Holiday Gift Guide for Two Year Olds
All our toddler faves, all in one place!
There is something for every toddler to learn and play with as they grow! Check it out!
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Lalo Booster Seat: This is actually the same bucket seat as the Lalo High Chair- just in Booster form! I love how this design is SO EASY to clean! It straps securely on the dining chair and your little one will sit flush with the table. And the pelvic piece can be removed! So when your little one wants to start climbing in on their own around their 3rd birthday, you can just remove that piece and still use the booster for a couple more years! “EATPLAYSAY” saves 10%.
Olababy 9 oz Straw Cup: You all know this is my all time favorite cup! But did you know it comes in a 9 oz version for toddlers?! I love that it’s made from silicone, has a straw stopper so your little one can’t pull the straw out, has a weighted bottom so it’s harder to knock over, is a great size for little hands, and doubles as an open cup. These are great for offering smoothies because there are only 3 pieces to the cup, so super easy to clean!
Munchkin Utensils: This stainless steel utensil set is perfect for little hands. They wash well, and are a great transition set when your little one is ready to move off of silicone utensils! I recommend using 18 months and older.
Elk & Friends Stainless Straw Cup: Older toddler calls for a wider straw! Around the first birthday, baby was learning how to drink, so a skinnier straw was preferable. Now as a seasoned drinker and toddler, a thicker straw for milk, smoothies, and water is good! These stainless steel cups are easy to clean and also come with sealable lids- so you can use them as storage, or as an on-the-go container!
Weesprout Stainless Bento Box: No plastic, no problem! The interior stainless steel on these traveling boxes are great! The outer silicone makes them easy to hold, so these are perfect for daycare, a picnic, or even just for eating at home!
Klean Kanteen Cup: My new favorite stainless steel and silicone cup for older toddlers! The cap twists to close making it spill proof and the design is easy to clean. It requires some good fine motor skills for littles to open and close by themselves so it’s best for about 2.5 years and older. It’s also 12 ounces so a good cup for toddlers and preschoolers who drink lots of water throughout the day! Sometimes the smaller bottles just aren’t enough.
Spinning Snack Dispenser: This one is so much fun for travel and even for daily use! It’s a great way to offer choices for your toddler and take foods on the go. If your little one is in a food rut, try to spice it up with a snack spinner- a little change can really help!
Owala Straw Cup: I tested this cup out and it passes my test for age 2+! It’s stainless steel and insulated, travels well (read: spill-proof straw), and comes in fun, bright colors!
Elk & Friends Porcelain Plates: I love this brand for making tableware that is safe for kids! These plates are porcelain so no leaching and easy to clean, but they come with a silicone backing for extra protection (and to help grip to the table!) There are 2 sizes of plates to choose from and many color combos!
Elk & Friends Stainless Utensils: Silicone and stainless steel, these utensils are great quality and come in so many fun color combinations.
Lalo Big Bites Kit: This kit has everything you need. Made with food-grade silicone and stainless steel, you get the mealtime cup, plate, bowl, fork, spoon, placemat, and a set of chopsticks! Paul still uses this set and Jenna’s son has one, too! I love the new honey color! Code “EATPLAYSAY” saves 10%.
Little Tikes Flowin’ Fun Water Table: This water table is so fun! It comes with 13 interchangeable pipes and faucets, so the possibilities are endless. You can fill it with water in the central tower or hook it up to the hose to keep the water flowing.
Bubble Gun Machine: Have all the fun of bubble play and save your breath! Paul loves these.
Little Tikes Cape Cottage Playhouse: Who wouldn’t want a cape cottage this cute?! I love that it has a functioning door, windows with shutters, and a mail slot. Use it indoors, or outside. Bring pots and pans inside to cook, draw pictures and deliver the mail in the slot, etc. Pretend play is endless!
Balance Bike: Paul got this balance bike for his 2nd birthday and loves it! Great quality with adjustable seat and handlebar. At 3, he still rides it and has room to grow. Comes in 10 inch and 12 inch options!
Little Tikes Game Time Sports Climber: This toy has it all. Your little one can climb, slide, crawl, kick a goal, throw a ball through the hoop - it’s so dynamic. There are little knobs to keep score playing basketball - how CUTE! It’s a toy that will grow with them, too.
