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Original poster

Farm set and train set for 2 year old

36 replies

Raggeo · 02/09/2021 09:47

My son turns 2 in December just before Christmas. I'm also due my second child in a few weeks and before I descend into the new-born chaos I wanted to make a dent in my birthday/Christmas shopping. He loves animals atm so I want to get him a farm or zoo set. Does anyone have any recommendations for a just turned 2 year old? Not sure whether to go for something plastic/electronic or something wooden and longer lasting. I would like the animals to be as realistic as possible. Some sets I looked at, the chickens were bigger than the cows😅
Also have the same dilemma with the train set. I don't want to buy Brio as it seems very expensive but I see there are lots of other cheaper versions available. Which ones did your children like? I also like the look of the duplo steam train, which has little figures that can go in, its electronic and makes noises etc. My feeling is he would like the plastic toys short term but the wooden train set would last more years and could be expanded if he liked it. Is 2 too young for the wooden sets?
Thank you for any suggestions and recommendations.

OP posts:

mindutopia · 02/09/2021 09:53

In my personal experience, playmobil has been the most durable. We have had a few wooden ones, but they actually weren't that sturdy and didn't last. In terms of buying as a set, I can't say as we don't have any playmobil animals, but the schleich animals are very realistic (and durable) and you can get them to different scales, though I'm not sure most children would care or notice if the chicken was as big as the cow anyway.

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 02/09/2021 09:58

My DD was bought this set when she was two. Shes now 10. It was played with by her, her sister and now belongs to our godsons. None of it has broken. The majority of the wooden sets are compatible.

As for animals... hers came from the Early centre in a big tub... unfortunately I don't think you can get them anymore...

Winemewhynot · 02/09/2021 09:58

The fisher price little people farm was a big for my DDs second birthday. She also got a tractor that sings old McDonald and pulls a trailer full of animals but but not sure what make that is!

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Winemewhynot · 02/09/2021 09:59

Big hit that’s should say

MattyGroves · 02/09/2021 10:01

My kids have loved their wooden train set since around 18 months. I got a big brio set secondhand and then added to it but any of the starter sets would work - big jigs and John Lewis have good ones

Justme10 · 02/09/2021 10:01

The chad valley animal buckets are great, my DS loves them.
The have farm, safari and ocean animals buckets.

TeenMinusTests · 02/09/2021 10:04

We also had ELC farm and tins of animals.
The Sleich (sp) animal toys are the best but pricey, but also long lasting, DD enjoyed these for 10 years.

NannyR · 02/09/2021 10:05

I would go for a wooden train set - a two year old will be happy with a pretty simple set up and you can add the more complicated tracks, bridges and stations as he gets older.
Lanka Kade animals are fairly cheap and made of wood but not very realistic, schliech are great, but more pricy.

BingBongToTheMoon · 02/09/2021 10:06

Brio for the train set.
Farm….I don’t know we had the ELC stuff too.

Horehound · 02/09/2021 10:06

Marking place because my boy is also going to get a train set for Xmas and also loves farms right now :)

Etinox · 02/09/2021 10:11

IKEA is really good for children’s toys. Brio compatible wooden train sets etc. Swedes take child’s play seriously and most kids are in tiny childcare facilities fully equipped by IKEA.

kwiksavenofrillsusername · 02/09/2021 10:11

We got our Brio train set second hand and it lasted for years, until I passed it on to the charity shop. It’s a great set as you can get the basic trains, or use their Thomas trains on it as they get older. Worth seeing if anyone is selling one locally to bulk up your collection.

I’ve not seen any farm animals that are as good as Schleich. I think they’re worth investing in. My DD has lots of farm animals and the cheaper ones that people have bought her have worn paint and broken legs, while the Schleich all look good.

Horehound · 02/09/2021 10:11

@Aroundtheworldin80moves were you going to link to the train set your daughter's had?

Mammyloveswine · 02/09/2021 10:13

Happy land play sets are very durable!

Brio is expensive but it is better quality...you can often get big jigs sets too in tk Maxx.

Congratulations on upcoming little one! I had 2 in 2 years and although hard it's been lovely seeing them grow up together!

whatswithtodaytoday · 02/09/2021 10:14

I bought a Brio trainset off Facebook marketplace during the winter -lockdown, and it's been consistently the most played with toy ever since. My son was almost 2 when he got it. I add bits occasionally - just bought him a tunnel as he keeps making tunnels out of books :D People have bought him trains for it too - all the main trainsets fit with Brio.

He's getting my old farm set from my parents' loft for Christmas... might not last him as long as he'll outgrow it, but I think he'll like it for a year or so.

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 02/09/2021 10:15

[quote Horehound]@Aroundtheworldin80moves were you going to link to the train set your daughter's had?[/quote]
Whoops I thought I did!

www.johnlewis.com/john-lewis-partners-wooden-train-set-120-pieces/p4255338

RomainingCalm · 02/09/2021 10:19

We ended up with 2x train sets for DS who was absolutely train mad - a Brio set and a Thomas 'Take and Play' set that I don't think they make any more.

Both were great and very well used. I preferred the Brio and DS had a mixture of official Brio and Ikea/Tesco add-ons.

However the Thomas stuff went everywhere with us. We ended up with a huge collection of trains as people bought them for gifts and I naively underestimated the 'pull' of the Thomas books/TV/films for DS as he got a bit older.

Whichever you go, for my advice would be to start simple with something that you can add to over the next few years. Keep it mostly 'floor level' as complicated 'playsets' that required building on stilts were far less stable and a pain to keep packing up and rebuilding.

FreeBritnee · 02/09/2021 10:21

I like the Mellissa and Doug toys. Check them out too.

RomainingCalm · 02/09/2021 10:22

This is very similar to one that we had. It might be a little early for a 2yr old (small pieces) but it was great value and connected with the Brio track.

www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/296109736

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 02/09/2021 10:26

Lidl and Aldi have wooden toys in the run up to Christmas and tey are good quality

Horehound · 02/09/2021 10:27

Thank you @Aroundtheworldin80moves :)

Original poster

Raggeo · 02/09/2021 10:42

Thanks for all the ideas. Sounds like the wooden train sets are the way to go. Never heard of big jigs before but looks good. A few people have said that some wooden sets are compatible with each other,which could be useful if buying bits and pieces on marketplace or ebay.
Some good animal suggestions too, will take the time tonight to look them all up. I knew mumsnet would have the answers

OP posts:

Ifyouarehappyandyouknowit21 · 02/09/2021 10:45

We have these two. Bought it two years ago. Gets played with often and is still in good condition. I love M&D toys.

BlackeyedSusan · 02/09/2021 11:54

bigjigs railway if still around.

mommybear1 · 02/09/2021 12:58

Id say Happyland we got ours on EBay and they are still going strong.

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