Gift ideas for a 18 m old....

[megan4777]

I would love ideas for my dd#2.

I was thinking the fisherprice learn through music plus.
I don't know what else to get for her other than a few books.

She seems to be wayyyyy beyond what DD#1 was at this age so I don't want to limit her to "baby toys."


Thanks

 

[megan4777]

no one has an 18m old? Help?!?

 

[mickeyboat]

Does she have any ride-on toys? How about a tricycle that has a handle on it so you can push if she can't pedal. I always try to find outdoor and active toys for my kids - inside a book, some blank paper and markers would satisfy them.

That gives me a good idea. I love the crayola Color Wonder stuff - they have markers and even finger paints that only work on the special, magic paper. So she can have fun, and you don't have to worry about the mess.

Denae

 

[Minnie824]

Doras house or princess castle? We got that for my DD last year at that age. Any leapfrog toys.

 

[Hedy]

At that age we got picture books (hey, at least they can look at them) and at age 2 I generally get a subscription to Sesame St magazine.

 

[Aneille]

What about a chair of some sort. My kids were big into kid chairs. The Elmo chair that shakes is super cute.

 

[becker1123]

I recommend the Playskool Busy Ball Popper. We got it for DD when she was 1 and it is very popular with all three of my girls. Even my 5 year old is intrigued by it for awhile. It's not too expensive either, but IMO a great toy.

 

[lulu71]

My DD is only 16 months, but she is really into her Magna Doodle lately. She has the Fisher Price one with the shapes magnets and loves it. The Vtech toys are also fun for her. We have the treehouse one and the ice cream shop at her grandmother's house. If you have the space for it, the FP Learning House is one of her favorites too. Some of my friends with older toddlers love to play with it too.

Oh and one other that my friend raves about is the Leap Frog ABC refrigerator magnet set. I saw it listed as one of the top toys in a magazine just the other day. Her DD plays with it all the time and is really learning her ABCs and numbers from it.

 

[PrincessCLM]

My nephew likes the Little People sets.

 

[sammi]

We bought our little Granddaughter Jada a Minnie Mouse stroller with the little infant carrier that attaches to the stroller and also got her "triplet" dolls which she absolutely adores playing with. Anything with baby dolls would be great.

 

[GraysMom]

I recommend the Playskool Busy Ball Popper. We got it for DD when she was 1 and it is very popular with all three of my girls. Even my 5 year old is intrigued by it for awhile. It's not too expensive either, but IMO a great toy.

The Playskool Ball Popper is now our official "First Birthday" gift for all the kids we know. DS got one for Christmas last year and has played with it every single day since then (he's now 21 mo). It's actually what he used to pull himself up and learn to stand independently with. He still plays with it every day while I get ready in the morning, although now he announces each color as the ball pops up.

 

[TheOtherVillainess]

LeapFrog LittleTouch LeapPad--DS is almost 3 and he STILL loves this thing. Plus it's got different settings so you can set it to where you think it's appropriate.

We also have the LeapFrog magnetic talking alphabet, the musical learning table, the musical drum, Alphabet Pal and Talking Baby Tad.

Can't ya just tell we love LeapFrog toys?

You could also get the Fisher Price Laugh N Learn House. DS got that for his second Christmas when he was about 18 mos old and he LOVES that thing.

*edited to add--sturdy board books are also a good choice. DS has a ton of those and his favorites are "You Are Mine". Can't remember the author right now, but it's a Christian author who writes about the adventures of Punchinello the Wooden Wemmick.

TOV

 

[Alex2kMommy]

My DS2 is an Elmo fan from way back.

He has a hand-me-down Tickle Me Elmo and a plush Elmo that he assembled himself at Build-A-Bear. (Note that he wasn't so much into the assembly part, so that was a bit of a dud, but he loves the Elmo!) Also several videos and DVDs. We are eager for the new TMX Elmo to come out and see what it does! There are other Elmos that make animal noises, name parts of the body, etc.

 

[tw1nsmom]

What about blocks? Bathtub fingerpaints? Sand/water table (with measuring cups, funnel and sifter)? Paper and washable crayons?

Really, some of the classic toys can be the most intellectually stimulating. The academy of pediatrics is now saying unstructured creative and active play are most important for a childs development (in comparison to video/electronic/computerized learning games).

 

[LisaNJ25]

I have a 25 and 13 month old..

Things my older one is really into : Disney hit clips. Magnadoodle, Peek a blocks and table, Anything that make noise or plays music, crayola mess free markers, busy ball popper, dolls, weebles. She has has 2 ride on toys that he is on all day long.

 

[TheOtherVillainess]

Alex2KMommy--I have seen the new TME on TV and that thing cracks me up.

First tickle, he laughs and shakes while slapping his leg with one hand.
Second tickle, he laughs, shakes and bends over.
Third tickle, he laughs, s hakes, falls on the ground waving his arms and kicking his legs.
It's the funniest thing I've ever seen, but I don't want one. Electronic toys in our house tend to be a tad posessed. DS's LeapFrog music table has gone off all by itself a few times and I've been woken up in the middle of the night by his Let's Pretend Elmo going off.

TOV

 

[Alex2kMommy]

Alex2KMommy--I have seen the new TME on TV and that thing cracks me up.

WHAT?! I thought this thing was supposed to be top secret until it was available for sale! Does that mean it's in stores now? It sounds really cute!

Electronic toys in our house tend to be a tad posessed.

I soooo know what you mean! DH was working late into the night, and I woke up hearing something downstairs. I was freaking out, wondering if I should go down there to investigate, or grab the kids and call 911! But something was definitely familiar about the voice... It finally dawned on me that it was the talking barbeque grill toy that my brother had given DS2 for his birthday; it talks at the most unexpected moments because the battery is dying, and says in a Jeff Foxworthy-type voice: "Let's get cookin'!" Son's animal puzzle (that makes each animal sound as you put the appropriate piece in the puzzle) does the same thing.

 

[megan4777]

thanks for all the ideas!!!
We have a ball popper that both girls play with frequently. Unfortunately, they keep losing the balls under the couch, chairs...etc. I'm going ot have to see if I can buy extras b/c they're getting creative and putting other toys in there.

 

[megan4777]

WHAT?! I thought this thing was supposed to be top secret until it was available for sale! Does that mean it's in stores now? It sounds really cute!.

Elmo came out last month, I think. If you go to the fisherprice.com site you can see him in action.

I think they're pretty difficult to get a hold of b/c they were on e-bay for $$$

 

[LisaNJ25]

My DS2 is an Elmo fan from way back.

He has a hand-me-down Tickle Me Elmo and a plush Elmo that he assembled himself at Build-A-Bear. (Note that he wasn't so much into the assembly part, so that was a bit of a dud, but he loves the Elmo!) Also several videos and DVDs. We are eager for the new TMX Elmo to come out and see what it does! There are other Elmos that make animal noises, name parts of the body, etc.

The TMX has been out for a few weeks. Mines already in the bottom of the toy box, but it is hysterical.