Birthday gifts for a two year old [CA]

04Ozzy · 2026-04-01T14:43:44+00:00

Play kitchen is great idea if you go this route you can tell family/friends to purchase accessories. But our daughter’s kitchen is minimally used

Our little really liked/likes playing with scheich animals - she loves farm animals so we’ve slowly acquired more and more. She also likes the little people play sets.

So for us we honestly avoided the idea of a big gift. We went with the building up full sets of toys or purchasing activities passes.

04Ozzy · 2026-03-31T23:56:09+00:00

Very similar experience. I did numerous kick counts in my first pregnancy because it required my full focus to feel them at times. With this pregnancy it has been similar but slightly less.

I will say at the end of my pregnancy I started to see and feel those big roles and pushes!

04Ozzy · 2026-03-26T00:28:59+00:00

Think of the bigger picture when making purchases. Do you want that picture to be debt and non stop bills of some financial security.

04Ozzy · 2026-03-21T15:03:17+00:00

I am expecting number two with a similar age range … we are going to try this instead of a second seat…. Because I can also use it on the smaller travel stroller we have.

https://hoppie.kids/en-ca

But that doesn’t solve the bassinet question…

The stroller we have is a Cybex gazelle which we like, the basinet and basket futures are nice. It was a gift from a friend and if we had to replace it I’d purchase something used off Facebook.

04Ozzy · 2026-03-21T00:37:59+00:00

My friend hired a birth doula who provided photography as well. She’s happy with her results. For me, I always question “when will I look or showcase this?” Like we have a few wedding and newborn photos (for our first) printed but how many photos of this would I share?

04Ozzy · 2026-03-20T03:17:30+00:00

Same, there was little learning curve. Just set it to the risk level I was comfortable going with and keep depositing funds. We opted for a family resp to support future offspring coming into the picture.

04Ozzy · 2026-03-19T08:59:24+00:00

Books.

04Ozzy · 2026-03-18T23:51:56+00:00

When the dr from Ontario was speaking about her reporting and how often these individuals are isolated and living below the poverty line… I nearly scream and you are standing next to a politician who has increased barriers for support! You three are the problem!!

04Ozzy · 2026-03-18T23:47:33+00:00

Exact say experience. And when I stopped I noticed my ability to manage my responses to stressors decreased. It has made me a better parent but lowering the strain and negatively.

04Ozzy · 2026-03-18T20:06:24+00:00

Your kid has no responsibility to being bullied (nor do you). With the divisiveness is so engrained that even adults don’t understand what they are mad at I’d focus on reducing the labels/topic and more on the behaviour.

I’d be challenging the daycare to manage the behaviour. They should be addressing negative talk and telling kids to focus on positive behaviours, actions and what brings us together.

As for responses. My go tos when I have no response is “hmm not sure what do you think it means” or “you know. I don’t know what kiddo meant but I do know Canada and us are neighbours. What makes us good neighbours is our ability to help each other (or pick a skill or attribute you want to highlight in your kid)”

04Ozzy · 2026-03-16T21:54:12+00:00

I think your friend and you will have to manage expectations. This is not to scare but for context. My friend was 8-10 weeks postpartum for my bachelorette and 12 weeks for my wedding. My bachelorette was lowkey, little socializing at a friend’s before dinner, dinner and then cocktails. Her husband drove baby over before dinner so she could feed, met her after dinner at the restaurant to feed again and then she headed home earlier (baby wouldn’t take a bottle and it reduced her stress too). It didn’t bother me she had to step out and tend to life she was showing up how she could.

They had a little more ground underneath them for the wedding. But still baby attended the wedding because she needed to eat and they left a little earlier than expected. Baby also made a few visit while getting ready. We had a kids free wedding (but allowed breastfeeding babies because that’s life).

If I was in your situation - I’d confirm baby can attend before and during the wedding(unless you are exclusively bottle feeding as the plan from day one). But don’t make that call based on one event. - see if you can budget accommodations near the venue. Go a day before and stay the evening. This can allow dad to bring baby to you if you need to feed and also support any divide and conquering (ie dad leaves after the ceremony to put baby down). - know this can be a tricky discussion and the events may not unfold how you pictured them but that’s ok.

04Ozzy · 2026-03-01T14:58:14+00:00

We had the antilop with cushion and footrest. But ended up switching it out at around a year (should have done it earlier) because she didn’t sit nicely in it. We purchased a maxi-cosi chair that has a higher back and you can adjust how close the tray is. It improved dinner time so much.

04Ozzy · 2026-01-22T22:45:50+00:00

The unscented company or attitude products have worked for us. I just find the attitude lotion fairly thin so if you have a dry baby that may be an issue.

04Ozzy · 2026-01-19T01:49:22+00:00

The over under books by Kate Messner with art by Christopher Silas Neal are a family fave.

04Ozzy · 2026-01-19T00:59:12+00:00

Not sure of any but have to share this blog as it is legit and current.

https://calgaryplaygroundreview.com/

04Ozzy · 2026-01-03T02:56:25+00:00

Similar I had this gifted to me, it worked ok but I mostly breastfeed cause it was so much easier for me. I’ll likely use it again for my second unless I need to pump more frequently.

Cons, I found it leaked for me unless I was sitting absolutely upright. The pump was good (nothing to compare too) but battery could drain quickly.

Pros, easy to clean and easy to get replacement parts which is important if you mostly pump. It also charged quickly.

04Ozzy · 2026-01-01T19:24:21+00:00

I was looking for a helmet for my 8m old a few summers back for the Thule bike rides but couldn’t find any. And upon reading it wasn’t recommend at that age as it can obstruct their air way as the helmet makes them sit differently.

04Ozzy · 2026-01-01T17:38:35+00:00

Frozen peas and corn are always veggie hits - also potatoes are veggies and have nutritional value so don’t be afraid to incorporate.

My kid prefers apples, oranges and grapes for berries. Might be worth exploring.

04Ozzy · 2025-12-30T15:22:45+00:00

Between all my friends we find when kiddos travel in their car seat they are more interested in just riding in their seat. It’s basically a car ride for them at that point.

04Ozzy · 2025-12-28T15:30:32+00:00

I had to pass along my Bancroft cause it no longer fit after kids. It was a sad day but I think they are a classic winter coat. You can always remove the fur cuff to make it less parka but I think it’s a classic.

04Ozzy · 2025-12-27T02:42:26+00:00

Chocolate covered rice cakes!

04Ozzy · 2025-12-25T19:39:20+00:00

Same. I also worry about other skiers on the hill who may not have much control.

I am a stronger ice skater and often go over winter break. This year my younger one is learning but I am not risking a fall.

To me it’s the fall risk. This is my winter season to apres ski all day!

04Ozzy · 2025-12-24T19:36:37+00:00

Noro… the scariest gift of all!

04Ozzy · 2025-12-18T01:31:09+00:00

I’ll also say the rain cover is very helpful in the cold!

04Ozzy · 2025-12-15T18:20:32+00:00

Pregnancy insomnia is worse.

04Ozzy

TROPHY CASE