What are you getting your toddler for Christmas?

[P.J.]

I know there's another gift idea thread, but that one's aimed at a specific set of requirements, for a specific kid.

I'm wondering what all of you are thinking about getting your LOs for Christmas this year? I think I'm going to get my 18 month old this set of eating utensils that look like construction vehicles:

He's obsessed with cars and construction stuff, so I hope this will be a hit!

I also have to get a gift for my almost-three year old half brother, and have no ideas, as he seems to have everything! I'm hoping to get some ideas here.

[neonalee]

DS will be almost 17 months. I got some duplo blocks at the big consignment & have 2 Melissa & Doug things that I bought for him last year. Not planning on much more as I strongly suspect (based on current behavior) that he will enjoy the boxes & paper much more. His favorite toy today was a couch pillow!

sent from my phone using tapatalk, please excuse typos.

[holliebug]

My 22 month old is getting a train table from my Dad.  We are giving him some knitted puppies, books, a few puzzles, and a felt board set.

He will be 2 in Jan, and he is getting a wooden play kitchen, and some knitted food.

[sunwise]

No ideas here, but definitely want to hear what others are doing! I need to give Christmas/Hanukkah gift ideas to the grandparents, and they are unfortunately obsessed with plastic toys that light up and make lots of noise. I'm hoping to steer them in a different direction with some ideas, rather than directly tell them what we *don't* want (which will probably offend them).

[hildare]

probably just some art supplies, or possibly an easel if someone in the family doesn't get her one.  i have been thinking also about a camera (she's obsessed with mine and i don't want her paws on it at all) and/or some type of cd player.  i'd like to get her books on cd like the mini-records and books to go with them i had when i was a kid.  not sure about those though.

she just got a play kitchen (ikea) for her birthday, though, and at 2, she absolutely LOVES it, a great present if you don't have one already.  we'll probably get kitchen accessories for her to go with it if they don't materialize sometime before then, too.

[Super~Single~Mama]

My parents got my ds a train table (from Santa), and he'll get some other odds and ends.

OP - I think I need that spoon/fork set.  WHERE did you find it????

[coldandsleepy]

We're going to get my son some dishes for his play kitchen.  (He has a good amount of play food, cooking utensils & pots and pans-- but no plates and cups or anything.)  Probably a couple of other small things (bubble bath, new socks, etc) that he needs anyway that will be fun to unwrap.

[Baby_Cakes]

DD is 3.  She wants a robe, anyone know where I can find one?  Something snuggly, but not like bright pink with hearts all over it?  I'm also thinking a Play-Doh set or factory of some sort.  And a few books of mazes and puzzles, like this one.

Oh - and Busytown books!  

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/who-is-huckle-natalie-shaw/1101482891?ean=9781442413382&itm=2&usri=huckle%2bcat

[Super~Single~Mama]

Originally Posted by Baby_Cakes 

DD is 3.  She wants a robe, anyone know where I can find one?  Something snuggly, but not like bright pink with hearts all over it?  I'm also thinking a Play-Doh set or factory of some sort.  And a few books of mazes and puzzles, like this one.

Hannah Anderson?  It's a bit pricy.  Or you could check out LLBean, and Lands End - they have awesome kids stuff.

[Baby_Cakes]

Originally Posted by Super~Single~Mama 

Hannah Anderson?  It's a bit pricy.  

OOoh!  Thanks!  This one is perfect!

[SunRise]

maybe a narrow ikea kitchen and food. she loves mixing up dog and cat food. (she is 20 mths)

i saw this really cute and low to ground rocking horse at rite aid. something she can rock on and not fall off and she loves rocking.

thats it. we have a tonne of toys from my 9 year old boy so she has lots of things to explore.

[Everrgreen]

My son will be 3 in January.  He is getting some Playmobil dinosaur sets from me.  And his stocking will probably have some art stuff, schleich animal or two, and a treat.  I have no idea what his grandparents have planned.  And I would like to get him a scooter for his birthday (he played with his cousins the last time we visited and loved it!)  

[Megan73]

Originally Posted by hildare 

she just got a play kitchen (ikea) for her birthday, though, and at 2, she absolutely LOVES it, a great present if you don't have one already.  we'll probably get kitchen accessories for her to go with it if they don't materialize sometime before then, too.

