18-24+ Month Toddler Gear Guide

Note: Some links are Amazon referral links if that's where I bought the product.

To start, we are still using some things from previous guides. Rather than listing them again here, 

I'll just make note of what is still useful: 

What are we still using from the Newborn Gear Guide at 2 years old? 
Portable night light (not nearly as much, though)
Diaper bags (stopped when she potty trained at 26 months)
Cloth diapers (stopped when she potty trained at 26 months)
Beco Gemini baby carrier (though she mostly walks now, we've used it several times with a 2+ year old)
Nosefrida (although she's finally figuring out how to blow her nose, so not much longer!)
Sprout towels
Graco Blossom high chair (we now use the booster seat portion rather than the high chair)

What are we still using from the Six Month Gear Guide at 2 years old? (Some are listed above and here because I didn't think to cross-reference the guides when I first did them.) 
Britax B-Agile stroller 
Graco Blossom high chair (booster part only)
Smock/sleeved bib
Table protector 
Splat mat 
Travel high chair
Books (OMG THE BOOKS. We read for hours every day, literally)
B Zany activity cube (not nearly as much, but still some use)
Munchkin Caterpillar (this is used more with the water table than the bathtub)
Stacking Blocks (though we've moved onto mostly wood ones or Legos)
Breathable Bumper 
Sprout towel 
Britax Boulevard/Evenflo Triumph car seats (still rear-facing!)

What are we still using from the 9-12 Month Gear Guide at 2 years old?
Wallet
Dump Truck
Weebles
Foam shapes
Snack cup
Sunscreen
Slide

What are we still using from the 12-18 Month Gear Guide at 2 years old?
Dolls (more the plastic ones than Stella)
Meowsic
Art supplies (so. many. art. supplies)
Scooter
Anywhere Chair
Sassy Grow Up Cups
Water Table 
Cozy Coupe


OLDER TODDLER GEAR GUIDE
This will be a pretty short list, because, as with the previous gear guide, she's much more into DOING things than PLAYING WITH things, but there are a few items she's particularly enjoying right now. As always, I try to stay away from battery-operated things (though there are some) and "girl"-specific toys in favor of imagination-driven toys that any child could enjoy.

1. Doll Cradle, doll clothes, doll accessories 
Lifespan: Used from 18 Months +

  

I had the Stella Doll in the last Gear guide, and to this one I'm adding a cradle and accessories. She's put the baby to sleep for a long time (just lying them on the floor and covering with a blanket while patting their back), but we recently added a real doll cradle to her stash of toys, and she loves putting the babies in there, covering them, rocking them, patting them, singing to them, giving them a bottle, etc. (It was a hand-me-down from a relative, so no recommendation on brand here - I love our very plain, gender-neutral one.) The babies' nighttime routine is more complicated than her real one!  We also inherited a box of baby doll clothes, and she loves dressing and undressing them (with help in some cases).

2. Reusable sticker books
Lifespan: Used from about 18 months +

We have a number of reusable sticker pads, and they are a HUGE hit. Great for car traveling, and great fun to stick on windows and other surfaces as well. The Melissa and Doug ones are huge, size-wise - we have the one pictured (link here) and she loves naming the animals and making sounds for them.  We also have a much smaller one that is perfect for traveling that has stickers of household objects that you can use to make faces Clingzooka Faces by Artzooka. I think it will be a hit for a LONG time to come. Heck, *I* like to play with it!   I just realized by searching for it on Amazon that they have a Robots and an Animals one as well - I totally just added both to her Amazon WishList.  Note: the Clingzooka ones do have VERY small clings included and say 5+ - so use with supervision. Obviously. 

3. Travel Magnadoodle
Lifespan: Used from about 12 months +

I love this version because it's SMALL. It's perfect for car rides, and even not in the car, it's perfectly sized for her to handle completely on her own. The string on the pen is long enough to reach the entire board, and the eraser slide is easy enough for her to do it on her own.  I can't say the same for any of that with larger versions that we've seen or tried. This could realistically have gone in the 12-18 month gear guide too - she's been using it and loving it for a while. 

