My daughter is turning one next month. My mother would like to purchase a "nice" (meaning, fairly expensive, and one that she will really enjoy) toy for her, and one that she will "grow in to" (not necessarily one that's appropriate for a one year old... Amelia already has more than enough toys currently). Any suggestions?

I know there are tons of toys on the market appropriate for toddlers, but just wanted to get some ideas of nice toys that your children enjoy! Thanks. :)

for tony's 1st birthday we bought him an outdoor climbing thing. do you have one of those? or how about a playhouse?

here's the one we have:
http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00007A1S2.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

Here's a cute girly house at TRU! Of course if you have a boy or may have a boy, you may want to go with something more neutral. My poor son who was born 2nd is going to have to play with a lot of girly things thanks to my mom! :rolleyes: :lol:

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00008DP33.01.MZZZZZZZ.jpg (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00008DP33/104-6617143-5243167?v=glance&s=toys&me=A3UN6WX5RRO2AG&vi=pictures&img=14#more-pictures)http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00008DP33.01.PT04.TZZZZZZZ.jpg

We have this one and I think younger kids will start to use it earlier than perhaps a playhouse.



http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00007J5YO.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

How about a play kitchen? Brigit loves hers - she's had it for a year and still plays with it every day. She has the Little Tikes one:

http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/602-7929169-5327016?asin=B00004XCKF

It's an OK kitchen, but I'm not that fond of plastic toys and if I could have afforded it I would have gotten her a wooden one instead. Depending on how much your mom can spend, you could consider some of those. The one from Pottery Barn Kids is really cool, and I also love the ones on this site:

http://www.woodentoys.com/toys.asp?key=100000

I was very set on a wooden kitchen for Janelle's second birthday, but now I'm in love with this one.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/stores/detail/-/toys/B00008X340/qid=1081440570/sr=2-2/ref=sr_2_2/104-8594310-5175107

So I don't know. DH and I have been buying her random wooden food though since before she was born, it will be fun to give it all to her.

Ohh and Janelle got that play gym that kim posted for her birthday last year (along with other naturally playful stuff) but we haven't set it up yet...

I was also going to suggest a real nice wooden kitchen, if she's willing to spend that money. Other than that, what about a nice wooden dollhouse?

I'll second the playplace thing. They are really cool and can grow into it!

Hey Kim and Lette - those are cool climbing things - do you know the brand? I don't remember seeing those exact ones before.

Thanks everyone! These are fantastic ideas! I love the climbing thing, and I had never thought about a kitchen set.. but that's a great thought too! I'll run these by my mom and see what she thinks. :)

Hey Kim and Lette - those are cool climbing things - do you know the brand? I don't remember seeing those exact ones before.
we got it at toysrus, it's from 'step2'
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00007A1S2/qid=1081601564/br=1-3/ref=br_lf_t_3//104-6831770-5796708?v=glance&s=toys&n=12764711