Little Tikes Trampoline: We have this and Paul goes bananas on it. It’s great for learning to jump and I love the bar for littles to keep their balance. This one is also great for deep pressure input. The packaging says 3 years and older, but toddlers can get great use out of this with supervision.
Bubble Mower: This is a great fun outdoor activity for pretend play. Practice “mowing” and “water the lawn” with the bubbles that come out!
John Deere Ride-On: Our neighbor has this ride-on tractor and it drives really well. Paul was finally old enough to get on it at 2 years, but needed help driving it. Perfect for gaining confidence, and then they can ride on it for years! Love the wagon attachment to haul things!
Radio Flyer Trike: Paul has this trike and loves it! The bucket seat is comfortable and it handles really well!
River & Roads Water Play Table: A huge water table with a lazy river, working bridges, a large pool area and more. This table allows for siblings/peers to play on every side. It also comes with some water toys, too! So many opportunities for creativity and pretend play.
Step2 Up and Down Rollercoaster: This is such a fun set-up! Perfect for toddlers and preschoolers you can make your own little rollercoaster inside or out! “Ready, set, GO!” Aly has it for her son and says it’s always a crowd pleaser with toddlers!
Jumbo Coloring Pads: These coloring pads are a great size for arts & crafts or a fun activity for a rainy day inside. There is a vehicle, animal, and multi-themed pad in this set. The pages are large enough for 2 people to color on at once!
Tabletop Paper Roll Dispenser: Turn any table into an art table! With a solid wooden base, this dispenser holds 12” paper rolls and has a child-safe tearing strip. Draw a poster, paint a banner, get crafty!
Nontoxic Chalk: Non-toxic and chunky chalk for little hands to grasp. I love the colors these come in! Practice labeling shapes, colors and letters on your driveway or sidewalk! Great for 18 months- 2 years and older!
Do-A-Dot Markers: These are perfect for a no-(or less) mess alternative to markers and help your little one practice things like grasping and blotting. Practice labeling colors and “drawing” pictures while working on hand-eye coordination.
My First Sidewalk Chalk Set: Great for gripping/grasping and starting to draw & create! Short, thick writing utensils are recommended for toddlers as their hand strength increases and fine motor skills develop!
Art Smocks: A total game changer for arts & crafts! These smocks are affordable and protect clothing from getting stained. I love the little pockets in the front to store paintbrushes or markers while creating.
Doodle Mat: A no-mess way to create art and learn! Jenna’s son has this and loves. Use the water pens to write and draw, moisten the sponge shapes to dab and draw. The pad changes colors as soon as it gets wet. Practice labeling letters and numbers, or whatever you want to draw!
Jumbo Triangular Crayons: The triangular shape means they don’t roll off the table - and promotes writing-readiness.
Stamp Set: Stamps can be overlooked, but I love this set because of the flat wooden handles for little hands. Practice fine motor skills like hand-eye coordination by getting the stamp on the ink pad, then onto the paper.
Paint Containers: If you have a little Da’Vinci these are a must - spill-proof lids, color coordinating paint pots and brushes, and the lids keep paint fresh in between uses. Practice labeling colors and fine motor skills dipping the paintbrush in and out while creating.
Melissa & Doug Easel: This isn’t just an easel - it’s a chalkboard on one side, dry erase board on the other, and has a paper roll on top for drawing and coloring with crayons or markers. Great for screen-free play and will grow with your child!
Melissa & Doug Town Vehicles: Paul got these as a gift and we are loving using them on his road rug for pretend play! Take the school bus to pick up the kids at school, help the trash truck do its run, take the ice cream truck out on the road. The pretend play is endless with so many language opportunities. Your little one can use these well into toddlerhood and beyond.
Melissa & Doug Dashboard: Jenna’s son is a car lover and loves this dashboard! You can steer the wheel, beep the horn, click the turn signals, choose your radio station, and pretend to fill the car up with gas. A 2-year old would enjoy it, and it has features that your little one can grow into. When you shift the gear into Drive, there is a mini GPS screen where the car moves and you have to steer to keep the car on the road!
Remote Control Cars: Paul got this set when he was 2 and I love it because the controls are simple enough for a toddler to learn - only 2 buttons! There is a race car driver and policeman on the cars, and they even come out of the cars for additional pretend play opportunities. The cars play music, beep horns, and the policeman has a siren!