4. Play Kitchen and Food
Lifespan: Used from about 18+ months

This was her big birthday present this year. I got this one because I liked the way it was realistic and gender-neutral - and sure enough, we've found little boys love playing with it too.  It's a good height as well, so hopefully it will last a while (some of the others we looked at by the same company were a good 6 inches shorter, so might not be as comfortable for older kids).  With the kitchen, we got a number of accessories: a toaster, play food, cookware, and felt pizza. We use our own silverware and cups/bowls (just cheap dollar store options). Some people prefer to get wooden or plastic cookware and silverware, but she really enjoys the "real" versions that are linked above. I don't find them too loud, but if your kid is a banger, you might feel differently! Note: I couldn't find one after months of searching on Craigslist, but I know lots of people who have been successful, so I definitely recommend checking Craigslist for used versions.

5. Easel
Lifespan: Used from about 24+ months 

We got this used off of Craigslist, so I highly recommend checking there before buying new. I love this specific one because the height is adjustable, and it gets very low for small toddlers.  I also love that it's wooden and not chunky plastic.  It's a chalkboard on one side and a dry-erase board on the other side, with the option of adding a roll of paper for painting or coloring.  I have found that regular dry-erase markers STAIN CLOTHES, so be sure to get the washable ones. But then I also found that Crayola makes dry-erase crayons (YAY!) so we use those instead of the markers most of the time. They also make dry-erase colored pencils, but those don't work as well as the crayons. We use it with these paint cups, these brushes and this paper.

6.  Dress-up Clothes and Accessories
Lifespan: Used from about 18+ months

I got a big storage bucket (from Target of course) and put it in a corner of the playroom, and hung a low hook unit just above it. The trunk and hooks hold masks (zebra, monkey), wands (star, ribbon), flags (pirate), wings (butterly, fairy), hats (cowboy, hard hats, pirate, knit winter, baseball), old clothes, shoes, necklaces, scarves and anything else I see while out and about, or even just cleaning out my closet, that I think she might enjoy. I mean, it even has old lanyards of my husband's from work that she loves wearing around. These do not have to be fancy things. There are a few things purchased from the Dollar Store or Target's Dollar aisle, but most things were found.  I've found she definitely prefers "real" items than "play" items - so she'll use my old purse every day, but won't touch the toy/toddler purse.  Real things are usually cheaper and more readily available, yay!  If you're rich and lazy (I'm jealous) you can always buy a pre-packed bin like this one.


7. Toddler Backpack
Lifespan: Used from about 12+ months

These are SO DAMN CUTE. We have the owl (and the matching lunch bag, which I also recommend) but I want more! The giraffe! The fox (plaid ears ARE YOU KIDDING ME)! They are the perfect size for her to carry all by herself and fit a few toys perfectly. We use them regularly, but I always stock them up with activities for our frequent trips car trips to visit Nana. She loves putting stuff in the backpack and "going to work" just like her dad does.

8. Balance Bike 
Lifespan: Used from about 24+ months

She's still trying to figure this out, and right now still prefers her Cozy Coupe, but she's starting to get it and is so proud of herself when she does. It's definitely a toy that takes practice and not something most kids will be able to take off on right away (even to just scoot their feet, they have to balance the bike).  It's going to be put away for winter soon, but I really think it'll be a big hit next spring and summer.

9. Tool Kit
Lifespan: Used from about 24+ months 

She loves to build and fix things using "found" tools - i.e. using a pen as a screwdriver - so I was excited when she got this for her birthday. I put this one on her wishlist specifically because the drill actually "drills" and makes a fairly realistic drilling sound. Sure enough, she takes the drill around and fixes things all over the house, and "helped" our neighbor when he was building our deck. The drill is really nice and realistic - I wish they'd taken the same care with the hammer. But overall it's a great tool set!

10. Doctor Kit (check Target stores for this one if the link doesn't work)
Lifespan: Used from about 24+ months

The only reason this is marked 24+ months is because I didn't get it for her until she was after 2 years old, but she probably would have loved it before that. It is used DAILY, and I'm not exaggerating in the slightest when I say that. She alternates being the doctor and the patient and is very exact on how the treatment must go. 

