2nd birthday gift ideas

[hamster]

I'm looking for a gift for my nephews second birthday next month. MM always has great ideas.

He likes:
Cars and anything rideable and/or with wheels.
Dogs. He's really into his wooden dog on a leash, and has been for six months.
Water. I got him a splash table last year and all his baby friends were jealous #coolaunt.
Helping mom renovate the house. I assume he has his own tool set but if not that's totally what I'm getting.

He also has a TON of toys as the first grandchild, so I'm trying to be somewhat respectful of that now that we're expecting lol. Drums are out!

They also live kind of in the boonies as far as memberships are concerned.

[redpenmama]

I always recommend VTech Smart Wheels toys/tracks for this age. My son got them at 2 and is still playing with them at 3.5.

[formerlyak]

My three year old has been picking this Play doh set for all his friends this year that is like a haircutting shop. You put the play doh in, twist it, cut the hair with plastic scissors, repeat. They all think it's hilarious.

Magformers are popular in our house with both the 3 year old and my 11 year old, who pretends to only play them because his little brother is playing them.

For Christmas we got the three year old one of those Crazy Fort builder sets. He can't quite do it himself, but we help him build the forts. The 11 year old and his friends busted that out the other day and built their own fort (for the little brother of course because they are big tweens now ... insert eye roll).

There is a fun ride-on called plasma car. Both boys love/loved those.

I'm big on things that they will play with for a few years.

[pinotgrig]

Does he have a cozy coupe? We have the truck version for ds1 and it was his most fave toy when he was 2. He's almost 3 and it's still his go-to outside toy.

Play kitchen

Duplos

Little people farm with matching tractor

Anything by Melissa and Doug - tunnel, and anything car-related were big hits for us

ETA - if you want another cool aunt gift, step 2 makes a roller coaster. It's been a big hit with ds1 and his friends!

[countthestars]

Plasma car

[jeaniebueller]

Does he have a scooter like this? DD got one for her 2nd birthday and it was/is a huge hit.

www.target.com/p/radio-flyer-my-1st-scooter-sport-red-adjustable-handlebar/-/A-14168218?ref=tgt_adv_XS000000&AFID=google_pla_df&CPNG=PLA_Sports+Shopping&adgroup=SC_Sports_Top%20Performers&LID=700000001170770pgs&network=g&device=c&location=9017622&gclid=CJzs85uBvtQCFQqEaQodFxENbA&gclsrc=aw.ds

[dcn]

I usually give a "first game" like seek a boo or roll and play.

Or a set of nesting blocks. Melissa and Doug makes one hat comes with cars too and the blocks are garages.

A tent for his play room or bedroom

[numbers]

DD1 received this Step2 wagon for her 2nd birthday and she's obsessed with it.

www.amazon.com/Step2-Wagon-Two-Plus-Blue/dp/B0048WQHGW





Other hits:

Radio Flyer tricycle

www.amazon.com/Radio-Flyer-Deluxe-Steer-Stroll/dp/B006LMZJY8



Micro Mini scooter

www.amazon.com/Micro-MMD008-Mini-Deluxe-Orange/dp/B002WSCKS8

[Poppy]

My two year old's faves:
- Spray bottle
- Plastic scissors that basically only cut paper (M&D)
- Books

His aunt got us some passes for the local rec center along with a small pool toy and reusable swim diaper. That was awesome.

Agree with PPs regarding tunnel or play tent. DS also likes duplos & play doh.

I think these together would make a pretty awesome gift if he doesn't have a kitchen:
www.amazon.com/Melissa-Doug-Lets-Play-House/dp/B00EM4QB1C/
www.amazon.com/Little-Tikes-Splish-Splash-Stove/dp/B01COYNSZ8/

[halfpint]

Ikea has a great play tent that looks like a castle, and collapses pretty easily if they don't have dedicated space for that kind of stuff. It's going strong as a fave for well over a year now.

There's some pretty great Disney/Pixar Cars sets that you can get, esp with Cars 3 coming out. Target has a boxed set that has basically all the OG main characters. I liked this because they were a little bigger and sturdier than Hot Wheels or Matchbox cars, so were perfect for his smaller hands. They are still faves!

Crayola Color Wonder markers and coloring pages - they only write on the special Color Wonders paper, so they are basically all we have. If he scribbles on the table, it's invisible. AMAZING.

B got the VTech Smart Wheels and track for his 2nd bday. He did like them, but some pieces were hard to manipulate despite it being made for toddlers. The vehicles sing songs that are annoying AF, he does like them, though.

Thomas Trains were a big hit at that age, and he still likes getting them out.

The Cozy Coupe is still a big fave if he doesn't have one yet. He got that for his 1st birthday, and it still gets almost daily use at 3.75.

[hamster]

Thanks! I'll ask my MIL what he has, though I'm pretty sure he doesn't have a cozy coupe.

It's over budget but there is a sleeping bag on his list, which i thought about getting. A whole little camping gift set with books and an outfit. Hmm...

[VillainV]

Can you do an annual pass to a local children's museum or zoo? Or a punch card to an indoor play place? It makes an awesome gift, and isn't "stuff."

[speyedr]

This is what my daughter got this week for her 2nd birthday and has been a huge hit, but it's large! She also got sticker books, Thomas the train stuff, Bambi, outdoor water toys.

[jewel]

What's your budget?

I'd get some kind of ride-on for outside:

Cozy truck
Step 2 coaster
Balance bike

Toys R Us also has a really cool tool set: m.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=88679146

[FoxInFiji]

The Cozy Coupe Truck has been a huge hit at our house. The tailgate is DD1's favorite part. She used to eat her snack out of it daily.

This Duplo vehicle set is also a big hit:
www.target.com/p/lego-174-duplo-174-my-first-cars-and-trucks-10816/-/A-49119836?ref=tgt_adv_XS000000&AFID=google_pla_df&CPNG=PLA_Toys+Shopping&adgroup=SC_Toys&LID=700000001170770pgs&network=g&device=c&location=9018938&gclid=CJm7tfL8vtQCFQkOaQodxjAJRw&gclsrc=aw.ds

It has a lot of combinations and parts that can be used for other duplo play.

[hamster]

speyedr I was wondering about a trampoline! I may have to check with SIL on that though. It doesn't sound like he has one, but he's such a a daredevil...

Anybody have insight on how the cozy coupe truck does on grass and gravel and the like? They live in the foothills of the rockies on some property.

[speyedr]

Jun 15, 2017 6:55:46 GMT -5 hamster said:

speyedr I was wondering about a trampoline! I may have to check with SIL on that though. It doesn't sound like he has one, but he's such a a daredevil...

Anybody have insight on how the cozy coupe truck does on grass and gravel and the like? They live in the foothills of the rockies on some property.

That trampoline is 5' in diameter and perfect for a toddler! Also, I grew up in the foothills (and still live close) as well and I would avoid a cozy coupe unless they have some hard surface to use it on.

[pinotgrig]

Jun 15, 2017 6:55:46 GMT -5 hamster said:

speyedr I was wondering about a trampoline! I may have to check with SIL on that though. It doesn't sound like he has one, but he's such a a daredevil...

Anybody have insight on how the cozy coupe truck does on grass and gravel and the like? They live in the foothills of the rockies on some property.

No experience with gravel, but it's fine on grass. We had to push him on it until ~2.5 but now at almost 3 he can do it himself. He still prefers the driveway, sidewalk, and garage though.