First Birthday Gift Guide

The Ultimate First Birthday Gift Guide

A comprehensive list of gift ideas for a child turning one, to suit every budget.

A first birthday is a momentous occasion, signifying the transition from infancy to toddlerhood.

Although one-year-old's can't grasp the concept of birthdays just yet, parents and loved ones will joyfully make a fuss, take all the photos, and celebrate this wonderful milestone of turning one.

Traditionally, this will include first birthday gifts their little one will enjoy or even cherish forever.

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Considerations When Choosing a First Birthday Present

Safety : Safety should be the top priority for any item that is intended to be accessible for small children. Your gift should be made with non-toxic, durable materials, with no small parts, and safety tested to high standards.

Developmental Stage : Many babies of this age are beginning to walk, talk and eagerly explore their world. Look for toys that encourage them to develop their motor skills, language, senses, and problem-solving abilities.

Quality : Materials and craftsmanship are important if you want an item to last and be enjoyed, especially with heavy use from toddlers. Cheap, plastic items are not the way to go when there are so many other great options for all budgets.

Life-span : It's a great idea to aim to find a gift that will be used for years to come. Consider items that are not only durable but will grow with the child developmentally.

Family's preferences and needs : Take into account what you know about the family, what they may already have, the space they have at home, and what their values are.

Ethics & Eco Cred : The toy industry is one of the most plastic-intensive in the world, and present-day consumer culture sadly drives us to make unethical purchases. Take the time to think about whether the workers who manufacture a product are treated fairly, and whether the materials, packaging and processes used are sustainable.

Practical Gift Ideas for a 1st Birthday

Given that a one-year-old may be more interested in the box and wrapping paper than the gift inside, a practical gift of something the parents may need or find useful is a great option for a first birthday present.

FEEDING & BATHING

• silicone tableware
• reusable food pouches
• ice block molds
• silicone bib or bibs with sleeves
• ice packs
• bath & skin care products
• cute towels

CLOTHING & ACCESSORIES

• walking shoes
• practical clothes
• cloth or eco-disposable nappies
• sun hat
• pajamas / sleep sack
• raincoat or coveralls
• swimwear, rashies
• hair accessories
• sunnies
• ear muffs
• bike helmet

OUT & ABOUT

• picnic set
• picnic / beach mat
• beach umbrella
• stroller shade
• day care bag
• day care sheet set
• lunch box / drink bottle
• sandwich cutters
• cute name labels
• sleeping bag
• gumboots
• child's umbrella
• portable booster
• pram wagon

HOME & FURNITURE

• bedding
• step stool
• booster seat
• white noise machine
• night light or projector
• black out blinds
• play table
• toy box
• book shelf
• learning tower
• kids table & chair set
• toddler chair, recliner or fold-out couch
• play mat or rug

MEMBERSHIPS / VOUCHERS

• kids museum
• petting zoo
• play centre
• music / dance / swimming lessons
• messy play sessions
• family photo session
• toy or book subscription
• Little Play Club subscription
• nappy cleaning service
• meal subscription service
• gift voucher for their favourite toy store

Sensory Play Gifts for a One-Year-Old

"Sensory" play is a bit of a buzz word lately. Babies explore and discover using their senses, meaning they are naturally drawn to this type of play. Any activity that engages the senses is considered sensory play and is full of learning benefits. Here are some gift ideas along these lines:

• play silks or scarves
• Cubie Jigsaw Cube
• textured stepping stones
• manipulative tools (tongs, tweezers droppers, scoops)
• play trays
• balance board
• chewing or teething toys
• musical instruments / simple percussion
• music player
• rainmakers
• soft toy with rattle or sound
• weighted plushie
• dancing ribbons & bells
• bubbles / bubble machine
• playdough & tools

WATER PLAY & BATH TOYS

One of the best types of sensory play (and most enjoyable for many one-year-olds) is water play. Although many bath toys are made using plastic, neoprene or foam (which are all bad for the environment), these can be avoided by opting for modern bio plastics, silicone or other materials. Children should always be supervised in and around water.

• bath colour drops
• beach / sand toys
• bath crayons
• pouring & stacking cups
• floating toys & boats
• squirting toys (make sure you choose ones that can be cleaned to prevent toxic mould)

First Birthday Gifts for Active Indoor Play

• modular play couches
• indoor play gym : montessori pikler sets (climbing frames), arched ramp, wooden slide, rock/climbing wall
• ball pit (personally, I'm not a fan, but didn't want to leave this popular option off the list)
• soft play foam blocks of various shapes
• rocker / rocking horse
• fabric cubby house table cover
• walkers & pushers - NB these can have a short life as they are only used for their purpose for a couple of months. If gifting a walker, choose one that converts to a ride-on or doubles as an activity toy, like a block cart.
• push cart / trolley
• pull-along toys
• balls of various shapes, sizes, textures, materials

