Searching for the perfect present to buy for a one year old’s birthday?
A first birthday is such a special moment in a child’s life, and so it’s natural for friends and loved ones to want to treat the birthday boy or girl with a special gift they will treasure.
This article features unique and thoughtful gift ideas for a one year old to suit all budgets. These are tried and tested toys and gifts that are perfect for a baby on the verge of toddlerhood!
What is the best gift for a first birthday?
A birthday gift for a one year old should be a mix of something fun, age appropriate and that can help them learn new skills as they transition from baby to toddler in the next year.
When shopping for a gift for a one year old it’s important to pay attention to the age recommendations from manufacturers.
This will relate to whether the toy is appropriate for the child and, most importantly, safety.
A one year old is likely to be putting everything and anything they pick up into their mouth. Kids are naturally curious and it’s how they explore the world around them!
So avoid anything that has choking warnings on it. Those age appropriate warnings can also guide you as to what a one year old will actually enjoy – bright colours, simple problem solving and engaging noisy toys are what kids this age will love.
Kids learn so much between the ages of one and two, so when choosing a birthday gift for a one year old look for something that helps them do this while having fun too!
Great gifts for a one year old include things that will help them:
- Learn new words – think books and noisy toys featuring songs and learning through play
- Learn new skills – a one year old may be taking their first steps or preparing to so a gift that helps them practice such as a walker is ideal
- Challenge their problem solving skills – simple puzzles and building blocks are great for this
- Have fun – kids discover new things about their abilities and the world around them through play so look for something that will give them hours of fun!
Let’s look at some specific birthday gift ideas that would make a great first birthday present.
You may also like: Gift ideas for a second birthday
This post contains affiliate links.
The best first birthday gift ideas
A trike
This is the perfect age for a first trike and I’ve yet to meet a child who doesn’t love playing on one!
They may not be a very stable on it at first, but you can buy trikes that adapt and grow with the child from age one onwards so they become more independent on them.
The Little Tikes Trike is a great one to get them started with. It is suitable from nine months, when you can push them along in it and then as they gain skill and confidence you can adapt the trike so they power themselves along!
Cool walker
If they aren’t walking already then they will be walking very soon after their first birthday!
A walker is a great way for them to practice, whether they’re on their feet already or not.
There are lots of walkers on the market. Some are simple while others have dual function.
I had this musical VTech one for my kids (click here to order the VTech Walker from the UK) which has lots of buttons and things to keep them interested.
I also love this one featuring lots of wooden blocks, which is another ideal toy idea for a one year old!
Water or sand play table
If the little one has access to a garden then a water or sand table – or one that combines both – is a great toy.
Playing with this involves standing up, which lets them practice getting steady on their feet, while also giving them sensory activities as they play with the water or sand.
This is a great choice as a gift because they will play with it for several years.
Ride-on car
Kids love cars so a fun car they can drive around the garden is a great choice!
You can splash out on a powered car that drives, although this may be a little advanced for a child of one.
One of the Little Tikes push cars is a great choice. They push it along with their feet. This is a classic toy and was always a hit with my two kids whenever they got to play with one at a soft play.
A new cuddly toy
At age one a child will be forming attachments to toys so a cute cuddly friend is a brilliant first birthday gift!
I got my daughter a cuddly purple cat from Jellycat for her first birthday and she still sleeps with it in her bed now at age six.
The range of Jellycat toys is fantastic because there is something for absolutely everyone. They do the usual cuddly bears and bunnies, which are adorable, and in a range of sizes and colours. But what sets them apart is they also make some very unusual snuggly toys, such as cuddly bugs, sealife such as seahorses and even food like broccoli. Yes, you can buy a cuddly broccoli!
The selection is awesome and caters for all sizes, so if you want a big statement toy to gift a one year old on their birthday then they have plenty to choose from. If you would prefer something more compact they can carry around with them then there’s plenty of those too.
There are also options for personalisation.
A new book
A baby will learn hundreds of new words after turning one.
You can help them to develop those important language skills with a new book, which of course is also great fun!
There are lots of amazing books for babies on the market, but some of the best ones my kids have enjoyed a lot are:
You could also buy a personalised book, featuring their own name. This makes a really special gift, as it’s a keepsake they will hang on to for a long time.
I like the range of Wonderbly books. They have a lovely story and help to teach kids how to spell their name too.
A musical instrument
Something that makes a lot of noise will prove a hit with any one year old!
Look for drums, bells, toy guitars and keyboards. Anything they can use to create a rhythm or just enjoy making noise with!
Blocks
Playing with blocks is fun but also teaches kids all kinds of things about forming patterns, solving problems and using their imagination!
Wooden blocks are a lovely gift, and look pretty in a kid’s bedroom too.
Puzzle
Puzzles provide hours of fun and they’re such a great way to teach babies new skills such as problem solving!
Look for puzzles that are appropriate for ages one and upwards. Puzzles that are made from wood rather than solid card stand a better chance of surviving being chewed by a baby!
Stacking rainbow
This pretty rainbow looks great in your child’s bedroom plus it can be played with in so many different ways!
They can stack it and balance the pieces, or create patterns with it. Or they can use it to create a corral for their toys!
Pop-up tunnel
My kids absolutely love their pop-up tunnel and I love it because it folds up and can be put away nice and tidy after a day of playing.
Babies love to explore and having this cool tunnel to go through will delight them for ages during playtime!
Bath toy
Bath time is a great opportunity for exploration and play.
There is a huge variety of choice for bath time toys out there!
Look for things that can squirt or pour water and stuff that floats and sinks to help them explore the properties of different objects.
Yoto or Tonies player
These two products are both speakers that play various different kid-friendly pieces of audio content, such as stories and nursery rhymes.
The Tonies work with little characters that you place on top of the speaker to play something different, which is super easy for little kids to do.
The Yoto works in a very similar way but with cards you slot into the top of the machine instead of the characters.
This is a wonderful toy they will get a lot of use out of for years to come. They will need supervision when using it from age one, but they will adore the audio content both toys offer.
You can find out more in my Toniebox review and my Yoto Player review.
A backpack
Age one is a very common age for kids to start some kind of childcare. This could be with a childminder or in a nursery, or even informal childcare from a relative.
Either way they may need a backpack to store their favourite toy and a change of clothes when they go.
A cute backpack is a lovely and practical gift idea for a one year old.
Skip Hop do a brilliant range of animal backpacks. I have two for my kids and they have stood the test of time and lasted us several years.
You can also find personalised backpacks for toddlers that will make it easier for carers to find in a childcare setting with lots of other kids.
A keepsake
A one year old may not fully appreciate a birthday gift that’s simply there to be kept, and not played with. But it is something their parents can keep hold of and will hold huge sentimental value in years to come.
Some lovely keepsakes for a one year old for their birthday include:
