Best toys for 2-year-olds: our guide to the best gifts for toddlers

LEGO is a brand that has established itself as a children's classic, loved by adults and children equally, and their DUPLO sets for toddlers are no exception. Promising hours of safe, creative play, your child can let their imagination run wild and create all kinds of structures and creatures.

Popular amongst Mumsnetters, this starter box is our pick for the best DUPLO set. It has 65 classic bricks, two figures, a car, windows, a roof, two loaves of bread and some flowers, which can all be conveniently stored in their Lego-shaped storage box (to avoid any feet-related accidents).

The set even includes a starter booklet full of ideas, helping inspire two-year olds to bring their imagination to life. The only problem is they'll love it so much they'll want to add more sets to the collection!

For two-year-olds, simple, open-ended toys are often all that’s needed to let their imaginations run wild. This big box of Play-Doh tubs is a brilliant choice for hours of creative fun and imaginative play.

With a rainbow of colours to squash, roll, and shape, there’s plenty to keep little hands busy whilst developing those fine motor skills. It also offers a lovely sensory experience, giving toddlers the freedom to explore colours and experiment. With 20 full-size tubs to choose from, this box offers plenty for repeat play sessions making this a great-value gift that can provide many hours of squishy entertainment.

Read next: Best toddler reins to keep your little ones close

Tested and reviewed by Mumsnet writer Rachel Jeffcoat: Read our full Mini Micro Deluxe Review

Tested and reviewed by Mumsnet writer Laura Cooke: Read our review of the Mini Micro Deluxe Glitter

Micro Scooters come highly recommended amongst Mumsnet users and make a great first scooter for toddlers. Unlike some budget designs which can be heavy and hard to handle, Micro Scooter Mini Micros are designed specifically for younger riders, with a lightweight design and simple tilt-to-steer system which is easy to master, even for beginners.

Available in a choice of five bright colours with LED lights to blaze a trail, the Mini Micro certainly doesn’t come cheap, but is easy to adjust as your child grows, lasting them right through till at least their 5th birthday. We love the durable anodised aluminium frame which is clearly built to last, combined with chunky silicone handle grips and a large anti-slip footplate that can help your toddler learn to ride with confidence.

Toniebox 2 tested and reviewed by Mumsnet editor Rachel Erdos: Toniebox 2 review

When it comes to screen-free entertainment for two-year-olds, the Toniebox 2 is a brilliant choice for little ones who love music, singing and stories. This soft, squishy audio player is designed for children aged one and up, with simple controls that make it easy for toddlers to pop a character on top and start listening to their favourite tunes and tales. With a wide range of Tonies to collect, including nursery rhymes to much-loved characters from books and TV, it’s a toy they can enjoy independently as their interests grow.

Unlike the Yoto Player, which is officially recommended for children aged three and over, the Toniebox 2 is certified for younger children, making it a more suitable option for two-year-olds who are ready to choose their own entertainment. We particularly love its padded design, which is made to withstand the inevitable bumps and tumbles of toddler life. It also has handy bedtime features, including a sleep timer with a night light and a sunrise alarm, helping little ones wind down at night and develop their routines. For older children, Tonieplay adds interactive audio games, too, giving the box plenty of staying power as they grow.

If you’re looking for a more budget-friendly option, the new Toniebox Lite offers the same character-based listening experience for less. It works with all Tonies and is smaller and lighter (which is handy for travel), but its harder outer shell has less built-in padding than the Toniebox 2, so it may be less forgiving if dropped by a boisterous toddler. The Lite is compatible with stories and songs, but not Tonieplay games, so the Toniebox 2 is the better all-round choice if your budget stretches to it.

With a removable board for feet, the Cozy Coupe has been a much loved toy for generations, initially pushed along by a parent, before allowing your two-year-old to take control, moving their feet, Fred Flintstone-style, to navigate around their surroundings.

This ride-on toy has wheels that spin 360 degrees, which make it super manoeuvrable, encouraging even the most reluctant of 2-year-olds to go and play outside, improving gross motor skills whilst encouraging creativity, imagination and communication skills too.

This original iconic yellow-and-red-design Cozy Coupe comes with an ignition switch, opening fuel cap, working horn and easy open door. But if your two-year-old has a particular preference there are a variety of different designs to choose from, including a police car, princess, black cab or dinosaur version to help bring their interests to life. One minor gripe is that assembly of the Cozy Coupe is quite time-consuming and complicated, so if this is a Christmas or birthday present online reviewers recommend building it in advance of the big day!

If you’re looking for a first doll that’s all about cuddles and nurturing play, the Olli Ella Dozy Dinkum is a lovely choice. With a soft, floppy body, sleepy embroidered face and little tuft of hair, it feels like a cross between a baby doll and a favourite teddy. At 32cm tall, it’s easy for toddlers to carry around, cuddle at bedtime and take on adventures.

There are no buttons, sounds or accessories to fiddle around with, but that’s part of the appeal. Little ones can make up their own games, from settling their doll down for a nap to taking it along in a toy pushchair. The outfit isn’t removable, although there are several romper designs to choose from.

Mumsnetters love the quality of this doll, with parents reporting that their children have adored their Dozy Dinkums from toddlerhood onwards. They’re also machine-washable, which is a real bonus for a doll that’s likely to go everywhere.

Tested and reviewed by Mumsnet editor Laura Westerman: Read our full Scuttlebug review

Scuttlebugs come highly rated amongst Mumsnet users, with super cute and appealing characters that make a great first ride-on toy for two-year-olds. With three wheels and intuitive front-wheel steering, they’re really easy to control, allowing your two-year-old to climb on board and whizz around the park in next to no time.

