Gifts for 1-Year-Olds (First Birthday and Christmas)
- 20 gift ideas
- From under $10 to under $100
Good gifts for a 1 year old support new skills safely: a push wagon or walker for first steps, stacking cups or a shape sorter, a pound-and-play bench for music, chew-proof books and a soft plush. Always match the toy to the age on the box.
Quick picks
- Best overall: A ride-on that is also a push walker A ride-on and push walker in one, so it grows with the child's skills. Idea 2
- Best for music: A pound-and-play xylophone bench Noisy, satisfying play that suits a toddler who loves to bang on things. Idea 10
- Best under $10: A pull-along toy telephone A classic pull toy that rings as the toddler walks. Idea 11
- Best book: A lift-the-flap animal book Short enough to repeat, with a surprise on every page. Idea 14
- Best keepsake: A first-year photo frame A frame parents can fill with photos from each month. Idea 20
A 1-year-old is walking, stacking and putting everything in their mouth, so the best toys are sturdy, simple and graded for the age. These 20 gifts for a 1 year old cover first birthday gifts and Christmas gifts for a 1-year-old, grouped by what the toddler is learning to do. Each idea keeps its age label, so you can match it to the age on the box.
Shopping for a slightly older child? See our guide for 2-year-olds. Whatever you choose, supervise play, check the age grading on the packaging and take off any packaging pieces before the child plays.
Ideas 1 to 5
Gifts for new walkers and early riders
Push toys and first rides for a toddler who is cruising or taking first steps. Supervise every ride.
1. A push wagon for first steps
A sturdy push wagon suits a new walker who wants something to lean on while cruising around the room, and it later hauls toys from room to room. Look for one labeled for ages 1 to 4. Look for wheels that can be slowed so the wagon does not roll away, a rounded bumper to protect walls and a wide base. Supervise play, especially near stairs.
Tip: Use it on a flat floor away from stairs, and supervise every walk.
2. A ride-on that is also a push walker
A ride-on that doubles as a push walker suits a toddler who is almost walking and will use the toy for months as skills change. Look for one labeled for ages 1 to 3. Look for a wide, tip-resistant base and a seat low enough for feet to touch the floor. Supervise play, and keep it away from stairs.
Tip: Supervise rides and keep it on flat floors, away from stairs.
3. A classic ball-popping push toy
A popping push toy suits a new walker who loves noise, because the pop and clatter reward every step and keep a toddler moving. The manufacturer age is 12 months and up. Look for a sturdy handle at toddler height, check the age label and supervise play, especially on hard floors.
Tip: Check the age label and supervise play on hard floors.
4. A wooden push toy with chomping alligators
A wooden push toy suits a toddler who loves toys that move, because the alligators open and close as it rolls and give the child a reason to keep walking. It is made for 12 months and up. Look for a handle at toddler height and a base that rolls smoothly on your floors, and supervise play.
Tip: Check that the handle height suits the child, and supervise on hard floors.
5. A four-wheel first balance bike
A four-wheel balance bike suits an active 1-year-old who loves to scoot, since feet on the floor give a first taste of steering. It is made for ages 12 to 24 months. Look for a low seat and check the seat height against the child's legs. Supervise every ride on flat ground, and follow the maker's guidance on helmets.
Tip: Ride on flat ground away from stairs and streets, and follow the maker's helmet guidance.
Ideas 6 to 9
Stacking, sorting and exploring toys
Cause-and-effect play for a toddler who loves to fill, dump and knock things down.
6. A shape sorter bucket of blocks
A shape sorter suits a baby who loves to fill and dump, because the blocks drop in and spill out again and again, which keeps little hands busy. The set stores inside the bucket, so cleanup is quick. The age listed is 6 months and up. Check the age label and supervise play.
Tip: Keep the blocks stored in the bucket after play, and check the age label.
7. Stacking cups for floor and bath
Stacking cups suit a baby who stacks and knocks down, and they work on the floor, in the bath or in the sandbox. A set with numbered cups can grow into counting later. Look for sturdy cups without sharp edges, and rinse and dry them after bath or sand play.
Tip: Dry the cups after bath or sand play so they stay clean.
8. An activity cube with five sides of play
An activity cube suits a toddler who likes buttons, lights and sounds, since five sides of play keep them busy from every angle. The age listed is 6 months and up. Check that the battery compartment closes with a screw, keep spare batteries out of reach and place the cube on a flat surface. Supervise play, and keep the volume in mind.
Tip: Check that the battery door is secured with a screw before wrapping.
9. A ball tower with ramps and a hammer
A ball tower suits a toddler who loves to watch things roll, and it teaches cause and effect as balls race down the ramps. It is made for 12 months and up. Check the age grading, keep an eye on the loose balls and supervise play. A low table or a flat floor works best.
Tip: Count the balls after play and keep them away from younger siblings.
Ideas 10 to 12
Music and sound toys for a 1-year-old
Noise is part of the fun at this age, so warn the parents.
10. A pound-and-play xylophone bench
A pound-and-play bench suits a toddler who loves to bang on things, since each ball sends a note and the xylophone slides out to play alone. It is made for 12 months and up. Look for a stable base and check the age label on the box. The noise level is worth mentioning to the parents before gifting.
