Christmas presents for toddlers

That sounds like plenty for a child that age. I'm sure she will love that rocking chair. I tend to give the 'big' presents for birthdays and lesser ones - but, I hope, well chosen - for Christmas. This spreads the cost over the year. Ask her parents what stocking fillers you could provide for Santa's visit.

I bought DGS an Ikea toy kitchen which he loves. His birthday is at the end of September and this really a joint Xmas and birthday present. I will get a few little things for the but he gets far more stuff than he needs from several other relatives.

Wooden pretend fruit and veg that are held together by magnets, were popular with our GD when she had a pretend kitchen. Also tea set etc. quite a few places do them. In fact anything that encourages imaginative play and real life. They love copying the grown ups, at this age. X

Mine [4 and 7]still play with the kitchen I bought them. I keep it at my house so they don't see it very often and therefore don't get bored. Younger one still makes a beeline for the push along dog I bought him when he was toddling. It's big/strong enough to sit on and he still sits on it to watch telly or draw pictures.

Ours loved Lego Duplo for imaginative play, making schools, houses, zoos, parks and shops and making up stories about going to the seaside or for picnics.

Glove and finger puppets are great for learning nursery rhymes and the actions that go with them, especially the crocodile and set of five cheeky monkeys, and farm animals for Ol' MacDonald.

Sketch boards that wipe out with a slider are good - 'do a bee, cat, flower, me, daddy' - all of which get wiped before you can finish them!

Jigsaws (Peppa Pig) with huge pieces for 2 year old. My dgd just 3, still loves them and the pieces are getting smaller and she really gets it now.

It's not just me that has that problem with the sketcher then when

I'm having real trouble buying for youngest DGS he will be 3 in March but has a few problems and is not average for his age. Even DD is at a loss

I agree with anno. Lolasgran maybe a couple of stocking fillers and that's it. After all she's not going to know what it's all about.

My GS age 2 is also difficult to buy for. His Mum suggested we buy him a cuddly toy, as he loves soft things, and has pinched his big brother's cuddly cat. Big brother, needless to say, is not amused.

Another thought: if you buy something that comes in a big box, keep it and when the child gets bored with all the toys, she will just love making a house or a car out of the box - or just hiding out there. A box is an infinite source of entertainment and imaginative play.

I've had a big box in my living room for several years; it is now home to the push along dog but for many years was the boys play house [it has a door and a window]. They now sometimes decorate it instead. It's good for keeping newspapers, gloves and 'in transit' items on as well.

How about pillow pets dream lites? I bought one of these for each of my grandchildren and notice that, when they come to stay with us, the pillows come too.

I'd agree that one biggish present is enough. Children get so much at this time of year. For those who haven't bought yet, Asda do a brilliant toy kitchen as well. I've bagged a couple of half-price Bosch workbenches from ELC for my DGSs - only £30 each. They've both had workmen in their houses recently and they'll love copying them with the replica tools. I look forward to having my legs sawn off by each of them.

One big hit with my two recently has been a tin of sticklebricks I bought at a table top sale. I don't think you can get them new now, but there must be something similar. I wish I'd bought all four tins that were on sale when I had the chance.

We've bought smallest gs - 1.5 - a Little Tikes cosy coupe car. I got it months ago in a sale for half price. Apart from that he's getting some lift out puzzles and a tea set. He really doesn't understand anything about Christmas so that's all I'm buying.

I was given a preloved cosy coupe that, as it turned out, was missing its removable floor. The boys loved it, unfortunately, so Summer in the garden saw me pulling them round backwards so their legs didn't drag, and resounded to cries of "keep your feet up". We call it the Coupe of Death.

DGDs always love playing with ELC Happyland people and have built up quite a village between them. They can play with it on their own and it is lovely to hear them 'role playing' and making up little stories with the people. If she has any Happyland or Fisher Price people already you could add to them.

Duplo is good as well.

I bought DGS a Little Tikes coupe and he couldn't wait to demonstrate how he could do 'do'nuts' in it!
The one I bought for the DGDs was used a little more sedately.

GS2 who will be 2 on Boxing Day loves the Ninky Nonk we bought him from John Lewis. Awfully expensive (I thought) but he does like playing with it and dancing to to music.

All mine live abroad and some are still waiting for presents I sent 3 years ago. It's money in the bank accounts I have for them now as they get so much from other people, except the Chinese pair. China does not 'do' Christmas and so lots of presents, kids comparing each others goodies and watching the adverts just doesn't happen in the same way. DGS is lucky to get Christmas Day off school.

Both DGS have loved the Little Tykes Coupe. We have bought the older one a new bike so younger will inherit the smaller one. I'm stuck !

Thank you SO much everyone for all the ideas .

Maggiemaybe I am not sure that the Little Tike coupe ever had a floor - I thought they were supposed to use their feet to propel it around (DGS went at top speed like that).

Ah, I have just looked online and apparently the removable floor is a new feature.

Our coupe must be younger than it looks then, rosequartz, as it has a warning sticker saying that the floor panel and push handle must be removed if children are "self-propelling". It also warns that it mustn't be used on hills or steps or public roads. I can just imagine trundling it backwards along the A1 with a DGS perched inside, legs rigidly stuck out in front of him.

I thank you all, too - this lot should keep me supplied for a few years yet. This year I have bought a sylvanian families house, because DD still had her little one from when she was the same age and now it is falling apart. So I bought the house (on offer) and a little light-up fireplace and a sylvanian family Father Christmas. I think I shall sew a teeny stocking.

What a lovely idea, janerowena!

I am getting my 18 month old DGD a small wooden table and 2 chairs.