Outdoor Toys for a Child Turning One

• play tunnel
• play tent or play house
• sand pit & toys
• kids picnic table

• toy wagon
• wooden cubby
• obstacle course - eg. balance beam, stepping stones
• ride-on (even better if it has storage compartments!)
• Cozy Coupe
• balance bike
• toddler scooter
• electric ride-on
• tricycle (a push trike is best until they learn to pedal)

• baby swing
• small slide
• mini trampoline
• sport set like basketball or t-ball
• Happy Hopperz bouncer
• sit & spin toys
• water table or water course
• splash / sprinkler pad
• mud kitchen
• paddle pool
• pool floaties
• or go all out with an inflatable jumpy castle or splash park 

Craft Materials for a One-Year-Old

Toddlers don't yet have a great attention span for arts and crafts activities but they will certainly enjoy exploring art materials for short periods. At this age, the activities should be about the process rather than an end result. Here are some crafty gift ideas for a child turning one :

• crayons (chunky for toddlers to grip)
• chalk (as above)
• washable non-toxic paint (try tempera)
• liquid water-colours
• tempera paint sticks
• glue (squeeze bottles to stengthen little hands)
• various brushes, rollers, sponges
• spill-proof paint cups
• easel (chalkboard/whiteboard/magnetic)
• waterproof smock
• papers of all kinds
• stickers, pompoms, pipe-cleaners, yarn etc.
• paint with water sets or water doodle mat

Keepsake Gifts for a First Birthday

If you would prefer to give a more meaningful keepsake or sentimental gift for a child turning one, you should definitely choose something that will last. You could also consider handing down a special personal item rather than buying new.

PERSONALISED BABY GIFTS

These days you can purchase many items that are personalised with your one-year-old's name or other details - either engraved, embroidered, laser cut, or custom printed. Here are a few examples:

• plush or wooden toys
• baby blanket
• story book
• name puzzle
• decor
• jewelry
• photo frame
• cups & plates
• night light
• memory box
• toy box
• trinket/jewelry box

There are also toys and books available that incorporate your personalised voice recording. You can even have an original song written for the birthday girl or boy!

OTHER SENTIMENTAL GIFT IDEAS FOR A FIRST BIRTHDAY

• guest book for the birthday party
• charm bracelet to add to each year
• photo book of baby's family & friends
• a teddy handmade from outgrown baby clothes
• growth chart
• birthday crown
• quality soft toy or doll
• piggy bank
• foot / hand casting
• a tree to plant
• begin a collection to add to each year
• heirloom quality wooden toys

Learning Toys For A One-Year-Old

Keeping in mind that ALL play is educational, choose a first birthday present that is age-appropriate and takes into account your child's development. Learning happens when children are actively engaged, so look for open-ended toys that will spark your one-year-old's imagination and provide opportunities to acquire and practice new skills.

• child-friendly kitchen & cooking utensils
• marble run or marble tree (with a large ball - small ones are a choking hazard)
• toys with pop ups or doors (to explore object permanence)
• busy board or latch board
• activity table/centre/cube
• flashcards - eg. colours, letters, shapes, emotions, Auslan, animals
• threading toys to practice fine motor skills (make sure they are not small choking hazards)
• chunky wooden puzzles or peg puzzles
• stacking & nesting toys
• shape sorters
• colour matching toys
• hammer toys
• block sets - Duplo or Megablocks are fantastic but consider also fabric or silicone blocks, and the classic choice of course is a wooden block set which will be used for years to come and can be added to over time.

Pretend Play Presents for A First Birthday

Around the time they are turning one, children begin to engage in imaginative play that incorporates symbolic thinking and social understanding. Toddlers also love to emulate what they see their adults do. Here are some examples of pretend play toys that would make excellent first birthday presents:

• toy vacuum - some of these even work!
• cleaning set
• doctor's kit
• pretend lawn mower or outdoor tools
• pretend hand tools
• finger puppets
• kitchens, play food & utensils
• shop play
• baskets / bags
• phones & keys
• figurines of people or animals
• stuffed animals
• dolls & accessories
• dress-ups
• toy cars, vehicles, trucks & tracks

Books - The Perfect One-Year-Old Birthday Gift

A book is an excellent choice of present for a child turning one. Board books are probably the way to go, as toddlers can be a bit rough on paper pages. Very young children enjoy learning to turn the pages themselves, and working on their language development. They love interactive books with pop-ups, puppets or sensory elements. Write a birthday message inside the front cover and it becomes a keepsake to treasure.

Here are our top picks for books to gift a one-year-old:

• Fabric Busy Book
• Where Is The Green Sheep?
• In The Rockpool
• Lift & Learn Farm
• Spot Says Goodnight
• "That's Not My..." Series
• Dear Zoo
• The Smallest Turtle
• Room On The Broom
• Green As A Bean
• Diary of a Wombat
• Spaghetti!
• Rudie Nudie
• The Wonky Donkey

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