What is your 2 year olds' favourite toy?

[Vicku]

Well yeah, no doubt she'll try to sit in them again I have an old proper play pram from when I was a kid still at my parents' but thought it'd still be a bit high for her IYKWIM? At what age did your DD start playing with the carriages?

[aidliz]

she was about 2ish when my mom bought the one for her house.  It is the same height as the stroller.  It is cheezy but thougher to sit in.

[Vicku]

I'll just have to have a look at what's available over here and chose something that looks ok and not too expensive.

[Vicku]

Katt- You said Martin MADE Leorah a sand and water table... How did he do that?? One of my friends in UK had one and Lois LOVED it! But we looked for one here and couldn't find one anywhere If it is possible to make one that would be good. What did he make it from?

[Vicku]

We have boys, but some of the longest-running favorites here have been:

* Tonka truck (the big metal one that they can actually sit in!) - a friend of mine has a girl & this was a hit with her, too  http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=tonka+truck

* Laugh'n'Learn House - both boys now play with this http://www.amazon.com/Fisher-Price-C6327-Fisher-Price-Learning/dp/B000284X6W/ref=pd_bbs_1?ie=UTF8&s=toys-and-games&qid=1219691394&sr=8-1

* cleaning toys - our fave was a broom/pan set

* bubble toys

* mega blocks - these were easier to put together than the Lego version.  They make them in pretty "girl" colors/themes.    http://www.amazon.com/Mega-Bloks-Building-Imagination-Pieces/dp/B000MDOYZW/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&s=toys-and-games&qid=1219691505&sr=1-8
http://www.amazon.com/Megabloks-07601U-Bloks-Cinderellas-Garden/dp/B000YIF61G/ref=sr_1_28?ie=UTF8&s=toys-and-games&qid=1219691656&sr=1-28

Thanks for those ideas Candice! I think I forgot to reply to some of the posts checking them out now. She does like building with Mega Blocks but doesn't have many, so a good idea.

Shopping cart is a HUGE hit here too, forgot about that one. Also a huge hit with my DD is to have her own chair - so a little armchair, or a little lounge, we also have a little table and chairs set that she can eat snacks at, do crafts at etc.  She likes her own chairs way more than ours, and also uses them to reach stuff on the benches, and help us cook, and wash her own hands in the bathroom etc.

Rina -Think we'll get her an arm chair for the lounge. She's got some little garden chairs and always wants to sit in them.

Shopping cart sounds fun too guys! Never seen one in the shops here though...

I'm making a list as we speak We've only got about a week now (birthday next Tue 9th) so not very organised...your ideas have helped LOADS though, so THANK YOU ALL!!!

[skatty]

Katt- You said Martin MADE Leorah a sand and water table... How did he do that?? One of my friends in UK had one and Lois LOVED it! But we looked for one here and couldn't find one anywhere If it is possible to make one that would be good. What did he make it from?

Martin used our old coffee table and cut out holes for two washing up bowls and 4 metal plant pots, he loves making things and the plastic one they had in Toys R Us is equivalant to £50! It is very simple but she loves it ;o)

[Vicku]

That sounds great! What a good idea! Well summer is almost over here now so maybe we should wait and make one for next year. I'm sure Darren would like to make one too.

[rinajack]

If he made it now, you could use dry pasta/rice and water in it inside?  (With a towel under if you use water?)

[Aly Mac]

At Lilly's playgroup they do that. In winter they use some sort of animal feed - looks like really big birdseed LOL - and in summer they use water.  A great idea and they ahve just as much fun and keep dry.

We have a sandpit now, my dh made one, and I tell you, it's the best thing. we are out there everyday - though it does feel like i'm at the beach with all the sand!

[Deb_in_oz]

Vic - we have 2 stroller/prams.  Alex was my 1st so i did not know better and bought the ELC pram from my sister (they cost $50 here) and then got a cheap umbrella style stroller from KMART for Liv later on when they started fighting over it  ($10-15 LOL).  the fabric does fray on the cheap one but it is fine.  i will say the pram style one from ELC (which is much cheaper in UK i am sure) has lasted well - 3yrs and counting. no one can sit in it and it has the hood to go up and down and a little cover the attaches, not a single tear or any probs.  At the time it was the only pram i could find but i know now i see Graco models here too and they sell 5 in 1 sets that have the pram, carrier, high chair etc....

[rinajack]

I have a couple of graco accessories, and they are only good with the graco dolls, alot of other dolls are too big for the accessories.

[skatty]

If he made it now, you could use dry pasta/rice and water in it inside?  (With a towel under if you use water?)

That's a great idea, I think we will fill Leorah's with pasta and rice this winter and put it in our conservatory )

We have a sandpit now, my dh made one, and I tell you, it's the best thing. we are out there everyday - though it does feel like i'm at the beach with all the sand!

Same here, Leorah plays with hers whatever the weather!

[danared]

This is a huge hit, regardless of age:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fisher-Price-H8910-Bubble-Mower/dp/B000AM2K56

Also, Play kitchen and play food are often fought about, again regardless of age.

Also puzzles, Dressup clothing, books.

[Vicku]

That bubble mower looks fun danared! I would get a mower if only we had a lawn bigger than ours, which really is tiny, so no point as she can't use it here. Thanks for the ideas!

The table indoors with rice/pasta etc sounds good too, and cheap! Bet they make a mess though but that's ok as long as they have fun eh?

Which dolls would you all recommend then?? I want to get one that has a dummy/paci as Lois has one and loves dolls with one (seen them at friends') Also would like a bath one, but haven't seen one.

I would love to have a sandpit here as Lois loves playing in sand. They do these small plastic ones that come with a lid. That might work on our decking...
Will also look at play kitchen things and food. Now I just need some time without Lois to go to the toy store

[rinajack]

If going for a small sand area consider moon sand!

As for dolls with dummies - before you buy, make sure it isn't too hard to put the dummy in.  DD has one that has taken her almost a year to be able to put the dummy in, and even now she is only successful occasionally.  I have to push it sooo hard when I do it, it is quite ridiculous. 

That particular baby was bought under duress - DH had to rush me into town to the hospital, and we didn't pack anything for Zara to play with, so he went to buy a couple things and she screamed when he tried to leave without the baby - and cause he was stressed about me (heart issues in pregnancy) he just bought it!