Best 1st Birthday Gift Ideas
When R turned one, I got lots of questions from family about what would be the best gift for his first birthday. We prefer experiences over toys as a gift option, but we knew that some family members prefer to give toys - and that’s ok! To make sure we didn’t get a bunch of toys, toys he wouldn’t be able to use for long, or toys we already had, I started working on a wish list for him the months prior. Anytime I saw a great gift for a 1 year old, I would add it to the wish list. Each item on the list was something that would help him develop his motor skills, be able to grow with him and ensure he had tons of fun. Now, I’m sharing my list of the best gifts for a 1 year old with you!
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When a child turns one, they are usually more interested in the wrapping paper and box their gift came in than the gift itself. Sometimes, it can seem like they don’t even enjoy the gift at all, but that’s not something that should get you down. Babies are constantly developing and learning new skills and when R turned 1, that’s when I really started to see the change. They start walking, running, imitating, pretending and really working on those fine motor skills. The way he used his toys at 12 months was different than how he used them at 15 months which is different than how he is playing with them now at 19 months. This is why I love giving open ended gifts for a first birthday like what I’ve included on the list below. Read on for our suggestions for the best 1st birthday gift ideas!
Under $50
For the "I want to be just like Mom or Dad" stage, this toolbox will have your little one feeling so cool! Whenever we put something together, R gets his drill to help us out. This particular toolbox is cool because the drill will fit into the screws and by pushing the trigger button, it will actually spin and screw into the toolbox kit. This has been a big hit in our house.
We love this book for travel or restaurants because it can keep R busy for hours. It makes a great first birthday gift because it can not only provide screen-free entertainment when out, but it will also help develop those fine motor skills. The book is also a great way to help learn and identify animals, learn to count, etc depending on which you get! For instance, if you get the safari option, as you push the dot you can say the animal and sound. Later on, you can have your child identify the animal on their own - "where is the pig?" or "which animal says moo?" - and have that one be pushed.
R was given this gift for Christmas when he was 13.5 months and it was one of his favorite from the start. Within minutes he figured out how to twist himself back and forth and by the next day, he was doing full spins. It is a fun toy to keep around since it will grow with him and helps him develop balance and coordination. His 3 year old friends still love it too which is why this made our list for a birthday gift for a 1 year old.
This little vacuum is less than $13 and will become a quick favorite for your little one to "help" out with household chores. Bonus for you - it actually works! This vacuum has working suction and a tiny drawer that you can remove to clear out the junk it picks up.
A real bang for your buck first birthday gift idea is this kitchen pretend play set. It includes pots and pans, pretend food and a little chef's hat and apron. The set we linked is one we got to keep at the grandparent's house and we love that it comes in a little tub that all the items can be stored in. This gift option will entertain your little one and will help develop some great motor skills with play mixing, scooping and more!
We gave R this gift for his first birthday and I was worried at first he didn't like it, but he quickly fell in love with it! Now, he loves using it to play camping (we have his camper push walker right by it) or to sit and read his books in it. He loves having a little nook that is all his own. The flaps also make for a great peek a boo setting!
$50-100
I remember having a little car like this growing up and it was the best! While some modifications have been made over the years, it still looks fairly similar to what existed in the 90s. The removeable floor helps make this a great 1st birthday gift idea because they are able to grow with it. When they are younger, you can keep the floor in and push them. As they get older and develop the skills needed to move the car using their feet, you can take the floor out.
Step2 Rain Showers Splash Pond Water Table
Sensory play is important as kids develop and this water table is a fun (contained) way for them to play! This will be a hit in the summer for warm days. We've even used it in our living room (on towels) in the winter to keep R entertained. Water tables like this have spinners, ramps, buckets and more that kids can learn to use as they age making this a good one for the toddler years.
I linked the exact one we have, but there are tons of different options out there that can be a bit less or a bit more expensive depending on what you are looking for.
One of my favorite options for a 1st birthday gift! We keep this little bike indoors, but it can also be used in a yard if you'd like it outside. Sicne it is a push bike, it helps kids figure out how to push forward and also gain momentum with their feet which can help translate into running skills. We've had this for 9 months and R still uses it daily!
$100+
If you've heard about this couch and wondered if it's truly worth the hype, I'm hear to say it is! This play couch is so fun, useful, comfortable and looks nice - which is why it made our list of the best 1st birthday gift. R constantly sits on this couch and reads his books, he loves when we make "mountains" for him to climb over, and it doubles as bed for his friends during sleepovers! My only complaint about this couch is that we only have one... a second will definitely be in our future.
We were given a hand me down kitchen playset from a friend that is Step2 brand and it is a big hit in our house. R loves making us coffee in the morning and preparing some really delicious eggplant and bread soup for us :) This is a fun toy to see him use with his older friends (they are 3 and he is 1.5) and it will be great for him to continue with as his imagination grows. While I can't find the exact model we have, I do love the quality that this brand provides so am linking another fun opton from them!
By far one of the most used toys in our house! When we first got this, we would help R figure out how to lift one foot onto the ladder and we'd help him down the slide. Soon, he was figuring out how to stand on the ladder and even go up a step or two and how to walk up the ramp. Now, he's a climbing master! He goes right over the top and down the slide nonstop. Sometimes he'll even go down on his belly. Definitely a winner for a gift idea for a 1 year old.
Emily and I both had our boys' Pikler triangles custom made by friend, but you can find a ton of great options on Etsy like the one linked above!
Babies love being part of the action, especially after their first birthday. A Kitchen Helper Tower like this is more of an investmetn but is something they will use for years and years. We use it almost every day while making dinner so R can be right up at the counter with us helping us to mix. We also used it at Christmas to have him help cut cookies.
The tower linked above is the exact one we have and we love it! It is a foldable option, which we prefer so we can put it in the pantry when not in use, but is still very sturdy. If you don't want a foldable option or want one that is still good quality but slightly less $$, this is another one we considered!
