2yo girl gift idea? Book? Needs to be in a B&M store

[SnuggleBuggles]

Does anyone have a good idea for a 2yo girl in the $20-30 range? It's been a long while since I bought a present for a 2yo!

She has 2 older brothers so I was trying to think of things that might be more girly. :)

My 2 ideas so far are a Melissa and Doug birthday cake wooden food set or a new book.
This is the M&D product:
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2267328

I am open to other ideas or a specific book idea. Thanks!!

Beth

[new_mommy25]

The Baby Stella doll is my favorite gift. Ruby got one for Christmas and adores her. Since then I have bought it as a gift for two other little girls and the moms have given me very positive feedback. They sell the doll at local toy stores here so she shouldn't be too hard to find.
http://tinyurl.com/23thht

For a book, The Wheels on the Bus by Paul Zelinsky is wonderful. It was my DS's favorite book and now DD loves it. I can't tell you how many times a day I have to read it but it never gets too tiring. The illustrations tell a great story and it is really fun to read.
http://tinyurl.com/2ptnws

I think the birthday cake is a great idea as long as the child isn't a mouther. There are a lot of small pieces. My DD isn't quite two yet but hasn't mouthed anything in a long time and I allow her to play with M&D play food supervised. My nephew will be three next month but still sticks almost everything in his mouth so we have to watch him like a hawk. Just something to consider.

If you want to do play food, you might want to look into Small World Toys. They are plastic but really well made, the pieces are large enough not to be a choking hazard, and they are really fun! My DD likes them a lot. We have the peel n play veggie set and the super cool ice cream set and they are used on a daily basis. I think my DD enjoys them more than the M&D food, not sure why. They also make a birthday cake.


eta: I just realized you might want a book recommendation that is more girly. Check out
Pinkalicious http://tinyurl.com/2ecgfg
Princess Baby (brand new by Karen Katz and really cute) http://tinyurl.com/28bns3

[nicknack]

I think the birthday cake is a great idea, I plan on getting that for my dd's 2 year in March.

Here are some other suggestions I've gotten on other boards:

Wooden food if she has a play kitchen?
Snap n Style dolls
Dress up clothes
Arts and crafts stuff
Dolls
Doll stroller/highchair/feeding set, etc...

DD has the Corolle Lila doll (however, it's around $50, I think, maybe you can find a sale?) and she really loves it.

[SnuggleBuggles]

I actually didn't get the M&D cake earlier b/c of the 3+ choking hazard concern. But, I know she isn't a mouther so I think she would be ok. I was such a stickler for the 3+ rule so I feel bad breaking it for someone else's child. :) It's so cute though!

Thanks for all the great ideas so far! Please keep them coming. :)

Beth

[Tondi G]

There is a wonderful book out there called Moongirl. We got it and it came with a short DVD about the book that is so cute. My boys requested to watch moon girl before bed for a long time.... it was their wind down little short and then books and bed. I highly recommend it!

http://www.amazon.com/Moongirl-Collectors-Book-DVD-Gift/dp/0763630683

[wendmatt]

My friends DD just turned 2 and is obsessed with snowwhite (the other princess a bit but mostly snowwhite) and her favorite thing is a soft snow white doll from disney store, they have them in different sizes.
The Fancy Nancy books are nice and girly too, with pretty pictures.

[bubbaray]

A Corolle Calin doll would be perfect! :)

If you are OK with characters, Dora is a hit with that age group. You could do a Dora book, DVD and CD (Dance Fiesta is kinda catchy -- there is a book, DVD and CD for that one).

Anything princess if it isn't already a hit, will be as she gets older. Personally, I do Princess stuff for age 3 and up.

[shishamo]

2 is the age when then start to do dress-up stuff, and they get really into it by three. Fancy hats and crowns with lots of sparkly stuff would be loved, and a cute purse that they can carry around would be great, too.

If you don't mind the characters, Disney princesses are very popular.