Birthday and christmas ideas for 2 year old?

[LyndorCake]

My son turns 2 just before Christmas and I'm absolutely stuck on what to get for him!
He loves books, cars, things on wheels, imaginative play and animals.
So far all I can think of is a play kitchen (he loves the one at nursery) but other than that, I'm stuck! Please can you lovely lot help?
I don't even know what a normal budget it! I'm thinking around £75-£100 each? Is that too much? Too little? Help :(

Same here OP - DS turns two a few weeks before Christmas. I've been super organised this year though and he will be getting a balance bike for his birthday, along with a book caddy from the Great Little Trading Company, some books, and a few Melissa and Doug bits. For Christmas he will get some Toy Story bits including fancy dress, more books, a brio train set, and some Toy cars.

@sinkgirl how about sensory play stuff like a ball pit, pop up tunnel, or a nest swing? All stuff that they can enjoy and will get years of fun out of too.
Anything with a clear cause-and-effect relationship is great too. We had a piano mat that you “play” by walking on it.

My DS was 2 a week before Christmas last year, biggest enduring hits with him were his wooden railway/extra pieces for his wooden railway and the Julia Donaldson audio CD collection - both of these played with/listened to daily still. Other bits that he got (that I can remember!) - lots vehicles of different kinds - these are played with regularly, wooden play cutting food he has out occasionally, boon pipes (plastic tubes you connect) which he plays with in the bath, sort and count bowls and beehives from Plan toys, simple puzzles, big wooden fire engine and firemen, wooden farm and animals, dressing up bits, a doll, lots of books, some clothes. He had a balance bike already otherwise that would've been another big hit!

Agree that they can have too much and it gets overwhelming - this year we're doing the want/need/wear/read thing plus one big present (new bike). It's worse when their birthday and Christmas are close together as one kind of follows on from the other!

ds had the ikea play kitchen for his 2nd bday. We got the ikea food but utensils elsewhere in plastic. Ds liked to throw stuff so we avoided the metal pans. Theres often play food and accessories in lidl and aldi closer to xmas. I dont remember what we got dd for her 2nd.

I'm absolutely disgusted that you're not even considering getting your toddler an iPad OR a piano, OP. I mean, just what kind of monster are you?!

Meanwhile back in the real world...

DS is 2 a month before Christmas. He's having the IKEA kitchen and accessories. He may get the cosy coupe for Christmas if I can find somewhere to store it. More likely he will have a scootiebug and some books, a helium balloon and some matchbox cars or something.

My DC are about to turn 2 and really into books, jigsaws and play-do just now. He's also obsessed with balloons so we've bought him 60 balloons. I'm thinking a train set for his birthday as he has outdoor toys already, a trike and I feel like my house is full of plastic!

My son was 2 yesterday, and I got him a large, second hand wooden garage for a hefty £4.50 from a local charity shop, plus a selection of wooden cars at £1 each from Asda and £land. I also got him 2 Janod playsets, a Little Explorers book and the Melissa & Doug mini puzzle set. My family got him the magnetic truck and train from Ikea, the Le Toy Van tractor and one of the early years Orchard Toys game. He's really enjoying playing with it all, especially the garage and cars :-)

I'm dying at the snootiness from Miss My Budget Is Better Than Yours, Peasant. Hilarious. A+.

You could give a 2 year old a big box and they'd probably be happy out. Save your money for sensible things.

Some of these suggestions are great!!!
So we've decided on a kitchen for Christmas and all the bits and bobs that go along side it. Not the IKEA one though, we've found a fab second hand one that has a few more cupboards etc which he loves opening.
For bday we are thinking a gold fish? Is that a crap idea? He absolutely loves animals and we can't afford a kitten or puppy (we both grew up with big dogs and had one until very recently so fully understand the duty of care). He loves going to pet shops and the beach to look at the fish so we just think it'll be something nice that he can watch. Obviously there will be other bits and bobs, I've got him an aquamat, the works do 10 books for £10 which is always good, I love the idea of a few dressing up costumes. Was thinking a bean bag chair and maybe some puzzles? Really trying to avoid plastic toys where possible as our house is already full of them!

Toy kitchens are great at that age
Wooden train set
Big diggers (nearly six year old still plays with the ones he got for his 2nd birthday)

What about a ball pool?... my cousins 2 yr old has one and loves it 😍 but she hates picking the balls up..😂..his birthday is in feb just after Christmas so this year she is going to buy him a toddler goal for our side ready for the summer next year

Happyland bus.

My DD is 2 next month and this year for birthday and Christmas we are getting her lots of little things. Lego duplo, happyland and a ball run are the main things. She also loves stacking things and transferring things from one pot to another so am getting her some Melissa and Doug lacing beads and a cog puzzle as they should keep her busy, quite cheap too. Her favourite thing at the moment though are Pom poms through a cardboard tube. Sometimes it’s the most simple things.