The Best Gifts For 2-Year-Olds, Starting at $9

CoComelon Transforming School Time Bus ($9, originally $30)

With over 185 million subscribers on YouTube, CoComelon is beloved by toddlers everywhere. This toy includes a few of the show's fan-favorite song clips like "Wheels on the Bus," "First Day of School," and the "ABC Song." It's a screen-free way to enjoy their transfixing melodies. The side of the bus can even be flipped down to make it easier to play with the figures in the bus.

What Reviewers Say:
"My kids love it! It's more than just a simple bus—it's interactive and so much fun."

Lego Duplo My First Number Train Learning and Counting Train Set ($17, originally $20)

Kids can build a train set and learn their numbers with this Lego Duplo My First Number Train Learning and Counting Train Set. It's educational and so much fun! It has train cars numbered one through 10 and little figurines they can play with, too.

It's not only fun to play with but also a great way for my little one to learn numbers and counting. The train can be built in different ways, which keeps things interesting for longer play sessions. Plus, it's super easy to clean up!"

What Reviewers Say:
"This Lego Duplo My First Number Train is a hit in our house! My toddler absolutely loves it. The pieces are the perfect size for little hands, and the colors are bright and engaging.

Thermos Funtainer Water Bottle ($17, originally $18)

A toddler can never have too many emotional support water bottles. These bottles from Thermos are leak-proof and are available in many character and color designs.

What Reviewers Say:
"We have many of these thermos bottles bc they are the best! Soft straw, my toddler can open, parts are easy to wash and assemble. This design is super cute."

Ms. Rachel Official Speak and Sing Doll ($24, originally $30)

My son, like many kids born in the last few years, has grown up watching Ms. Rachel's YouTube videos. This doll has more than 16 signature phrases and four songs to keep children engaged. It also includes a learning card with play ideas and skill-building tips. I caution parents and caregivers that these songs will get stuck in their head.

What Reviewers Say:
"This thing is a huge hit with my toddler! One hand has sayings from her show. The other hand has more popular song snippets from the show. She loves the hop little bunny and icky sticky bubble gum songs best. She's hard on toys. But this is holding up nicely. She got it a bit dirty and I was able to use a baby wipe to clean it. It's very cute. And she lights right up when she sees it. She even hug and kisses it! It was a little difficult at first to teach her how to properly push buttons in the hands. But after 3 days she's an old pro. She will keep pushing them until she gets to what she wants to hear! It functions beautifully. It's about as soft as you might expect for this style toy."

Snapper Rock Kids' Stripe Cotton Safari Hat ($32)

Keep the sun off of their face and neck with this adorable broad-brim beach hat. It features an adjustable chin strap that can be worn on windy days or if your little one tends to lose hats while playing.

What Reviewers Say:
"Perfect amount of sun protection for all day play and the drawstring makes sure it stays in place! Easy to clean after a beach day and colors match with everything. Definitely worth the investment for your kids!"

Pacific Play Tents Peek-a-Boo I See You 6-Foot Tunnel ($36)

For 2-year-olds who love to create crawling obstacle courses and forts, this six-foot tunnel will provide hours of fun. The best part? It collapses and can easily tuck into the smallest storage space.

Fisher-Price Little People Toddler Toy Hot Wheels Spiral Stunt Speedway Race Track Playset ($40)

You can't go wrong with Hot Wheels. This set includes Hot Wheels-inspired wheelies and a load-and-launch spiral track.

What Reviewers Say:
"My two year old son loves this! You can use just about any car on it, not just the ones that come with it."

Tea Collection Rash Guard Baby Swimsuit ($45)

Our contributing shopping editor has dressed her two boys in Tea Collection for years, but especially loves their swim category. Between the vibrant patterns, high quality materials that don't fade or pill, and the UPF 50+, she swears they're worth every penny. This Macaws-print rash guard couldn't be cuter.

Slumberkins Bigfoot Snuggler and Two Board Books Set ($54)

Slumberkins was created by two moms to help children discover a world of feelings. In this story, designed to support self-esteem, Bigfoot helps toddlers learn self-confidence and reminds them that they are kind and strong and the world is better with them in it. The story is sure to be a favorite of caregivers as well.

What Reviewers Say:
"My kids absolutely love these and I love the messages that come across in the books. The animal that comes with it is super soft and machine washable and is the perfect size to snuggle at bedtime!"

Kizik Squeeze-It Shoes in Festival Fuschia ($60)

Both the parents and the 2-year-old will be enamored with these Kizik Squeeze-It Shoes. Not only do they come in fun colorways ranging from pink to blue to dinosaur-themed, they feature patented technology that allows you to simply squeeze the sides of the shoe so they open wide enough to slide right on your toddler's foot. It doesn't get much more convenient than that.

Check out the Kizik Squeeze-It Shoes in Bellwether Blue ($60) and Kizik Squeeze-It Shoes in Green Monster ($60) for equally adorable colorways.

Béis The Kids Backpack ($68)

PS editors rave about Béis backpacks. This child-size version earns five stars from me and my son. It's lightweight, vibrant, and holds a ton of stuff. The detachable belt bag can hold snacks and a few small toys, and it gives the little one the independence to pack and bring their own bag on adventures.

What Reviewers Say:
"The cutest little backpack. I bought this for my 2 year old for her to grow into. Its perfect for her snacks and diapers."

