Buying toys for 2 year olds is a pain!

[CommanderTaggart]

This is for the child of a friend, my budget is £10-15. Most toys that the 2 year old would be interested in seem to be labelled age 3+, even though loads I think would be fine for a 2 year old and they’re just arse-covering, I don’t want to make that assumption with a gift.
The ones for 0-2 year olds seem to be baby toys that I don’t think would interest the child, or that she would outgrow very quickly.
What can I get a curious 2 year old girl that isn’t ‘too old’ or boring / a waste of money?!

Toy eggs in a carton that break open to reveal shape puzzles?

Duplo is good for that age.
The boxes all say either 1.5 + or 2+.

Seconding Duplo - it’s ideal.

Jigsaw puzzles are good for that age. Ravensburger do some basic 2+ ones or any of the ones with the little knob on that you put into the hole (rather than the ones that you assemble together) are good.

This was DGD’s absolute favourite 2nd birthday present & she uses it every day ‘helping mummy cook’ - and at the moment it’s just under £15
https://jackies-kids.uk/products/minichef

I'd get a book, they're great for multiple ages

Most toys that the 2 year old would be interested in seem to be labelled age 3+

get that?

Parents get weirdly offended if you buy something "younger", every child is advanced, very active 😂
If you think the toy is great, just buy that, you can see if it's age appropriate or not. Parents will be flattered.

Duplo , melissa and doug wooden puzzles , lanka kade animals , books , little people sets

Ooh thanks, lots of good ideas, will check these out!

I did mean to say, she’s the 4th child in the family, so they already have loads of Duplo, and books (although arguably you can never have too many books). The cooking set looks fab!

Jellyblox
Magnatiles
Stickle bricks
Tea set
Play food
Small little people set
Characters from favourite show
Age appropriate puzzles
Bath toy - tomies do nice sets like a barista set or a oven/sink sort of thing
Tonies character if they have a box
Crayons and a colouring book
Playdough

My DD is 2 and I'd be happy if she receives anything like the above as a present

Seriously. Only Duplo and Play doh at that age. Alot of kids stop putting stuff in their mouths by then so the parents can store it for later even if its 3+

Oh a lock box is quite useful too teach them various locks ( in case they manage to lock themselves in a toilet cubicle for example)

Bath toys are a great idea - especially the ones where you can tip and fill. One of the best toys we had were those stacking cups with different sizes/amounts of holes in the bottom. I still remember on nursery evenings when it was too rainy for the park popping dc in the bath for 45 minutes with a set of these then sitting with a chair by the bath reading.

I think plastic stacking cups saved my sanity!

If they are the 4th child then they will already be playing with toys older than their age so parents are unlikely to blink an eye at a toy that's 3+.

I would go something character's from favourite show, bath toys, playdough. Children have different preferences for favourite shows, bath toys need chucking after a bit so it's nice to have new, playdough dries up and gets chucked. With 4 children it's likely they will have things like books/ duplo/ toy kitchen bits coming out their ears.

Depending on the genders of other DC, there are only so many different themed sets you can buy before you end up with repeats. If the DC is only boy/ girl it's much easier as they won't necessarily have all the sets.

Either way, it's nice for younger siblings to have something of their own new (even if it is a repeat), if they are anything like mine, my youngest DD has loads of hand me downs and all the toys are from her bigger sister. Although I personally cannot face the idea of yet another little people/ Sylvanian family playset entering the house.

Yes they have a lot of stuff already (older siblings of both genders) and they live in a flat, so not a huge amount of storage.
I like the idea of a bath toy or playdough, as these things only last a limited time!