It’s nothing short of amazing to watch a 1-year-old’s unique personality and quirks shine with every passing day. And it feels like every time we turn around, they’ve learned a new skill, which is cute when they learn to say “mama” and less cute when they learn to climb out of their crib. But you know what they’re not so good at? Telling us what gifts they want. Yes, it’s to be expected, since many of them have a five-word vocabulary at this point — but it’s still a problem for those of us who want to shower them with gifts.
Don’t worry though: We compiled a list of the best gifts for 1-year-olds, from classics you may have forgotten to brand-new, top-of-the-line, award-winning contemporary favorites. We found options that are educational, durable, and most importantly, toys that will provide hours (or even years) of fun for your little one. Because they may not know what they want, but they know what they like!
This toddler-sized home is the perfect place for your 1-year-old to play make-believe. See who’s at the door, what’s in the mailbox, or what you can whip up in the kitchen. Buttons, lights, sounds, and more than 200 songs enhance the experience of helping your little one learn about colors, shapes, weather, and more.
This adorable piano is made from wood and features touch technology — no buttons or keys required!
Two different modes allow your child to create their own melodies or play along with color-coded “sheets” of classical music. Two-level volume control means your little Mozart can practice whenever they want without disturbing your Zoom meeting.
Winner of multiple critic and parents’ choice awards, the Hape Scoot Around is the perfect ride-on toy to prepare your child to ride a bike by developing motor skills, muscle strength, and balance. Four rubberized wheels are safe for indoor or outdoor play, and the primarily wood frame is durable and safe as it is charming.
Once they hammer down four brightly-colored balls into the maze, your child will be hypnotized watching them zig-zag along before rolling out — and then the fun starts over again.
Not only is this toy fun, but it also encourages dexterity, hand-eye coordination and begins to teach cause and effect.
We can all agree that activity blocks were the best part of any waiting room as a kid. A classic gift for 1-year-olds, this set comes with 10 different features and games that will encourage imagination, collaboration, education, and fun.
From bead mazes to a fishing game, this toy will grow with your child and provide hours of entertainment.
Your 1-year-old will imagine fabulous adventures for Little People friends Jack, Tessa, and their puppy in this whimsical treehouse play set … or they’ll just like shooing them down the slide or pushing them on the swing. Either way, this is the kind of toy that can be enjoyed for years!
Many of us probably remember this toy from our own childhoods. It’s just as big of a hit today, which just goes to show that sometimes classics are classic for a reason. The colorful balls and lively sounds will encourage walking and help develop gross motor skills.
It’s never too early to instill a love of reading or nature in your little one, and with this charming set of books, you can do both. Children can explore water, lands, animals, and plants in vibrant illustrations of 16 national parks across America, from the Great Smoky Mountains to Glacier Bay.
For the kiddo that loves everything with wheels, this set of four plush cars will satisfy their need for speed!
Push them along for a creative play, or pull back on the vehicles to send them zooming across the floor. Perfect for solo playtime or sharing with friends.
Problem: you want to give your child books to encourage early literacy, but your little slobber-monster chews all their board books into oblivion.
Solution: Indestructible book! Chew them, tear them, crumple them — it’s all good! Just wash them and hand them back to your little one. Your kiddo will love reading (and nibbling on) these classic nursery rhymes.
Why should Old MacDonald be the only one with a farm?
Your 1-year-old will love taking care of their very own plush chicken, duck, cow, and pig, handily stored in a cute, soft barn carry case. Each animal makes a sound when squeezed or shaken.
Give your toddler an age-appropriate taste of life in the fast lane!
Sounds, songs, and lights enhance the dashboard, complete with gear shift, turn signal, ignition key, horn button, and side mirror. Play at home or attach it to a stroller for on-the-go fun.
Because one baby doll is good, but your child has enough cuddles for six.
All of these hand-sewn and diverse baby dolls are perfectly sized for a toddler’s arms. Plus, they come with removable sack dresses for mix-and-match fun. They’re perfect for sharing at playtime or just pretending you have your own show on TLC.
Even toddlers love getting presents in the mail, and with the Reading Bug Box, your 1-year-old will get three to four personally selected books every month. A perfect choice for inspiring young readers and rescuing parents from reading the same book over and over again.
