I'm thinking of getting my 2yr old a dolls house for Christmas, she'll be 2 yrs 8 months by then. I like to plan early, and probably lay by it, so I don't have to store it in my house for months!
I WAS going to get her a Le Toy Van house or a Plan house and dolls (wooden with wool hair) but then I saw the Lundby stuff at a shop yesterday. I'm in love! So much detail, tiny clocks, and lights and tiny bits and pieces. The site says suitable from 3yrs, but with so many little bits I'm worried she'll break/eat/lose a lot of them really quickly.
The Lundby is pretty pricey, but would last a lot longer IF she plays with it enough, but I can't see my inlaws paying $50 for a room of furniture for it as a gift (thought it would solve the eternal"What do we get her" questions each year for a while).

I'm also not sure how sturdy the houses are for a not quite 3yr old.
Am I better off getting a sturdy wooden one (I LIKE wood) to see how much she'd use it, then get a better one in a few years, or bite the bullet and go Lundby right from the start?

I am dying to get a dolls house I can play with and make stuff for!

http://www.lundby.com.au/
http://www.plantoys.com/products.php?cat_id=3

I don't like the Plan house as much, it's not what I envisioned getting for her, though I hear they are excellent quality.
Thanks.

There is a third option for a dolls house that is the most common of them all - Fisher Price Loving Family. It is made from plastic (imo i started to go the more wooden toys route and now ive realised they actually break a lot easier than the plastic stuff!!)

I have the Plan Toys eco dollsouse put away for DS for xmas this year (He'll be 2.5). We have the Loving Family 1 at our playgroup and he loves playing with it. The neat thing about it is that it's 3/4 storys and yet it folds flat for storage under a bed. FP also do add ons for it all the time (like a camping set, ballet studio, horse stables, treehouse etc).

ooh I'll look at that one too. I've got plenty of time at least.
I thought about the Aldi one, but it's so PINK and my daughter doesn't like pink.

we have one similar to the plan toy one and to be honest - it never gets played with. In fact every wooden toy I have purchased, trying to make the ideal toy room don't get played with. She does however love anything by playmobil or Sylvanian family.

Oh believe me, I'll be getting a LOT of Playmobil when she's older!
I've still got some in the cupboard from when I was 8 or so and it's still looking good 30 years later(dear god, I'm getting old! lol).
I just need a house with a room I can set up as a playroom
Maybe I'll hold off a bit longer and see what she'd like closer to Christmas. She's not very good at telling me what she wants yet, just what she DOESN'T want.

My DD 2.4yrs wouldn't break or eat any of the small parts, and I'm particular about putting things away- so they wouldn't get lost. But I don't think she'd appreciate something as lovely just yet. I actually like the plan one better, but think either would be good if she isn't rough with toys ( just a personality thing).

She's pretty good with her toys actually.
Thanks for all the reply's

I bought DD a Le Toy Van dollshouse for her 2nd birthday in March, mainly because I have wanted one for yeeeeeears.

Okay, they're not cheap but its been worth every cent. She loves it, plays with it nearly every day, and her 4-year-old brother plays with it frequently and her nearly 7-year-old brother will play with it on occasion (as long as I promise not to tell his friends).

They have taken very good care of it, although I do say quite often "Things from the dollshouse stay in the dollshouse!" so nothing has been lost. Its normally in our loungeroom but I do move it out of the way when we are expecting rambunctious visitors.

Its only been three months but I'm very, very happy with it. I got ours from Peters of Kensington (online). Even with delivery it was a lot cheaper than every other store I saw.

Oh I never thought to get it at Peters. Great idea.
I'm really leaning towards the Le Toy van ones. it looks like I'd want a dolls house to look like, I can get one that's not PINK, and if bits break, I can glue them I'm sure.

Le toy van is a good maker of wooden toys. There is also Voila which is a French brand much like Le Toy Van that do doll houses. If you're in a major capital city you should have access to quality toy stores that stock all the good brands and have a variety of dolls house on display so you can see what your dd is interested in by taking her there. We certainly do in Canberra! Your dd may find a particular style more inviting or appealing to play with in a way you would never consider.