11. Beads and Pipe Cleaners/Colander
Lifespan: Used from about 18+ months

Get some large beads. Get some pipe cleaners. Get a large metal, round colander (yes, like for spaghetti). YOU'RE DONE. Lacing, making bracelets, sticking pipe cleaners in the colander and topping them with beads, building...what they can do with these three simple items is endless.  We also have these jumbo beads and laces (another alternate here) that we use with the pipe cleaners too.

12. Building Toys
Lifespan: Used from about 12+ months

We have a variety of building toys, including ZoLo (set one, set two), B. Toys Stackadoos, wooden blocks, and Sprig Blocks (note on the Sprig blocks: We have found that some don't stick together well as indicated in the reviews, but it hasn't been a HUGE issue). She equally loves all of them, but I'd say the classic wooden blocks are her absolute favorite if I had to choose just one.  However, she loves mixing and matching the sets and pulling pieces from the different sets in order to create new masterpieces.  (Note: The ZoLo toys were from Zulily; we probably paid that for both sets together, so it might be worth watching for them to come up there again - I wouldn't pay almost $30 per set. They are fun, but not THAT fun!)

13. Magnetic Dress-Up Toys
Lifespan: Used from about 24+ months

I got this on a whim from Zulily one day on a whim. I put it away to be used for a rainy day or forgotten holiday or prize for some amazing behavior, but she found it, pulled it out, and was completely hooked. I didn't think she'd pick up on the idea right away - I thought she was a bit too young - but it's quickly become one of her favorite toys. Bonus - the pieces all can be packed away in the bag it comes in. Can I just talk about how much I love self-contained toys? YES. Melissa and Doug, are you listening?!?! I love your toys, but too many of them have pieces that don't store together, or have wooden storage boxes without lids.  Not cool.

14. Waterbeads
Lifespan:  Used from about 18+ months

These MUST be used under CLOSE supervision, but they are a really fun sensory activity that she enjoys a lot. You do NOT want these to be swallowed, though, so please please please watch your child closely when playing with them, or stay away from them if your kid is known to put everything his mouth!  I fill up a glass dish with the beads and some water, we watch them grow throughout the day, then spend the next several days playing with them - sorting them, squishing them, bouncing them, etc. 

15. Owl "OK to Wake" Nightlight
Lifespan: Used from about 24+ months

This is like the "grown up" version of the ever-popular Soothing Seahorse. It has the same light and sound, but kids can press the tummy to hear either, "Go back to sleep!" or "It's time to wake up!"  If it's still in the bedtime hours (as determined by you) the tummy glows orange; if it's okay for them to wake up, the tummy glows green.  We got this during a bout of 5am wake-ups...whether it was the owl that helped her get back to 7am or just a coincidence I couldn't tell you, but she did start sleeping in later!

16. WeePod, Pourty Potty, Stool
Lifespan: Introduced at 18 months, used regularly at 26+ months

We started getting potty training supplies when she was around 18 months old.  We really like this potty seat (that goes on top of the big potty) - one piece, soft, comfy, cheap, easy to clean (no grooves or separate pieces), WIN.  We use the Pourty as a travel potty in the back of the car because it's tiny and also insanely easy to clean (all one piece again). We opted for the seat that goes on the big toilet as opposed to a stand-alone potty seat as the main option because we'd heard that some kids have a hard time transitioning from the small seat to the "adult" one, and so far that plan has totally worked.  For the stool, we went with a nice-looking wooden one that will be able to be used in many other situations and looks nice sitting out in the bathroom.  You can read more about the potty-training process and supplies here.

17. Hold-on Handle
Lifespan:  Used from about 18+ months

This has proven to be a great transitional piece between the stroller and full-time walking.  You hold one end, they hold the other, and off you go. This is just the "add on" piece, but you don't really need the full one if you have one of those "Mommy Hooks" (which I got for my shower but hadn't found a perfect use for until this) or another large carabiner you can throw on there. I've thrown it on shopping carts, too, and it works great there if they don't want to ride in the cart but have a tendency to run off. HOW it works, I don't know - clearly they can just let go and take off. But for some reason the allure of holding something usually overcomes the desire to run off.  Not always, but usually.

