Gift ideas for well-stocked toddler

October 26, 2018 1:31 PM

Chrismukkah is not that long after my two-year-old’s birthday. We have a lot already, and I need some ideas for the inevitable “what does he want” questions.

He’s just turned two and is very into wooden trains, little people sets, Duplo and books. We are already very well-stocked in all of these areas. We also already have from older children wooden blocks, schleich animals and magformers. I have bought his holiday gift from me already: a build a bear, a book and some play doh stuff.

We have a decent setup as far as apartments go, but we don’t have an outdoor space. He’s getting some new bath toys from his aunt and a few more train accessories from his grandparents. I’m honestly stumped what else he may want or need. Anybody have some off the beaten track ideas?

posted by ficbot to Shopping (16 answers total)

Your little guy wants experiences! He wants a trip to the zoo - tickets for the family make a nice gift - he wants to go swimming - swimming trunks, swimming diapers and tickets to the pool - he wants to learn to cook - various packaged mixes that require him to dump in the water someone else has measured, and stir, and you put it in the oven for him, like biscuits or cookies, or cake - he wants to go to the museum - he wants to go to the Christmas Performance of The Nutcracker - he wants to go to that special event at the library which takes place when you are working but his beloved uncle/grandmother etc. is not. He wants to go pony riding. He wants to have art materials, of the sort that will get used up, such as bath paints or finger paint. He wants to assemble a gingerbread house... kits can be purchased at the grocery store.
posted by Jane the Brown at 1:38 PM on October 26, 2018 [20 favorites]

If you've got enough stuff, yes, request experiences! Museum memberships! The local children's museum, science museum, maybe there's even a train or transportation museum that would cater to kids his age? Tickets for childrens' theatre, minor-league sports games, to go to a kid's movie, etc.

Also, since you said trains, does he get to ride on trains regularly? Maybe some tickets to go ride on various trains (ficbot jr. would get some kind of pretend tickets that he could play with while the gift-givers would hold onto the real tickets, or something that would remind them "Hey, I promised to take ficbot jr. on a train!")
posted by Pandora Kouti at 1:40 PM on October 26, 2018 [3 favorites]

529 account contributions?
posted by DarlingBri at 1:50 PM on October 26, 2018 [8 favorites]

Slippers/bathrobe, toddler sized hooded towel, water bottle, fancy lunch box/snack containers, kid-sized back pack, shoes in the next size up. I try and go for something practical that I would need to buy in the next 6 months.
posted by rozee at 2:03 PM on October 26, 2018 [3 favorites]

I try and go for something practical that I would need to buy in the next 6 months.

This is key. You have a couple more years minimum where you can get away with buying them stuff they needed anyway, bonus if it has something on they like ("oh cool, you got a lunchbox with a train on!") or is a bigger version of something they've grown out of ("wow! You got a big boy backpack!").
posted by EndsOfInvention at 2:14 PM on October 26, 2018 [4 favorites]

A noodle box was fun at that age, I think. One of those low Rubbermaid tubs mostly full of dry elbow noodles, and various cups and funnels for scooping and pouring.
posted by lakeroon at 2:25 PM on October 26, 2018 [1 favorite]

We had a surprise party for one of our two years old, we told him the day before and he was still surprised. I would get him clothes that he will need this winter or spring. Something practical.
posted by AugustWest at 2:28 PM on October 26, 2018 [1 favorite]

Yes experiences - monster truck ralley, local play destinations like trampoline place or water park. Raffi tickets!
posted by St. Peepsburg at 2:39 PM on October 26, 2018 [2 favorites]

You can maybe still ask for clothing that he might like, especially if they're fun and have a motif he likes. Pajamas, shoes, jacket/hoodie/sweatshirt, underwear.
posted by vunder at 2:53 PM on October 26, 2018

We get good use out of a mini backpack if he doesn't already have something similar.
posted by vunder at 3:03 PM on October 26, 2018 [1 favorite]

Subscription to National Wildlife Federation magazine Big Backyard. Then Ranger Rick when he’s older. Great magazines about nature and no ads. My grandkids love these.
posted by FencingGal at 3:14 PM on October 26, 2018 [1 favorite]

I bought a kiddo a subscription to Ladybug magazine (the younger equivalent of Cricket magazine, there is an even younger version called Babybug) and it was hugely popular.
posted by jeather at 3:25 PM on October 26, 2018 [4 favorites]

Subscription to the local toy library, if you have one.
posted by third word on a random page at 7:42 PM on October 26, 2018 [1 favorite]

A baby doll, with a few accessories (extra clothes, a cradle, a high chair, a bottle, a stroller or baby carrier.) Baby dolls are great for roleplaying, teaching dressing skills, and developing nurturing. People don't always think about getting these things for little boys but they are very good tools for building positive masculinity.
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 8:20 PM on October 26, 2018 [5 favorites]

If you live someplace that has winter: membership to the local kid indoor playground type place. Their own snow shovel. A sled.
A child-sized umbrella.
Videos of family members reading your kid’s favorite books.
posted by sciencegeek at 1:55 AM on October 27, 2018 [1 favorite]

It was a sad day when I outgrew my laundry basket (I used to climb in and turn it upside down) and my parents threw it out. Give your kid the gift of a falling-apart laundry basket of his very own.
posted by aniola at 7:00 PM on October 27, 2018 [1 favorite]