the sets can go down quite a bit, especially on amazon.

[kiwidreamer]

You cant really go wrong with Duplo its a winner!!! We got a large base plate after a few years and its been really worth it, DS 5yrs wants to get down and play with DD 2.5yrs and build stuff. We have a large box of bricks, the cakes set, a couple of animal/zoo sets, a police truck thing and DD will get the fire station set for Xmas. Everything just gets chucked in a plastic bin together and new creations are made each time with whatever figures are to hand.

[enormouse]

Aargh the vultures have descended on asda direct and almost all the duplo sets are sold out!

[ilovepowerhoop]

argos has base plates included in their 3 for 2 on toys

[kelda]

Yes get a base plate, the biggest you can get. Get loads of basic blocks and figures/animals - second hand duplo is good quality as well.

[ZingWantsCake]

try Ebay

we bough plain red, plain green, icy/water moulded and yellow/terrain moulded from Zoo sets.

[Didactylos]

think about getting a duplo train set? as its got lots of bits which mix with any of the building sets and is a good chunky, unbreakable train which you can add bits to later. If he doesnt have a train set already that is!

[Doitnicelyplease]

Agree you need a baseplate at some point but not right away, try getting a big set that comes with the medium sized baseplates we have the big zoo and polar zoo and they come with a lot of pieces and animals and people, also try to get a set that comes with a door and a window so you can build houses. The number train is good also as it gives you the wheel bases.

I would say one big set, one medium set and one medium box of box would be a great starter - then get the large baseplate in 6 months or so when he is building more by himself.

[Mittensonkittens]

We got a large duplo zoo set off eBay, it's lovely. Ds is 4 now and still plays with it quite a bit - although now he makes prisons for his animals and shoots them.

It holds its value quite well so if you get it second hand you dont usually lose any money if you want to sell it on after. It still wasn't cheap but it is good stuff - think I paid about £50 for it even second hand. It is a huge set though, with a zoo train, lots of animals and cars / trucks.

[enormouse]

Good tip about the baseplate, thanks doitnicely.
I've decided on a medium sized green box, Lego zoo and zoo train. Will get the base plate later on. DP is also going through his old playroom to see what he can contribute to the duplo haul.
And have also bought some Lego storage bricks for his room whilst they're on sale at asda direct. . Tis a pyramid scheme, this duplo malarky.
mittensonkittens I've seen an discontinued (but not that old) aeroplane set go for £80/£90 on ebay.

We're expecting DS2 next january and I can see Lego featuring heavily in my future.
Again, thanks everyone so much. I think this might be the best response to a thread I've ever started on mumsnet.

[Mittensonkittens]

It really does hold its value enormouse because it's indestructible! Although our secondhand set did have what appeared to be raisins wedged in some of the bricks. And frankly if it wasn't raisins it doesn't bare thinking about, I disinfected it anyway!

[enormouse]

Ok I thought I'd share my duplo based progress or slippery slope into Lego induced penury.
I bought the green box for £7.99 (reduced on Amazon if anyone's interested)
The zoo truck also from amazon
My first zoo set from asda direct

I've also bid on a few wee zoo bits and pieces on eBay. I did have my heart set on the zoo train but can't find it anywhere.

That should keep him happy for a while (I hope). Thanks everyone, have now completely sorted all presents for DS.

Btw probably best to hope they were raisins mittens.

[ShoeWhore]

Duplo is ace at that age. Particular favourites in our house were the fire engine, airport (the big aeroplane is brilliant) and (although I wouldn't have chosen it myself) the zoo. They especially liked the vehicles.

We never had a baseplate and didn't massively miss it but there's no harm getting one (I assume that duplo will also work with lego baseplates in which I case I would consider getting one of those for longevity I think)