Toys to last from 1 year - 2 years - HELP please :)

[*Nicola*]

Hiya

Callie's first birthday next month and I need some toy ideas

As her birthday is pretty near Xmas I wanted to ask for some toys that will see her right through until her 2nd birthday   Family all ask what to buy so I can basically make a list and give it to them.  What should I ask for?  I will prob ask for some clothes and then vouchers to get her stuff over the year but will have to include some toys.

We have LOADS of puzzles and books in mint  condition from Ciara's younger days and she already has the following birthday/xmas gifts

Vtech rocket shape sorter
First dolls pram 18 months +
Ride on
Learning tree
Stacking rings/stars
One of those wire/bead table things kwim!?
wooden pull along

What else does she need?  I *know* the answer is nothing and that she will play more with the boxes, BTDT but try telling that to grannies

TIA x

[mari]

Books (nursery rhymes, bedtime stories etc)
Leap pad
Aqua Draw
Magic Draw thingy? (you know, the magnetic drawing thing, all ages love 'em)
Easel (chalk board)
Duplo
Stickle bricks

Just a few to think about.

[binxyboo]

Good thread idea. Will lurk along.

[*Nicola*]

aqua draw ciara has one and loves it - another would be great
magic draw - etchasketch?  LOVE those
easel - have one, no room for another!
leap pad, have one and about to ebay it

I'm tempted to ask for musical instruments but DP will shoot me. 

Tonnes of books here but might see if i can find any nice 'sets of books' kwim?

Thank you!

[enna77]

in the same boat <lurking>

[*Nicola*]

LOL Enna, I was hoping for some great ideas there

[Aly Mac]

It's hard hey when their bdays are close to christmas.  I like the voucher idea, but i'm sure none of my rellies would do that!

what about craft stuff? a bit early, but for later - playdough, chalk, crayons. or even a voucher to an indoor play centre - can you get like a multi ticket?  

we are coming up to bday 2 and have no idea what to tell people, let alone christmas!

[jobi]

We got Shelby a wooden shape sorter from ELC and some wooden blocks that go inside each other

And thats it, she more interested in Lightening mcqueen and Buzz Lightyear

I suppose thats what comes with having 3 older brothers!

We have some in the night garden books, her favourite is upsy daisy sings! Ooo and an upsy daisy toy that she hugs, orrrrrrrr. Then she'll hug pjs, nappies, tea towels

No help really, am i

[Aly Mac]

oh yeh, not a toy as such, but pj's.  Lilly can never have enough pj's it seems.

[enna77]

A pony! 

[*Nicola*]

done a bit of searching and am considering ..

Baby Tad Ciara's old one is broken and she loved/still loves him and he is great fun
Jack in the box
Bath toys as our old ones are really old now.  Love the do ray mi dolphins
Peekabo blocks - are they any good?
baby einstein DVDs?
Music CDs?
Fisher price musical chair ... http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fisher-Price-Musical-Learning-Activity/dp/B0009QVF72

These aren't toys but I'll ask for them anyway
Little beanbag chair (one for each of the girls)
Door name sings (one each as we are doing up room

Our family are happy to give the girls vouchers which is great

[*Nicola*]

A pony! 

LOL!!! OK, I think you are better as a lurker!!

Just laughed really loud and shouted out 'a pony'.  DP knows which thread I am on and just gave me 'that look' LOL

[Deb_in_oz]

get the musical instruments - we have used ours steadily these past 4-5 years and just add to the collection every year - i have a red plastic bin with no lid and it fits all the instruments in together so not a lot of space + they both have small keyboards.  if you don't have much i can recommend from elc  the jungle beats kit get that - it comes with a drum (not loud), crocodile flute/horn, pr maracas, pr castinets and tambourine.  also we have from there the musical activity set that is 4 shaking pieces that all connect so you can use them as 4 separate things or connect in pairs or all 4 for a large shaking instrument - fantastic

both are on this page http://www.elc.co.uk/toys/music-puzzles-games/traditional-instruments/

over time we added:
triangle
the jingle bells
penny whistle
the magic flute from ELC
cymbals
keyboards - alex got the elc carry along as a gift and years later liv got the wiggles one with preloaded songs in it for her 2nd bday.
echo microphone from a cheap shop
cool chinese instrument from chinatown - has 2 strings with beads that hit the drum piece when you twist the handle iykwim
egg shaped wooden shakers - liv's favourite and the toddlers at playgroup love them too
a wooden click clacker

all the big items were gifts and i buy them smaller pieces to add for stocking stuffers and if i find 2nd hand or unusual instruments/wooden and funky painted...

