Celebrating your little one’s first birthday? Finding the perfect gift can be challenging. Whether you’re looking for budget-friendly options or unique keepsakes, this guide offers a curated list of first birthday gift ideas that parents and toddlers will adore.
How to Choose the Perfect First Birthday Gift
The first birthday is always so memorable for parents – but not really the children since they never remember it. Who doesn’t like to have a grand celebration for a one year old!? We have celebrated three first birthdays in our family and each was unique – winter ONEderland, Ailey’s One in a Melon First Birthday Party, and a Mickey Mouse affair. My toddler Arbor approves of all gifts below. In case you’re celebrating a first birthday, here is a round-up of all of the best first birthday gift ideas!
Educational Toys for One-Year-Olds
- Hello Highlights Magazine Subscription
- Stacking Toys – a favorite gift for my one year old nephew
- LeapFrog Picnic Basket – one of our favorites for all three girls!
- Puzzles with Pegs – Arbor loves puzzles with pegs because they’re easy to hold
- My First Purse – All three of my one year old daughters like this interactive fun purse.
- The Babbler Play Kit
- Activity Center / Walker
Personalized & Keepsake Gifts
- Personalized Photo Book “My Family” – One of the most unique first birthday gifts ever – quite possibly my favorite gift for any child.
- Wooden Name Puzzle – Arbor adores the Wooden Name Puzzle—it helps her recognize letters and provides hours of fun!
- Fancy Lunch Plate with Suction
Planning a First Birthday Party? Check out our Ultimate First Birthday Post List
Cuddly & Comfort Items
- Baby Dolls – This is the first baby doll Annabelle ever owned and now Arbor has one too!
- Anywhere Chair – can be used for years!
- Our Favorite Stuffies
- Bouncing Cow – We have had the unicorn forever – Arbor loves to fly on it with her Daddy
Books for Baby’s First Library
- My First Library Bookset
- Farm Sounds Book – any book encouraging first words and sounds is toddler approved
- Classical Music Book
- Poke-a-Dot Book
- Dr. Seuss A Happy Birthday to You!
- “Oh the Places You Will Go” – my daughters’ teachers sign this every school year
Outdoor or Big Play Gifts
- Cozy Coupe – a classic gift my husband even owned as a one year old
- Radio Flyer 4 in 1 Bike – Arbor loves this – and still uses it at 3 years old
- Foam Ball Pit – hours of fun, but make sure the balls are included
- Bubble Lawn Mower
- Rocking Horse with Saddle -this fun rocker grows with your toddler
- Water Table – so much fun for all ages
- Little Tikes Basketball Hoop – my husband loves this gift for the girls
- Wooden Zebra Ride-On – a toddler favorite everywhere we go
Budget-Friendly First Birthday Gifts (Under $25)
- Pull Back Construction Trucks – soft squishy interactive fun
- Light Up Bath Toys
- Bubble Machine
- Wooden Musical Instrument Set
- Swimming Bath Turtles
- Picnic Basket – all three of my daughters have been obsessed with this Leap Frog Sharing Picnic Basket toy (and we know every song it sings)
Experience-based Gifts for Toddlers
Experience-based gifts are a fantastic alternative (or supplement) to toys—especially for toddlers who already have plenty of stuff. They also tend to be more memorable and often involve quality time with loved ones. Here’s a list of toddler-friendly experience gift ideas:
- Season pass/Tickets to Children’s Museum, Zoo, Aquarium, etc.
- Toddler swim lessons
- Toddler gymnastics
- Music, art, or toddler dance class
- Toddler-friendly theatre show – Like Sesame Street Live or local puppet shows.
- Create your own DIY “experience coupon book” – examples: Ice Cream Date with Grandpa, Nature Walk and Picnic with Auntie, etc.
First Birthday Gifts to Avoid
- Overstimulating Toys
- Messy Toys – Water beads and Kinetic Sand are not just messy, but also not safe/suitable for one year olds
- Duplicate Items – if you know your niece owns an ice cream set, but there is a newer version available, don’t buy it without permission from the family first!
Check out this First Birthday Gift List here!
What was your baby’s favorite first birthday gift? Share it in the comments!
Want more first birthday content? Check out Annabelle’s First Birthday posts here and Ailey’s First Birthday posts here.
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