Gifts for a 1 - 2 year old. Tell me your best buys!

[Mushroo]

My LO has a birthday very close to Xmas and everyone is asking what she wants (she will be 1 this year).

As her birthday and xmas are so close together, she won’t have any other opportunities for ‘big’ presents until shes 2.

therefore, I’m trying to work out not just what she would like now, but what might appeal to an 18 month year old in the summer. (Sandpit? Water play thing?)

I think she’ll be too young for a scooter? But what ‘big’ presents would you suggest for ages 12 - 24 months.

Thanks!

A waterplay tray would be really good, or better still a play tray that can be used for water in the summer and other messy play the rest of the year. A splash pad for the summer would be a good gift.

I'd leave sand for now and revisit next year, that's better for slightly older ones.

A scooter could be good if you get the one with seat on it that converts. Something to ride on would definitely go down well, maybe a scuttlebug or a wheelybug.

Duplo has excellent play value and is something that can be played with from 12 months -7/8/9 years old.

A toy kitchen/play food/tea set also have a long life, from baby to much older child.

A baby doll and buggy, from walking until 7/8/9 years old.

A selection of puzzles, a few board ones, some 2/4/6 pieces and up to 25 pieces for later in the year.

A tent/Wendy House also have long term play value.

Magnet tiles! Wooden track pieces. Water table. Kinetic sand. Bubbles.

My Dc still play with them.

Thank you! Some great ideas here I can pass on to grandparents. It’s so hard to visualise what she’ll be like in a few months

Largely echoing the previous two posters.

For ride-ons, I'd say scuttlebug/similar now, and scooter later in the year. Both of mine used a regular, standing mini micro before 2 – one just pottering about the garden/nursery, the other frighteningly good from just after 18 months and doing the nursery run on it!

For duplo, look secondhand if you can. It's really expensive new, but practically indestructible, so if you're not fussed about specific sets, you can get great deals off Marketplace or whatever. They won't necessarily build with it right away, but mine loved digging through it, looking at all the different shapes/colours/textures, trying to pull apart bits I'd stuck together, etc.

We have a picnic table that you can remove the top from and there are sand and water trays. We got it for DS1 when he was 2, but our 1 year old really likes it (and DS1 still uses as a picnic table at 5). Anything with bubbles.

Age up.

water sand table
playhouse
toy kitchen
accessories For kitchen!
Mini micro scooter and helmet - my Dd is a demon on one and has been for ages she’s only 2.5 now
magnatiles
brio
scuttlebug

I think the Fisher Price little people range and Happy Land have good long term value too! The Farm is still played with weekly in our house from first Christmas and he is 2 and half now!

Magnet Tiles are a winner, as well as Duplo!

We did scooter for 2nd birthday and he is a WIZZ on it now! But his ride on digger is a favourite for inside!

Stepping stones and a balance beam for age 2 have been a fantastic buy too!

Move her birthday, celebrate with a few small things and a Colin the Caterpillar Cake but have family and friends celebrate at Easter or June instead that then gives the option of outdoor toys as the weather gets nicer