u/LavenderFlicked

My daughter is 2.5. For the first 2 years we bought things constantly. Something new every few weeks, mostly because she seemed bored or I felt guilty or someone recommended something in a parenting group. We probably spent close to 600 dollars on toys in her first 2 years. Most of it is gone now, donated or broken.

4 months ago I made a rule. Nothing new comes in unless something old goes out and nothing comes in at all unless she has been asking for it consistently for at least 2 weeks. Not one mention, consistent asking.

In 4 months we bought exactly 3 things. A set of wooden magnet pieces for the wall board we already had. A new book. A replacement for something that broke.

That is it. She did not notice anything was missing. She plays more than she did when there was more to choose from. The floor is clear. I stopped spending money on things that lasted a week.

The wooden magnet thing was the one purchase I feel genuinely good about. She uses it every single day without being told. That is the bar now for anything coming into this house.

grew up with whatever was on sale now I am the parent who researches every single toy before buying it.

My parents were not bad people, we just did not have a lot. Most of my toys were dollar store stuff or random garage sale finds. Nothing lasted, nothing was particularly safe, and I spent a lot of childhood playing with things that fell apart in a week.

Now I have a 2 year old and I have gone fully the other direction. I read material safety specs. I return things that smell weird. My husband thinks I have lost it.

But I genuinely do not know what actually lasts because I never had that growing up. I can read reviews all day but reviews are written right after unboxing, not 2 years in.

What toddler toys or gifts have genuinely held up in your house? Not just survived, but still actually being used. Anything count, indoor, outdoor, art, building, whatever.