My younger dd turns one in three weeks and family members keep asking for gift ideas and I have NONE -- I haven't even bought her anything. It's hard because she has an older brother and sister, so it feels like we have the traditional baby/toddler toys already. Any ideas ?

TIA

I was just telling a friend of mine this today. I have two toys that come to mind that my kids have all loved from one until their current ages (1, 3, 5). My oldest got the little tykes mailbox (maybe $20) and small castle slide (around $50) for his first bday and they have been played with since then. I know the mailbox sounds boring (how much fun can something be that's full of bills???) but they LOVE it. The slide is awesome too - my 1 year old is only 13 months and she plays on it all day long. I don't think my son really did much with it until he was 14 months, but it's great. We kept ours inside for several years, and now it is on our covered porch. They were all three playing on it today.

We also love love love the little people - mine have a ton, and the two smaller ones play all of the time - occasionally the oldest will play with them, he's 5 now and moving on to action figures. I love them playing with anything that requires imagination - not batteries. Have fun!!!

I had the same problem with my ds who turned one in June. He has all of his 4yr old brothers toys that he plays with. He loves his Matchbox cars, dinosaurs, Star Wars toys. I had no clue what to get him.I didn't want a ton of baby toys laying around the house either. My older ds has some Mega Blocks and he took a liking to those too when he was building with them. So that's what he got from us, another bag of those and the Pirate Ship Mega Blocks. I don't know if blocks would be something a girl would be into or not. A shape sorter is another good idea for a one year old.

Melissa and Doug Wooden Toys are awesome. I love them! Lots of places carry them- try a google search and you can browse the latest selection on line. They also make a mail box. Oh yeah- and TJ Maxx/Ross/Marshalls carry them.

My kids also love Little People. My dd got the Cinderella coach with a horse for her first bday (it was $9.99 at Walmart) and still loves it.

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Clothes...usually at that age they just like to play with the wrapping paper anyway. Or anything else that is useful like a larger hooded bath towel, bath toys, plate-cup-spoon set....as far as toys ditto on the Little People and the Little Tikes Mailbox.

My dd loved her little people sweet home house, baby dolls, mega blocks (these took her until about 14 or 15 months to play with) or the blocks wagon. (it lights up, you fit blocks into squares and set on thing & it lights up and plays music. It's also a little wagon for them to pull). She loved that!!! She still plays with her baby dolls and her little people sets and she is 2 1/2 so those are a good choices. Also, she loved her baby dolls stroller to push her doll around, the Shopping cart w/ groceries to put in. that sort of stuff. I'm trying to remember back. I keept thinking of things but remember that was for her 2nd b-day. Another thing she really liked at that age was the swing that you can buy to put on a tree limb.

Another idea is gift cards. My dd's b-day is early December, well with Christmas just 19 days later ..... ugh!!! A lot of friends give us gift cards to Target or Toys R Us for her. I love it!! (I didn't ask, but they do it and it's great!) That way in summer time after B-day & Christmas has died down I can go get her new gifts since her b-day & Christmas are back to back and not spread out. It's nice. So maybe let family know to give you gift cards then as she shows interest in things you can buy them. Another toy she LOVED I got when she was 1 1/2 was the water/sand table. One side water and the other side sand. She loves that thing.

If I think of any more I'll pm you.

California Mommy -- I just tried to PM you and your box was full!!

Thanks so much for all the suggestions

Both of my kids loved play food and play kitchen pots and pans. They still play with them!!!! Younger children love to pretend to feed you.

There are several neat magazines for young children out now. Our library subscribes to a bunch so we go there when looking for ideas of what to send to girl cousins for gifts. Also book collections are always good. Even McDonalds gift certificates can be fun at that age for oneonone mommy or daddy and child time. CDs of kids music would be enjoyed by all the kids as would any fun outside equipment - even just bubbles and her own ball. Maybe some personalized stuff with her name or initials - pillowcase, wall hangings, etc. Good luck

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than the valuables you can't afford.