Gift ideas for 18 month old new nephew (adoption)

[WeAllHaveWings]

My DBIL/DSIL are adopting a little boy during December. He will be 18 months old, this is their first child.

Don't know what he likes to play with and its a long time since we had a toddler in the family, so not sure what to get, my first thought was a set of Duplo?

Ride on trike, scuttle bug, books, train set, happy land, bits for the garden, tea set, leapfrog scout

Ride on toys are brilliant, my 4yr old still loves them even though she's waaay too big and can ride a bike instead.

Depends on your budget, whether you want something sentimental he can keep forever or a toy, etc.

If they are taking a year's adoption leave then how about annual passes to the local zoo/soft play/petting farm? He'll probably still get in for free, so you may only have to buy a ticket for the adult staying home with him?

Toy ideas; wooden train track, Duplo, wooden building blocks, toy car?

A teddy or cuddly toy, or a photo frame to put in a picture of his family?

Ask them. It might be that they don't want too many new things at first so their DS isn't overwhelmed.

My 18 month old boy likes duplo, toot toot play sets, books (especially "little library" sets that are small and chunky, and bigger books to read to him like The Gruffalo), balls, and anything noisy. He also loves his ride on trike and wooden building blocks.

He also loves going to the play park, so wellies and snow suits are a good plan for winter visits!

Best wishes to them. :)

DS was that age last Christmas and big hits were tractor (Bruder) Schleich animals and dinosaurs, books where you press the button for sounds, toy tool kit, bubble machine, bubble lawn mower, wooden building blocks, playmobil diggers and dumpers

Can't go wrong with Duplo imo.

Duplo, books (it's lovely to start a bedtime routine with books), a cosy blanket to snuggle, a football (small airfloater) and bath toys.
Crafting bits and bobs are a great idea too. Maybe an easel and some paints plus and apron?

Why not get together with other family members and get him a swing, slide or a ride on car for the garden.

Loads of ideas, thanks!

Wooden puzzles, tea set, teddies. John Lewis do some nice retro fisher price toys that have gone down well here plus have nostalgia value for the parents. Or lovely clothes for next year?

Ask them. It could be they're being advised it's just too early on in the process to cope with anything else new in his life at that stage. Sometimes adoptive parents are asked to not even put up decorations so as not to change things.

Or go on the adoption board and ask there for ideas. He may be 18 months physically but could be 6 or more months "behind" emotionally. You will be buying for a traumatised child so it's a bit different this year to what you'll get him in future years when he's settled and attached.

My 16 month old ds loves things with shapes he has to put in holes, cars, our Fisher Price garage, mega blocks and the pram and baby.

Enjoy getting to know your new nephew. 18 months is a lovely age, they're good fun but still squishy babies.

As an idea that's not a toy, Photobox or similar sites do 'soft baby photo books', where they print your photos onto a material book that's completely washable. You can add titles, and it might help him get to know his new family.

A soft and squishy beanbag for him to curl up into?

You could always do vouchers for a family day out. Somewhere like the zoo vouchers and you could wrap up a small stuffed animal to go with it?

I am adopting a 2yr old at present..(pardon the pun). Just wanted to say how exciting for you all!
I second annual passes or national trust membership as no doubt he will be spoiled rotten with toys so it would be a gift that would be used all year.

Oh Fireflygirl, what a lovely idea!

The photobox books are lovely. I have one as a Christmas gift