Buying for a child advice.

[STL]

how about gravity bots? all you got to do is tilt it

My only problem with that is it is a pretty average TF and I wouldn't want a kid to think back to their memories of TFs and think that that was what TFs had to offer. That said, I do acknowledge that the ROTF line can be very fiddly. I've talked to parents who help their kids transform the toys and still find it pretty challenging themselves.

I recommend

1.) the legends size class. The Classics 2.0/Universe multi-packs at Big W or Target specifically. They give kids get enough a fiddle, get a multi-pack.
2.) The Universe Deluxe 5-pack at Big W. It comes to about $13 a deluxe which is a great price. The toys are incredibly average but each is reasonable enough for a kid to transform as opposed to ROTF toys.

[jaydisc]

My 22 month old son likes Gravity Bots, so i think that's a bit young.

I also think the combiners are a bit too complex, and things don't really have a definite position which I think would equate to the difficulty found in the OP/BB 2-pack.

I think I'd recommend avoiding movie toys except for FABs. FABs are probably perfect, while the rest of the movie toys are too complex or fiddly.

I'm not sure I'd flat out recommend Animated either, as there are varying ranges of complexity. Jazz, Sentinel Prime, or Voyager Bulkhead I think would all be good choices. I'd say Lugnut too, but based on his shelf-warming status, I'm not sure he appeals to kids.

[GoktimusPrime]

1.) the legends size class

That's a pretty good suggestion!

[SilverDragon]

Movie toys are quite fiddly, so avoid them for the most part. An exception I think would be Dirt Boss, who isn't terribly complicated for the most part. The only downside would be that his alt mode (a forklift) might be considered boring.

As MV75 said, Animated Ultra Magnus ROCKS. He's a very good blend of special features (loads of hidden weapons, lights and sounds) and the basic Transformer things (he transforms and can pose). Also, he's very, very solid in both modes, so he can't be broken easily.

[Stompy]

I think I'd recommend avoiding movie toys except for FABs. FABs are probably perfect, while the rest of the movie toys are too complex or fiddly.

Second'd. I love the FAB line is a great way to avoid the heartache of broken Leader, Voyager & deluxe movie figures. Their conversion is pretty much like Legends but with the added strength of a deluxe sized foundation for those fiddly bits that can be forced into place. Even with a relatively decent amount of force. Also, the benefit of having a greater sculpt detail than Legends and the large range of cast characters.

I've been to so many peoples houses who have bought their kids voyagers and deluxes all broken and never even had a chance to go into alt/bot mode the first time round.

[Saintly]

a voyager OP is about right for an 8 yr old, which is about that age when Tim (Saintly legend who is now 9 yrs old) got his First Strike OP.

He got a CYB Leader OP for his 5th bday which he didn't have a problem transforming.