Green Toys Dump Truck: I love Green Toys because they’re well made. Practice functional language by loading things “in” and dumping things “out” of the truck!
Melissa & Doug Wooden Farm Train: We have this, and Paul loves it! Use this for pretend play, learning colors, counting and more.
CAT Construction Toy: Can be used indoors and outdoors, and has real working parts. Load it up, dump it out, and engage in pretend play construction.
Melissa & Doug Keys & Cars Emergency Vehicle Set: This set comes with a fire truck, ambulance, and police car. Each have a garage that opens with color-coded keys and a button to release the vehicles. Practice fine motor skills while targeting functional language like, “turn, open, close, push/press, stop, go!”
Melissa & Doug Tabletop Train: Paul has and loves. It provides great opportunities to target functional language like, “go” and “stop.” Easy to travel with and occupy your little one, too.
Green Toys Fire Truck: Another Green Toys truck for the win! I love this one because the two ladders on each side come out and can be propped up for any pretend play while engaging in fine motor development. The top ladder rotates 360 degrees.
Melissa & Doug Car Carrier: Another one that Paul has and loves! Endless fun with taking the cars off and playing separately, or loading them up together! Target functional language like, “stop, go, on, off.” Label colors and count, too!
John Deere Sand Toys: These can be used indoors and outdoors and have great reviews. A tilting dump bed and lifting front loader make them function realistically at an affordable price.
Carry & Go Race Track: This is a portable track with roads on one side and train rails on the other side. Flip it either way you want! A great addition to vehicle-themed play that can create imaginative play opportunities with the cars and trains you already have in your home! Best of all: no assembly required!
Make-a-Cake Mixer Set: A fun set to make a cake together. Model cracking eggs, slicing the butter, pouring the batter, and mixing the ingredients. It’s great for realistic pretend play. If you’re baking a cake, let them get their mixer and work alongside you!
Melissa & Doug Pots & Pans: They look just like the real things! Great to pair with the play kitchens and do some realistic pretend play. Target functional language like, “stir, cook, sizzle, pour.” Make a soup with play food and label the food items you add!
Learning Resources Farmer’s Market: These are great for toddlers just getting interested in colors and double as pretend play food! Great quality- Paul plays with this all the time.
Melissa & Doug Scoop and Serve Ice Cream Set: What a fun set that is perfect for modeling phrases and longer sentences (“I want a BIG ice cream cone! I want MORE scoops!”) as well as later modeling colors and descriptive words (“ooooh my ice cream is SO COLD!”) Practice ordering and taking turns making ice cream with your little one!
Melissa & Doug Bake & Decorate Cupcake Set: Perfect for a birthday gift and perfect for pretend play too! You can model blowing on the cupcakes to cool them off, putting them in an oven to bake, and more. Label colors, practice turn taking and requesting, and feeding others, too!
Mix ‘n’ Match Pizza: This one is so much fun! Easily put toppings “on top” of the pizza. Label, engage in pretend play, follow directions, and more!
Melissa & Doug Food Groups Set: Jenna has this set and there’s a bin for fruit, meat, dairy and grains. Take the hamburger and layer it with the bun, practice labeling the foods and colors, etc. These are wooden food pieces so really sturdy and easy to wipe and clean off.
Hape Toaster: A fun set which includes 2 slices of bread, butter and a knife, and some honey. Have your little chef get this out in the morning and make toast! Target functional language like “push” when you stick the bread in, and “pop!” when the toast comes out. Spread the butter, pour the honey, and practice taking turns making it, too!
Chef Outfit: Such a fun way to elevate role play in the kitchen! This chef outfit includes a chef jacket and hat, oven mitt, measuring spoons and cooking instruments. Ask your little chef to measure ingredients, stir the soup, and more.
Step2 Sizzle & Smoke Grill: This grill is so cool. It makes a sizzling sound and also vaporizes water so it looks like the grill is really smoking! It comes with grilling accessories like tongs, utensils, and a pot. Target functional language like “flip” when using the tongs for meat or “turn” when using the knob to turn the grill on.
Grocery Cans Play Food: Another great and affordable addition to the play kitchen! Jenna loves these cans because they’re sturdy and have removable lids. Practice fine motor skills taking the lids on and off, labeling different foods and colors, and making meals in the play kitchen!
