what is the best toy you ever purchased for your toddler?

[milkyman]

need some inspiration for 18mth ds

Wooden train set! Some second hand Brio mixed with Ikea and Tesco and they still play with it now years and years on.

Both of mine loved the v tech push and ride alphabet train - ds1 is nearly 4 and still plays with it occasionally.

We had the toot toot driver garage and cars - doc didn't like it!

Dc, not doc!

The Little Tikes mega car carrier.
I bought it for my daughters 1st birthday ,13 years ago ! My son also loved it , as has every child that's been round to my house . It still looks like new ! They can sit on it and put various characters in the cars.
I highly recommend it .

The happyland alien set. Got it for dd at Christmas when she was 18mo and at almost four she still plays with it, as does 16mo ds

Fabric tape measure

Long handled dustpan and brush

Clothes pegs

Wax crayons, stickers and paper

Doll's buggy

All favourites of 17mo ds

mega blocks/ building blocks

Leapfrog scout/violet bear (I can't recommend these enough they are about £10 on amazon and some much better than the competitor bears my DS has the fisherprice dancing clapping bear I spent £40 on it then I saw these for a brilliant price on Amazon I wasn't expecting much but they are great you can personalise them with your childs name, and favourite thing they are also compatible with lots of other leappad toys you can buy as your child gets older like the read along bear, leappad etc)

chalkboard

Happy land.

Wooden Kitchen and playfood.

Train track.

Duplo and stickle bricks.

My 3 aged 2, 6 & 10 will play very happily together with the large tub of duplo bricks, despite their different ages. Great but - I'm definitely keeping it all for any future grandchildren!

That should have said *great buy.

Bilibo. ssecond birthday present. Had dcs aged 8 and 6 playing with it today.

Definitely the big bag of Duplo bricks from Woolworths (Sigh, RIP Woolies, I miss you.) DS was playing with them this morning and he's 8 now.

Thomas the tank trains, mostly with the take and play sets, these were played with everyday for about 3 years straight.
Then oh started bribing ds with the trackmaster trains so he would have a poo on toilet (dick!) so in the end ds was having £17 shits!

Oh and a little pink buggy from wilkos that was £2, 4 year still plays with it, and my one year old also has a push around with it.

nannypeach my old duplo resides at my dad's house and is a solid favourite with all his gc!

I would recommend a good bricks trolley or the vetch little house which reads stories and plays music as well as having things to press and turn. I'd love one and I'm not a toddler!

Second the doll buggy £6ish from ELC available in blue!

The sainsburys pretend and play kitchen stuff - kettle, iron, blender and food, plus tea set. It's all in blue and green too so gender neutral. That and a elc microwave we were given. DS will play for hours, especially if I give him water and a few tea bags too.

Doll's buggy which was £2.50 in the Sainsburys toy sale last October

Little tykes (other brands are available) car for the garden. Paid £6 second hand at a car boot when DS1 was under 2, used also by DS2 now DD. It gets washed by the DC, they make number plates for it and tax discs (serious DC).

Its one of those toys that just lasts.

Wooden train track was a big hit with DS1 and now with DD. DS2 not fussed.

Happyland was gifted to us and has been added to over the years. Its kept at Granny and Grandpas as its something all the grandchildren love to play with. Its quite expensive to get a basic starter circuit together though.

Without a doubt a thing called a mega sketcher. About £10. Modern day, cheaper version of etch-a-sketch , they do it in Argos and amazon. We now have 2 , one for each child and highly recommend to anyone who's dcs like writing/ drawing. Also v mobile to take on hols.

DS1 has got the most play out of his wooden train set.

The different brands all seem to be compatible with each other these days, he's got track and accessories from Brio, Tesco, Mothercare, Bigjigs.

Chalkboard and crayons seem to be the next favourites after that.

pop up tents
They were still using them when they were 10,even the teletubbies one.

Sand pit and kitchen without a doubt.

I have 3 DC. ££££ of toys in the house.
Today, my 5 year old presented me with a large stick. On the large stick, an empty water bottle was taped to the end. 2 chair scraper thingys (stop the floor getting scratched) were glued on as eyes. 2 more sticks were creatively tied on with string.
It's been played with since last Monday.
It appears he needs SS to a random observer, the playroom has ALL the above toys and more.