36 Best Gifts for 1-Year-Olds (Parent Picks)

Erin P. said:  These awesome sippy cups have been such a hit in our house, and are great, practical gifts for 1-year-olds! They are perfect for taking anywhere since they don't spill or leak. They are also a good way for children to learn the mechanics of drinking out of a cup. And (perhaps most importantly!), they are easy to clean! They are dishwasher safe and do not have any extra valves or pieces.

Erin P. said:  This is such a fun set of musical instruments! The little one in your life will have endless fun with the drumsticks, castanets, tambourine and more. This is a great set of toys for the grown-ups to get down on the floor and play right alongside the kids!

Lisa R said:  Every week my daughter attends an under 2 playgroup, and every week this is the hot item that all the babies are eyeing. Sure there are plenty of other push toys available, but you just can't beat having something that looks exactly like the real thing. We had other types of push carts at home, but they tipped over or slid forward too quickly when my daughter was just learning to walk, and then she quickly lost interest once she mastered them. Not so with this shopping cart, which is stable, easy to steer, and offers years of imaginative play.

Kristy Pepping said:  I had this toy as a child and it's still around for kids to enjoy today! Little kids love to pull toys around the house. The phone also helps with learning numbers and colors.

Kelly R. said:  A set of high-quality building blocks will last a child for years, inspiring a whole variety of open-ended creative play and learning. We love this set of 60 natural-finished wooden blocks from Melissa & Doug, and it comes with a wooden tray for storage.

Kristy Pepping said:  Little People have been around for a while now and they are still a great toy for kids. Over time they have changed the Little People to be larger and safer for little ones. There are so many accessories like this farm, an airplane and other houses to use along with the Little People.

Stephanie W. said:  The convenience is explained in the name - this personalized chair can go anywhere! It's great for toddlers who want to sit on their own but aren't quite ready for a grown up chair, and it's comfortable too! The perfect spot to read a book or have a snack.

Beth Wood said:  This is a classic toddler toy that an early (or soon-to-be) walker can operate on their own, while toting around their favorite belongings. The walker has a push feature that allows beginning walkers to build confidence and balance. The wooden sides are removable, and a furniture friendly bumper protects your home.

Vanessa M. said:  One year olds love to learn about cause and effect! As little ones drop the balls into the hole, they are rewarded with fun sounds and music as they watch the colorful balls pop into the back of the dump truck! The string allows toddlers to pull their truck along behind them.

Jennie Utsinger said:  Perfect for 1 year olds (though my 3- and 6-year-olds enjoy it just as much!), the Mozart Magic Cube plays 8 different Mozart pieces. The orchestra button includes all instruments, or little hands can tap on one instrument at once to hear the harp, french horn, piano, flute or violin. The new design features rounded corners so that your baby can easily roll it across the floor.

Lisa R said:  There are a lot of play tunnels on the market, and while most are marketed specifically for older kids, I've seen plenty of under-2s enjoying them. The tunnels easily collapse into a flat, compact package for storage or transport. It is a great toy for the park or playgroup as a quick, no-fail way to meet new friends. Throw it in the car and take it to grandma's. This is a great toy to have tucked away in the closet for a rainy day.

Lisa R said:  Here is another under-2 perennial playgroup favorite. If all this toy involved was six colorful eggs sitting in a bright yellow box, it would probably be enough. However, each egg also comes with a unique face and bottom to help kids learn shapes, matching, and fine motor skills. The eggs also squeak when you press them down.

This fun activity center gives little ones many things to do and many different ways to do them. Toddlers love moving the beads and shapes for hours of fun learning and exploration.

Carly Follett said:  It's never too early to start planning for your child's future. With Ugift, you can give a truly meaningful gift...money toward your child's education. This is a convenient service that lets you or any family member or friend contribute to your child's college savings plan.

Amanda Banta said:  Hands down, the Playskool Elefun is one of the best toys my kids have ever received. With an easy push of a baby-friendly button, lightweight hollow balls fly up from the trunk. The trunk can be positioned in different ways, allowing the balls to be recirculated back into the trunk or down to a base, giving your kid several ways to play. My older son received this for his first Christmas and it is still in our rotation of played-with toys. I plan to hold onto it for as long as possible because every toddler who comes over to play gravitates toward it.

Stephanie W. said:  This simple little toy was gifted to my daughter for her first birthday and has quickly become one of her favorites! She loves using the mallets to bang on the keys and the sound of the notes when she or I play make her light up! For 1 year olds who love music, this is a great gift idea!

christadiserio said:  At 1 year old your child is likely VERY active, making this folding tent tunnel the perfect gift. It'll give your child something to hide in, crawl through, and play in with plastic balls. Take it for what it's worth but my 17-month-old loves her tent tunnel. I'm the mom that sticks her head at the other side of the tunnel and has my daughter laughing hysterically before she comes through. This tunnel is a fun and interactive piece for children and parents, too.

Kristy Pepping said:  I received this for my daughter's first birthday and am now giving one to my nephew. The one I received, I saved for when other smaller children come over to play.

christadiserio said:  While your toddler walks this little dog and refines her gross motor skills, the dog will also sing its ABCs. So, the more they play with the dog, the better they will learn the alphabet and words that start with each letter. After just a few weeks of playing with this dog, my 18-month-old now knows her letters all the way through "p." It's a cute, fun and educational toy - you can't go wrong with this purchase.