Play Sink: Paul has this and LOVES it. Can wash dishes for hours. Plus, it comes with food and plates and the plates will change color when the water gets warm so you can check the temperature. GENIUS.
Wooden Barn: I love that this barn is made of wood and so realistic. It has a foldable roof, a working pulley to move the hay, ladders, and functioning windows and doors. It comes with hay bales, ladders, food troughs, a removable loft and fences. There are so many pretend play opportunities with this!
Magnetic Fishing Puzzle: A puzzle and a fishing game in one toy. Use the fishing pole to catch the different ocean animals and once you’ve caught them all, put the puzzle back together! This works on hand-eye coordination and strengthens fine motor development.
Melissa & Doug Puppets: Have fun on the farm with these barnyard puppets! These are great for imaginative play and storytelling. Sing songs, give them personalities, and more!
Duplo Wild Animals Set: A cute set for your animal lover to pretend play with a more concrete toy. Add this to any set of blocks you have and you can make the animals a home or build out a bigger zoo!
STEM Magnetic Dinosaur Set: Okay, these are neat. A STEM-based learning toy with strong magnets at the center, you match the head and rest of the body to build the dinosaurs. These come in other animal sets as well and the pieces are interchangeable! Great gift to add on to down the line for the holidays or the next birthday!
Daniel Tiger Trolley: This toy is especially fun for fans of the show and comes with Mom Tiger and Daniel Tiger. Push the button and watch the trolley move! The trolley plays songs and phrases and has lights, too. Use the traffic light and target functional language like “stop” and “go.”
Sea Animal Set: With five sea animals and a coral reef, your little one can pretend play with the animals in their natural habitat. Take Nemo for a swim, help the octopus hide in the coral. The reef is built-in storage and all of the animals fit inside of it and can be zipped up. It’s also machine washable - score!
Safari Animal Activity Mat: This set includes a zoo play mat, animals, and trees - everything your little one needs to set the scene! It also comes with a container to store everything when the playing is done!
Paw Patrol Adventure Bay Lookout Tower: Calling all Paw Patrol fans! This lookout tower has dual tracks so 2 littles can play at once, or it’s great for practicing taking turns. It comes with Marshall and Chase vehicles to race, too. Push the periscope to race the pups and help them on their rescue mission!
Animal Parade A-Z Puzzle: We have this puzzle and love it! Chunky wooden animal pieces with letters A-Z. Engage in putting the puzzle together while labeling animals and colors. Count the animals and practice letter identification, too.
Learning Resources Jumbo Pets Set: These animals are a good size for pretend play and durable. They’re very detailed, too! It comes with an activity guide with fun facts about the animals to start conversations with your little one as you play.
Sticker Book: You know that I LOVE these books. We also have the Animal Habitats and All Around Town and they are great for restaurants, doctor’s offices, waiting rooms, anything! So many pages, and each sticker page has a coloring page, too- so it’s a coloring book and sticker book all in one. PRO TIP: Peel off the sticker webbing that connects AROUND the stickers, so it’s easier for your little one to pull off a sticker.
Busy Backpack: Great for strengthening fine motor skills - pinch the buckles to release, zip the zipper, tie the shoestring, practice buttoning and unbuttoning, and problem solve. Bonus: you can still use this as a backpack! Great for keeping your little one busy while traveling, too.
Melissa & Doug Cutting Food Set: This is one of the best cutting sets as the velcro sticks but isn’t super tight and the pieces aren’t too small to be too cumbersome. Target functional language for food prep like “slice, chop, cut.” Count how many slices of each food there are.
Matching Eggs: These are great for color and shape recognition and fine motor skills, and can also be used for pretend play while your little one makes breakfast for you!
Pop Tubes: These are super low cost and super fun! Make funny noises, use as a megaphone, stretch and shrink them, and even wear as a cool necklace.
Melissa & Doug Toolbox: Little ones can pretend play while practicing hand-eye coordination and problem-solving with this set. Paul has and loves!
Duplo Construction Site: Move the boulder from the bulldozer, to the crane, to the cement mixer! Great for a little one who loves construction. Build the tower for the crane, move it from side to side as you do work on the site. All of the construction vehicles have moving parts!
