Toddler gift timing and what do you get for 2nd Christmas

[Jellybeans20]

It's LO second Christmas this year. Not so sure what to get. Bought a scooter, protective gear and some accessories. The idea was to give now to develop the skill as LO showed interest at a party. The scooter has arrived but all the accessories will finish arriving in a few weeks.

We don't believe in buying many gifts for Christmas. The idea is one gift each that everyone can engage with on the day and after.
We are thinking that a scooter is a good gift that was going to be bought when the time was right. the wait to Christmas isn't that long so wondering if we should hold off. however, LO may not be able to fully engage with it on christmas day (weather dependent. skill level dependent). if LO starts engaging with a scooter now, perhaps the skill would have developed in time for the holiday season (is that how it works? whats your scooter experience?)

What would you do? Now or later?

What did you get (a gift that was loved) for your LO's 2nd Christmas?

Appreciate your input. LO will a few days out from age 2 on christmas

We bought the same for our little one at nearly two and whilst LO likes it and shows interest, LO just isn't old enough to use it so it's a grow into present. In hindsight, we bought it too soon. Saying that giving it to them now it won't change that and seems a bit silly and there will be nothing to open xmas day? Personally I'd suck it up and get something else for Christmas Day. We bought our LO a wooden play kitchen from Aldi (£30) and he LOVES it. A year on it is still played with daily and doesn't take up a lot of space so I'd recommend that

Oh thank you so much for that. Makes sense. You are so right about the grow into present. I think I won't keep the gift for Christmas and give it before. Kitchen sounds like a great idea. LO has some much loved eggs and a teaset that could go in a kitchen.

We have got our 2.5 year old a wooden toy kitchen for Christmas, a kite, kids gardening tools and lots of crafty bits and pieces. A table and chairs was a great gift for her second birthday and an easel with a blackboard on one side.

I am thinking of getting her a scooter for her third birthday 😊

To be honest I wouldnt get a scooter for a child who is not quite 2. He won't be able to use it for a good few months and won't really enjoy it on Christmas day. We are getting one this year for my daughter who will be nearly 3 at Christmas.

As PP, we got a wooden kitchen for second Christmas and she loved it and plays with it loads. Otherwise something like a brio train set or ride on toy might be popular.

Even if you give it to him now I don't think he will be able to ride it for a long time
I would save it and give it to him in the summer when he's physically able to do it. Or send it back and get one later

My ds got a scooter when he was about 16 mo, he wanted one after seeing his sister's and he was very capable. He had the mini micro so when he got tired we would pull it along with him standing on it. He used it inside at first but soon wanted to take it out and was whizzing around by 18mo so it's definitely possible. I would look at maybe getting a small world type indoor play set in case the weather is awful or your toddler doesn't take to it. That way they have something they can sit and play when it's time to calm down and the scooter to go on the burn energy in the day

Starrynights86 I love the idea of table and chairs. A good space to sit and play with a car garage or draw. Thank you! Hope she has a great 3rd birthday!

BeanBag7 Thanks. LO engaged with the scooter at a party but it was a very controlled environment with limited space. You're right. I don't think it will be enjoyed on Christmas day and there would be too much policing involved. I will introduce it once the protective gear arrives in a few weeks. It's summer where we live.

I'm loving this wooden kitchen idea. Also train set sounds great. Little one received a ride on for birthday so not looking to get another. Did your daughter use a balance bike? I keep seeing them pop up in my newsfeed.

MartyrGuacamole Thanks for the heads up. I did notice a lot of the amazon reviews saying that their 18 month olds got the hang of it pretty much straight away. My LO seemed to know what to do at this party too. What a great idea to pull along. Although it will be summer for us, it can rain on Christmas day. I like the idea of small world play toys. Thank you

Depends on the child @beanbag My DS has been quite confidently riding a 3 wheel scooter since he was 18 months. He has an older sibling who I think he watched and learned from! He's now almost 2 and just as competent on it as the 4 year old.

He has a micro scooter which you can adjust the height of

I think you're over-thinking the scooter thing. It really isn't that long until Christmas and there definitely isn't a window in which you can learn to use one. I don't see why he won't enjoy it Christmas Day, he won't be zooming around on it the first day he gets it, so can have some goes inside worst case if the weather isn't dry. But it's been dry here Christmas Day last 2 Christmasses. If his birthday is shortly after, save yourself the headache of trying to think of more presents than necessary!

My eldest was 18 months on his second Christmas and we bought him one of those cosy coupe cars that you sit in and pedal with your feet. Absolutely loved it and nearly 12 years later my youngest still plays with it. Dc2 was 20 months and he got a toy fire engine that he could either push along or sit on.

@upthewolves thanks. I do agree with you. depends on the child. I bought the same scooter.

@ThreeLittleDinosaursROAR AAh you're so right! I am overthinking. I didn't intend for it to be a Christmas gift. However, 2 things make me think it could be. 1. it's now become a major purchase with all the little accessories to do it up and the protective gear.

1. Everything will arrive just a month before Christmas.

@elliejjtinyelliejjtiny Oh that would have been a hit! My LO loves the Cozy Coup! If there is ever one when we are out, it definitely attracts the LO. Thanks for this suggestion.

Im thinking either this scooter

if not, then--
Cozy coup, kitchen or train set sound appealing too. One of them. Not all :)

We did play kitchen and the little foods and pans etc (ikea) for ours second Christmas. We got the little wooden table and two chairs to go with it which was then used for dc lunchtime (and as a table for Our take away when the dc were in bed!).

Both ours got little 3wheel scooters in the summertime and this year we upgraded to 2wheel stunt scooters at the start of the summer holidays.

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz Thanks for that. It really sounds like kitchen and table chairs are a hit with LOs.

Thank you everyone for your input. Really value the feedback. As a parent, having real feedback is so valuable. There is some great information online but I'm also weary of some people that are paid to write articles and include particular items in the top 10 best gifts for toddlers.
We have decided to take our LO to the shops and see how the interaction with scooters go. We will also see if there is any interest towards the other toys. Kitchen definitely sounds like a great idea and if not for Christmas, will get it for 2nd birthday. Thank you all once again and hope you and your families have a wonderful Christmas.