We recently celebrated my now 1-year-old’s birthday. I can’t believe how fast time flies! Although he won’t remember his birthday or the gifts he got, we still wanted it to be special as every parent does.
He already has quite a bit of toys but doesn’t play with half of them, so I wanted to make sure that I got something that wouldn’t just take up space.
I researched quite a bit and found the best gift ideas for a one-year-old! These are gifts that either my toddler (crazy to say that now!) received, or that other 1-year olds play with and love! Each image contains a link to the online store where you can read more information.
Disclaimer: These are the best first birthday gift ideas in my personal opinion, but just because some toddlers love a toy does not mean your’s will. Some of these toys are meant for children ages 2+ so use your own discretion.
**This post contains affiliate links which means that I make a small commission of the sale if an item is purchased at no extra cost to you. This does not affect what items I recommend, and I am only listing items that I truly believe are the best.
1. Baby Walker
Not only is this toy great for encouraging a baby to walk, but it’s also fun for them to push around and play with even if they are already walking.
2. Push and Pull Toy
This is a similar gift idea but works better for 1-year-olds that are already walking since these are more lightweight and won’t give any support for walking.
3. Ball Pit
This one does take up some space but there are different color options, and the neutral one blends quite nicely into the living room. This is one that we are personally getting for our toddler, and I know that many other parents love this and say that it keeps their toddler entertained for a while!
4. Sensory Books
Books are always a great gift idea! There are so many studies that show how beneficial it is to read to your baby. These sensory books are cool because not only can you read to them but it’s also interactive and fun for them to touch!
5. Busy Board
These can be pricey, but if you are crafty and like to DIY this can be an awesome project! It’s great sensory play and helps toddlers with fine motor skills.
6. Talk A Bear Personal Recordable Plush 15″ Teddy Bear
It’s been so much fun hearing my baby’s first phrases, and this toy is awesome for encouraging your baby to talk. You can also record sweet messages that can replay later.
7. Pedal and Push Ride
This is a great option for 1-year-olds that are walking and stable. It might take a few months before they can climb on themselves, but they will love this toy for a while!
8. Activity Table
An activity table can be a great option to keep a little one entertained. There are many different options that include the summer season water ones, musical ones, and educational ones. These are a couple of examples:
On the pricey side, but aesthetically pleasing if that is what you are going for.
This one is also on the pricier side but is more unique than the other ones.
An affordable option that is also great!
9. Stacking Blocks
Blocks are really good for a toddler’s development. They help with fine motor skills, problem-solving, cause and effect, and so on. My toddler loves trying to stack them and then knocking them down.
10. Wooden Tool Workbench
This is one of my 1-year-old’s favorite things to play with. He doesn’t understand how to play with it correctly yet but has a lot of fun hitting the hammer or fitting a screw through another piece. I know that he will still enjoy playing with this when he gets a little older too. You just want to make sure that the toolset does not contain any small parts that can be choking hazards (this one doesn’t).
11. Play Tunnel
A tent tunnel is another fun activity that my toddler absolutely loves! It can be a fun indoor or outdoor activity with extra excitement if you add colorful balls.
12. Toy Broom Set
My toddler loves watching me and copying everything I do, and every time he sees our vacuum, he will try to vacuum with it too. When I found this toy set I thought it was brilliant! Hey, and teaching them house skills at a young age doesn’t seem like a bad idea either!
13. Toddler Armchair
Not only is this chair so cute, but it will also be used for at least a couple of years! I plan to have one for quiet time when my toddler gets older where he can look at books if he refuses to nap. You can also find one that is personalized.
14. Toy Subscription
By the way, this is not a sponsored post but another great gift idea is a toy subscription. There are different options but they all cater to different stages and you receive a box every couple of months (depending on the subscription) that is fun and helps with development. Some of these subscription services are KiwiCo, Little Passports, and Lovevery.
15. Magnetic Toy Set
A great gift idea that teaches creativity and early STEM, and will be played with for years!
16. Foam Climber
A toddler climber is a perfect idea to help use up a toddler’s energy, while still keeping them safe.
17. Doona Liki Trike
This trike is genius in my opinion! It has different modes for different toddler stages and can be used from 10 to 36 months. My toddler is only one and he already HATES his stroller! I am planning to get this myself and I cannot wait to finally not have to hold him all the time when we go out.
18. Musical Toys
A musical toy is always great! Although my toddler does not play with it for long, I know that many other toddlers love them! Here are a couple of good options:
19. Mess-Free Touch Lights
This is a fun interactive toy for toddlers with music and different touch lights. It’s also cool because it is mess-free so no need to worry about marks on furniture. Although it says it is for ages 2+, I personally love this for road trips to keep my little one entertained.
20. Activity Cube
A wooden activity cube is another really good gift idea. It can keep a toddler entertained with different activities and is good for development too!
This one is awesome because it comes with stacking cups, shapes, and a book too!
21. Plush Toy
You can’t go wrong with a cute stuffed animal! There are many different options, so here are a couple of adorable ideas:
22. Personalized Song
This is the sweetest and most sentimental gift that your child can carry with them throughout their life. Mamasingmysong.com is a service where you can customize a song with your child’s name and unique characteristics. There is also an option to choose a stuffed animal that plays that song too!
I hope that you found this list helpful, and remember that one of the best gifts is memories. So if you are planning and hosting a party don’t forget to take lots of pictures that you and your child can look back to!
Let me know if there are any other awesome gift ideas that I missed in the comments section!