Duplo Classic Set: This little set of Duplo blocks is a great, affordable gift. It’s also a great way to play pretend with a more concrete toy. Practice stacking towers and taking turns building.
Fubbles Big Bucket: I love Fubbles because they don’t spill if it tips over! This one is super fun because it has a couple different wands to use. If you have multiple kids, they can each use it at once! It’s also great for finger isolation - blow bubbles and pop them together! Take turns popping them, too, modeling “your turn, my turn.”
Toddler Knife Set: Such a cute gift, and a functional one too! Include your little one in kitchen prep. Let them cut up fruit for a smoothie or parfait bowl, or let them slice some tomatoes for a sandwich! Little ones eat more and try more foods when they have exposure to them OUTSIDE of meals. So, food prep as much as you can!
Learning Resources Spike The Hedgehog: Work on fine motor skills, counting and sorting while you stick the “spikes” in the hedgehog. The spikes can be stored inside of Spike so it’s easy to store!
Melissa & Doug Shape Sorting Dump Truck: This toy is great because you can use it for pretend play as a vehicle, or practice shape sorting. Label the shapes and colors as you line them up to put them in the truck. Lift the truck bed to dump the shapes out, and use the play figurines to get more imaginative with play.
Guidecraft Rotating Bookshelf: It’s easy on the eyes and SO functional! You can fit so many books on here! We have it in the corner of our dining room and both my littles have loved crawling over and picking a book. It’s super heavy and durable and doesn’t budge, so I’m not worried about a tip risk. But, I always keep in a supervised area!
Wooden Sensory Table: Made with solid wood and comes with collapsible bins - this table is great for a couple toddlers to play at and engage in sensory and imaginative play. Can really grow with your young toddler into preschool age and beyond!
Humble Crew Toy Organizer: I have used this as a toy organizer AND a closet organizer for clothes! I love that the bins can come out easily and you can rearrange them however you’d like! It’s accessible storage! And I put it together very pregnant, and it was a piece of cake.
LQX Electric Ride On Car: We got this for Paul right when he turned 2! The parent can control it OR your little one can steer, so it’s perfect for a toddler learning how to drive it! Battery lasts a decent while and the wheels are great for rougher ground cover and hills!
Toddler Tricycle: How cute is this 5-in-1 tricycle?! The parent handlebar adjusts and turns so you can steer. The the pedals, handlebar, seat, and wheels are all adjustable to grow with your child as they work towards independence in riding a bike!
Road Rug: It’s machine washable. How awesome! Eric spilled coffee on it about 3 weeks after we got it and it came right out! Love this as a decoration in a room, but it’s also so functional for play. Roll cars on the road and have them go to the farm, hospital, and park! Add other toys on top to make a play scene! Roll it up when you’re done or leave it out!
Step2 Playtime Patio w/Canopy: This is a fun one for play on every side and can easily accommodate multiple little ones! There’s a grill and sink on one side, a water and sand play station on another, and a snack station. Have your little one make you a burger on the grill and serve you on the other side! This can really grow with your child and be used for years of fun. I love the canopy for added sun protection, too.
Lalo Play Kit: The cutest table and chairs! We got this right when Paul turned 20 months, and it was PERFECT. He needed a little help getting onto the chairs at first but by the time he was 2, he was good to go all by himself! It’s durable, wipes down easily, and looks pretty! The perfect size for smaller spaces, too, and your little one will get a lot of use during playtime and snack time, too. “EATPLAYSAY” saves 10%!
Little Tikes Picnic Table: Such a cute picnic table for multiple littles to eat lunch, have a snack, or color on a nice day! It comes with an umbrella for added sun protection and folds up to store.
Train Table: It’s a table AND it’s a train station. I love that all the pieces can store inside the drawer AND you can flip over the train side for it to just be a white table top! The train is so fun to play with, and you can build the tracks in different ways. Such a cool toy to grow with your little one!
Melissa & Doug Snacks and Sweets Food Cart: This can be a snack stand or a sweets cart! The awning and menu flip to be for ice cream or hot dogs and salty treats. It comes with the play food to serve - hot dogs, soft pretzels, popsicles, ice cream sandwiches and more. It has working drawers to both pull and slide, a bell, and menu can be written on so it’s definitely a toy that can be used for years and build different skills. You might even find you have an entrepreneur on your hands!
