Birthday gift for the 2 yr old that has everything??

[Mom2Ben02]

I would do a membership somewhere. Obviously, the zoo is covered, but what about an aquarium? My kids loved it at that age. Or the children's museum membership is GREAT. We have one, it was $115 (I think) for the year, but we can go to any children's museum. We managed to visit five different ones this summer!

 

[debsays]

Savings Bond

 

[Irin997]

Savings Bond

We wouldn't do a savings bond as the interest rate is ridiculous but I'm trying to get my DH to give him money toward his college fund. Maybe I'll work on him to give him a small gift and then $50 toward his college fund.

 

[Kitzka]

I ahve 4 nieces/newphews (6,5, 2,1) and they too have everything. With the exception of the 1 year old we take them out for their birthdays. it's a day just for them with their older cousin (my DD 13) and their aunt and uncle.

My SIL has one less child for the afternoon and we get some qt with each child. Since her kids are close in age we told her and BIL first that we wanted to take them out instead of giving them things.

When the kids were younger we did things like an afternoon in the park, a picnic, etc. The older ones we either do movies, or take them to see a show.

we do give them something small to open ($10 or less) and at Christmas they get gifts but the expereinces are what the kids remember and the older two can't wait until they get their own special day with us.

Lara

 

[Jaklackus]

Probably won't be good for a 2 year old...but an idea to store away for the K-3rd grade years.

I have a younger cousin that was a trouble making drama queen when we were kids...and she was always...ALWAYS...creating scenarios to get me in trouble....after one particularly bad scene on Xmas day(thankfully she was caught in her lie that day) I decided that I was going to be mean to her for a change...so when my mother was at a loss as to what to get my cousin for her birthday(Spring) I gleefully suggested 'dirt' and then sold it as 'educational' if you added the starter tray and seeds. I was very impressed with my 11year old self when my mother actually bought the potting soil and wrapped it up..lol.

Turns out it was my cousin's favorite gift and my Aunts and Uncles raved about it for months afterward. They were happy and I got my mother to stick a bow on a bag of dirt ...a win/win for everybody.

 

[Southern Giselle]

How about Disney Stock. Nice keepsake he can display in his room. Just Google Disney stock.

 

[QVCshopper]

Well, since you are nice enough to ask, here are things I'd like for my kids (without adding too much to our clutter):

Money for college (I'd even give the account numbers if you want to send it in yourself)
Chuck E Cheese gift card (they love it there; but no one ever gives us a gift card)
Pajamas (my kids love PJs)
Membership to a kiddie place (but these can cost $$$)
Time is also nice; I wish my kid's uncle would spend more time with them. He's watched them once in 6 years and usually brushes them off. I hope he changes when/if he has his own; he's 34 now.
Maybe a craft if it's something they can do without too much help/participation from me (ie, I don't want to end up doing the whole thing, which usually happens)
Maybe a nice new outfit if the sizing/seasons work out

I think people giving gifts (especially relatives) think the kids need "stuff," but they probably need anything but that. Toys, books, etc. are overflowing. I also don't like getting books (don't get me wrong; I love books and we go to the library a lot) because they can be picked up for SO cheap (.25 cents) in great condition on the secondary market.

 

[naomi78155]

Rody Pony! IT is sooo fun! Look it up on YouTube.

 

[lovehoney]

Personalized pillow case

Toothbrush and toothpaste with favorite character

Cute dvd holder with a movie or gift card

clear plastic shoe boxes with stickers to decorate so he can store all of the stuff he has

Lunch box - my 22 month has a dinosaur lunch box that he loves to carry everywhere - you could fill it with treats and a water bottle

Bath towel hoodie - they have animal ones that are cute

Good luck!

 

[malibuconlee]

I'll second Bathtub paints...they are consumable, meaning he'll use them and once they are gone, throw away, it's not more toys taking up room. Sidewalk chalk, again something that gets used and doesn't take up a bunch of room. Gazillion Bubbles...best brand I have found. What 2 year old doesn't love bubbles?

Look up Melissa and Doug toys and puzzles. They have some cool stuff.

I agree about the time factor. Maybe it can be your new "thing" for all the nieces/nephews, they get a day/lunch/dinner/whatever out with your family just the birthday boy/girl without the other sibling. It's a big deal with one of my friend's daughter. She has a hard time with younger sister getting attention, so ice cream with mom or dad without the little one is like gold to her. Don't worry about leaving the other sibling out because they'll get the same thing for their birthday.

 

[figment3258]

I love the idea of taking him for the day. You could take him to the movies or to a play place it will be special just to havthat one on one time.

 

[seashell724]

I love this thread b/c I am looking for info on this as well!

