Grandparents have asked what the kids would like for christmas and i can't think of anything. Ages 4 and 18 months. Ideas please?

[Dragonbutter]

my mind has gone blank.
it does every year.
then i spend the rest of the year thinking of things.

If you really can't immediately think of a toy they want/need then ask for the next age up in clothes instead - at least you know they'll be used.

If you can't think of anything, it's probably because they don't need anything. In which case, useful things like PJs or books are always a good option. The Book People have lots of lovely Charlie and Lola books on offer which both children might enjoy.

Have you done your own Christmas "browsing" yet?? When I do mine (online) I see things that I think maybe dad would like to buy for them, as he likes to buy one big extravagant pressie and I prefer to get them lots of little parcels (ok, I admit it, I talk him into buying something I can't afford to, but he wants to really! )

Wooden train track.

Pyjamas with their fave characters on?
New sets of bedding?
Subscription to a comic (more for 4 yo)
Nice decorated hooks for bedroom doors?
Name plates for bedroom door(s)?

Are they boys or girls?

Scooter or roller skates for older one, ride-on toy for younger child

My mum often buys something her grandchildren need, like a coat or shoes, then she just does them a stocking with little things to open at her house. We have a big family so the DC get plenty of toys to open.

they have loads of wooden train track.
i haven't done any browsing as DH just made redundant and we don't really know whether we can afford christmas yet.
i did buy ds1 a book about cowboys.
new clothes make him stressed out.

boys.
ds1 just had a birthday this month so he got the toys he wanted then.

Cool name Miss Bennet and excellent suggestions!

Magazine subscription is a really good idea - the Charlie and Lola mag is lovely; unfortunately my dds are way too old for it so I don't get to read it anymore. IT always comes with lots of funky stickers etc.

Something to share? Sandpit? Paddling pool? Slide?

Wellies? Wooden fort/princess castle? Dolls' house?

well my parents have got two sets of pj's each for my kids. girls are getting dolly prams off them too and ds1 is getting a lego secret agent set. not sure what ds2 is getting yet though.

Ok - they are boys! Garage? Farm set? Those magnifying jars for looking at insects?

we were going to get ds1 the wall-e dvd and maybe something power rangerish.

ds2 is still playing with his click clack track and wooden trolley he got for his birthday.

god they're going to sound spoilt.
they have a dolls house - car boot sale
they have a garage - from grandparents
they have a farm - from grandparents
they have a slide - handmedown from family

where can you get those sand/water tables that are made from plastic that stand in a frame so can be packed away?

transparent sand/water tablehere but not so expensive would be good.

For next year, start wish lists on Amazon, ELC etc so you can pop ideas on it when you see them.

ELC do sand and water tables, I second a castle as a good one will last years. Pirate ships are a;so fun too.

You could always get the older one to look with you as there may be something he would like.

DS's gran gives me the money to do the shopping for her as she isnt too keen on shopping and would prefer me to choose. She always get a surprise to wrap as well as a selection pack - the surprise pressies are always something way out bless her.

Only read OP so sorry if repeating things . .

What about a load of paint, play doh, crayons, paper etc? Always go down well and will get used throughout the year.

Do you have a pop up tent?

A wooden train track?

What about baking kits with little aprons and cookie cutters in?

play kitchen? elc do a couple that fold away so don't have to be up all the time.
The elc sand/water table has legs that can be removed for storage.

money/voucher for winter boots and/or winter coat

outdoor play house
vtech games console
bike
scooter
little wooden table and chairs
drawing easel
dressing up clothes

We had this, I suggested ELC drum machine for our 18mth old and electric guitar for our 4 year old as they can play in a band together then, he got them from Boots and got a free Globe for them to share, so they got an extra I hope they like them, I think they will. I am keen on them playing together. Last year we suggested a large jigsaw for them to share and that went down well, (ELC jungle animals).

I have 2 around the same age. They both enjoy one of those little tents and colapsible tunnels you can get in ikea (and probably elsewhere).

Are you well supplied with ride-ons? If not that could be another.

all great suggestions.
out of the suggestions they really do already have a ton of stuff i like the idea of a globe, a tunnel, DS1 has a vtech console that my dad gave him last year (i asked for a magnadoodle and he got him a vtech with drawing bit!), so maybe some games for that might be good.

drum machines are great. i got them one at a boot sale and it does animal noises and voices, really funny.

Think i've thought of something.

Junior Sleeping bags for camping next summer?

ds is about your younger one's age and has a plastic sandpit on legs from Step2. he loves it and is popular with older visiting children up to about 4ish so they could probably both play with it. it doesn't fold down tho. we looked at the ones that have two separate compartments for sand/water but concluded that at his age it wasn't worth it as both would rapidly be combined into one wet sludge. come summer will tip out the sand and do water instead for a few weeks util he's bored of that and then revert to sand.
we fancied a tent and tunnel arrangement this year....hoepfully he and the dog will chase each other in and out of it while i put my feet up...