9 First Birthday Gifts Designed to Delight Kids and Parents Alike
Explore plenty of fun, memorable gifts to commemorate the milestone of a child turning 1.
Jan 30, 2024
Gifts for a 1-year-old's birthday are some of the most meaningful to pick because they celebrate such a memorable milestone. Moving from being a baby into toddlerhood is a big moment for the little one in your life, full of growth and learning. That's part of what makes choosing a first birthday present so much fun.
The right present can help contribute to the birthday baby's quest to explore and play. Beyond the cake smash and festivities of a first birthday, there's a lot to celebrate in your little one's development. This is the age of new abilities, and many firsts will occur in the coming months, such as walking, speaking, and self-feeding. It's a big world, and in the second year of life, a toddler is ready to interact with it.
Dr. Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, a professor of psychology at Temple University and senior fellow at the Brookings Institute, says that although technology may have changed the toy offerings over the years, the classics still provide the enrichment toddlers crave. “What they really need are things they can touch, things they can smell, things they can hear, and things they can see." A mom and grandmother herself, Hirsh-Pasek is the co-author of The New York Times bestseller "Becoming Brilliant: What Science Tells Us About Raising Successful Children" as well as "Making Schools Work: Bringing the Science of Learning to Joyful Classroom Practice."
The best toys, Hirsh-Pasek suggests, are simple things like plush animals, construction toys, and items babies can play with to experience cause and effect. “Things that make noise, things that they can build up and knock down — this is where babies can have some agency."
Best 1-year-old birthday gifts
If you know a baby who's about to celebrate their first birthday, getting a thoughtful gift from this curated collection is the perfect way to mark the milestone. Get ready to wrap with confidence knowing the new toddlers will enjoy discovering these presents on their first birthday, offering them plenty of playtime fun for months to come.
First birthday gifts under $25
First birthday gifts under $50
First birthday gifts under $100
AUTHOR
Jackie Rupp is a longtime writer and editor who enjoys covering home, family, and lifestyle topics. She usually writes with at least one cat by her side and juggles fostering kittens with dabbling in handmade crafts. A connoisseur of pancakes, you can find her brunching when not writing or working on home renovation projects.