DUH, THANKS FOR NOTHING:

In the "No Shit, Sherlock" category are these things, which you PROBABLY have but just in case they slipped your mind for some reason - or if you're a grandparent or aunt/uncle looking for gift ideas, you can't go wrong with these (and you can never have too many of any of these because they go through them quickly!).

1. Sidewalk chalk
Lifespan: Used from about 12+ months

This could have actually been added to any number of our gear lists, since she's been enjoying it for probably a year now, and I'm sure it's a "no kidding" addition to the list for you. I think every parent has sidewalk chalk. But just in case it hasn't crossed your mind, we have it, we love it, it's a go-to activity on a warm day. 

2. Bubbles
Lifespan: Used from about 6+ months

Like the chalk, bubbles are a "no kidding" item and we've been using them and enjoying them for well over a year. For the last six or so months, though, she's been blowing them herself and still gets super giggly and excited whenever there are bubbles around. We get at least an hour out of them each time we bring them out. Not bad for a little soap and water, eh?  We stock up any time I see them for sale. Hint: Gymboree bubble solution is THE BOMB.  It's silicone based and the bubbles last way longer! You can leave the solution out for a couple hours and they'll float even better and last even longer.  We're also a big fan of the Fubbles no-spill containers. 

3. Playdough
Lifespan: Used from about 12+ months

I use the recipe from the blog pictured above - found here. While there's something to be said for that nostalgic smell of commercial play dough (and I don't think anything in it has ever been found to be toxic or reason for worry), I absolutely love home-made play dough. I love making it, I love the texture, I love the smell. I've made it three times now and it's so easy and lasts forever. You can also get fancy and use Kool-Aid or Jell-O in the recipe to give it a sweet smell (and some pretty pastel colors) as seen here.  

4. Puzzles
Lifespan: Used from about 9+ months 

Obviously, she's been using puzzles of different difficulties since she was about nine months old, so this isn't anything new. She's always enjoyed them, but has REALLY been enjoying the more complicated and difficult ones lately, and has been spending a lot of time pulling them out to play with.  Among others, she loves this magnetic one and this fish color one.  She also loves any alphabet or number puzzles.

WANT: 

There are a couple things I'm looking to get her, and if I do, I'll let you know what I think of them!

1. Prince Wheely Bug 

Yes, this is still on the list. So impractical, but I still want it. 

2. Kitchen Helper Stool

She absolutely loves helping me in the kitchen, and right now either sits on the counter next to me (which makes it difficult for her to actually help) or pulls up a chair (which isn't very steady). I'd love this to use in the kitchen.

ON THE FENCE: 

Got these items, but haven't used it enough yet to be able to give a recommendation.

***None at this time***

NOTE: Some links are Amazon referral links.

How I Do It : Eating Out with Baby

Carys and I go out to eat quite a bit - more often than we should, probably, but I get bored at home, I don't like to cook, and it's fun to do so.

She's my child for sure - sushi is her FAVE.

Some people are literally gasping at the fact that I just said eating out with my toddler is fun.  It might even be considered total sacrilege by the majority of the population. I know people who have not gone out to eat with their child ever, and their child is in pre-school.

A LOT of it - a LOT LOT LOT of it - is dependent on your kid's personality. I am incredibly lucky, and I have a very easy kid who loves being out in public and strangers and new places and new foods (KNOCK ON WOOD).  If yours does not, no amount of preparation is going to make your child suddenly love it, but these tips will at least help make it as painless as possible. If you are lucky like I am, these tips will make you want to go out to eat every single day, but since your wallet will not like that, please try to refrain. If your wallet isn't a concern, please send me money, and then go ahead and go out to eat.

I take these items - an Eating Out Kit, if you will - with me every time we go out to eat. It sounds like a lot of things and a lot of work and a lot of space, but it's not - and I've never regretted it! These things are designed to make the process of going out to eat a piece of cake not just for you, but for your waiter as well.  I have gotten countless compliments on how pain-free the meal was by the server and had countless people ask about my "supplies" and comment on what a good idea they are. I can't take credit, as I got the ideas from other moms, but it's definitely been a huge help for us.

