Gifts for 2 Year Olds: Ideas for Boys, Girls and Toddlers up to 3

Gift ideas for 2 year olds

At two, your child walks and climbs confidently, says their first short sentences and wants to do lots of things themselves: get dressed, choose, try things out. Good gifts build on exactly that. Popular choices are:

Pretend play: a play kitchen, play shop, toy workbench or doctor’s kit – anything kids can use to act out everyday life.

Building and stacking: large building blocks, a wooden train set or shape sorters.

Drawing and modeling: chunky crayons, finger paints, play dough for toddlers and a big roll of paper.

Books: simple everyday stories, busy picture books and board books with flaps.

For outdoors: a balance bike, sandbox set, watering can for the garden or rain pants.

Clothes your child gets to choose themselves go down well at this age too – especially a cap or hat “just like mom” or “just like dad”. We show you how a shared look like this can work in our article Matching outfits without looking too matchy.

Gifts for 2 year old boys

Many two-year-old boys love anything with wheels: diggers for the sandbox, a first balance bike or a wooden train set. A toy workbench and pound-a-peg game also go down well. If dad and son should look alike on outings, take a look at our matching look for father and son. For mom there’s our matching looks for mother and son.

Gifts for 2 year old girls

At two, the interests of girls and boys hardly differ yet – it’s best to look at what your child likes to play with right now. Popular choices are dolls and doll strollers, a play kitchen, animal figures or a balance bike. If you’d like to treat mom and daughter together, you’ll find sets in our matching look for mother and daughter.

Gifts for a first birthday

Your child is only turning one? We’ve collected ideas for one year olds – from push toys to photo books – in a separate article: First birthday gift ideas.

Gifts for 3 year olds

At three, play becomes more imaginative. Kids build, dress up, act out scenes from everyday life and often already have favorite topics – from animals and vehicles to princesses or dinosaurs. A gift that ties in with that favorite topic almost always hits the mark. Popular choices are dress-up boxes, puzzles with just a few pieces, first board games for toddlers and ride-on toys for outdoors.

Many kids also start daycare at this age. We’ve gathered ideas for this step in our collection Daycare start gifts.

Hats and caps for toddlers: the right size

If you’re giving a hat or cap, you need to know the size – especially for two year olds. Their head circumference averages around 48 cm, right at the transition between KIDS M and KIDS L. Here’s how to find the right size:

1. Measure the head circumference: Place a soft measuring tape above the ears around the widest part of the back of the head. We show you exactly how, and which value is typical at which age, in our article Measuring kids’ head circumference.

2. Compare with the size chart: For snapback caps, performance caps and beanies, KIDS M fits 45–49 cm and KIDS L fits 49–54 cm. For trucker, sports and dad hat caps, it’s 44–48 cm (KIDS M) and 48–53 cm (KIDS L). You’ll find all measurements in our size chart.

3. If in doubt, size up: If the value falls between two sizes, choose the larger one. For most three year olds that’s KIDS L anyway – here are the caps for kids from 2 years (KIDS L).

You’ll find all sizes and styles in our overview Kids caps & beanies.

Christmas gifts for 2 year olds

Good Christmas gifts for 2 year olds or 1 year olds are things that suit winter: a book for cozy evenings, something to build indoors or a warm hat for walks in the snow. For St. Nicholas Day it can be something smaller: a kids beanie is a practical little gift that gets worn every day in winter.

If the whole family should have something to unwrap, a matching set for parent and child is a great fit. You’ll find ideas in our Christmas gifts for dad & mom.

Tip: At Christmas, toddlers quickly receive lots of gifts – from parents, grandparents, godparents and friends. A shared wish list where everyone ticks off what they’re buying avoids duplicate gifts.

Gifts for siblings and the whole family

The toddler has older siblings who shouldn’t miss out? With our sets of 3 of one ADULT cap or beanie and two KIDS sizes, everyone is included. You’ll find more ideas in our gifts for siblings. If the siblings need different sizes or have different favorite colors, you can put the set together yourself in our Mix & Match Bundle Builder for caps & beanies.

What to look out for when buying gifts for toddlers

Check the age labels: toys with small parts are not suitable for children under three – look for the warning on the packaging.

Sturdy, not complicated: toddlers need things that can take a lot and that they can use without help – which suits their wish to do everything themselves.

Things that grow with them: caps with an adjustable closure or books you look at again and again over the years stay interesting for longer.

Think about space: a play kitchen, play shop or ride-on car takes up room. Check briefly with the parents beforehand whether the big gift fits into their home.

Frequently asked questions

What do you get a toddler who has everything?

Something that gets used up or grows with them: play dough, drawing paper and bubbles, clothes in the next size up or a contribution towards a bigger wish such as a balance bike.

What hat size does a toddler need?

At Soulbuddy, KIDS M is designed for toddlers approx. 1–2 years, KIDS L for kids from approx. 2 years. Age is only a guide, though – what counts is the head circumference.

Is a cap enough sun protection for toddlers?

A cap protects the head, forehead and eyes from the sun, but the neck and ears stay uncovered. It’s practical for the playground and short outings; for long days at the beach, a sun hat is the better choice. More on this in our article Kids’ cap or sun hat?.