[Deb_in_oz]

just saw your update - alex LOVED peek a blocks from babyhood to age 2 or 2 1/2. we stacked them, looked at what was inside, and we have the incrediblock which extended them into her 3rd year and when they find it now they still play with it (have been meaning to ebay it for ages and will finally get it on there next month)

the other big fisher price thing we had (also ebaying lol) was the learning home.  got that for liv when she was about 18 mo and she loved it for a long time (and again when they go down and see it stored near their craft stuff she is drawn to it like a moth to a flame)

both of those are very expensive (more than $100 each) in Oz but i think in US/UK they are reasonable probably

[jobi]

I think a pony is a good idea

[debo620]

A great set of toys are WOW toys..they last from ages 1.5-5yrs and are battery free and friction powered. I am thinking of getting some for my son.

[Jenn©]

http://www.amazon.com/Hasbro-FurReal-Friends-Smores-Pony/dp/B000SOQH14/ref=pd_bbs_11?ie=UTF8&s=toys-and-games&qid=1222039862&sr=8-11

Did someone say "pony"? 

[MeAndVee]

I second the music instruments idea.  Vee loves his drum and shakers.

[marensmama]

I'm also lurking for ideas.  Where did this year go, hey???  Hayden is into Maren's old Fisher Price Little People dollhouse, barn, and playground right now.  Also loves the 'musical' instruments. 

[*Nicola*]

Nicole I was wondering about the Little People stuff

Deb ... I looked at the learning house too

Still no to the pony btw x

[jobi]

Still no to the pony btw x

you big meanie!!

[*Nicola*]

We already have a big rocking horse if that helps

[lilmonkey]

Oh I second the FP Laugh and Learn Home.  We got it for dd on her first birthday and she still plays with it.  There were months were she could care less but now that ds is into it, she wants to play with it as well.  I sometimes drape a bedsheet over it and the kitchen table/furniture and turn it into their private house.  It is well worth it.  Gave me many hours of peace so far.

Another toy that they both love are Mega Blocks.  You can buy additional pieces to the standard set.

[mari]

There are some lovely books that are suitable for older and younger children.
Try the Hairy Mclairy ones, they are rhyming stories and Alex and Nathan love them.  Beatrix Potter collection are good too, also try the Jolly Postman, (perhaps a little older than 2, but certainly 3)
Stickers, lots and lots of stickers, and everyones favourite >>> PLAYDOH!

[*Nicola*]

I think I might ask for the laugh and learn home.  heard lots and lots of good things about it.  And Ciara would LOVE to play with it with Callie.

Thanks guys!! What would I do without you all xx

[*Nicola*]

Mari you posted as i did, bbs x

[*Nicola*]

Read lots of reviews on the laugh and learn home.  I think BOTH girls would LOVE it.  Think we'll get this for her birthday

[lilmonkey]

They will have sooooo much fun!  Dh once tried to "enter" their house and got stuck due to his big butt.  It was priceless, wished I had a camera then. 

[Deb_in_oz]

good choice. it was definitely one of those toys that allowed the 2 kids to play together and there is enough going on with it to be interesting for ages (and ciara is old enough to control the buttons to select music or learning etc)

[marensmama]

Hmmmm, must dig Maren's out of storage and give it a new life!!  Love the sheet idea!!

[skatty]

Leorah's best present was definitely her trike with parent handle that is enclosed at first and then you can take bits off as they grow. Playfood is another good one, first she'd chew on it now she pretends to cook it and can name the different foods. She also has a small table with chairs that she loves, she sometimes eats her breakfast there, looks at her books and scríbbles, I definitely recommend aqua draw too and chalk for outdoors ansd paintbrushes you can dip in water and paint the outside though this is probably more of an 18 month thing.

Enjoy this year it goes so quickly  To be honest Leorah hasn't been very interested in "toys" she lves an old box, a crayon and scrap of paper or to just be outdoors, I think that is quite often the case at this age 

[enna77]

Ooohh I've played with one of those laugh & learn homes (with a child of course  ) I loved it - the letterbox is so cool!

[*Nicola*]

Ooohh I've played with one of those laugh & learn homes (with a child of course  ) I loved it - the letterbox is so cool!

We'll get you one for christmas!

[lilmonkey]

Ooohh I've played with one of those laugh & learn homes (with a child of course  ) I loved it - the letterbox is so cool!

IKWYM, I love playing with them.  We have many pretend games with it.  We also have an igloo tent from IKEA and used the two of them together.  I onced caught dd fast asleep in it after getting ds to nap.