My two goals for dining out are A) easy clean-up and B) a happy child. To achieve these, I take the following:

A bib
A placemat
A sippy
Fork/spoon
Entertainment

I usually also bring a tiny wetbag to put the dirty bib and placemat in when we're done eating (if I use the reusable placemat), but I've also forgotten that plenty of times and just thrown the rolled-up items in my bag and had no problems.

Ok, so now the details.

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1. A BIB 

My FAVORITE bibs are these:

These bibs, by iPlay/Green Sprout Baby, totally cover your child's clothes in a situation where you can't easily strip them down to eat or change their clothes afterward. And not visible in the picture is a flip-over pocket that ACTUALLY CATCHES THINGS. Other sleeved bibs have pockets (like the Bummis ones), but the pockets don't gape open and therefore are pretty worthless. These pockets sit open and actually WORK. They're fantastic.  We have two of them and need to get the next size up (bonus - they make great art/craft smocks!).  For travel, they scrunch up really small and dry fairly quickly.  When we're done eating, I'll usually dump the contents of the pocket onto the plate and wipe it down, then roll it up and stick it back in my bag or put it in the wetbag.

If a sleeved bib is overkill for your kid, I still recommend a bib with a good pocket - the goal is to keep food off both the baby but also OFF THE FLOOR so your waiter doesn't hate you completely. The Tommee Tippee soft silicone ones are really great and fold up easily and are also available at Target or Babies R Us. I also like the Baby Bjorn ones, but they're more rigid and I don't think quite as comfortable for kids, nor are they as easy to store.

2. A PLACEMAT

Pictured above are the two travel placemats we use. The blue one to the left is a reusable one by Kiddopotamus, and the ones to the right are disposable ones by Neat Solutions (but are made by a variety of different companies).  Both are also available in stores like Babies R Us and Target.  The disposables ones come in a ton of themes, from Sesame Street as pictured above to Disney Princess to Cars and more.  If I'm being totally honest, I prefer the disposable ones. There goes my hippie cred, UGH. They're just easier. They're smaller and you toss them right there at the restaurant and don't require any extra work, whereas the reusable one has to be wiped off and dumped out and takes up more room (though it rolls up pretty compactly). You can choose which works best for you based on your own level of comfort with destroying the environment.  Either way, though, they make clean-up a breeze.

3. A SIPPY
4. A FORK AND SPOON

Some restaurants have plastic cups with lids and straws for kids, which are great....if they have them. MANY DO NOT. So when in doubt, bring your own. It makes it worlds easier to give your child their own drink than having them clamor to drink from yours.  When I need a spill-proof cup, we prefer the Sassy Grow-Up Cups (as she's at the age where I'm trying to get her off of spouted sippy cups totally) but whatever sippy you normally use is obviously just fine.

I've yet to see a restaurant offer child-size silverware, so if I know it's not going to be food that is easy for her to eat with her hands, I'll throw a fork in my bag as well. At almost two, she's now able to use a full-size fork, so this is only if I remember it now, but when she was younger and first using forks and spoons, it was invaluable to have ones she could easily manipulate. I much prefer the metal ones (like these Gerber Graduates) but whatever you use at home would be fine.

5. ENTERTAINMENT

This is going to vary from kid to kid. Our go-to entertainment are the above play packs. They contain a coloring book, crayons, and stickers and are $1 in the Target Dollar aisle (and they go on sale regularly, when I stock up and grab ten or so to keep us stocked until the next sale). I found them here at the Dollar Store online too, but it's a variety pack that might not work unless you have boys and girls. They keep her thoroughly entertained and she LOVES opening new things, so they are perfect. Again, I hate the waste, but the trade-off is worth it. Obviously, you could get a similar effect minus the "new" by just bringing a coloring book, crayons, and stickers! We've also had great luck with reusable sticker books - like this one from Melissa and Doug - or other activity books, like this build-a-face book, also from Melissa and Doug (note: they are laaaaaarge, so not the most portable, but highly entertaining for the kids). I don't bring these entertainment items out until she starts getting fidgety or whiny - I let her explore her new environment, look around, and see what's going on first. Sometimes I never have to get them out (and sometimes restaurants have colors for the kids and you can use them and save yours for next time!).

