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I am really new to this buying gifts for toddlers thing. But my nephew just turned two, and his party is on Saturday. So far I've gotten him books and musical toys and fun bath putty soap stuff for this other birthday and two Christmases. I'm...well, I'm out of ideas. I'd be more than happy to buy him more books (he likes them, and they're good for him) but I have no idea of which books are developmentally appropriate for this age. Infants was easy - anything they can chew on. Now he's talking, and I just don't know what's best.
Any advice or recommendations at all would be so wonderful.
Posts: 3214 | Registered: Apr 2002
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Does he have the "If You Give a Moose a Muffin" (Mouse a Cookie, Pig a Pancake, etc) books yet?
Posts: 9866 | Registered: Apr 2002
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My two-year-old son loves the big Winnie the Pooh book we got him from Sam's Club. It has a read-along CD and songs in between the stories. Of course, he likes all things Winnie the Pooh, especially the movie. He also likes Clifford and Sesame Street books.
We get him non-fiction picture books about cars and airplanes, too, and he loves to look at those.
Posts: 5957 | Registered: Oct 2001
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Strega Nona. We loved Strega Nona. When the spaghetti overran the village, we never failed to laugh.
Posts: 21182 | Registered: Sep 2004
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Duplo blocks. Get the big 100block plain-jane set. They've got all kinds of silly alternatives that don't give you nearly enough blocks, but look glitzy and are more expensive. Don't get those. Get the big 100 block bag. It's the best long-term toy. (Duplo blocks are like legos that grew up.) My 3 year old plays with hers all the time even though she's had them for over a year. I like toys that have a long play life.
Simple puzzles. I'm particularly fond of the Melissa & Doug wooden ones. The best of these are the ones that have doors that open, concealing magnets. They make ones with simple shapes also and are easy to manipulate with toddler hands.
Hats, mittens, socks, scarves. Toddlers love to practice putting on clothes. Different hats in a box would make a great gift.
Posts: 5948 | Registered: Jun 2001
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My boy is going to turn 2 next month! He loves toy cars like nothing else. He also loves his animal "Baby Einstien" video. But he absolutely adores his marble machine . He's really good at not putting things in his mouth, I don't know about your nephew though.
I'm thinking about getting my boy a rocking horse for his birthday or Finding Nemo ... it's pretty sad that that is his absolutely favorite movie and we don't even own it. I was also thinking about getting him a little train . One of his first words are "Choo choo".
Also sunglasses might be a good choice.. seeing as Summer is coming. My toddler loves to go straight to the sunglasses whenever we go to the store and tries them on.
Posts: 1417 | Registered: Aug 1999
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My brother had a Mickey Mouse doll that had big buttons, zippers, shoelaces, snaps, etc. to fasten and unfasten. He liked that at 2. I wonder if they still make them.
I agree on the Duplos. Too bad they don't make the Fisher Price people castle any more; if you find it at a yard sale, snap it up!
Posts: 21182 | Registered: Sep 2004
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2 year olds are usually getting into dress-up play. A firefighter or police officer dress-up set with age-safe accessories would be a gift used for years to come.
Posts: 21182 | Registered: Sep 2004
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kq, you can find dolls like that, but so far, I've been really underwealmed with them. Most of them break too easily or are too hard to use. I'd almost be more inclined to find something like that at a craft bazaar from someone who makes them by hand.
Posts: 5948 | Registered: Jun 2001
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Just don't get your nephew any kind of toy that makes loud, obnoxious noise. The parents will not appreciate that. I second the duplo blocks. Our kids have those out all the time. Wooden blocks are also played with very often, although good blocks are usually kind of expensive.
Posts: 5957 | Registered: Oct 2001
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quote:Just don't get your nephew any kind of toy that makes loud, obnoxious noise.
As a matter of fact, this is the description of many of the gifts my little brothers and I give our nieces. Just a little amusement from the unchilded siblings.
Posts: 26077 | Registered: Mar 2000
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If he likes books, they are always a good choice. Duplos are cool. Thomas (almost 2!) loves to color. He is getting to the point where he pretends, so things that can feed into that are awesome. Thomas got a grocery cart with some 'food' in it, and he spent the time before bed making me 'beckfast'. Posts: 5422 | Registered: Dec 2001
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Go to Wal-Mart, buy bubbles. Then go to the bank and buy a savings bond. He's going to get a ton of stupid gifts that he will break and ignore in a week. However, when he's trying to buy a new car 14 years from now, or pay for college 16 years from now, you will be the coolest aunt ever.
[Edit, besides, he has no idea who the gifts are from at this point and time, nor will he remember any of it later.]
Posts: 9871 | Registered: Aug 2001
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quote:Originally posted by Kayla: Go to Wal-Mart, buy bubbles. Then go to the bank and buy a savings bond. He's going to get a ton of stupid gifts that he will break and ignore in a week. However, when he's trying to buy a new car 14 years from now, or pay for college 16 years from now, you will be the coolest aunt ever.
[Edit, besides, he has no idea who the gifts are from at this point and time, nor will he remember any of it later.]
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finger paints, finger paint paper, and an easle... easel... er... OK no idea how to spell that, everything looks wrong when written (curses my dyslexic brain)
Posts: 772 | Registered: Feb 2005
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I will third the option of bubbles and a savings bond... those are good choices.
My lil man is 17 months and I just picked up this Crayola Color wonders set at Wal-mart... the markers only work on the special paper and nothing else (I love the stain free laundry).
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Oh, yeah, the savings bonds! My brother in law gets each kid one for their birthdays, plus a gift card.
Posts: 2711 | Registered: Mar 2004
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Now he's talking, and I just don't know what's best.
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Especially if they have the little people that go with them.
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Katie
