1st Birthday Toy Ideas

My friend Danielle Wynne emailed me these ideas and I thought I should pass them along. Contact me if you need any help!!

Push Toys

Another great choice for the momentous first birthday is a push toy, one the baby can use to help hone her new walking skills. Choose from perennial favorites such as a child-sized grocery cart or the vacuum-like toy that "pops" when a child rolls it around. Some push toys come equipped with an extra activity tray, but when it comes down to it, anything she can propel with her own two feet is a winner in this category.


Toy Phone

Most 1-year-olds will delight in having their own toy phone, especially since the one Mom and Dad use is probably off limits. When the baby picks up his phone, grab yours as well and have a conversation; he may not be saying more than a few words just yet, but he'll love it anyway.


Nesting Toys

For many 1-year-olds, nothing's more fascinating than taking a bunch of empty containers and stacking them so they nestle one inside the other. Nesting toys help teach kids spatial relations, and many today combine sturdy construction with stimulating colors and patterns. Of course, most children will be equally fascinated by a spare set of measuring cups, but for a birthday it's nice to splurge.


Feeding Supplies

Now that their diets include solids and finger food as well as breast milk and formula, 1-year-olds are ready for plates, bowls, cups, spoons, and other feeding paraphernalia. Choose a set that features a favorite cartoon character like Winnie the Pooh or one from the baby's favorite book (Peter Rabbit springs to mind). Look for baby-safe silverware and crash-friendly plastic plates, cups, and bowls — all will be making several trips between the highchair tray and the floor. For a nice touch, bundle several items together in a gift basket.


Shape Sorters

Mastering the challenge of matching a round peg with the circular hole is a big accomplishment for toddlers. Toys that encourage them to match and sort shapes help them develop essential problem-solving skills. Even better, they're tons of fun. Choose from classic wooden "peg in the hole" toys and soft, squishy models with bold black-and-white patterns; either way, the 1-year-old recipient will be happy.


Noisemaker Toys

Toddlers love making noise, period. It gets them attention and it lets them make a less-than-subtle impact on the world around them. So if you want to delight a 1-year-old, give her a toy that rattles, clangs, beeps, or plays music. Several high-tech options are available these days, but you can always go the low-tech route instead — give her a tambourine or a couple of metal pots and a wooden spoon, and she'll be on cloud nine.


Saving Bond /Stock

When it comes right down to it, you just can't go wrong with money. Investing in a savings bond or buying a few shares of stock for a child now can mean she'll have a tidy little nest egg when she's older. Consider making it an annual (or semi-annual) birthday gift — she and her parents will appreciate the gift even more when it comes time to pay for college.


Bath Toys

By the time a baby is a year old, it's high time to turn bath time into fun time (or even zoo time!). Transform any toddler's tub into a pool of delights with a basket full of water-friendly bath toys. Stock up on everything from hippo bath mitts and soap fish to cheerful terrycloth animals and the requisite rubber ducky. As she gets older, her bath time friends will be an outlet for pretend play and other imagination-driven adventures.


Books

Kids can never have too many books, and birthdays are a great time to add to a toddler's library. The 1-year-old on your list is likely to get a kick out of titles such as Mr. Brown Can Moo, Can You?, by Dr. Seuss, and Noah's Ark, by Lucy Cousins. In general, you should still focus on getting board books with big bright pictures, which will stimulate the child's eyes and hold up under vigorous "reading."