Two-year olds are an opinionated lot. Discerning about gifts that relate to their passions, they tend to become hoarders, growing huge collections of vehicles, stuffed animals, or whatever they are most obsessed with. We have a few favorite picks with some universal appeal that may help round out your selection of playthings.

Inspire an art aficionado: Clear out a spot in the garage or throw down some paper for your would-be artist. Paints, paper, markers, and clips come standard. Good quality, this easel will last a long time.

Encourage a budding builder: If you don’t have any building blocks in the house, might I be so bold as to suggest LEGO DUPLO? The basic set is tons of fun and comes with simple patterns that Mom and Dad can figure out. This zoo is adorable with its little animals. DUPLO bricks also click into more complicated sets as your child ages. Great value.

Pro tip: Buy a big bundle on eBay and run them through the dishwasher.

Nurture a doll caregiver: Compassionate toddlers will be thrilled to mimic all the parenting activities they see you do when they become the mommy or daddy of a doll. Highchairs and strollers are fun additions to a stash of imaginative playthings, as well as this $20 DUKTIG doll bed from IKEA that comes with miniature linens.

Pro tip: Finger puppets make great stuffed animals for dolls.

Fuel a train fiend: Two is a perfect age for a train table if your kid is into that sort of thing. This kidcraft play table is about $100 and is compatible with LEGO toys by flipping the lid.

Pro tip: This is another great thing to scour Craigslist for, and your toddler won’t know the difference.

Music fan: You can certainly make your own instruments to please a toddler, but this set from Parents Magazine has been a winner in my house for more than seven years. This bug-themed music box is also a lot of laughs.

Outdoor adventurer: If you have a patch of lawn, we highly recommend picking up a tunnel, tent, or both to add to your next backyard festival. I borrowed Whitney’s tunnel for YEARS and we enjoyed it in the house and out.

Even more ideas? You got it!

• Future bikers are ready to start scooting with a Skuut Balance Bike. Dubbed the wobbly bike in my house, it is fabulous. [see also the many bikes before a real bike]
• Patient problem solvers will sit still for these beginner puzzles.
• Mommy’s little helper might like to start sweeping up with a real kid-sized broom and dustpan.
• Beach-goers and Playground-goers need their own sand toys.
• Silly toddlers will enjoy this pet alligator and dancing bug music box.

Please share your favorite gifts for two-year olds in the comments!

When I spotted this beanbag on Amazon, and shared it on our Facebook page, readers really liked it.

As I have mentioned before, my kids have a ginormous collection of Webkinz, which are small stuffed animals, plus assorted other plush friends that take up space in our playroom. I purchased a shelving unit specifically for them that I intended to be a sort of apartment house. It works sometimes.

Tossing them all in a beanbag that can be sat upon sounds brilliant to me. This photo is one that a happy customer posted on Amazon.

(Be careful, because I saw it listed on Amazon at $39.99 on most pages, but this link is for $30.27.)

The user on Amazon said that 44 stuffed animals fit inside. I love it! Also note that they sell double and triple versions of this, but the price starts to exceed $100, so I’m not even going to bother showing you a picture.

The reason I wanted to move this conversation further than Facebook is because there was so much good info being shared, I wanted to make sure you would see it.

Krista posted a link about washing stuffed animals, which is good information. Plus, this picture of her kids’ “friends” in the washing machine is priceless.

Kristal K. said that she bought a regular beanbag cover for this same purpose. Though it doesn’t have a cool mesh window, it still collects the little buggers in one place. Hers is rainbow tie-dye and comes from Wal-Mart, though not for sale online.

She also spotted this huge one at IKEA for $14.99.

Here are a couple of sources for empty beanbag covers. I found others, but some were so outrageously priced, I died.

• Land of Nod: Find the beanbag you like and then go to the specific product page to see the price for “cover only”. Not cheap, but if you have a picky aesthetic, you may be interested in browsing the selection. Similar to Pottery Barn Kids in style.
• Pottery Barn Teen: Any of their bean bag slipcovers can be ordered separately. They are the makers of the “Brooke” beanbag above.
• Grandma: (sorry, no link available) If you have a doting family member with sewing skills, you could describe this project to her. If I get motivated, I might go for it myself.
• Bed, Bath, and Beyond: Reasonable prices, finally! A few ugly designs and a few acceptable designs. $16.99 for a bean bag cover that looks like a soccer ball.
• Land’s End: Again with the $79 beanbag cover, but maybe worth browsing for inspiration.