That said, you know what will work for your kid. A movie on an iPad? Small price to pay for peace. A book? A magna-doodle? A couple toy cars? Whatever small, portable toy that will keep your child occupied is key. And of everything, probably the most important.

**********************************************

More hints that don't involve bringing anything are:

- Ask for a seat with a view of the front door (constant people coming in) or the window (people walking by/cars/planes/etc). Both of those can serve as distractions for kids. 

- Ask for a plate of fruit/veggies/crackers immediately. Some places will give it to you free (seriously brilliant) and some will charge, but little snacks act as another distraction. Also, Carys gets that eating out means, duh, FOOD, but doesn't understand the wait for said food. So as soon as we're in a restaurant, she's ready to eat. This tides her over until the real food arrives.

- I rarely order her a kid's meal. First, because they're usually insanely unhealthy, but second, because it's usually a waste of money. If it's a buffet (or like Ruby Tuesday with a salad buffet) I'll ask the server if it's okay to just give her a plate from there, and she's still young enough that the answer has always been yes. I'll usually pair that with a side or two, and it's much cheaper than getting a full meal just for her that is both unhealthy and will mostly go to waste.

Anything else I should add? What are your go-to eating out tips?

12-18 Month Toddler Gear Guide

To start, we are still using some things from previous guides. Rather than listing them again here, 

I'll just make note of what is still useful: 

What are we still using religiously from the Newborn Gear Guide at eighteen months old? 
Portable night light 
Sleep Sheep 
Diaper bags 
Cloth diapers 
Beco Gemini baby carrier 
Nosefrida 
Sprout towel 
Graco Blossom high chair (we have moved to using the booster seat portion rather than the high chair)
Sassy Look Book 

What are we still using religiously from the Six Month Gear Guide at eighteen months old? (Some are listed above and here because I didn't think to cross-reference the guides when I first did them.) 
Britax B-Agile stroller 
Graco Blossom high chair (booster part)
Smock/sleeved bib
Table protector 
Splat mat 
Travel high chair
Nuby sippy cups 
Books
B Zany activity cube (a HUGE favorite still) 
Munchkin Caterpillar 
Stacking Blocks 
Breathable Bumper 
Sprout towel 
Weeble Playset 
Britax Boulevard/Evenflo Triumph car seats

What are we still using religiously from the 12 Month Gear Guide at eighteen months old?
Wallet
Dump Truck
Weeble
Foam shapes
Snack cup
Sunscreen
Slide


Hey! We have an twelve-month-old, what! Here are some of the things that she is into at the moment. This list is short compared to other lists on here, because she is much more into imaginative play and it takes far less to keep her happy and entertained, and she doesn't need as much "gear" as babies do (no more breast pump! no more bottles! no more millions of bibs!). 


1. Stella Doll (or any doll) 
Lifespan: Used from 12 Months +

  

The Stella Doll is one of those things you'll hear about or see a lot if you have little ones. It's well made, soft, and baby-safe - all huge hits! I believe he or she is even machine washable, but I'm not sure if that's an "official" thing or if I just got lucky. We got the boy version pictured above because come on, how CUTE is that romper? She also has this Corolle Mon Premiere Tidoo doll (that we did not pay even close to $40 for, so price shop if the cost at that link is high!) that goes in the bathtub. She's a big fan of that doll as well.  But really, any doll will likely be a hit for kids this age of either sex. She loves feeding it, putting diapers on it, putting it down to go night-night, patting it's back...I'm incredibly surprised at the level of imaginative play that pops up when she has a doll around!

18 Month Update: She is obsessed with babies. She loves to feed them and give them bottles and change their diapers and put them night-night. 
2 Year Update: She has started to prefer the more life-like plastic dolls than the cloth dolls, but still pulls Stella out every once in a while. She still LOVES her Corolle doll. 

2. Meowsic

Lifespan: Used from about 9+ months

You can get this online through Amazon or other retailers, but it's cheapest at Target. This keyboard keeps her occupied for quite a while, and she loves singing into the microphone. As with any "noise" toy, the songs and sounds can get grating after five hours of continuous play, but it's not nearly as irritating as others to which I've listened. It's recommended for ages 2+, so as always, use with supervision. 