Here are some of my ideas:

-Diapers. I mean, unless the kids potty trained you always need diapers.
-Membership to museum or classes (ex. Gymboree classes, Kindermusik type stuff. I know it is expensive but in our area we have cheaper alternatives to this kind of stuff.) You could offer to take the child off the parents hands for these classes and take him there so they get a break.
-I agree with gift cert to Chuck E Cheeze, or other kids resturant
-Consumable items like others mentioned: Bath paints, bubbles etc.
-College savings

I would love any of those gifts for my daughter. Plus, he's only 2 so it's not like he's going to be upset if he opens a gift and it's a g/c he can't play with right away.

 

[katrina1122]

I know this sound heartless, but it's not. I did the same thing for my youngest niece who just turned 3 since she has an older brother and sister and had everything and then some. I just got her a card and wrote a really nice note that mommy could read to her since we live so far away.

She was just happy to get mail, she walked around with the card for an hour. Plus we had all recently met in my old hometown and made a picture picture for the whole family that I sent at the same time. She loved 'reading' the book about her trip. I also threw in a cinderella princess crown and pj's I got on a super clearance at the Disney outlet store, but from what my sister says it's the book and card that she really likes. They were last minute because they were practically paying me to take them.

She has so many dress up toys the crown just got added to the pile. the pj's worked out as the poor thing ended up in the hospital for pneumonia the day after her bday and she wore them there, but I don't think she even realizes they are from dh and I.

Get a personal card, a picture of you two. At 2, they aren't going to remember what you got them anyway, so get something that makes a connection between you.

I'm doing that from now on with the kids bday's. Xmas I'll still play crazy Aunt though, lol.

 

[Ciciwoowoo]

I'll admit, I'm guilty of not reading this thread before posting...


Savings Bonds or a great classic book

 

[Alinasan]

Even if you don't have everything, at some point most of us only have so much space for the clutter.

Haven't read every post, so maybe all this has been covered but you may consider:

*experiences he might enjoy (gymanstics class/swimming lessons, children's or science museum?).

* a personalized gift--we got my niece a CD with songs with her name sung right into the lyrics. If your son doesn't have a common name, there are some companies that will add new names every so often. I found one that did that every 3 months, and got one for my unusually named niece in time for xmas.

*Charity donation in his name. There are some different programs where they'll do stuff like plant trees or something. He'd be too young to appreciate it though I think but maybe for the future.

*A share of Disney stock...there was a link somewhere on these boards to a place that gets you an actual printed certificate for one share (though you probably have that already!)

Oh well, good luck

 

[MSSANDRA]

Consumable art supplies- paper, paints , marker etc
Kids music Cd
Movie in a basket with snacks for a movie night.
tickets to a fun place (many already mentioned)

 

[Susycakes]

movie tickets for the whole family? arts and crafts items..crayons are always breaking, finger paints, play-doh, etc..like others said gift cards to children's activities are great. i have a 3yo DD and would like any of these things. remember that 2 yo's will not really understand or remember who gave them which gift so i always think of it as getting the parent a present, not the child! HTH!

 

[arihillfarm]

With now three children myself, I see that we have SOOO many things (toys, blankets, books, etc.) that are being passed down except that the youngest one doesn't really have much that is HIS, if you know what I mean. I'm looking to the future at all the stuff that does have value for the next generation (meaning things that could be passed on to my grandkids by their parents) and really only my daughter (the oldest) has some cool stuff that she can someday save for her children that were gifts to her when she was younger. With that in mind, I'm starting to buy and ask for gifts for the two boys that have some long term value as far as being able to be passed on to their kids; special homemade blankets, a wooden train set that's not really meant to be played with right now, classic hardback children's books that are signed by the gift giver, etc.

-Astrid

 

[StitchFanZ]

At that age my DS was really into trains so a trip to go look at some trains or ride on a train would have been perfect. Just rding a monorail was a huge treat for him.

The other all time favorite was big boxes. My neighbors kid had just about every toy in the world but he was always over in our driveway playing with the numerous big boxes I would bring home from work. Just think - they can be forts, secret hiding places, they can be painted, colored and deocrated. You can help them cut doors. Once the boxes fall apart, my kids made slides in the living room using the couch pillows or they split them open and made secret hiding places under the dining room table. So many possibilities. If they have enough of them, the can make mazes. Some adults may think as set of boxes is a strange gift, the most kids love them.

 

[heathrow42]

Agree with the poster about something personalized (photo book of family, etc) or spending time with them. If that's not possible, ask if they have a college savings plan, like a 529 plan. (it's like a 401k for college) I'm pretty sure you can make contributions to someone else's plan on their behalf. $50/100 every year, from birthdays/christmas will add up and be very much appreciated.

The stock thing is cool too -- I wouldn't go with Disney. Investment wise their are better options.

I was getting my neices savings bonds for a while, but I think I'm gonna follow my own advice and try to contribute to their college savings plans.

--Heather