Your little one will love creating music with their own hand or feet. We don’t judge — we all loved that iconic scene in Big.
Each key makes its own note in one of eight different instrument sounds. As they grow older, they can enjoy the toy’s more sophisticated features, like “recording,” which will play back their latest song.
Whether your child is walking, crawling, or happy to sit, this toy is the perfect gift for 1-year-olds. With lots of activities to keep them entertained, they’ll love pushing buttons (don’t they always?) and learning colors, shapes, and animal sounds.
Plus, the sturdy handle and adjustable-speed wheels make this the perfect toy to encourage and support early walking when they’re ready.
Perfect for creative play and developing fine motor skills, your child will love tending to their very own adorable garden. Sort the seven different fruits and vegetables into the proper patch or just enjoy pretending to be a tiny farmer. (Dare we dream this will encourage them to actually eat a vegetable?)
Your crawler will love chasing after Follow Bee as it zips around the room. Once they catch up with lights and music, they can remove it from its “get-away cloud” and start again. It’s like what they do to your pets, but the bee never barks or hisses at them.
Whether inside or outdoors, these durable, easy to assemble pieces connect to one another for a maze of imagination and fun. Whether your child is playing castle or just resting in a tent with a teddy, this is the perfect play spot that they’ll enjoy for years to come.
The real question is: Do they come in adult sizes?
Impossibly soft and perfectly adorable, Fuddlewuddle Lion will be your 1-year-old’s new best bud. Bead-filled for nice big hugs, this king of the savannah is ready for any adventure your little one has in store.
Parents often struggle deciding when to give a child their first phone, but with this toddler-friendly “smartphone,” the decision is easy.
Your kiddo will have fun pretending to be a grown-up with 12 “app” buttons that play sounds and songs. Now maybe they’ll stop trying to take our phones.
Is there anything better than a great big truck? Well, maybe Mickey Mouse and his friends, and with this toy, you don’t have to choose.
Sort the shapes (with your child’s favorite Disney characters on them) into the truck, or just enjoy zooming your car along the floor. It’s also made from recycled materials, so points for keeping it green.
Would any of us even know what a cow said without this baby? This version of one of our childhood favorites has another ring of animal friends to meet (just fold it over) and features two modes – quiz and animal identification – for even more ways to play.
With six functions for your little learner, a push of a button will teach them the alphabet, numbers, colors and entertain them with lights and music. This little cube is a favorite among parents and educators on Amazon, with thousands of overwhelmingly positive reviews.
Perfect for the kitchen table, on the go, or anywhere else your wee artiste is inspired to make art.
Featuring a chalkboard, a dry erase board, and a refillable roll of paper on top for yards and yards of creativity. It also has sealable and spillproof paint cups — because #Toddlers.
Attach this water lab to the wall of the tub (don’t worry: It’s just suction cups), and your little scientist can use their “test tube” to fill the funnel and watch the water spin through the various spouts and sprays.
It’s so fun that they might just let you wash their hair without whining.
This set comes with 80 colorful blocks, making them perfect for your little 1-year-old builder to create anything… even though they’ll probably just wind up building a big stack of blocks.
But that’s OK! It’s an important first step toward bigger and more elaborate designs. And besides, it’s loads of fun.
We know 1-year-olds aren’t known for sitting too much, but who among us, even among toddlers, doesn’t appreciate being able to kick back in a big ol’ comfy chair?
They’re fully customizable (they don’t all say Wesley … that would just be weird) — and are an adorable decor addition that will serve them through toddlerhood.
Help your toddler stay comfy and cozy at bedtime with this adorable plush nightlight. They’ll love having a cuddly buddy with them who keeps the dark at bay by projecting LED stars on the wall. These twinkling lights can be set on a timer or illuminated all night long.
Jamie KenneyJamie Kenney is a freelance writer for BestProducts.com; Her other work has appeared on Bustle, Parents, Playboy, McSweeny's Internet Tendency, the Takeout, and Romper, where she covers parenting, news, entertainment, and likes to help readers see the ridiculous (and hilarious) side of motherhood.
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