It’s time to celebrate! Your baby’s first birthday is just around the corner, and you’re looking for a gift that acknowledges just how big of a milestone this is. Before we get stuck into our best gifts for 1 year old, let’s pause to celebrate you, the parent. You did it! Your first year of parenting is complete. Pour yourself a drink, sit back and enjoy this moment.
At Sukoo, we believe in gifting with meaning—and a conscience. That’s why our first birthday gifts are sure to be loved by both your child and the environment. We’ve put together a special selection of Australian owned businesses offering gift ideas for this special occasion. Whether you’re looking for a ‘big ticket’ item, or lots of thoughtful gifts, there’s something for you on this list. Ready to find the perfect way to wish your little one happy birthday? Here are our top picks.
* Disclaimer: this post is not sponsored in any way. Our recommendations are based on personal experience or feedback from our community. If we ever include affiliate links or sponsored content, it will be clearly stated.
Table of Contents
Educational Gifts for 1 year olds
It is amazing to think how much your baby has developed in just one year. By one, they are beginning to communicate in many ways and are filled with curiosity, exploration and an eagerness to learn/discover. Your baby’s language, cognitive, social and physical skills are continuing to flourish as they explore the world around them. Perhaps your baby has already taken their first steps or begun to say a few words. One way you can nurture their developing skills is with educational toys designed for their age and stage.
Musical Instrument Gifts
Musical instruments support your babies developing fine and gross motor skills, hand-eye coordination, rhythm, sensory development and explores cause and effect. The best instruments for one year olds are shakers, tambourines, xylophone, bongo drums, bells and the triangle.
Love Note: Little Sounds Music set $87.95
Stacking Toys and Blocks
Stacking toys and blocks are great to extend your babies developing fine motor skills, hand eye coordination and problem solving skills. Stacking also explores visual discrimination of size, grading and cause and effect.
Mushi: Stacking cups $29.95
Qtoys: Bouncing stacking rings $33.90
Puzzles for 1 year olds
Not only do puzzle help develop skills such as problem solving, but they also develop your little ones finger strength and problem solving. We recommend choosing puzzles for 1 year olds with knobbed/ peg pieces.
Posting Toys for 1 year olds
One year olds love posting activities. More than providing endless entertainment, they also develop your little ones fine motor skills, finger dexterity, hand-eye coordination, cause and effect skills and object permanence.
The Best Cause and Effect Toys for 12 Months
Your child is exploring cause and effect throughout many of the toys listed above and no doubt with every day household items. As they explore the world around them, they discover that their actions can cause things to happen. Like the sound of the their tamborine with a single bang. Bellow are some of our favourite cause and effect gift ideas.
We also love and recommend the Montessori based Lovevery play kits per age.
Best Gross Motor Gifts for 1-year Old
By one, your baby may have begun standing, taking steps or are already confidently walking. Over the next few months, they will continue to become increasingly confident with their gross motor abilities and before you know it, they’ll be running up the hallways. Here are some of our favourite items that support and encourage movement, while honouring their sense of autonomy.
- Qtoys: Baby Walker $85.90
- The Memo: Wheelie Bug ride on $94.95
- My Happy helpers: Learning tower $179.00
- Moov baby: Pikler climbing folding triangle $295.00
- Arki Tribe: Base Camp “the hero” play couch $590.00W
Dramatic Play/ Role Play Toys for 1 Year Olds
You may have noticed your baby is watching your every move. Perhaps they’ve already started mimicking simple every day actions they’ve seen you do, like make your coffee or taking a phone call. This type of dramatic/ role play will really start to take form over the next few months. Consider including opportunities for role play, like a pretend kitchen and or dolls into your play area.
- Juni Moon: felt play food from $20.00
- Mini Land: Dolls $59.00
- Tara Treasures: felt vegetables $79.00
- Ikea play Kitchen $149.00
Sensory Play Ideas for 1 Year Olds
Fat Brain: Squigz starter pack from Daisy and Hen $42.95
'Experience' Gifts for 1 year olds
Sure, something to open on your first birthday is exciting, but a lot of families like to opt for a special family day out and give an ‘experience’ gift. If you’re looking for the best gifts for 1 year old, but prefer experiences, this list is for you.
- A yearly pass to the zoo
- A trip to the Aqaurium
If you like gift guides, you may also like to see our : 50 Unique gift ideas for Mothers Day
Sharonda Jackson
Such cute gift ideas! Thanks for sharing.