Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Buy a book.

NO

Well okay then.

Love the idea old or freebie sunglasses. If you have a few pair, the kid will out one on them and one on you. Then the next guy, etc…

Sometimes a silly moment together is the absolute best gift to a child.

Why get a toy from goodwill or something? If I were your friend, I would be a little weirded out that you gave my kids random junk from your house.

I guess if you’re really anti-toy, I’d suggest post-it notes. Or a giant box the kid can sit in and color on.

Wooden spoon - so much fun for drumming walls and tables and people, especially siblings!

Empty container from parmesan cheese and toothpicks to put in.

Jar with a slit in the lid (I use an old plastic apple sauce one) and poker chips.

real dough wooden rolling pin to use on the play dough.

Anonymous wrote:Saw a little toddler online REALLY enjoying a salad spinner. The kind you push the top and it spins. Was thinking you could probably put things in it and watch them spin too.

Ping pong balls go great in a salad spinner!

Anonymous wrote:Balloons! Filled balloons are commonly available at Dollar Tree and opening a box of helium balloons will bring joy and in the end leave no clutter.

And are super unsafe for a kid this age.

Long cardboard tube from wrapping paper. My kids played with these for hours.

Saw a little toddler online REALLY enjoying a salad spinner. The kind you push the top and it spins. Was thinking you could probably put things in it and watch them spin too.

My 2 1/2 year old's favorite present one year was a restaurant style order pad and pen. My mom kept them on hand at her house after that. It gave her something easy to play when we went to visit.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Stock-Your-Home-Green-Guest-Check-Books-Servers-5-Pack-Server-Note-Pads-Waiter-Checkbook-Food-Receipt-Book-Restaurant-Order-Pad-Paper-Checks-Waitress/795983611?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=4765&sourceid=dsn_ad_fac153e8-a819-4e04-9af5-1c5d04a29929&veh=dsn&wmlspartner=dsn_ad_fac153e8-a819-4e04-9af5-1c5d04a29929&cn=FY26-MP-PMax_cnv_dps_dsn_dis_ad_mp_s_n&gclsrc=aw.ds&wl9=pla&wl11=online&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22532405497&gbraid=0AAAAADmfBIoiucP3kUHrMKc_kNg6zpj3f&gclid=Cj0KCQiA9OnJBhD-ARIsAPV51xPXiVRQs9b2a5p5i6uc4M1wVOsL_I_VdUh5R-eFGYTdPrDDuuba6q8aAmLIEALw_wcB

Blue masking tape.

Bubble wrap that can pop
Bubbles and wand

Anonymous wrote:Seeing a friend on his kid's 2nd birthday. What can I put in a box for the kid to unwrap that is safe and will make him squeal? I've seen kids that age get excited by the most random stuff, and yet I'm coming up blank.

To be clear, I'm not buying anything. No one needs more stuff.

So you want to unload old stuff you already have in your house? "Hey, friend, here's an old colander! Enjoy finding a place to store it—it now belongs to your child and they love it and you can never take it away from them!"

It's one thing to pull out random things for your own child to play with, or when you're hosting a child, but this is weird.

Get them a book.

Anonymous wrote:Balloons! Filled balloons are commonly available at Dollar Tree and opening a box of helium balloons will bring joy and in the end leave no clutter.

Kids love balloons, but make sure they’re mylar and not latex. When I took a pediatric CPR class, the instructor emphasized that latex balloons were very dangerous to young children. If a child sticks a balloon in their mouth and it pops, the pieces could end up in the child’s throat and be a major choking hazard. Procedures like the Heimlich that would normally use air to eject an obstacle are ineffective when the obstacle just stretches.