Having checked these sources, I come back to the Boon Animal bag. It’s cuter, comes in gray as well as the bright colors, has a mesh window for seeing the animal’s faces, and seems fairly priced.

When Wittlebee, a kids’ clothing service, offered me the chance to try a box of their clothes, I gratefully accepted. I had been curious about it since Whitney had such good luck with her picky five-year old daughter. Based on your individual needs, they stuff a box full of name brand kid clothes and mail it to your home. You can continue on as a monthly subscriber or cancel anytime.

Since Sawyer inherited a LOT of hand-me-downs from his big brothers and our generous community, he didn’t neeeeed anything but I was excited to give him his own brand new stuff for a change. Every kid deserves a few special outfits, am I right?

Win. A monthly subscription is $39.99 and gets you some fabulous pieces that retail for much more individually. I received 6 items: 2 long-sleeve shirts, 1 short-sleeve shirt, 1 hoodie, and 2 pairs of pants. At forty bucks for 5 items of clothing, that’s less than $7 per piece (and much better stuff than you can usually buy for that price).

Win. I hate shopping and this saves me time in picking cute stuff without shlepping to any stores. I filled in a quick online style and preferences profile. I said I was open to little of everything except onesies. I specified in the notes that I want pants only with elasticky waistbands.

The package of adorable clothing arrived within a few business days.

Win. Now my sweet little boy has some brand new duds to call his own. (And he will be more than happy to share them with his little cousins when the time comes.)

When I showed the haul to big brothers, Holden and Milo, they were super excited for Sawyer to have his own stuff too. They each made a few picks of what Sawyer should wear on his first day as a preschool fashionisto. Milo lay his first choice out on the rug as a little man (including a threadless tee and some American Apparel sweats). It made me wish that Wittlebee came in their sizes, but right now, it’s just for little bro.

Both boys took turns making videos of what they liked best until the evening degenerated into a fit of giggles. Here’s a one minute video of brotherly fashion advice:

Given how filthy Sawyer gets at school, I think I’ll save the Appaman white hoodie (which retails between $20 and $50 by itself depending on where you shop!) for weekends.

Deal for you: If you are new to Wittlebee, you can save $10 on your first order with the code ROOKIE.

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Disclosure: I was compensated for this review but my older sons were not. All opinions are our own.

One year olds will make anything a toy — like that tube of butt cream or disposable coffee cup you keep trying to throw away — but since those don’t make the best birthday presents, we have some ideas for you. Here are our favorite go-to best gifts for a one-year old:

If you want a gift for under $10, this Playskool shape sorter is my fave. I’ve purchased it about five times for my own kids and small friends after testing others.

Need somebody smaller to love? Toddlers of all genders love to cuddle up with dolls. This one’s a cutie and less than $20. You can find African-American, Hispanic, or Asian dolls from JC Toys in the same general price range.

My little guys love to push a baby in a stroller like this one. There are several models for about $20. Baby beds and other accessories are a good bet.

Speaking of WHEELS, boys and girls love vehicles. Green Toys makes their popular dump truck in two flavors to suit your preferences for about $25. The trucks are super durable and made from recycled milk jugs so I’m willing to pay a little more.

Whitney’s kids always had fun pushing around play food or anything at all in this adorable and durable shopping cart from Melissa & Doug (about $50).

Another big hit from Whitney’s family, this ball pounder from Melissa + Doug teaches cause and effect, fun with balls, and the joy of whacking things. Just keep it far from your glass coffee table, ok? It retails for less than $20.

This Radio Flyer wagon is so well-loved at my son’s daycare that I wish we had it at home. Kids take turns riding and pushing. If you don’t have a friend to drive around, your teddy bear will also enjoy the ride (Or more likely, my left shoe and our remote control).

Related:
Clutter-free gifts for babies and toddlers
First birthday party ideas
Favorite ride-on toys for toddlers and wobblers

In keeping with our new Tech Tuesday theme, I want to share a few tip-full blog posts and some techie products for parents and kids.

Tech product picks for parents on giggle.com

1. GLO nightlight is a funky piece of decor, practical fading-over-time nightlight, AND a clever toy. Cool.
2. Babycook PRO (at $200 yowzer!) makes cooking homemade baby food easier & less messy, now twice as fast.
3. Cute, hygienic humidifier that looks like an elephant. Aww.
4. Ultra-portable smilie face speaker set would even fit in a tiny nursery like mine.
5. Find more electronics like video monitors and more over here. The technology changes too quickly for me to make a pick. Sorry!

I’m curious. What technical innovations do you love as a parent?

January blog posts on giggle

Why Google Calendar is a must-have for new parents
Question: What’s a free and easy-to-use organizing tool that makes family life easier and works on both your home computer and your smartphone? [read more on giggle gab]
Parent Talk: Best of 2012
Five fave posts from our giggle gab column in 2012 including 10 REALLY Creative Birth Announcements, 4 Ideas for a Modern Baby Shower, and more new mama tips on topics like DIY Halloween costumes, gear that will last for years, starting solids, and more.

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Disclosure: We’re happy to share our picks and posts as bloggers for giggle GAB. We hope you like them too.

Back by popular demand, we present the best gifts that don’t need to be put away, stepped over, or shoved in a closet when company comes over.

We have 25 clutter-free ideas for every member of your family: babies, kids, other mamas, the men in your life, and grandparents!

Babies and toddlers

1. A series of classes. Find one you can take together such as Mommy and Me yoga, music, or swimming. More details about finding a a fun class with your baby.
2. The box your other toys came in. We’re serious. I will let Sawyer enjoy boxes of different sizes for a couple of days and then when it’s time to clean up, into the recycling they go. Big ones are vehicles; small ones are hats. Then he can focus on other new toys. [Related: toddler fun sitting in boxes]
3. Love. It doesn’t take up any space and it lasts forever.  But seriously, if you want something to show them in the heat of present unwrapping, make a video of yourself to keep on your phone playing peek-a-boo or singing a song with hand motions. Your toddler will love to watch it. And lick it.
4. A savings account. Put your kid’s name on some money. You don’t need to have a whole plan in place, but whatever you put away now will only start growing sooner.

Preschoolers and older kids

1. A major outing. Are you ready for Disneyland, Six Flags, or some other big adventure? Make a big deal out of putting it on the calendar.
2. Theater tickets: Seeing a play or a concert on a stage is so much fun. Consider a children’s theater group in your town or splurge on one of the branded live shows that tour all the big cities such as Sesame Street Live, Disney on Ice, or Yo Gabba Gabba Live. We just learned that Phineas and Ferb will be a live show in 2013.
3. Membership: Pick up an annual pass to a kid-friendly museum, indoor playspace, or the Zoo. Pro tip: Split it with a girlfriend.
4. Ride tickets for local destination. The carousel at the zoo, or train tickets. Put the purchased tickets (or fake homemade ones) together with a picture of the ride.

Your lady friends and sisters

1. Spa credit: A pedicure, massage, or scrub either booked or merely suggested with a nice printed paper tied in a bow.
2. Entertainment: Take her to a concert, a play, or just a movie. Tickets in an envelope are so exciting.
3. Workshop or class: Would she love to learn a new type of dance, wine-tasting, love-bombing, or cake-decorating skills? Heather would like a class from HackerMoms or Stitch Sewing Lab.
4. Chocolate: It’s not clutter if you eat it and throw away the wrapper.
5. Experience: Create personal and customized goals for a new year of stuff you want to do together (perfect for list-makers like us). Sporty girls can sign up for a winter run together.

If she’s also a mama

1. Babysitting swap or you host a playdate that she can leave, but you have to really do it so put it on the calendar on the spot.
2. Real food: Who wouldn’t be thrilled to receive a batch of soup, lasagna, or pumpkin bread? Package in a disposable container and the whole thing will soon disappear.
3. iTunes credit, you bring the dessert for Girls Night In to watch Downton Abbey.