Tip: Warn the parents about the noise, and check the age label on the box.
11. A pull-along toy telephone
A pull-along telephone suits a toddler who loves pull toys, since the phone rings and its eyes move as it rolls behind a walker. It is made for 12 months and up. Supervise pull-toy play, keep the cord short and make sure the cord does not wrap around the child's neck or limbs.
Tip: Supervise pull-toy play and keep the cord short.
12. A touch piano that plays with a tap
A touch piano suits a baby who loves music, because the lightest tap makes a sound and gives even a young 1-year-old an immediate result. Look for one labeled for 6 months and up with a volume control, and check the battery compartment, since batteries are often sold separately.
Tip: Buy batteries, and check that the battery door closes with a screw.
Ideas 13 to 16
Books and cuddly first birthday gifts
Sturdy books and soft comfort toys for quiet moments.
13. A chew-proof board book
A chew-proof book suits a 1-year-old who chews everything, because the pages can be handled without a grown-up hovering. This vehicle book is made for readers from baby to 2 years. Look for sturdy, rip-proof pages and short text. Read it together and point to each vehicle, which builds vocabulary.
Tip: Read it together and let the child hold it, since chewing is expected.
14. A lift-the-flap animal book
A lift-the-flap book suits a toddler who loves animals, because lifting each flap to find the animal is the right level of surprise for this age. The story is short enough to repeat many times. The reading age is 1 to 3 years. Read it aloud with animal sounds and let the child lift each flap.
Tip: Read it aloud with animal sounds and let the child lift each flap.
15. A very soft plush bunny
A very soft plush bunny suits a little one who needs a cuddle buddy and may keep it as a comfort toy for years. Check the age label. Look for embroidered facial details instead of loose parts, and keep soft toys out of the crib for sleep. Use it for daytime cuddles and wash it before first use.
Tip: Keep plush toys out of the sleep space, and wash it before first use.
16. A talking plush puppy that teaches first words
A talking plush suits a baby who loves songs, since it introduces first words and songs while still being something to hug. The age listed is 6 months and up. Look for adjustable volume and a switch that parents can find easily, and check that the battery compartment closes with a screw.
Tip: Check the battery door has a screw, and test the volume before gifting.
Ideas 17 to 18
Bath time and sensory play
Splashing and squeezing toys for a curious toddler. Supervise water play.
17. Bath pipes that stick to the tub
Bath pipes that stick to the tub wall suit a toddler who loves bath time, since pouring water through the pipes turns the bath into a water-flow experiment. They are made for 12 months and up. Press the suction cups on a smooth, dry surface, and never leave a child alone in the bath.
Tip: Never leave a child alone in the bath, and let the pipes dry after use.
18. A set of soft textured balls
Soft textured balls suit a baby who is learning to grab and throw, because the different sizes and textures are easy to squeeze and roll. The age listed is 6 months and up. Check the age label, wash the balls before first use and sort them into a bin after play so none go missing.
Tip: Wash and dry the balls before first use, and store them in a bin.
Ideas 19 to 20
Practical gifts and keepsakes for parents
Small gifts for the family that ease outings and mark the first birthday.
19. Spill-resistant snack cups
Spill-resistant snack cups suit parents of a busy snacker, since a cup with a soft flap helps keep crackers and cereal from spilling in a car seat or stroller. Check the age label on the package and supervise snack time. A pair is handy for outings, so one can be washed while the other is in use.
Tip: Check the age label on the package, and wash before first use.
20. A first-year photo frame
A first-year photo frame suits parents marking the first birthday, since each month of the year can be shown around the birthday photo. It is a keepsake for the family, not a toy. Look for twelve photo openings and a frame size that fits their shelf, and print the monthly photos before wrapping it.
Tip: Print the monthly photos in the same size so the frame is ready to fill.
Frequently asked questions
What are good gifts for a 1 year old?
Choose toys that match what a 1-year-old is learning: a push walker or wagon for first steps, stacking cups or a shape sorter for fill-and-dump play, a pound-and-play bench for music, a chew-proof book and a soft plush. Check the age label on each toy and supervise play.
What are good first birthday gifts?
A first birthday gift can be a toy, a book or a keepsake: a push wagon, a lift-the-flap book, a soft plush or a photo frame for the parents to fill. If the family has asked for no more toys, a book or a keepsake is a safe choice.
What is a good Christmas gift for a 1 year old?
Pick one sturdy toy rather than many small ones: a ride-on walker, a shape sorter or a book set. Order early, wrap things loosely so little hands can open them and ask the parents what the child already owns.
What toys are safe for a 1 year old?
Follow the manufacturer's age label, avoid small parts and loose batteries and supervise play. Check that battery compartments close with a screw and look for sturdy, rounded designs. When in doubt, ask the parents.
Are there gifts for a 1 year old boy or girl?
Toys are not gendered at this age, so choose by interest and ability. A toddler who loves noise may like a popping push toy, a climber may like a ride-on, and a book fan may like a lift-the-flap story. Match the gift to the child, not the stereotype.
