Xmas gifts for toddlers
November 21, 2006 12:44 PM   Subscribe

What should I get for a 1 year old girl and a three year old boy for Christmas? They don't live in same house and can't share gifts.
posted by chickaboo to Grab Bag (15 answers total) 3 users marked this as a favorite
 
What's your budget?
posted by acorncup at 12:46 PM on November 21, 2006


Oompa.com has lots of nice wooden toys and sweet stuffed dolls. Anything from there should be great.
posted by LobsterMitten at 12:46 PM on November 21, 2006


I just gave my newly 3-year-old nephew some hot wheels cars and a carrying case and he was totally delighted and didn't even want to stop playing with them to open other presents.

We also have a 1-year old nephew (just turned one) ... gifts that went over well with him are a toy drum (I think it's PlaySkool, and it doesn't make much noise), stuffed animals, toys that make fun noises and songs. I would browse some toy aisles and check out things for 12+ months.

Also story books and cartoon DVDs are always lots of fun. What about Fraggle Rock on DVD?
posted by tastybrains at 1:01 PM on November 21, 2006


You didn't give your budget, so I'll just throw this out there. This Geotrax train system (and the associated add-on tracks, ramps, buildings, etc.) is pretty awesome and makes me wish I was a kid again. Perfect for 2-4 year old kids.
posted by i_am_a_Jedi at 1:02 PM on November 21, 2006


Another thought depends on where these kids live. Are they going to get snow this winter? If so, what about a fun little sled or a snowsuit?
posted by tastybrains at 1:06 PM on November 21, 2006


Response by poster: Hi thanks for all the great responses - I think I'll get the wooden tea set from oompa.com (what a great website) and as for the boy... still working on that

still working on the boy... he has so many cars already...

I should have said my budget is $50 or less. He likes to play chef - I found a wee spice rack for him by Melissa and Doug but it doesn't cost much. Still thinking of a way to supplement that gift. Maybe a wee apron. Anyone seen one/
posted by chickaboo at 1:21 PM on November 21, 2006


Kid K'nex are fun for boys - they can build neat things with them. My son really likes them. Matchbox has some great self contained boxes that fold out into cool play areas too. Art stuff is always good for both boys and girls - an endroll of newsprint (usually available for a couple of bucks at your local newspaper) can provide lots of paper for all the drawings and paintings. For the girl, the toy tea set sounds great, my kids all started playing kitchen when they were around 1.5 to 2 years old.

wife of 445supermag
posted by 445supermag at 1:31 PM on November 21, 2006


"If you Give a Moose a Muffin" is a book that my three year old absolutely adores.
posted by plinth at 1:42 PM on November 21, 2006 [1 favorite]


Lego Duplo bricks!

Kids love Legos, their parents love Legos, Legos make kids smarter, and even if they already have the exact same set, they will still enjoy your gift. (Because they can use it to build something entirely different.)

Duplo is the version of Lego made for under 5 year old kids, and the bricks still interlock with regular Lego blocks, so they can keep using them as they get older.

shop by age at Lego.com
posted by Cranialtorque at 2:14 PM on November 21, 2006 [1 favorite]


You cannot go wrong with Tolo Toys. Seriously, these toys are awesome.
posted by Sassyfras at 3:09 PM on November 21, 2006


My one year old loves books with little flaps in them; also small stuffed animals; pictures (how about a children's photo album). One thing to remember, at that age they really don't relate people to presents or presents to christmas or birthdays. Everything is just random events and things to them that they enjoy fleetingly. At a given moment, they can have as much fun chewing on a piece of cardboard as they can playing with the coolest modern toy ever made. So don't get too uptight about choosing just the right present.

The three year old will be more discerning.
posted by sic at 3:42 PM on November 21, 2006


I have a three-year old boy. His favorite things at the moment are water pistols. dinosaur toys and dinosaur books, toy drills, a toy lawn blower (Craftsmen and Home Depot make really cute toy tools). He also loves Lego's and anything Superman.

I bought a toy cooking set from Crate and Barrel a few years back for a little kid. Crate and Barrel doesn't seem to carry it any longer, but here is something similar. Good luck!
posted by LoriFLA at 8:36 PM on November 21, 2006


Before I had children, when I needed a gift for a wee one, I would visit the toy aisle, look for a child about the same age. Ask the adult with the child for some suggestions, it usually was the child that would select the gift for me. Made them feel quite important!
posted by JujuB at 9:10 PM on November 21, 2006


The toys jamro links are awesome! My nephews love them!
posted by Pollomacho at 9:57 PM on November 21, 2006


Seconding Geo Trax! You can add to the system every birthday & holiday - + it's great fun. We've had the toys for several years - the one year old liked it & the 9yo still plays with it (amazing longevity for a toy!), and it's never breaks like some other train systems do.

Otherwise, wooden blocks for the one-year old. I think the chef Emeril makes aprons sized for kids (or try Ebay).
posted by LadyBonita at 10:03 PM on November 21, 2006


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