Dads and men friends

1. A challenge. Whitney booked her husband for four personal training sessions for his birthday. Disclaimer: He had been talking about changing up his exercise habits. For the men in your life, look for a martial arts class, a rock climbing gym, or other physical activity he doesn’t normally do.
2. An escape. Lift tickets, a day-long mountain biking tour, or greens fees along with your blessing to enjoy the day. With or without you. (REI is a good place to look for extreme excursions.)
3. A Task Rabbit. Is there something around the house he’s wished would be magically changed? Can you outsource it? Whitney needed her kids’ bunk bed to be disassembled and removed from the house to make room for new beds. She knew her husband was dreading spending his day off on the chore, so she hired a Task Rabbit to take care of it. Their website has lists of tasks to inspire you.
4. Tickets for a sporting event. Hockey, basketball, local college soccer games, whatever makes him happy.

The grandparents

1. Walking tour: Whitney and her husband sent two sets of grandparents on an ethnic food tour of L.A. where they live. They loved it. Google “walking tour” and the city they live nearest. For Heather’s folks, wintery weather means this is a better birthday gift. No good snowy walking tours where they live? Read on.
2. Charitable donation in their name: If they have everything they need, pick a cause close to their hearts. We’ve donated to a Jazz Society for a Jazz-loving grandfather, and made Kiva loans on behalf of those who love to learn about cultures around the globe.
3. A class: For those with a lot of time on their hands, learning something new is a great source of entertainment. Think cooking, computer skills, yoga, or swing dancing.
4. A delicious meal: Pick the place they’ve always wanted to try but have been too practical to go on their own. Alternatively, restaurant.com offers discounts to many places and gift certificates (with a few funny exceptions and exclusions).
5. Tech support. Help Granny and Papa set their configurations for Skype or iChat; install their new Wii; or put books on their Kindle.

Rookie mom, Kiaran, shared her pictures from her son Ashton’s first birthday and I couldn’t wait to share them with you. How cute is baby Ashton in his ‘stache? Between juggling her fulltime job with work-related travel and parenting a teething pre-toddler, planning the party was pretty easy with some strategic etsy purchases.

We had a blast and he enjoyed every minute of it. We did a mustache bash and had Mexican food, a keg, and some homemade cupcakes and s’more party favors. I got all of the décor and his little tie from Etsy (Jar wrappers and tags and Little guy ties) – too cute!

All photos and party details from Kiaran Locy. Thanks Kiaran and happy birthday, Ashton (whom I totally want to call ‘Stashton after this)! As with any first birthday party, we urge you to celebrate in a way that you love.

Related posts:
More first birthday ideas
Parenting trend: mustaches for babies
Celebrating #Movember

In real life, Whitney is the crafty one and I’m the other one. About a year ago, I asked her what should be included in a basic arts and crafts kit. Armed with these supplies, I would have a few more tricks up my sleeve on rainy days. At that time, my sleeve was full of board games and play-doh.

She told me to get these 10 craft supplies:

1. Kid scissors
2. Colored cardstock – pack of multicolored stiff paper available at Target or any craft store
3. Hole puncher for connecting things
4. Water colors for least painful painting experience
5. Tape – Scotch tape for crafts, blue tape for forts, duct tape to ruin your furniture
6. Pipe cleaners
7. Stickers or labels intended for office things – ie not licensed characters or holidays – for more open ended usage
8. Beading kit – buy packages of manly colors or rainbow colors – do it now before little man becomes a hazard to all types of tiny object activities
9. Kid catalogs and magazines they can cut pictures out of
10. Wrapping paper

Whitney took pity on my fragile sleep-deprived mind and offered…
10 activities to DO with all these goodies:

1. Make an alphabet or color book for the baby. Milo draws pictures, Holden writes the words. one word per page, ie banana, dog, car.
2. Cut out and tape or glue eyes nose mouth from magazine faces (need entertainment or fashion mags) to make a new face.
3. Make and send a card to cousins
4. Print a picture of self in black and white and then watercolor it
5. Make a paper chain to countdown days til x (holiday, birthday, grandparent visit!)
6. Draw with crayons and water color on top
7. Make jewelry out of pipecleaners
8. String beads on pipecleaners
9. Make a tic tac toe game to play
10. Decorate a cardboard box

I loved Whitney’s suggestions because they sounded simple enough. Because I was stretched thin with a newborn, my quick run to Michael’s craft store was delayed for a bit (and blogging was pushed off for a year!). I reluctantly admit that the big shop finally happened because we were testing out TaskRabbit so I sent one of the rabbits out with my shopping list. Score! I purchased the items and stored them within my older sons’ reach.

Milo needed no further instruction to make the most of the new materials. This past weekend, he cut out foam masks (from the leftovers of my R2D2 baby mobile), made a frog puppet named Holden, and used up the tape (again!) making superhero wrist cuffs.

I love that he has the imagination to power his projects and the craft balls (sorry, that sounded wrong!) to turn into aliens and flowers.

I don’t love the little bits of shrapnel I find every time I walk near his work table, but it seems like a fair price for all the fun he’s having.

What’s in your craft supply kit?

Back to school shopping, ugh. As I walk through Target and see the many character-themed backpacks trying into leap in my shopping cart, I remember why I must make this journey alone. Back-to-school shopping is no place for kids. Alluring as my sons might find these school bags, they will never come home with us.

I insist on purchasing high quality backpacks only. REI, Lands’ End, Eastpak, Jansport, I’m looking at you.

Buying a sturdy back pack means two important things.

1. It will last longer. Duh.
2. But if it doesn’t, it will be repaired or replaced for the lifetime of the backpack. As in, never buy another backpack again!!

So the $30 to $50 you spend on a good strong pack will more than make up for the annual purchase of a $20 crappy-zipper, break-before-the-year-is-out school bag. Though my cheap gene shudders at paying nearly $50 for a kid’s backpack, I know it will withstand many years worth of aggressive treatment.

That’s it. That’s all I wanted to tell you.

Sounds too boring? If your child still wants to personalize, there are many ways to make a plain pack seem more childish childlike: glowing zipper jewelry, mini-me felt patches, labels and stickers, dogtags, printable star wars tags (free from Amy Locurto), or all of the above.

Here are a few examples of high-quality backpacks (that I hope do not fall victim to the blogging curse of breaking because I said nice things about them).

REI Backpacks. Holden used this Tarn pack all last year with great success; it easily fit his folder and lunchbox. The only problem was that the whistle fell off (I suspect user error), and this is where I reaffirmed my very strong opinions. REI attempted to repair this backpack free of charge. When they couldn’t, they offered to return or exchange it. That’s what I’m talking about. Thank you!!

The Tarn backpack is about $40

In order to mix things up, Holden switched to this big school backpack for 2nd grade and beyond because he liked all the extra pouches.

The big school backpack is $45

Lands’ End Backpacks. I bought Milo the Featherlight (because it sounded like it wouldn’t be too heavy). He has been wearing it around the house since it arrived yesterday and, though it seems a bit big for his small nearly-kindergartner frame, he loves it.

Featherlight pack is $45

After purchasing one Lands’ End pack I received this comic strip classmate pack free by trading something else to a friend at BlogHer. I like it for me or them.

Comic pack is $39

JanSport packs available on Amazon in different sizes and a gajillion colors. Truly, I lost count.

The half pint size is $20

This bigger size ranges from about $20 to $50 depending on which color combo you choose.

Classic SuperBreak, prices vary

If you have a top notch bag with a broken zipper floating around your house from childhood, you should see if the good folks will fix it for you. My now-husband had his old high school backpack shipped off to “camp” for zipper repair and now it’s good as new.

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Note: This post was not sponsored, I just thought you ought to know my very strong feelings before you lay out your own hard-earned money. You’re welcome.