Kristy Pepping said:  One-year-olds are on the move! They may not all be walking yet, but they sure do love to scoot. These rider toys let them do just that. They can use it to motor around or just sit and press light up buttons. A win-win for a toddler!

Kristy Pepping said:  Adjustable activity tables are great gifts for 1-year-olds! Every child sits up and starts walking at different ages. You can remove the legs of this table and let your child play on the floor or attach the legs and let them play standing up. It's sturdy enough while standing for even wobbly little ones to prop themselves up. Plus, there are plenty of lights, sounds and things to press to keep toddlers entertained for hours!

Brigitte Nohra Miller said:  This toy doubles as a kitchen and a food truck! Kids will be busy creating and cooking the food in the kitchen grill, and then selling it at the food truck window. This immersive toy is sure to spark your little one's imagination and is a great tool for practicing hands-on activities. It includes countless features for countless hours of fun time!

Stephanie W. said:  These cars are the perfect size for one-year-old hands, they are brightly colored, and easily stacked! With 10 cars and 10 "levels" in the parking garage, there are so many great ways for kids to both play and learn - about counting, color-coding, etc. My daughter loves these little toys, because what 1 year old doesn't love wheels?? And best of all, I know she'll enjoy them down the road, too!

Lisa R said:  These bright toddler markers are 'ultra-washable' and come with blunt tips that won't twist off so you can let your little one scribble to their heart's content. They make a great addition to an arts and crafts or learning themed present, and are a useful stocking stuffer!

Jaclyn Keifer said:  The little climber/Pikler triangle is a beautiful open-ended toy to promote self confidence, gross motor skills, balance control, muscle growth, and expand creativity. Our children are 18m and 5YO and love climbing around on this. Accessories: rock climbing wall and slide.

Jaclyn Keifer said:  Inspired by Waldorf Toys, play silks allow children to use their imaginations. Use them for capes, dress up, doll blankets, costumes and accessories, and more! Bundle comes with 6 bright colors; red, blue, yellow, green, purple, and pink. Loved by both boys and girls. Your children will love to dance, move, and dress up with these scarves.

Stephanie W. said:  This simple toy is every toddler's dream (and might even keep you entertained, too!). It's as easy as it looks- push the different sized "dimples" in, and once you've done it, turn the toy over and start again! Though it's simple, it will truly keep your 1-year old entertained for full minutes at a time- which is a lot for a little one! It's also a great, quiet toy for travel.

Stephanie W. said:  A sorting bucket may seem like a cliche toddler gift idea, but kids love them and they can be entertained for long periods of time by them! My daughter has one and is just starting to get the hang of how to sort the different shapes. In the meantime, she has loved just taking the top off and putting the pieces in and out of the bucket. She also loves carrying it around on her arm and putting other toys inside!

Kelly R. said:  Baby Stella was the perfect first baby doll for my daughter, and I love that Manhattan Toy offers both sizes of its Baby Stella dolls in a range of skin tones. The doll and its accessories are completely plush and huggable, and my daughter got a kick out of the magnetic pacifier that attaches to baby's mouth.

Jaclyn Keifer said:  The classic Waldorf balance rocker reimagined! The Wobble stimulates balance and poise. It invites movement for young and old—and for everyone in between. Get fit while playing together! But it's so much more: a bridge; a shop; a fort; a seat; an elephant's back; a slide; and so much more!

Alexandra F. said:  I cannot say enough good things about HABA block sets. We just got one as a gift for our 3-year-old and are all in love. The blocks are the perfect weight and size to make them easy for little ones to stack without a lot of accidental toppling over, but not so heavy that they hurt when they do topple down. I love that the wood is wonderfully smooth and very natural, so I am totally comfortable letting our 7-month-old gnaw on them while we play. I wish we had gotten these sooner and foresee years of good use ahead - even for grandkids waaaaaay down the line!

Kate Wille Murray said:  Terrific for little hands working on both large and small motor skills. Holds up to toddler drops. Easy to get color on paper.

Stephanie W. said:  Whether your 1-year-old has been walking for months or still doesn't quite have the hang of it (like mine was at 12 months!) this learning walker is a great tool! Your little one can push around the walker, and play with the removable play piece on the front. It makes barn animal sounds, sings songs, and encourages interactive play. My daughter loves listening to and interacting with the different parts- she especially loves the phone and the cow that says, "Moo!"

Kelly R. said:  Create your own board book through Pinhole Press with up to 21 photos and bold text. The theme possibilities are endless, but I love this as a way to present photos and names of family members and pets!

Kelly R. said:  Green Toys' recycled plastic toys are durable and environmentally-friendly, and wonderful for years of creative play. This working dump truck is a perfect toy for the playroom and sandbox alike.

Sarah Calamita said:  One year olds have so many toys (and honestly can be amused with a box and pans!) so I like to give a non-toy gift for this special birthday. An add a pearl necklace is a great idea. Reach out to your favorite jeweler and purchase a chain with one pearl and gift one pearl every year on their birthday. When they are old enough to care, they will have a full pearl necklace full of memories.