# Toddler gift recommendations? (18-24 months) **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 12, 2012, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toddler-gift-recommendations-18-24-months/618524 "2012-04-12T02:12:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2012, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toddler-gift-recommendations-18-24-months/618524/1 "2012-04-12T02:12:49Z")
The title says it all. What would you get for a little tyke who’s in the 1.5 to 2.0 year old range? ---
**Author:** ![ioioio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ioioio/32/316_2.png) [@ioioio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ioioio)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2012, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toddler-gift-recommendations-18-24-months/618524/2 "2012-04-12T02:44:20Z")
Books. If you haven’t been in a children’s book section for a while, you’ll be amazed. There are books with sounds and music, feely touchy books, books that come with matching stuffed animals or bath toys. Kids books are so cool. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2012, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toddler-gift-recommendations-18-24-months/618524/3 "2012-04-12T03:19:05Z")
Our son is 18 months, and I’d agree with books. I like the Dr. Suess [Bright and Early](http://www.amazon.ca/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=bright+and+early+board+books&x=0&y=0) series, although any board book is usually better for this age range. ---
**Author:** ![lisacurl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/41988e/32.png) [@lisacurl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisacurl)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2012, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toddler-gift-recommendations-18-24-months/618524/4 "2012-04-12T03:21:17Z")
[Everyone Poops](http://www.amazon.com/Everyone-Poops-Body-Science-Series/dp/192913214X/ref=lp_B000APENNA_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1334200832&sr=1-1) It’s the best book ever, according to my niece. ---
**Author:** ![OldnCrinkly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8e7dd6/32.png) [@OldnCrinkly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldnCrinkly)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2012, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toddler-gift-recommendations-18-24-months/618524/5 "2012-04-12T03:37:55Z")
Books are great anytime. But if you’re looking for a toy I don’t think you can go far wrong with a Tickle me Elmo. Edit- Its spring, any kind of ride on scooter type of thing will go over well also, I bet. ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2012, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toddler-gift-recommendations-18-24-months/618524/6 "2012-04-12T05:39:22Z")
I’m the parent of a child in that age range! Water WOW brand coloring books are fucking amazing, it is a kind of special material that turns transparent when wet and comes with a plastic marker with a water wick. My son will spend hours playing with it, dry it out and do it again. Wonderful with no mess and no worry about him consuming the writing implement. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2012, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toddler-gift-recommendations-18-24-months/618524/7 "2012-04-12T07:18:42Z")
It depends on whether or not you want to remain friends with the parents. My husband still hasn’t forgiven the guy who gave our toddler daughter fingerpaints and PlayDo. ---
**Author:** ![Cinnamon\_Imp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58956e/32.png) [@Cinnamon\_Imp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cinnamon_Imp)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2012, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toddler-gift-recommendations-18-24-months/618524/8 "2012-04-12T07:32:42Z")
I’d go with something from the Fisher Price Little People range - the [farm](http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fisher-Price-Little-People-Animal-Sounds/dp/B000EQGT00)is a nice gender neutral toy. Fun, colourful, noisy, and fairly unbreakable! ---
**Author:** ![Girl\_From\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3da27b/32.png) [@Girl\_From\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Girl_From_Mars)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2012, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toddler-gift-recommendations-18-24-months/618524/9 "2012-04-12T07:53:33Z")
Parent of a child in that age range: Books as mentioned - things like Don’t let the pigeon drive the bus, Stickman, There are no cats in this book, Bubble Trouble, the Charlie and Lola series and the Hairy Maclary books. Toy train set - [lovely cheap wooden one at Ikea](http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/30064359/)which fits most standard gauge train sets Cooking gear - again Ikea has nice [felt food](http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/70185750/) and [cute stainless steel pans](http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/00130167/). Sounds girly but all the boys at this age love mucking around in the kitchen too. Paint and crayons - perhaps with a smock? A [Bilibo](http://www.bilibo.com/en/enter/default.aspx) - great for stimulating imaginations A harmonica or a Plan Toy wooden drum (depending on how the parents feel about music, but the Plan Toy one we tested before buying and it’s quiet and melodic) Fisher Price doctor kit Easy jigsaw puzzles (the ones where you put the shape in a space, rather than put the pieces together). ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2012, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toddler-gift-recommendations-18-24-months/618524/10 "2012-04-12T13:21:16Z")