Our tester loved the impressive three-click fold, making it quick and easy to pack away or stash in the bottom of your pushchair if your child’s legs get tired. While it’s fair to say they may outgrow them quite quickly, the budget-friendly price of just £18 is an absolute bargain, even for relatively short-term use.

Outdoor toys are a popular choice with parents and toddlers, especially during the warmer months, when they offer a fun excuse to get outside and cool off. This sand and water table is suitable from 18 months and has plenty of features to keep curious two-year-olds entertained.

With two separate compartments, little ones can splash and pour water on one side and dig, scoop and make sandcastles on the other — or fill both sides with their favourite material. It comes with 10 accessories, including a boat, mould, funnels, spinning wheels, a scoop and a spade, encouraging hands-on exploration while helping develop coordination and fine motor skills. Its 42cm height is specifically designed for younger children, which is great for two-year-olds although it may mean they outgrow it quite quickly.

The waterproof lid helps keep sand clean and dry between play sessions and the accessories can be stored inside. The only downside is that sand isn’t included, so you’ll need to buy some separately.

If your two-year-old is car obsessed, they’ll absolutely love this two-storey interactive garage from Vtech Toot Toot, a fun and entertaining toy that encourages imaginative play and refines those fine motor skills.

With one musical car included, children can navigate up and down the ramps to the turning station, petrol pump or electric meter, before heading to the shops and getting squeaky clean at the local car wash. Drive over one of six Smart Point locations across the garage to trigger lights, sounds and music – be warned though, the music is incredibly catchy, so parents will soon find themselves singing it in the shower.

If your 2-year-old loves getting crafty, drawing or painting but the thought of getting the paints out around your cream carpets just isn’t practical, Aquadoodle is a great solution.

This portable fold-out mat comes with a water pen, brush and stamps that allows children to get creative without any mess, creating watermarks on the mat as they run the pen across the surface. The water fades completely once dried, allowing the mat to be reused over and over again. Its large size also means it can be used by several children at once, so it’s a great toy to get out for play dates.

Bright, colourful and packed with playful features, the LeapFrog Scoop and Learn Ice Cream Cart is a brilliant choice for two-year-olds who love pretend play. Little ones can take turns being the customer or the ice cream seller, serving up imaginary treats to teddies, siblings, friends and family.

It comes with 20 different bits and pieces, including the magic magnetic scooper which recognises different flavours, while the menu cards encourage children to match orders and create their own ice cream combinations. With pretend toppings, a syrup pump, fun sounds and phrases, there’s plenty to keep toddlers busy as they practise counting and follow simple instructions.

The little wheels also allow two-year-olds to walk around with their ice cream cart, although some reviewers did find the noises and voices a little grating after a while.

Wooden train sets have been around for years, but children still love building tracks and watching trains go around. BRIO’s My First Railway Beginner Pack has been designed with toddlers in mind so they can start creating tracks as young as 2-years-old.

The 18-piece pack makes a simple circular track easy enough for toddlers to build and it comes with a wagon that makes a fun noise as it goes around. There’s also a colourful bridge and ascending track so children can watch the train go up and down.

The great thing about BRIO is you can buy lots more tracks, trains and accessories to connect together so children can keep on creating and expanding their own little world, it’s also compatible with most other brands, helping you expand your collection without breaking the bank. We think this is the best train set for 2-year-olds.

The SmartMax My First Safari Animals is a great choice for two-year-olds who love animals and enjoy figuring out how things fit together. Designed for children aged one to five, this colourful magnetic set contains 18 pieces, including six safari animals: a hippo, lion, giraffe, crocodile, elephant and rhino.

What makes it especially good for toddlers is how easy the pieces are to handle. The softer animal halves simply click onto the chunky magnetic bars, allowing little ones to build their favourite creatures before mixing and matching the pieces to create some wonderfully silly combinations. It’s a fun way to encourage curiosity, practise hand-eye coordination and develop fine motor skills, while the familiar animals can inspire imaginative play and help little ones learn animal names.

We also love that there’s no single way to play with this toy. Toddlers can enjoy assembling the animals, naming them or making up their own adventures. The set is compatible with other SmartMax toys, which include similar sets of dinosaurs, vehicles and farm animals.

Tested by Mumsnet writer, Rachel Jeffcoat: Read our in-depth Hornit AIRO review

A balance bike is a great introduction to cycling for toddlers. With a pedal-free design propelled along by your child’s legs, balance bikes can help your two-year-old master their balance and transition to a pedal bike without the need for stabilisers.

The Hornit Airo 12-inch balance bike is designed with 12-inch wheels, the optimal size for toddlers and young children learning to ride. Sleek and incredibly lightweight (and in a choice of six funky colours), the AIRO model is super portable and easy to carry home from the park when your child has had enough of the riding for the day.

The height-adjustable seat means it’ll last your child for years and there’s a lifetime warranty available, making it a great choice for families who want to be able to pass it on from one child to the next.

Mumsnet users absolutely love Orchard Toys for their wide range of educational games and puzzles. While many of their games are targeted at pre-schoolers, Post Box is a great first game for 2-year-olds introducing colour matching and the concept of taking turns.

We love the simplicity of this game, making it ideal for beginners to play with siblings or parents. While the cardboard pieces are thick and durable, the postboxes can fall over quite easily, so you may wish to support them while your child ‘posts’ the matching letters.