Is the Brio the way to go? Or is there another brand out there that you/the kids like better?

Thanks for the advice. Getting ready to comb ebay, unless you also happen to have a better suggestion on where to get it for a good price! :)

We have a Brio set that we bought before Anna was even born. I think we'll give it to her this Christmas. Anyway, I know that a lot of sets are compatible with it. The Thomas stuff for sure. :nod:

Don't waste your money!!!!!!!!!!!!

We have a Brio knockoff. Got it a little over a year ago from www.trains4tots.com (http://www.trains4tots.com) . It's the Maxim set. Waaaaaaaay cheaper, yet the same quality :aok: And its Brio & Thomas compatible. So we got a 100 pc set (track, bridges, train cars etc etc) that came w/ a wooden storage box for $80. Then we just buy some Brio & Thoman engines that he reeeeally wants. :aok:

that was gonna be my next question...thanks! so the "brio compatible" are just as good?! Yay!

Karri - that set is now $100+!!

We have a brio set, and we LOVE it!! It's compatable with another set that we found at a garage sale (it's not a brio...we don't know what it is). I highly recommend it...it's durable, well made, and it's actually not a bad price from TRU... :)

Now I'm seeing they're recommended for children age 3 and up. My little guy is only 20 months. Should I wait?

If you think he'll like it, go for it!

We got Jacob a Brio set with table for Christmas and paid ~$130. Its compatible with the other sets out there and we love it. The pieces have been through a LOT and they still are in great shape. THe one we have has a motorized locomotive too. We're going to get a bigger set for him after we move.

Susan --We often buy Maxim pieces from trains4tots and also from trainsgalore.com --two of the most inexpensive places we've found. I have Brio pieces and they are freaking identical, so I dont see why I'd spend extra money :dunno:

We got it for him for his 2nd b-day and he's been playing with it since then :aok: LOVED it from the moment we bought it! :aok:

Oh --and the price on the set we bought has fluctuated with time :dunno: AND Erica (ericaMG) was the first one who told me about the site. Her boys have the set and I think they may give theirs a little more wear & tear than my boy does and she hasnt had any complaints :lol:

Now I'm seeing they're recommended for children age 3 and up. My little guy is only 20 months. Should I wait?

I can't comment on Brio sets, but our son has a train set that he got for Christmas last year (he was 23 months) and he LOVES it (so does his dad :lol: as he has spent a small fortune on Thomas trains in the past week). Cameron plays with it every day. It was one of the best gifts he got.

We have tons of Thomas trains and track. I think they're tyco? and they're for 3 and up and we have no problem with them. Wiggie's been playing with them since 23 months at least? I'm thinking even earlier... Anyway, we have the plastic ones that hook together and have batteries. He loves them to pieces!!! Plays with them every day. He can take them apart and turn them off and an (battery operated) but he can't hook them together yet.