Do you have one? What brand? Do you like it?
We might get one for J for Christmas... but there are so many to choose from! We just bought the Melissa & Doug set for my nephew. I guess we'll see how we like that one? I've heard brio is really good/high quality but it looks expensive especially since it's not a big set, you have to buy pieces individually.
Links are appreciated!
coconut / 8305 posts
We got the GeoTrax set(s) for G when he was a toddler & we LOVED IT! He had some issues actually snapping it together at first but it was super durable, the easiest to add track sets, & since there was such a wide variety of additions (bridge, train station, airport, superhero sets) everyone just bought set additions for just about every birthday & holiday season until he stopped playing with them at age 6-7. We ultimately had enough tracks to totally fill our whole living room! (let me see if I can track down a pic)
Best thing ever! lol
nectarine / 2019 posts
We had all the wood Thomas pieces ($$$) eventually our son outgrew them. He wanted something that looked like real trains. So my only suggestion would be, that since they can be pricey, is to invest in something that will last for a long time, rather than just toddlerhood
blogger / wonderful cherry / 21616 posts
@runsyellowlites: is that the plastic one? I was looking more for the wood one especially since it looks like most major brands are compatible with each other!
pineapple / 12234 posts
We have a Kid Kraft train table and B and E love it! Although, I glued the tracks down because it was a lot of work to put it back together every day! We bought extra Thomas trains on the side...but the Thomas train table was extremely pricey so we didn't consider buying it.
coconut / 8305 posts
@Mrs. Pen: Yea. I have no idea about wooden sets... I kind of looked into them, but were pricier than we wanted & I wanted something that I knew would last the long haul. We easily could have sold them, but passed them on to a friend when they were expecting their little boy.
ETA: I'm pretty anti Thomas so I wanted something that wouldn't be compatible with them. lol
nectarine / 2458 posts
We have a Brio set and love it. We only have a basic starter set now (DS is 17 months old) and we'll probably get add on kits later on.
blogger / wonderful cherry / 21616 posts
@Navy_Mommy: that's another brand I was looking at! I can't seem to find something that includes more than just the basic started kit. I'd like a more complete set to start with. What IS cool about Brio is how many add-ons and accessories they have! Looks like they are compatible with melissa & doug, chuggington, maxim and right track.
@runsyellowlites: I don't care for Thomas either but you can still use the tracks and just forego the thomas trains and get a different brand of trains. It appears through looking at them that all the major wood train brands are compatible.
apricot / 274 posts
We have a wooden one from Ikea that my parents bought. Apparently the Brio train cars work with it, but not the tracks? It's pretty basic and we'll probably want something different when LO is older, but for the moment he seems to like it!
blogger / pomelo / 5400 posts
We have the Thomas ones. Good quality. The bonus with them is that they're easy to find used, and easy to resell.
blogger / wonderful cherry / 21616 posts
@Mrs. Yoyo: I keep checking my local craigslist for sets!
coconut / 8305 posts
@Mrs. Pen: I didn't think other trains were compatible with the Thomas tracks & vise versa... I liked the vast Geo options better so I didn't really look into it.
Is it sad that I wished G still liked them so I could get the superhero sets?.... lol
blogger / pomelo / 5400 posts
@runsyellowlites: it's compatible with m&d, Chuggington and brio for sure. Not sure what else.
@Mrs. Pen: do you have any local FB resale groups? I often have better luck with those.
pomegranate / 3983 posts
We were gifted the Kid kraft wooden set. It's decent quality and LO likes all the different pieces. I will say that we were also gifted a few of the Thomas trains and they are much better quality. He's only had everything for a few months though so I can't speak to longevity.
wonderful clementine / 24134 posts
Great thread! I think we are getting a table hand me downs but I'm not sure what set to buy for it.
Are girls into train tables too?
At what age is it worth it to buy the cool track pieces and they can put it together? I feel like at this age (2) it'd be more of a pain in the butt for me to have to keep putting it together just for her to wreck it. @Mrs. Pen: interested in your thoughts in this because J is a bit younger then mine.
grapefruit / 4903 posts
We have a whole tub of Brio for DD when she's a little bigger. We had some that had been my brothers' and some that was DH's. it's expensive, but it lasts forever.
blogger / wonderful cherry / 21616 posts
@Mrs. Yoyo: @runsyellowlites: you just have to read the amazon reviews. I searched specific brands in the reviews section of each type of train set and a lot of reviewers state what is compatible and what isn't. Super helpful!
No local FB sale group here..
@T.H.O.U.: Well he seems to like cars/trucks. And actually I kind of like building trains anyway so that factor isn't a negative point to me. I know that train sets last a long time and every kid I've ever known loves them.
clementine / 918 posts
My brother had a brio train 20 years ago. He played with it daily for years (didn't hurt that it was fun to play with him as his babysitter). It still looks fantastic and he still sets it up for Christmas every year (he's 20 now). Its expensive but quality. And the way you buy it in pieces make great gifts from family for years. I'll be buying my son brio train when he is a little older.
blogger / pomelo / 5400 posts
@T.H.O.U.: We have pieces you can put together ... we generally do a big layout and then switch it up every month or so. At 2, he has learned how to put them together if he accidentally wrecks it, and he generally doesn't wreck it for fun.
nectarine / 2085 posts
We have Brio because I found some on clearance and I liked the fact that they look like real trains. LO and I love them! I've bought some Nuchi and LO plays with the Thomas set at TRU--neither of those is as nice. Look at Trains Galore online. They have a good selection.
GOLD / wonderful pomegranate / 28905 posts
@Mrs. Pen: I have to ask.... Where do you plan on setting it? We don't have a playroom and have no idea where I would put such a big thing! I think might really like it but just don't see having the space!
blogger / wonderful cherry / 21616 posts
@locavore_mama: J's room. He has a nice size bedroom. We're getting rid of his changing table too which helps free up space... I just had the idea of possibly putting his dresser in his closet since he has a big closet too which frees up even more space.
We have been wanting to get him an activity table for awhile too, so that's an option.
I'm not opposed to letting him keep his train track set up on his bedroom floor for awhile either, and we can keep a special bin for him to clean it up.
And I'm so chill about messes and messy houses that pshh we can play with it in the livingroom too 
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