To wrap up our series of tips for rookie moms, I am thrilled to present our most epic giveaway ever! In celebration of their 50th anniversary, BABYBJÖRN has provided a generous prize package worth $990 of goodies for one lucky reader:

• Travel crib light with organic sheet (choose any color)
• High chair (choose red or white)
• Babysitter Balance baby bouncer (choose any fabric and color combo)
• Miracle baby carrier (choose any fabric and color combo)

I have enjoyed each of these products with my baby over the past several months. The style and quality are excellent and I expect them to last for years and years. I hope you’re as excited as I am.

Sorry y’all, contest closed.

Related links

• 5 real-world uses for my travel crib
• Baby food cheats, healthy and easy tricks
• Why the bouncy seat makes me a better mom
• How to wear a BABYBJÖRN front carrier
• BABYBJÖRN presents a Rookie Moms series

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This content series has been sponsored by BABYBJÖRN US. Follow along facebook.com/BabyBjornUS for current news and product info.

Sawyer’s picks for baby toys:
Though my ten month old can frequently be found trying to suck on chair legs, eat tiny Legos and gnaw on the tube of diaper cream, he also likes to play with age-appropriate toys. If I let him add all his favorite toys to the shopping cart, this is what he would choose:

A busy box for babies

This wooden Discovery box is safe for crawlers and sitters to explore. He has one like this to play with at daycare and always looks for it. It is the next big on-the-floor toy now that he’s graduating from the beloved baby gym.

More instruments

Sawyer loves to make music out of anything that bangs, clicks, and clacks. He thinks all babies should have instruments. Not interested in the whole musical set? He likes these colorful mini maracas to throw on the floor in the car.

Toys that roll

He finds all wheeled items hilarious. He likes to push, chase, and catch them (with his mouth, of course). This Go car is made for small hands.

Skwish toy

Could Sawyer be any more bored with plush right now? I don’t think so. He wants wood, metal, or rigid plastic to soothe his sore tooth buds. This toy has hard bits connected by stretchy cords.

Our Parent Talk posts in June
On our giggle blog, we wrote two fabulous articles that you’ll definitely want to read.

• 5 tips for baby roadtrips – My lessons learned from driving journeys of yesteryear will be put to the test next week on our trip to family camp. Hold me.
• Father’s day, show him the love. The official day is past, but the lovefest can continue. Here’s how.

Share your baby’s favorite picks for toys in the comments. Sawyer will respond to every suggestion.

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This post is sponsored by giggle who now offers a pregnancy tracker. We hope you like our picks and writing for giggle; you’ve been pretty silent about the whole arrangement.

Heather told me that she wanted to turn it up to eleven with the robot decor in her sons’ room in their new house. I was at a conference where someone showed me how easy it is to curate a list of products into a post like this (using their special duper technology) so I had to try it out by making my own robot bedroom list of favorites, all from Land of Nod.*

Kids Throw Pillows: Kids Robot Throw Pillows – Grey Robot Pillow Price: 19.00

Kids Throw Pillows: Kids Robot Throw Pillows – Orange Robot Pillow Price: 19.00

Kids Wall Decals: Giant Robot Stick On – Giant Robot Stick On Price: 25.00

Kids Bulletin Boards: Kids Robot Corkboard – Cork-O-Tron Corkboard Price: 26.95

Kids Arts & Crafts: Kids Flip and Draw Robot Book – Flip and Draw Robot Price: 9.95

Kids Bags and Backpacks: Kids Pink Robot Backpack – Ms Price: 42.00

Kids Lunch Bags: Childrens Pink Robot Lunch Bags – Ms Price: 34.00

Kids Bedding: Robot Sheet Set – Twin Robot Sheet Set(includes 1 fitted sheet, 1 flat sheet and 1 case) Price: 69.00

The pink stuff is included because Heather’s middle son Milo has a strong affinity for pink and red, and you never know when he’s going to prefer that color scheme over traditional boy stuff. Also, Scarlett recently told me that she just realized robots were ALSO FOR GIRLS. And I was like, “Who told you robots were for boys?!” all ready to punch that person in the face. I might have to buy her that forty-two-dollar backpack just to prove a point.

** We are affiliates of Land of Nod, hence my use of their online product catalog for this robot-themed blog post experiment.