Ideas for birthday presents for my DS's 2nd birthday please!

[ItalyLovingMummy]

My parents and in-laws are asking for ideas for DS's 2nd birthday, which is at the end of July. I am bit stumped for ideas as most things I spot seem to be for 3+ year olds. DH and I were going to buy him lots of new books as he loves me to read to him (and nobody else ever buys him books). DS loves being outside and we are moving to a new house with a good sized garden at the end of this month. He already has a trike and another 'ride-on' toy. I am worried that if I don't suggest anything my in-laws will get something ridiculous or inappropriate, which, bless 'em, is usually the case.

What about one of those mini football goal nets? Or a mini tramp? Good for outside play? Or one of those half sand half water tables?
For inside play some thomas the tank engine train tracks etc.

How about vouchers for ToysRUs (or similar) & then you can choose a big outdoor play item such as a play house/swing etc?

We usually do this for DD as her birthday is a month after Christmas & it seems silly to get stuff just for the sake of it a month later.

It means we can spread the fun & buy something to use in the good weather too.

Train set. We bought DS a wooden set from John Lewis for his 2nd birthday (£25, brilliant value) and suggested that relatives could buy him trains or other bits to add on to it (if they asked for suggestions, don't want to sound grabby!) The Brio and wooden Thomas trains are all compatible.

It's his favourite toy and we'll probably buy him some more bits for his third birthday. Most of the sets and trains do say 3+ but they are appropriate for younger children.

i would say the sand/water tables are good, my littles one has one, he is 2yrs and 3mths and he LOVES it, he also loves ride on toys but you say you have those.

stuff for the garden is always good at this time of year, pop up house and tunnel? they are another fave and can be used in and outside

Thanks everyone, they're great suggestions.

Books are great (and usually easily swapped if duplicated).
We got a scooter for DS's second.

I also asked others to get art stuff, crayons and colouring books... His fave present was a bin truck though...

wow truck and he loves his happy land stuff.

DD got a scooter for her 2nd birthday, as did a few of her friends.

It is aged 3 plus but even the website concedes that younger able children will be able to manage it.

She adores it (although she does have an older sister to follow around on it)

If your DS is fairly physically able he'll get the hang of it in no time.

bit random but my DD's favourite 2nd birthday present was this button board

my ds is about to be 2 and ive got him a scooter and a fire engine toy
other good ideas for this age cars, art stuff, playset kind of stuff like happy land or whatever else, outside toys - how about those cars they can get into in the garden the big red ones? most seem to love that and if you have space itll be good for the garden

The little trampolines with the handle at the front are good. My DS was 2 in April, and he loves playing on the larger of the two baby ones you can get - the ones technically for 3 and up. As long as they're closely supervied they're perfectly safe, and great fun for both the garden and (in case of rain) the living room if you don't mind them taking up space.

Alternatively, have you got a slide for the garden?

A Bobby Car. German made, my grandkids love these. Later, there is the Bobby Bike. Soon the child will be able to use a pedaless bike--they learn to steer and balance.

We also have the sand/water tableI have bought three of thesefirst one for oldest grandson when he was a ten month old with a tiny backyard. He is six now and he and younger brother still play with it (and have a bigger backyard now). We have one here with wheels on one end.

Another favorite is the lego duplo train, runs on batteries. This is not the babyish train. Then there is the coupe car--we have a police car one. We get a lot of tickets from Policeman Henry!

We just bought ds2 a wooden playhouse for his 2nd birthday. Both he and ds1 have not been out of it since we constructed it.

The Stokke Hippo rocking chair / sea saw thing is fantastic, we got a second hand one for the DC (1/2 & 12 months) recently. They both love it. DS is too young for them to play on it together but DD has with other children. Grand thing.

We've got the small one, it's a good size.

Here and here, if you like the coloured one.

There are some great ideas on here for DH and I to pass on to family now. I think grandparents will want to buy DS the outdoor stuff so DH and I will probably buy the train, books and art stuff. Thanks everyone.

We gps all clubbed together to buy a wooden playhouse for dgs and he loves it still[will be 4 Sept].It is furnished with a secondhand toy kitchen and a couple of little plastic chairs.It also has a tea set,pans,sweeping brush and is much loved by all his friends too.

the two most played with toys in our garden were the sandpit and large plastic rocker (see-saw). Both were played with for years, infact DD got really cross when we eventually chucked the sandpit out (she was about 10 at the time!!)