I'm scouring Craigslist for an IKEA play kitchen - I may even splash out and get it new for my three-year-old if I can't find one. He loved playing with it at a friend's house. I'm also planning to buy him a basic IKEA train set. I like that it's not branded and I can buy compatible sets from other manufacturers if he likes it.

Originally Posted by Baby_Cakes 

DD is 3.  She wants a robe, anyone know where I can find one?  Something snuggly, but not like bright pink with hearts all over it

I thrifted a plain red one originally from LL Bean. It's really cute and warm.

[wishin'&hopin']

Our (20 months in December) DS will be getting a ridiculously expensive wooden stable.  The wooden animals and people it comes with will be the stocking stuffers.  We KNOW he'll love it, and we're hoping that it lends itself to play for at LEAST the next 4 years (and beyond, for subsequent children)..  He's whinnying like a horse as I type... :)

[Baby_Cakes]

Originally Posted by Everrgreen 
 And I would like to get him a scooter for his birthday (he played with his cousins the last time we visited and loved it!)  

DD got a scooter for her 3rd bday in October.

It's this one:

http://www.amazon.com/Razor-Kiddie-Kick-Scooter-Blue/dp/B002S144LA/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&qid=1320245492&sr=8-13  

It's good, DD hopped on and took off like she'd been doing it her whole life!
 

[OttawaMamaLove]

I have not read all the replies for this thread... however, I have been thinking of two ideas for my 3 year old son for this upcoming Xmas....

Now that Halloween is over, I am going to start looking around the children's consignment stores to start putting together a Tickle Trunk for him.  Anything from capes and purses and costumes will be put into a wooden box that I am also seeking!!!

Looking around at local buy and sell listings is a great and low cost way to get some cool things for your little one.

We are also excited to give him a few Vintage Fisher Price toys that a dear friend is kindly selling off... (like the parking lot etc)

Again, simple and low cost.  A few things can go a long way!!!

We are all for reduce and reuse.... checking out local book stores as well!

[P.J.]

Originally Posted by Super~Single~Mama 

My parents got my ds a train table (from Santa), and he'll get some other odds and ends.

OP - I think I need that spoon/fork set.  WHERE did you find it????

I originally saw it in the Young Explorers catalog, but their website never seems to work for me (I'm outside the US, maybe that's why?). So I just did a google search and found them on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Constructive-Eating-81000-Utensil-Set/dp/B000T0JOX0

You can also get a plate that "parks" them (found at the suggestions at the bottom of the page).

[coldandsleepy]

Originally Posted by Megan73 


I'm scouring Craigslist for an IKEA play kitchen - I may even splash out and get it new for my three-year-old if I can't find one. He loved playing with it at a friend's house. I'm also planning to buy him a basic IKEA train set. I like that it's not branded and I can buy compatible sets from other manufacturers if he likes it.
I thrifted a plain red one originally from LL Bean. It's really cute and warm.

The play kitchen my son has is an IKEA one and he *loves* it.  (Hence why we're getting him more things to use in it for Christmas.  :))  For us it's been worth every penny.

[carmel23]

My toddler will be 2 at Christmas and I am not sure at all!  I love reading these ideas, though. 

[LittleBirdy]

I have been thinking long and hard about this since well before Halloween!  (I cannot stand shopping after Thanksgiving; the stores & crowds make me nuts, so I like to plan early and get it all done by the end of November at the absolute latest.)

DS will be 17 months.  We're doing the "Victorian" Christmas at our house this year, so each family member gets something they want, something they need, something to wear & something to read - plus we'll do stockings.  So far I have:

Want: no idea!  When you're narrowing it down to just 1 toy it's really hard!

Needs: toddler sized table & chair set

Wear: winter boots

Read: A new Sandra Boynton book

Stocking: ornament, refrigerator magnets, placemat, play dough, small instrument, cookie/treat

Wow reading over that it makes me sound like Scrooge.  But it already seems like he has a ton of toys, and I know each set of grandparents will probably get him a toy, as will each of his aunts (he has 3).