What to Get a One-Year-Old: The Gift Guide for 1 Year Olds

After attending one of my closest’s friends daughter’s 1st birthday party, I’ve been thinking about back when my littles were one. The toddler-ing, the babbling, and the never know what to get them-ing. A one year old is in-between not interested in anything and interested in literally everything. They can have so much more than they used to (snacks, toys, non-milk), but there’s so much they also can’t have yet – like choking hazards.

Which is why we’re here: you because you’re shopping for a one-year-old or soon to be one-year-old, and me because I’ve shopped for almost 10 one-year-olds in the last year (only three of whom we’re mine, by the way). And I’ve always managed to get gifts the littles use, which is the goal.

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The Best Gifts for 3-Year-Old Girls

At this age (one, lol), toys are supposed to help with motor function and getting the one-year-old to the next development stage… and surprisingly, you can do that without batteries. Actually the more you can avoid batteries, the better in my opinion, those are usually extremely loud and overstimulating (and most other shoppers will go for those first).

ALSO, if you can’t find anything on the list or don’t know what colors to get of something, try a toy that matches the theme of the birthday (that’s what we did with our daughter’s Wild One and One-derland themed birthday parties!).

Here are some of my favorite toys that I recommend for one-year-olds:

gift guide for one year olds with fourteen gift examples

SEREED Baby Balance Bike – one of my favorite gifts for one-year-olds (gifted to both my daughter and my niece).
Carrot Sorting Montessori Wooden Educational Toy – toddlers love trying to match the shape to the hole.
World of Eric Carle, Around the Farm 30-Button Animal Sound Book – I might be biased because we raise chickens, but sound books help toddlers start identifying things, in this case animals!
Toddlers Musical Instruments – get the same noise annoyance of a battery-toy without the random noises in the middle of the night (*ahem* fischer price).
Multi Sensory Shapes Sorting – great for on a budget, this one is less than $20!!
Music and Hammer Pounding Toy – I’m a big giver of these because they stay in one spot (as in most things are attached and don’t wander far from the toy!)
20Pcs Farm Animals Toys Montessori Counting – toddlers love stacking things, they love opening and closing lol.
Push Walker with Wheels – and big big fan of these wooden ones because they turn into play tables too!
Stacking Fabric Fruit Vegetable – another good for stacking.
GeroCrew Toddler Montessori Toys Counting Numbers – wooden puzzles are honestly a classic for toddlers.
Wooden Puzzles – that’s it. Short, sweet, simple and a good gift for anytime of the year (I used them in Valentine’s baskets one year).
Magic Touch Piano – easy for little baby fingers to use!
Stacking Wooden Animal Blocks – usually they don’t actually stack them in the beginning, but they’re still cute.
Little People Animals – toddlers love them for teething!

And if you’re still not sure what to get them, get clothes that are the next size (or season) or diapers (which I’m sure they’re spending plenty on). Bring a backup for their favorite sippy cup brand. Get something the family/household will use!! The one-year-old won’t really remember it, or hold it against you.