Peg Perego John Deere Mini Tractor Ride on ($85)

Few things are as exciting to a toddler as a tractor. This mini John Deere is the perfect ride-on for the child who wants to pretend to be Old MacDonald.

What Reviewers Say:
"My grandson, age 2, loved this. Easy to assemble, music, front lights, just the right size, not too fast. Great gift."

Micro Mini Glow Plus LED Scooter ($120)

Get ready for a glowing good time with this motion-activated light-up scooter. Children can work on their balance and coordination as they scoot around. The adjustable handlebars grow with children from age 2 up to age 5, so it could also be used by older friends or siblings.

What Reviewers Say:
"As a mom with three kids three and under, we LOVE to play outside to get the energy out. I purchased two of [these scooters] for our two older boys, and they LOVE them. The handle bar can be tightened at a position low enough for our younger son (he started using this before age 2), and goes high enough for a much older child (I'd guess 8+)...

The light up wheels didn't seem like a necessity, but in the winter months when the sun sets earlier and you want to prolong the outdoor play time, it is a great feature for safety!!"

Gathre Packable Ball Pit ($140)

This packable ball pit is a sensory dream for toddlers. They can wade through a sea of balls, bury small toys, and play in a contained space. The faux leather sides fold up for easy storage, and the two color options are made to blend seamlessly into your home decor.

What Reviewers Say:
"Purchased for 1 and 3 year olds. Easy to get in and out. We have 600 balls and it could hold more than double that."

Step2 Dino Dash Up and Down Roller Coaster ($160)

This roller coaster will excite and engage little ones. It can be used inside or outside and the coaster car can also be used as a foot-to-floor ride-on. I love this coaster for playdates. Since it is single use, it helps children work on their patience while they wait for their turn.

What Reviewers Say:
"What more could a kid ask for but a roller coaster in time for summer? Our kids have been obsessed with this since we pulled it out of the box.

Set up was a breeze. We couldn't even get all the stickers on the track or the plane before the kids were begging us for a ride. The airplane was a great ride both on and off the coaster.

This was perfect for our two year old, he will be able to grow into it over the years. Our five year old is a little too tall but still found a way to make it work and not miss out on the fun.

The plane is light enough that our two year old could carry it by himself but sturdy enough to carry our big kid.

This is a great investment for our family as many kiddos will be able to enjoy outdoor fun in the summer and indoor fun in the winter.

Overall a 10/10."

Strider Sport Two-in-One Rocking Bike ($250)

This two-in-one rocking bike is a splurge-worthy gift that will be used for years to come. It helps teach babies balance while attached to the rocking base from ages 6 months to 2 years old. Once the child is 1 year old, you can detach the rocking base so they can learn how to ride the bike.

What Reviewers Say:
"This rocking bike was very easy to put together, is overall lightweight, and is built with good materials. Also has adaptability because when my son gets older we can take it off the base and he can use it as a balance bike. We bought for my son and he loves the independence to be able to get on and off by himself and I love because it promotes core strength and balance. The only downfall I see, is that it does not rock has much as I thought it would especially on carpet. However, I love the look and think it will make a great balance bike later on!"

Step2 Scout and Slide Climber ($495)

Turn their yard into a park with this outdoor playset. It features a climbing wall, slide, crawl-through tunnels, and a steering wheel.

What Reviewers Say:
"My 2 year old grandson is enjoying his Step 2 climbing cube with slide! He is an active little boy and this climber helps him burn off some of his energy! Great quality, easy to put together & he will have many years to enjoy playing on it!"

We're looking forward to several new options for our next update. These include: the SplashEZ 3-in-1 Splash Pad for anyone looking for summer-friendly water play, the Lydaz Bubble Lawn Mower for bubble-obsessed toddlers, and the Kidoozie Toddler Sensory Kids Table with Lid as a traditional sandbox alternative.

Genevieve Farrell Roston (she/her) is an award-winning filmmaker and the director of fitness and wellness video at PS. She oversees the Webby-nominated PS Fit video series, which makes fitness fun and accessible. She has more than 10 years of experience in the entertainment industry. A certified personal trainer, she loves running, Pilates, and rest days. As a mom of two, she is an avid reviewer of children's gear and products.

India Yaffe was an associate editor on the Shopping team at PS for five years. She focused on curating the best fitness, fashion, beauty, and home products on the market for the PS audience.

Alessia Santoro (she/her) is a former senior SEO editor at PS, where she guided SEO strategy and assisted the brand's editorial team in maintaining and creating search-intended content across multiple categories, including health, fitness, beauty, parenting, astrology, and more. Prior to shifting to SEO in 2021, she spent nearly seven years as a family editor for the brand, with focuses on parenting content, baby names, and family entertainment.

Macy Cate Williams is a former content director of commerce at PS. She literally shops for a living! Based in the Bay Area, Macy finds the best fashion, beauty, fitness, and home products that readers should know about.

Angela Elias (she/her) is a contributing editor for PS Shopping, where she reviews everything from beauty products to kitchen gadgets, curates can't-miss sales, and creates "best of" shopping roundups. In her former roles at PS, she led the relaunch of its Latine identity and family-focused verticals, directed its Home vertical, and hosted shopping segments. She has nearly 15 years of experience working in the lifestyle space as a writer, editor, content strategist, director, on-camera talent, and publicist.