It’s fair to say that toddlers get negative press with “terrible twos” and “toddler tantrums”, but there’s far more to this stage than the odd wobble and creative outburst. It’s a whirlwind of development: they’re mastering big-movement skills like jumping and climbing, refining fine motor control through drawing and stacking, and racing ahead with language – adding new words into the mix every day. You’ll also see a strong streak of independence beginning to shine, so where does that lead to when searching for that perfect, tantrum-free toddler gift?
Well, there’s plenty to choose from. Children at this age love learning and experimenting just as much as they adore silly play, so a present that blends both can be a real winner, and might even buy parents a few minutes to enjoy a mince pie in peace.
Role-play toys – think play coffee shops, dolls and vehicles – are brilliant for encouraging imagination and nurturing behaviour, while construction kits, and puzzles help build problem-solving skills. It’s also worth considering how a toy can spark conversation, introduce new vocabulary, or open the door to new experiences, but let’s not forget toys that burn energy and challenge children physically, too.
One thing’s for sure, it’s time to deck the halls with toys and gifts galore, but to lend a helping hand we’ve put plenty to the test, to bring you a comprehensive round-up of what we believe are the best gift options out there for two-year-old girls and boys this Christmas.
The best gifts for two-year-olds for 2025 are:
- Best overall – Smartrike xtend ride-on plus: £109, Amazon.co.uk
- Best budget buy – Munchkin colour buddies moisturising bath bombs and toy dispensers: £9.99, Amazon.co.uk
- Best keepsake gift – That's Mine personalised Jellycat Bartholomew bear: £34.95, Thatsmine.co.uk
- Best puzzle – Orchard Toys under the sea: £12, Amazon.co.uk
- Best battery-operated toy – VTech toot-toot drivers learn & go train playset: £49.76, Amazon.co.uk
How I tested
Christmas came early in our house, and over the past month my two-year-old tester (and some lucky pals, too) tried a whole range of gifts covering a wide price range. You can read more about my in-depth testing criteria at the end of this guide.
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Smartrike xtend ride-on plus
Best: Gift for two-year-olds overall
Age suitability: 12m-12years
Why we love it
- Multi-use
- Handy storage compartment
- LED wheels
Take note
- Bulky
While you might want to encourage strictly indoor toys this Christmas, the new xtend ride-on plus from SmartTrike will certainly turn your head. We’ve recently entered the ride-on stage with our mini tester but have encountered a few wobbles, so having the parent-mode is amazing. It’s worth flagging that it can be used from as young as 12 months if you’ve an active baby on your hands. But it’s the maximum age that intrigued us the most, while we can’t comment on how this scooter will look in 10 years’ time, we can confirm that his seven-year-old cousin gave it the thumbs up for scooting.
There’s a small amount of initial assembly required, and again when you convert to the next stage, so it may be worth unboxing and putting together for the big day. There are small side panels for little feet to rest, a well-positioned handlebar and a wide seat which had instant appeal. The chunky wheels at the front provide good stability, and even light up when turning, which amazed our curious tester, and we’d often find him spinning them at home. Our toddler loved rainy day kitchen-to-lounge scooting, it glides particularly well on solid floor, but it was a brilliant outdoor activity too – we’d even store parcels in the storage compartment and take to our local Post Office, or pack the odd snack or toy. It took a few attempts to master the turning with the parent handle, but we were soon able to master corners and bumpier terrain. It also has an extendable parent handle which will be adequate for many, just a slight niggle for us taller parents.
While our toddler sees this toy as pure joy, it’s also hugely developmental too, stimulating key motor skills, co-ordination and cognitive growth. And when the big day hits in our household, we’ll be transitioning into ride-on mode!
