The best 1st birthday gifts for one year olds

first birthday gift ideas

by Samantha Ball |
Updated on

It probably doesn't feel like two minutes ago that you were looking at gifts for newborns, and now you're looking at the best first birthday gifts to buy for them. A first birthday is special and memorable occasion, so it's understandable that you want to choose the right gift for a one year old.

Whether it's your own little one who will be celebrating their first birthday or a friends, it's a big milestone, so you don't just want to choose just any toys for a one year old, You might want to choose a gift they can play with, or one that can be treasured for a long time.

Best 1st birthday gifts for one year olds:

Best personalised first birthday gifts: This Month's Child - buy here at Wonderbly.
Best keepsake first birthday gifts: Disney Beginnings First Year Photo Frame - buy here at Argos.
Best popular first birthday gift: Little Tikes Cozy Coupe - buy here at Argos.

From keepsakes to the perfect toys, including some fun educational toys for one year olds, there are plenty of choices to choose from that make a perfect first birthday gift.

Best personalised first birthday gifts

This Month's Child is a beautifully illustrated book all about the birthday child. You simply add their name, their date of birth and the month they're born. It creates a completely personalised book that goes through each season, as the natural world grows and changes around them.

One review said: "Such a sweet story! I love that it starts in their birthday month" Another customer said: "I love the way the seasons are described from a child's perspective!"

Pros

  • Can write a loving dedication
  • Personalised to the child
  • Preview all pages before purchase

Cons

  • Price can increase with book style changes
Dimensions:21 x 30cm
  • Includes child's name, age and month of birth
  • Set the seasons
  • Write a dedication
  • Personalised the cover

Best first birthday gifts sensory tray

Inspire My Play Tuff Tray

Rrp: £74.99

Price: £69.99

Perfect for messy play, the Inspire My Play Tuff Tray has removable compartments and an airtight seal lid that also doubles up as a play tray. You can create all sorts of messy play activities with sand, water, foam or even food, or for less mess, you can use the compartments to create colour sorting activities. It's a great, multifunctional gift!

One review said: "Bought this for our grandchildren. First to try was our little granddaughter who is a year and a half and I filled it with rice pasta and lentils and popped some scoops into it and she was happy for hours. I love the versatility of this and how it might appeal to all different ages, it’s educational and fun. Really pleased with it, at first I thought it was expensive but now I have it I think it will last for many years and we will get real value for money."

Pros

  • Easy to clean
  • Endless play opportunities
  • Encourages sensory play

Cons

  • Additional accessories sold separate
Dimensions:39 x 39 x 7.5cm
  • Six inserts
  • Lid with seal

Best first birthday gifts baby walker

Best first birthday gifts Little Dutch Little Goose Baby Walker
Price: £60 (was £75)

www.kidly.co.uk

Great for supporting little ones as they learn how to walk, the Little Dutch Little Goose Baby Walker not only aids in baby walking and learning how to pull themselves up, it's also got fun, interactive elements. They can spin and move the little goose attachments and help their fine motor skills.

One review said: "This walker is adorable and has rubber wheels which helps with noise and protecting our wooden floor. Would definitely recommend." Another review said: This chunky but charming wooden multi-activity walker gives your baby so many things to do and see."

Pros

  • Sturdy design
  • Suitable for sitting and standing babies

Cons

  • Fiddly to clean
Dimensions:32.5 x 33.5 x 49cm
  • 8 activities
  • Sturdy
  • Rubber wheels

Best rocker first birthday gifts

Best first birthday gifts  Luoto Rocker
Price: £330.16

www.etsy.com

This Climbing Arch Set is the perfect multifunctional rocker. It can be used as a rocker, a climbing arch and even a desk! With the option to purchase a cushion, the rocker can also be used as a little reading nook for your little one, or somewhere cosy to nap.

One review said: "We are very happy with the Climbing Arch. The quality and attention to details are exquisite. The arch was easy to build (even my boys had fun helping out). It looks sturdy and reliable. We ordered it with a cushion, which again did not disappoint. Just perfect. We are super impressed with the design, which will transition well from a rocking bed for a newborn, climbing arch for a toddler, to a desk when things settle. Love it and recommend."

Pros

  • Multifunctional use
  • Supports active play, development, coordination, balance and strength

Cons

  • Slide and cushions sold separately
Dimensions:100 x 54 x 60cm
Suitable for ages:Birth to 9 years
  • Rocker and climbing arch
  • Can be used as a desk

Best first birthday gifts climbing frame

The Woodandhearts Set of 3 Montessori Triangle, Ramp Arch Climber and Ladder Slide helps with more than 10 development skills, which is great for a 12 month old. They can build on their motor skills, balance, logical reasoning and even get sensory stimulation from the set. They are also interchangeable, so can be played with individually or as a set, making it the ultime gift.