18 Month Update: B toys are always a hit in this house! This is no exception. 
2 Year Update: She still loves this. 

3. Egg toy

Lifespan: Used from about 12+ months, but could be used MUCH younger

I got this darn thing on a whim from WALGREENS, of all the silly places. I'm sure our version is made in China and covered in lead paint, but she loves it. She loves dumping it out, fitting the caps back on the eggs, taking them all out and putting other things in the egg carton, making them squeak...this is a toy that I wish we would have had when she was much younger, as I think it would have been just as entertaining to her as a baby. The whole egg comes out, and then the top of the egg comes off (so it's a total of 13 pieces - two pieces for each of the six eggs and the case). The bottom of each egg has a different shape on it that corresponds to a shape in the bottom of the egg carton, so she can't perfectly put the eggs back in yet, as she doesn't know her shapes. I think it could be used for matching, color recognition, and shape recognition as well eventually. But for well under $10, it's a definite win. Unless you step on it. Then you may curse. 

18 Month Update: In explicable news, she still loves this. 
2 Year Update: I think we may have lost this, actually. I can't remember the last time I saw it...now I need to go find it, because she loves matching things right now. 

4. Art Supplies

Lifespan:  12+ months

Though we started coloring or painting with her a little before she turned a year old, she really started to get into it at around a year and has been obsessed ever since. Crayons, colored pencils, pens (under close watch), paint, bath crayons, and anything else you can think of with which to color - name it, and she will use it.  Pictured here are the Melissa and Doug Jumbo Triangular Crayons.  Target right now also has a great line called Kids Made Modern that has some great, fun options, like this giant crazy crayon.  I taped poster board onto her table to completely cover it, and then put crayons, colored pencils, and blank paper and coloring books into a three-bucket spinning caddy. It's a perfect little art center!

18 Month Update: The kid loves to color and paint and stamp - I recommend paint and stamps too!
2 Year Update: We got an easel for her from Craigslist to add to her art supplies, and she still loves them. 

5. Little People (Farm, Zoo, House)

Lifespan: 14+ months

While we "only" have the zoo, she's also played with and really enjoyed the zoo and the house. Oh - okay, I lied. We have the vintage Little People house from back when they were small wooden or plastic choking hazards.  Now, if you've read any of my previous posts, you know that I am so anti big pieces of crap toys in the house, and now I have this plus two Weebles playsets (both smaller ones) plus a vintage Little People house (which is pretty small, actually). I actually do the toy rotation thing that's so popular right now, where you pack away a number of toys every couple months and bring out ones that had previously been packed away, so we really only have one of them out at any given time. But still, it's three more pieces of big plastic playsets than I ever wanted in the house. However, my whining aside, she loves this. She especially loves making the animal sounds.  And the nice thing about these Little People and their corresponding playsets is that they're all interchangeable, so her Super Hero Wonder People can take a turn at playing zoo keeper and vice versa.

18 Month Update: She really enjoys this still.
2 Year Update: I actually sold this on Craigslist. It was taking up too much room for the amount of time that she actually spent playing with it. She still enjoys it when we're visiting friends who have it, but it had stopped being used regularly at our house. We still have the vintage farm and house, which take up MUCH less space, have no batteries/sounds, and are still used quite often.

6.  Scooter

Lifespan: Used from 10+ months

We don't have this exact one, but similar (we got ours on sale at Target for around $10 at the end of the summer).  You could also go fancier and prettier and less plastic-y with something like this Radio Flyer version.  At first, she was too little to do it herself, so she had us pushing it around for her. However, at about 15 months she learned to do it herself and will push it in circles around the kitchen island...then insist that I sit in it and go....then push me out and do it herself again....rinse and repeat.

18 Month Update: Once we got the Cozy Coupe car, this stopped being such a favorite, but she'll still regularly pull it out to scoot around.
2 Year Update: She actually still pulls this out and scoots around with it. She's really fast!