Buy now £109.00, Amazon.co.uk
Munchkin colour buddies moisturising bath bombs and toy dispensers
Best: Budget gift for two-year-olds
Age suitability: 2+
Why we love it
- Affordable
- Non-staining
- Creative
Take note
- Smaller present
- Will need to purchase new bombs
You may think a bath bomb and a toddler sounds like a foam-filled disaster, but think again. The colour buddies moisturising bath bombs from Munchkin are genius, imaginative, and totally toddler friendly. Made using a toxic-free formula, including natural skin-loving ingredients like Vitamin E and shea butter, not only will they add a deluge of colour to bathtime, but they’ll also leave skin feeling soft and oh-so-kissable.
This set comes with two toy dispensers; a whale and puffer fish, where the coloured capsules safely sit inside – there’s even a cap to ensure they’re secure – plop them in the bath and watch the colour infuse the water. Out tester was amazed by the colour of the water, and loved watching the liquid strain out of the bottom of the sea-inspired toys when lifted from the water. You’re provided with 20 bombs, in four popping colours, so for older children you can get creative and mix and match bath bombs to discover new colours. For just over £10, you’ll get plenty of joy out of this gift for Christmas, and we assure you baths of 2026 are in full colour.
Buy now £9.99, Amazon.co.uk
Magna-Tiles clear 100 pieces set magnetic toy
Best: Gift for years of play
Age suitability: 3+
Why we love it
- Longevity
- Durable
Take note
- Expensive
Enter a household brimming with kids, and quicker than you can say “Merry Christmas”, we’re sure you’ll find Magna-Tiles about the place. The meaningful play brand is almost 30 years old and, after playing with them with our little tester for a matter of minutes, it’s clear to see why its popularity is gargantuan.
While we appreciate that building rockets, robots and racing tracks may be a while off for our curious two-year-old, the concept of these magnetic coloured tiles is simply addictive. We did a lot of the building work, while our tester loved knocking down our creations and experimenting with placing multiple shapes together, while the magic magnetism did its thing. There’s no doubt that these will be a cherished toy for years to come – we’ve certainly found ourselves having a quick play during tidying up – so see them as an investment. We praise the durability and quality of the pieces which are made from food-grade, non-toxic, and transparent MABS plastic.
It’s worth noting that the suggested age for any Magna-Tiles set is three years plus, due to the small magnets encased in the shaped pieces, so be extra mindful when playing with toddlers.
Buy now £95.00, Amazon.co.uk
That's Mine personalised Jellycat Bartholomew bear
Best: Keepsake gift for two-year-olds
Age suitability: 0+
Why we love it
- Personalised
- High quality
- Small UK business
Take note
- Hand wash only
A Jellycat toy never fails; soft, cuddly and a top-tier snuggle toy for any age. If you thought a Jellycat couldn’t get any cuter, allow us to prove you wrong. That’s Mine is a Lancashire-based personalisation company run by husband and wife duo Paul and Elaine, and they dress up thousands of Jellycat toys in adorable embroidered chunky jumpers.
When it comes to personalising there are two font options, and 15 colour choices. We were impressed with the quality, and weak at the knees at how adorable this half-dressed huggable teddy is. There’s something inherently adorable about watching a small child carry a teddy, and our tiny tester, loves to give his toy a ‘cuggle’. We think it’s the ultimate bedtime buddy once Christmas day is over, and with the personalised touch it’ll be a keepsake for years to come.
Buy now £34.95, Thatsmine.co.uk
Orchard Toys under the sea
Best: Puzzle gift for two-year-olds
Age suitability: 1+
Why we love it
- Travel-friendly
- Durable
- Developmental
Take note
- Limited play
Our turtle obsessed two-year-old, dived straight into the simple Under The Sea puzzle from hugely-popular infant toy brand, Orchard Toys.
It’s a nesting puzzle, perfectly portioned for little hands, with five smiley sea creatures (shark, whale, octopus, turtle and starfish), and he had as much fun removing the chunky pieces – which he could manage independently – as he did putting them back together, with a bit of adult assistance. It’s portable, beautifully illustrated, and a fun way to identify animals, all the while builds fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination - just don’t be surprised when the baby shark singing ensues.
