Christmas gift for a 2 or 3 year old: ideas for a timeless present

Choosing a Christmas gift for a 2-year-old is harder than it looks. Toddlers play with something new for a week, and then it disappears into the toy box. A Christmas gift for a 2 or 3 year old that lasts is often something for the nursery: a lamp with a secret, stars above the bed, a book to read again and again.

What do 2 and 3 year olds love?

At this age children love repetition. The same song, the same book, the same order at bedtime. They love pointing at what they see and want to name it ten times over: there's Bear, goodnight Bear! And there's Fox, sleep tight Fox!
Many toddlers also become a little more afraid of the dark around this age, because their imagination is growing and they can't yet tell what is real and what isn't.

A gift that plays into this naturally becomes a fixed part of the day. That's why a lamp with a hidden picture works so well. Every evening there's that magical moment: light on, and there are the little friends again. If you notice the dark is becoming exciting, read our guide on what to do when your child is afraid of the dark.

A lamp with a secret under the Christmas tree

The Sunny the Lion wall lamp is a lovely choice for a toddler who finds the dark a little exciting. By day Sunny dozes in the sun with his eyes closed. When it gets dark and the light comes on, he opens his eyes and watches over your child. That's a story you can tell together every evening.

If your child loves stories about the woods, take a look at the Summer Night wall lamp. By day Fox and Badger listen to Squirrel reading a story on a warm summer evening. Switch on the light and suddenly it's night, and fairies scatter magic dust around while the fireflies dance. Both lamps are 45 centimetres across and have a white 1.70 metre cord with an on/off switch. With a 15-watt bulb, the Summer Night also makes a perfect night light.

Something complete: the bundles

If you really want to give a whole world for Christmas, the bundles are handy. Everything goes together, which is handy if you'd rather not do the combining yourself.

• The Turtle Dream Bundle: a wall lamp in which an underwater world appears when the light is on, with Turtle, Polar Bear, Whale and lantern fish. It comes with the Turtle and Little Polar Bear wall decal and the book 'Whoosh...Splash!' in the language of your choice.
• The Moonkiss Complete Bundle: the Moonkiss wall lamp, the Animals on the Ladder wall decal, the Moonkiss growth chart and the picture book 'Bear wants to kiss the Moon'. The lamp and the decal show the same animals climbing on top of each other so they can give the moon a kiss.

Small gifts to add

If several people are bringing a present at Christmas, it's nice when the small gifts match the big one.

• Stars for above the bed: a sheet of Glow in the Dark Starry Sky Stickers with 30 stars, soft pastel yellow by day and soft green in the dark.
• A wooden hanger: the Owl hanger in birch plywood, with Little Fox and Rabbit travelling along on Owl's wings. Lovely under a wall lamp or on the door.
• A wall decal next to the lamp: on the Polar Bears wall decal, Big Polar Bear lifts the little polar bear up so he can reach the light. Next to a wall lamp it looks as if they're really holding the cord.

Reading aloud in the Christmas holidays

The days between Christmas and New Year are perfect for curling up on the sofa together with a book. 'Bear wants to kiss the Moon' is about Little Bear, who wants to give the moon a goodnight kiss and comes up with a clever plan with his friends. With the Picture Books Bundle you also get 'Whoosh...Splash!', for the price of one book. That second book is written for children from 3 years old, so it grows with them nicely.

Christmas was always special in our house. Time to chat and read together, to bake something delicious and eat it together. Walking in the woods and coming home with a cold nose and cold little fingers, warming up again with a mug of hot chocolate. Crafting with paper, and the Christmas box from the attic where you rediscover the familiar decorations for the tree. The glass swan with its little crown, the golden sleeping cat, the sparkling icicles with glitter and the teardrop-shaped glass baubles, of which I now have only one left... and lights like stars everywhere.

What to look out for with a toddler

A toddler climbs, tests gravity, pulls at things and explores everything. So hang a wall lamp above the bed out of reach of grabby little hands, with the cord out of reach too. The Summer Night product description has a handy tip: secure the lamp with two hooks and enthusiastic little hands won't pull it off the wall so easily. Use an energy-saving bulb in the small E14 fitting, 30 watts maximum. It's best to stick wall decals a little higher if you don't want curious fingers peeling them off.

Order in time for Christmas

Ideally order at the beginning of December, so the gift is safely at home in time. Couriers are busy, and parcels often arrive later than hoped. You'll find all the ideas together in the collection Christmas gifts for the nursery. Looking for something for another occasion, such as a birthday or a new baby? Take a look at our nursery gift guide.

Frequently asked questions

What do you give a 2-year-old for Christmas?

Something the child sees every day, such as a wall lamp with a hidden picture, stars above the bed or a picture book to read often. Toddlers love repetition, and a gift like this plays into that.

Is a wall lamp safe for a toddler?

Yes, if you hang it above the bed out of reach of little hands, keep the cord safely out of the way and use an energy-saving bulb. With two hooks the lamp hangs extra securely.

What is a good Christmas gift for a toddler who already has lots of toys?

Something for the room itself. A lamp, wall decal or growth chart takes up no space in the toy box and lasts for years.

What age are the picture books for?

'Whoosh...Splash!' is written for children from 3 years old. 'Bear wants to kiss the Moon' is a picture book you can also read together with younger children. Even before they can talk, reading aloud is a wonderful way to develop language skills.