Kids that young don’t care about presents and at that age most parents are trying to scale back from the overwhelming load of toys they are given. On gifting occasions I get something for mom/dad to make their life easier (house cleaning, food delivery) or something they can do as a family when its convenient for them (membership at the children’s museum or zoo), or put away a savings bond for future [del]hookers and blow[/del] college expenses. Yeah it’s not “fun” but, again, kids that age have no notion of special occasions. They’ll enjoy the box the gift came in as much – if not more – than the gift. Pround auntie of 21 month old. My SIL literally fell all over herself thanking me for not buying any “things” this year. ETA: another thing you want to be wary of is branded, licensed characters. Some parents are find with industrious/educational characters like Dora, not fine with Disney Princess, some parents are fine with anything, some parents want no licensed items in the house if they can help it. ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2012, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toddler-gift-recommendations-18-24-months/618524/11 "2012-04-12T13:44:09Z")
A subscription to _Babybug_ magazine. Age appropriate, and it comes nine times a year, so it’s like giving nine books. ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2012, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toddler-gift-recommendations-18-24-months/618524/12 "2012-04-12T14:03:40Z")
I don’t know if I’d go as far as **Hello Again** , but then I like stuff… however I would recommend something compact like a book or DVD or, as also mentioned, Babybug magazine. Gift certificates for fun outings are great too. If you really want to buy a toy, and I wouldn’t blame you if you do, play kitchen stuff or anything Little People is great. ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2012, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toddler-gift-recommendations-18-24-months/618524/13 "2012-04-12T14:15:20Z")
> [@Hello\_Again](#): > > ETA: another thing you want to be wary of is branded, licensed characters. Some parents are find with industrious/educational characters like Dora, not fine with Disney Princess, some parents are fine with anything, some parents want no licensed items in the house if they can help it. Shit like that makes me feel like I am from another planet or something. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2012, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toddler-gift-recommendations-18-24-months/618524/14 "2012-04-12T14:56:08Z")
The kid probably has a shitload of toys already. My wife an I always appreciated Savings bonds. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2012, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toddler-gift-recommendations-18-24-months/618524/15 "2012-04-12T14:57:59Z")
anything with bright colors and isn’t too heavy. anything around your house that you want to get rid of and isn’t dangerous will be fine. kids that age like everything and have short attention spans so their disappointment is short lived. if you want something the parents will like for the kid then i got nothing. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2012, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toddler-gift-recommendations-18-24-months/618524/16 "2012-04-12T15:00:19Z")
Actually, a good toy for a toddler is a toddler sized empty box. I’m not kidding. ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2012, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toddler-gift-recommendations-18-24-months/618524/17 "2012-04-12T15:00:48Z")
I think books are a great choice. My little boy is a huge fan of the Pookie books, if you want a recommendation. He’s 20 months. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2012, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toddler-gift-recommendations-18-24-months/618524/18 "2012-04-12T16:07:45Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > Actually, a good toy for a toddler is a toddler sized empty box. I’m not kidding. This is true, but most parents probably have the boxes already :). I’d go with books, although the tickets to an outing idea is pretty great, too. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2012, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toddler-gift-recommendations-18-24-months/618524/19 "2012-04-12T16:40:19Z")
Get the kid a gift certificate for dinner for two at a nice restaurant and offer to stay with him while his parents use it. ---
**Author:** ![Caffeine.addict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f475e1/32.png) [@Caffeine.addict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caffeine.addict)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2012, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toddler-gift-recommendations-18-24-months/618524/20 "2012-04-12T17:28:34Z")
Board books are the way to go, although my son really didn’t get into books until he was 24 months old. He now has books that he adores and practically sleeps with. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toddler-gift-recommendations-18-24-months/618524.md?page=2)