7. Pottery Barn Anywhere Chair (or knockoff)
Lifespan: Used from 12 months + 

We got the above "Grass Green" version, which is a wonderful bright but neutral color. We gave it to her as her "big" present on her first birthday, and she was hooked instantly. She loves sitting in it and jumping off, climbing on the back, and, of course, sitting in it to read. It's great quality and I can sit in it, so I think it will last for years to come. You can get cheaper knockoffs here, on eBay, or look online for instructions to make your own (hint: it's actually pretty easy). 

18 Month Update: We actually had to move it to a less accessible place so it's not used as much, but when I take the rocking chair out of her room, this will go in there, and I think it will go back to being a huge hit.
2 Year Update: As predicted, when this replaced the rocking chair in her room, she started using it every single day. 

8. Metal tableware 

Lifespan: 12+ months

Since we did baby-led weaning, Carys has been using forks and spoons for quite a while. We graduated her to metal ones recently, and she uses them pretty expertly. Since we don't need/use the knives yet and had plenty of spoons, we actually bought the pack that had just forks in it.  They're high quality, easy to grip, and not sharp, though they are pointy enough that she can use them to stab just about any food. A great transitional piece from plastic spoons to real flatware! We actually take one with us (alone with a sleeved bib and a disposable table protector) whenever we go out to eat.  

18 Month Update: She refuses plastic forks and spoons, so these are great. 
2 Year Update: We've moved to mostly full-size utensils (her choice) but these are still used quite a bit. 

9. Spill-proof real cup
Lifespan: 12+ months

You're not supposed to use sippy cups past a certain age (maybe...two?) because they can start to affect tooth and soft palate development. or something.  Also, kids want to be like you. They want to drink how you're drinking...and you aren't drinking out of a sippy cup. Unless you are. Sometimes I am. But usually, I'm just using a real cup, and she wants to use a real cup, and that means a mess. Because she gets how to do it, but she doesn't get that she can't swing it around like she did her sippy cups. Enter this cup. Apparently there's a learning curve with it, though, so if it's leaking or you're not getting anything out of it, you might be doing it wrong, just FYI. But we love it. And just two parts! (I know Avent makes a similar one, but the reviews on Amazon aren't nearly as good and the people I know who have it say it's leaky, so we went with this one). 

18 Month Update: Still my favorite cups!
2 Year Update: She's started using "real" cups now, but when we are on the go or I need a spill-proof option, these are the go-to cups.

10. Water table
Lifespan: 9+ months

Oh, my gosh. FAVORITE. I can't believe I didn't add this to the list until number 10. It could be number one. We love this darn thing. We got ours off Craigslist, and I always see them listed there, so definitely check before buying new. We have this one, but there are a ton of them out there to choose from.  We keep it on our deck in the summer and let her go crazy. I plan on filling it with rice or beans in the winter and setting it in a hard-sided plastic pool for her to play with indoors in the winter. Warning: she likes to climb in it and sit, so watch out for that!

18 Month Update: I did fill it with beans for indoor play in the winter and it's a big hit!
2 Year Update: Still completely in love. Water, beans, whatever - she loves it! It's temporarily out of commission as our deck is redone, but I cannot WAIT to get it back out. 

11. Little Tikes Cozy Coupe

So this got moved from "Want" to "Need" thanks to my mother-in-law. It is predictably a HUGE hit. I knew it would be, since every time she's ever seen one she has freaked out and wanted it badly.  We usually keep it in the garage to play with outside, but every once in a while we bring it inside, and she plays with it constantly. 

18 Month Update: Probably her second favorite toy after babies and books.
2 Year Update: She still absolutely LOVES this. She gets it out every single time we're outside in the front yard.

WANT: 

There are a couple things I'm looking to get her, and if I do, I'll let you know what I think of them!

1. Prince Wheely Bug 

This might be the cutest thing I've ever seen! We don't need it...at ALL...but it's so darn cute!

2. Wagon

This is still on the list from last time, though after reading the comment a reader left about it not being that great of quality, I'm looking for a different/better version. 

2 Year Update: We got a super cheap wagon (different brand) from Aldi, of all places (regularly priced on Amazon at $89, got it from Aldi for $40!). It's not the smoothest ride, but she loves going on wagon rides.

  

ON THE FENCE: 

Got this, but haven't used it enough yet to be able to give a recommendation.

***None at this time***