One customer wrote: "We ordered this for our 2-year-old who loves climbing on things he shouldn't be on. So he has spent every minute now climbing on his new climbing frame. It's great to know it's safe for him to be on & learn whilst doing it. Easy to put together, very sturdy would highly recommend"

Pros

  • Helps support key development skills
  • Rounded edges for safety

Cons

  • Slide side of the ramp doesn't have sides
Dimensions
Climbing arch:72.2 x 33.8 x 42cm
Ladder slide:31 x 93cm
Triangle:63 x 55 x 71.8cm
Suitable for ages:8 months to 8 years
  • Double sided ladder slide
  • Sturdy structure
  • Adjustable ramp
  • Easy to fold

Best keepsake first birthday gifts

The Disney Beginnings First year Photo Frame is a beautiful way to show just how much the birthday baby has grown over the year. You could even surprise the parents and fill the frame yourself with memorable moments of their baby's first 12 months.

One customer wrote: "I bought this as a gift for a new mum and was very pleased with it. Such a lovely keepsake." Another said: "Bought this for a friend's child's Christening and first birthday. It's a beautiful frame, she was very happy."

Pros

  • Beautiful frame
  • Makes a lovely keepsake

Cons

  • Photos have to be small
Frame dimensions:30 x 24cm
Picture dimensions:1.5 x 1.5 inch
Material:White MDF
  • 12 x small photos
  • 1 x big photo
  • Dumbo illustrations
  • Neutral design

Best popular first birthday gifts

With a removable floor and handle on the back for parents to push, the Little Tikes Cozy Coupe is a classic toy for little ones. It includes special features, like an ignition switch and open-and-close gas cap and even a real working horn. They'll love toddling about in their very own car!

One review said: "I bought this for my Grand Daughter for Xmas, she is nearly 1. She absolutely loves it. Easy to follow instructions to build and thousands of hours play time makes it worth every penny. Strong and sturdy materials will last for years. Fabulous purchase, would highly recommend"

Pros

  • Easy grip handles
  • Working features

Cons

  • Difficult to put together
Dimensions:84 x 44 x 72cm
Suitable for ages:18 months+
Assembly required:Yes
  • Removable floor and push handle
  • Ignition switch
  • Open and close gas cap
  • Working horn

Best educational first birthday gifts

Best first birthday gifts LeapFrog Learning Friends 100 Words Book

Rrp: £34.99

Price: £28.60

An interactive book that's perfect for one year olds! The LeapFrog Learning Friends 100 Words Book enables your little one to learn words through play and sounds. They simply press the pictures to hear sound effects and can even learn the words in another language.

One review said: "Easy for my 1 year old niece to use and she loves it. I think it's really good too. Might help me with my French." Another review said: "We have all of the ‘100 words’ books now, this was the last one we needed & got it at a good price from Amazon warehouse just because the box was slightly ripped. The book is sturdy, clear & gets the attention of my one year old. My 4 & 6 year olds enjoy looking through it too!"

Pros

  • Bilingual word book
  • 12 learning categories

Cons

  • Animal and vehicle book sold separate
Dimensions:4.8 x 23.9 x 23.5cm
Batteries:2 AA batteries
Suitable for ages:12 months to 3 years
  • Battery operated
  • Two language options
  • 12 learning categories

Best first birthday gifts ball pit

The KiddyMoon Soft Ball Put Quarter Angular is a great standard ball pit alternative, as it can be tucked away neatly into the corner of a room when not in use. It comes in a variety of different ball pit colours, as well as different colour styles for the 200 balls that come with it.

One review said: "Quite pricey but worth it as it's fantastic quality, really sturdy, lovely fabric cover which is removable and washes well, my granddaughter is using it as a playpen at the moment and can use it as a ball pit when she's bigger so very versatile."

Pros

  • Comes with balls
  • Washable cover
  • Stores away easy

Cons

  • Can take awhile to tidy balls away after use
Dimensions: 89 x 58 x 31cm
Suitable age:12 months+
Balls included: 200
Material:Cotton, Polyester and Spandex
  • Tucks away in corner
  • Comes with balls
  • Removable cover
  • Machine washable cover

Best first birthday gifts tent

Best first birthday gifts Grey Star Tent
Price: £25 (was £29.90)

www.scandiborn.co.uk

The sweetest den for your one year old to play in or enjoy story time in. The Grey Star Tent is a pop up design and even comes with a matching storage bag. It's got a lovely all over start print design and a tie-up entrance. The collapsible sticks make it easier for storing away too!

One review said: "Lovely pale grey with stars fabric, bought for my grandson for his birthday I'm sure he will love it.. pack's away flat into a small bag with carry handles, so easy to take with you on your travels"

Pros

  • Can be used as a den or reading nook
  • Folds away for easy storage

Cons

  • Only use when supervising
Dimensions:130 x 100cm
Material:N/A
  • Collapses for easy storage
  • Roll up doorway

Best first birthday gifts abacus

This Personalised Wooden Alphabet Abacus Toy helps your little one to become familiar with basic numbers and the alphabet. It's designed to support development and early knowledge of numbers, colour recognition and social skills. You can also add their name to the top of the abacus!

Pros

  • Helps with development and social skills

Cons

  • There are no onsite reviews

Can a first birthday gift be practical?

Absolutely! It's always tempting to buy lots of toys for children, but too any toys isn't always a good thing. Practical gifts such as clothes or even every day essentials like toddler plates, also make good gifts.

Samantha Ball is a Product & Lifestyle Writer for Mother&Baby and freelanced for the website for two years before joining the team full time. She's a mum of two and loves browsing for the best products and cute outfits.

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