Buy now £12.00, Amazon.co.uk
VTech toot-toot drivers learn & go train playset
Best: Battery-operated gift for two-year-olds
Age suitability: 1+
Why we love it
- Multiple track options
- Durable
- Three learning modes
Take note
- Not easy to store
Our little tester has recently discovered a love for vehicles, and a train set is often at the very top of a Christmas list for pre-schoolers. With our tester just entering the toddler stage we opted for an all-singing, all-dancing train set, opposed to a classic wooden ensemble, to garner the biggest appeal, and we’re glad we did as the toot-oot drivers learn & go train set by Vtech is right on track.
Bear in mind that some track assembly and set up is required – think sticker placement, installing batteries in the freight train, and general track building – so you may want to plan ahead. We were surprised how big this set is, in all five configurations, therefore we recommended checking out the dimensions for adequate floor space. There are six smartpoint locations, triggering reactions, queuing wobbly bridge noises, baaing from sheep and even echoes in the tunnel, which our tester revelled in – with the speed of the bridge descent causing all sorts of fun reactions. There are three learning modes on the motorised train, which all prompt different phrases and reactions as the train makes its way round the track – this keeps playtime fresh, and with interchangeable tracks there is plenty to be explored.
We have to praise this set on its durability, with our heavy handed little one going full steam ahead and it handles the physical exploitation well, while the language development and educational elements are perfect for toddlers who soak it all up. Getting it back in the box, without taking it all apart is a struggle for size, so you may want to invest in some adequate toy storage as it does demand a large chunk of the floor.
Buy now £49.76, Amazon.co.uk
JoJo Maman Bébé the Gruffalo pop up toy
Best: Wooden toy gift for two-year-olds
Age suitability: 1+
Why we love it
- Wooden
- Portable
- Independent play
Take note
- Limited play
“All was quiet in the deep dark wood”, but this certainly wasn’t the case in our house as our tester squealed with delight as he watched the Gruffalo characters pop into action. Built to be simple, this gorgeous wooden toy from favourites JoJo Maman Bebe is charmingly illustrated with the popular Gruffalo book characters, and is pure joy. With a discreet spring metal board inside the wooden frame, push the characters down and watch them pop back out – genius.
We loved watching our curious toddler navigate putting the characters in the correct coloured holes, identifying the animals, and pushing with all his might as they launch back out. Great for dexterity and hand-eye coordination, this fast became a go-to toy for our tester, and given its portable size and box with carry strap, it often left the house with us too. And when it’s not being played with, we assure parents they will delight in how stunning it looks on display.
Buy now £28.00, Jojomamanbebe.co.uk
Tomy toomies bath barista toy set
Best: Bath toy gift for two-year-olds
Age suitability: 18m+
Why we love it
- Role play fun
- Affordable
Take note
- Limited to the bath
When there’s a toddler in the tub, bath times are no longer the serene, affectionate experience they once were in those early parenthood days, and fun is order of the day. Our tester is fond of bathtime, but basic bath toys lose their appeal at rapid speed. With the Toomies bath barista toy set, you can transform the bath tub into a coffee shop this Christmas… and prepare to make, sip, repeat.
Our tester fulfilled all of our coffee orders as he pumped the action frother, sprinkled the ‘chocolate’ and delivered our make-believe cappuccinos. This set comes with three mini cups, a jug, and sprinkler, while the machine features a frother (you’ll need to add bubble bath) with twisty yellow dial and a spinner for your filter coffee which sprinkles through as you watch it fill up the cup. This bath toy captured our toddler’s attention, as he navigated the features and revelled in the role play – all the fun without the caffeine crash.
Buy now £19.99, Amazon.co.uk
Wow Toys freddie farm truck
Best: Battery-free gift for two-year-olds
Age suitability: 1+
Why we love it
- Five small figures
- No batteries required
- 'Push & go’ motor
Take note
- Slow movement
It’s impossible to leave the house without our toddler clutching a toy figure in his hand, so when he had five new mini models to grapple his face lit up. In this ready-to-use farm-inspired set there are four animals friends and a farmer friend, which are perfectly portioned for little hands. Our tester loved taking them in and out of the truck and pushing ‘Freddie’ and watching him go about his farming duties.
Unlike a lot of the toys on the market, all of WOW Toys are battery-free, and this truck operates on push and go motorised power without an AA battery in sight. Our tester enjoyed pushing the truck to see how far it would travel – although at times disappointed that it didn’t race across the room, and the realistic ‘brum brum’ engine sounds, which provoked plenty of engine mimicking is a great touch, and far more tolerable than many of the over-the-top battery powered clamours. It’s super durable and has handled plenty of drops and bashing without looking bruised, and is a great excuse for our toddler to perfect his adorable animal sounds.
Buy now £26.86, Amazon.co.uk
SmartGames my first explorers
Best: Gift for independent play
Age suitability: 1+
Why we love it
- Magnetic
- Mix and match
- Brightly coloured
Take note
- No storage pouch
Bring the magic of magnetics to Christmas this year with the my first explorers set from educational toy brand SmartMax. The company has been creating clever toys for over three decades, and our young tester has been playing with its formations since the early days, so expectations were high.
The set is a lot of fun and comprises of 16 pieces in a mission to create a car, plane, and rocket – or, in our experience a combo of all three. But that’s what it’s all about, allowing little ones to explore and discover different vehicles, and we loved watching our toddler experiment and get creative with the different shaped, perfectly-sized pieces, we just wish it came with a storage bag for when playtime is over.
Buy now £21.50, Amazon.co.uk
Micro Scooters micro balance bike lite
Best: Gift for year-round play
Age suitability: 2-5 years
Why we love it
- Super lightweight
- Extended use
Take note
- Expensive
- Takes a while to master
We’ve all blubbed at the Christmas film where a child discovers a bike under the tree, and thanks to the phenomenon of the balance bike, our daring toddler can get a slice of the two-wheel action, too. Best known for its epic scooters, Micro Scooters also have a fabulous new balance bike in its arsenal and as soon as our tester clocked eyes on the box, he was keen.
Our tester was only just tall enough to use the bike, so be sure to check out measurements before purchasing (the lowest saddle height is 31cm from the floor). This didn’t stop him from saddling up, and trying to navigate balance while pushing with his feet which is quite the spectacle to behold – we’d recommend partnering this present with a suitable helmet like this one. While we’ve got a long way to go with his cycling journey, be prepared for a slow burn, we can’t deny the quality of this bike making it a brilliant Christmas gift.
And the gift to parents is thanks to the ultra-light magnesium frame weighing in at just 2.6kg, when you’re inevitably left lumbered with it, you can do so with one hand. We see this gift as an investment, and as our two-year old learns a new skill set, we’re sure we’ll be chasing after him in no time.
Buy now £79.96, Amazon.co.uk
Zapf Creations baby Annabell my first bath Annabell 30cm
Best: Role play gift for two-year-olds
Age suitability: 1+
Why we love it
- Safe in the bath
- Toddler-friendly size
- Great for role play
Take note
- Takes a while to dry
- One fixed outfit
Our toddler certainly skipped the chapter on gentle parenting, but there’s something highly entertaining when a little person takes on the role of mum or dad with their first doll. The blinking eyes were a highlight and provoked a deluge of ‘nun-nights’ (and inevitable eye poking).
Learning that this dolly could join in the bath time fun extended the play, although it’s worth noting it takes a while to dry because the squidgy body is full of granules. The sweet swimming costume is a fixed outfit, which does limit outfit/nappy changes for further role play, but it’s an adorable introduction to pretend play.
Buy now £24.99, Amazon.co.uk
Tonies toniebox 2
Best: Screen-free gift for two-year-olds
Age suitability: 1+
Why we love it
- Screen-free
- Tumble-proof
- Multi-use
- 8 hour playtime
Take note
- Expensive
- Large for travel
- Additional purchases required
While we’re not adverse to small doses of screen time with our toddler, finding screen-free gadgets that garner the same attraction is no easy feat. Just in time for Christmas, after a decade in the business, Tonies has launched its second Toniebox, the Toniebox 2, and the best bit is it’s now safe to use from age one (opposed to three years, as long as the device isn’t charging).
Featuring all the best bits of the much-loved original, but in a squishier, tumble-proof design, kids can listen to their favourite stories and songs with the ever-growing array of Tonie characters, of which there are over 300 to choose from. After initial wifi set-up, which is completed through the app, it’s ready for play time. You’ll need to purchase a Tonies character (we’d recommend creating a bundle at checkout), but from £8.99 a pop for an hour’s worth of content, we’d suggest going for their favourite character for instant attraction. For us it had to be Paw Patrol’s Chase (£14.99, Tonies.com), and our toddler had the little dog figurine placed atop the Toniesbox in a flash. Once the Tonies figure is in situ – there’s a magnet in every character so it’s easy for little hands to achieve – the stories or music starts, and our little tester loved bopping to the familiar theme tune and is showing signs of listening to short stories, too. He loved navigating the volume via the rubbery ears, and watching the lights react to his movements, you also skip the content by playfully hitting the side which feels intuitive and light-hearted.
There’s also the option to explore free content on the app with lullabies, tales and songs, but you’ll need to assign this to a creative tonie (£11.99, Tonies.com), which is another purchase. Unlike the original, designed just for Toniebox 2, Tonieplay unlocks new interactive games, stories, quizzes, challenges and more when used with the tonieplay controller. This was too advanced for our toddler, but certainly gives an extra dimension to screen-free playing in the future. There’s no doubting the opportunities with this audio player, which can become a great travel companion and inspire little imaginations to think big, which we’re here for.
Buy now £99.99, Amazon.co.uk
Maped color'peps my first colouring kit
Best: Artistic gift for two-year-olds
Age suitability: 1+
Why we love it
- Carry case
- Portable
- Washable ink
Take note
- Only one poster
- Messy
Entering the artistic sphere with your toddler in a home environment is nerve-wracking to say the least. Specifically designed for messy young artists, the kit includes 12 multi-coloured jumbo crayons, 10 jumbo felt-tip colouring pens – which really do wash out of clothes and on pen covered hands – and a giant poster-sized colouring sheet.
Let’s not forget you’ll also get a handy carry case to keep all art supplies in one place, which is great for taking out and about. The pens and crayons are the perfect size for little hands, we just wish there were a few more posters to keep our precious shopping list graffiti free.
Buy now £13.29, Amazon.co.uk
What is the best gift for two-year-olds?
We’ve been waxing lyrical about SmartTrike’s Xtend Ride On Plus, which has truly mastered the brief: a toy that grows with your child. It’s the first thing our toddler looks for when downstairs, and the joy he demonstrates when sat upon the seat is infectious. While it’s an investment, we can’t wait for this toy to develop alongside our tester, and see it being used for many Christmases to come. If you’re after a more traditional, stay-at-home gift, we highly recommend VTech’s Toot Toot Drivers Learn and Go Train Playset.
How I selected the best gifts for two-year-olds
When reviewing each one, my tester and I considered the following:
Why you can trust IndyBest reviews
Rebecca Moore is a parenting writer with years of experience testing the best products for kids and parents alike. She’s been reviewing kids’ essentials for IndyBest since 2020, but has been researching products for far longer, from breast pumps and lightweight strollers to baby monitors and kids’ scooters. For this review, she used real-world testing with her toddler and friends to see how they responded to each one.
Want more gift inspiration? Read our round-up of the best gifts for six-year-olds
