We hope you love our recommendations! What we suggest is selected independently by the Kidadl team. If you purchase using the buy now button we may earn a small commission. This does not influence our choices. Please note: prices are correct and items are available at the time the article was published.
In the first twelve months of a child's life, many milestones occur but buying gifts for a first birthday can be a little bit daunting when you want to make sure it is something that will be appreciated.
The key to giving great first birthday gifts is finding something that they don't already have and that is practical enough that it will be used and enjoyed. We've undertaken the task of scouring the internet, from wooden toys to bath toys, to find some of the best baby gifts for a one-year-old that they are guaranteed to love.
All of the gifts on this list are suitable as presents for girls or presents for boys and have been chosen considering how engaging they are, how they contribute to learning and development, their safety and their price points.
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Kidadl's Top Pick
Whilst all the products on this list come highly recommended and would make ideal 1st birthday gifts, this one is our top pick. It's fun, interactive and educational whilst also being durable and great value for money.
1. Fisher-Price Dance and Move Beatbo
The Beatbo from Fisher-Price has been one of the firm favourite toys for 1-year-olds for several years now and it is easy to see why. It is a bright, colourful animatronic toy that features lights, music, phrases and colours which is great for sensory play. The toy dances and has three large buttons that when pressed, start the various actions that they Beatbo does. It is an incredibly fun gift that is also beneficial for developing fine and gross motor skills.
Main Features
- Price: £29.99
- 3 modes
- Introduces ABCs, colours and counting
- Encourages movement
- Records a voice or sound and plays it back
Best For Fine Motor Skills
2. Learning Resources Spike The Fine Motor Hedgehog
This cute and colourful hedgehog is a tactile toy that encourages a baby to grip, pull and push. In addition, the quills are great for basic pattern making, colour recognition, sorting and counting. As the removable components can be kept inside Spike himself, it is simple to store and is easy to grab when wanting a toy to take on the go, such as when visiting family or going on holiday.
Main Features
- Price: £15.76
- Numbers on the back for counting
- Quills store inside
- Colourful, easy to hold parts
Best For Outdoors
3. Smoby Be Be Move Baby Trike
This push along trike is one of those birthday presents that can be enjoyed for several years as it adapts as a child grows. In this particular colour scheme, it is touted as one of the best gift ideas for boys but we think it makes just as great a gift for a girl too.
Its multi-functional design means that it starts as a push-along stroller that a baby can sit in and an adult can control that then transforms into a trike that a toddler can steer with guidance. Adapting again for later years, it then becomes a completely independent three-wheeled bike that improves a child's coordination and confidence.
Main Features
- Price: £59.99
- Easy to assemble
- Safe, sturdy design
- Smooth and silent wheels
- Handy bag storage bucket
- Anti-slip pedals, adjustable seat, safety bar and seatbelt
- Removable parent handle and steering lock
Best For Families On A Budget
4. TOMY Toomies Hide and Squeak Eggs
If you don't want to break the bank when buying a gift, then this cute carton of hide and squeak eggs is a great option when looking for first birthday ideas. Simple but engaging, variations of this toy have been available for many, many years which clearly shows that children love it as a birthday gift. Each shell top has a matching chick in the same colour which makes them great for matching, learning colours and counting.
Main Features
- Price: £7.98
- Adorable faces on each egg
- Easy storage
- Great for learning and recognition
Best For Messy Play
5. SES Creative My First Work of Art
As 1st birthday gift ideas go, this one not only allows for lots of messy fun but the finished products also make special keepsakes that can be held on to for years to come. This gift is a great way for young children to get used to the sensory feeling of paint whilst creating their first masterpieces. Their hands and feet are painted before being pressed against the cards to complete a variety of animal designs, making it simple to do with not too much to clean up afterwards.
Main Features
- Price: £15.92
- No small parts
- Hypoallergenic paint
- Contains 3 paint colours and 11 printed cards
Best For Colours And Shapes
6. LeapFrog Shapes & Sharing Picnic Basket
This birthday gift is perfect for boys and girls and is fantastic for imaginative play. This colourful picnic basket contains shape sorting plates and a variety of foods to encourage young children to role play with others. What's more, it helps develop colour and shape recognition and how to listen to requests, as given by the picnic hamper!
Main Features
- Price: £17.97
- 16 play pieces
- Pieces store inside the basket
- Basket delivers rewarding responses
Best For Words And Speech
7. LeapFrog Learning Friends 100 Words Baby Book
If you are looking for first birthday gift ideas that are engaging but also foster learning then this item is a great find. This colourful, interactive book is a great way for children to get used to a range of early years vocabulary and learn some of their first words. They'll love to find different pictures in the book that they can press to hear the word along with exciting sound effects.
Main Features
- Price: £17.99
- 12 different word categories
- Delivers words in English and French
- Includes songs and sounds
Best For Bath Time
8. Gilobaby Bath Waterfall Water Station
Any child will love having this toy as an addition to their bath time. Parts can be filled with water to watch the cogs turn and the elephants get dripped on. There's a cute cactus that sprinkles water and a bear that can be wound up to swim around the tub. Durable and long-lasting, they'll add a touch of magic to bath time for years.
Main Features
- Price: £19.99
- Variety of toys that do different, fun things
- Suction cups to stick to the bath
- Easy to remove
- Made from non-toxic, environmentally friendly materials
Best For Dinner Times
9. Bamboo Elephant Suction Plate
This is one of those gift ideas that is as delightful as it is handy. Designed in an adorable elephant shape to appeal to young diners, this plate can be brought out at meal times to allow children to explore their food independently.
Main Features
- Price: £13.99
- Easy clean
- Suction cup to stop spills
- Made from all-natural bamboo and food-grade silicone
Best For Including The Whole Family
10. Fun Family Experience Days Out
This is one of the more unique gifts for a one-year-old child that we have included on the list but we have done so considering the fun that will be had and the memories that will be cherished for years. Sometimes, giving an experience birthday gift is a breath of fresh air and with a day that can be enjoyed by the whole family, it is a gift that delights on the day as well as something that can be looked forward to. Kids experience gifts are sometimes tailored to older children but this particular one can be used at nearly 400 locations across the country, so the recipient is free to choose the attraction that is best suited to their entire family.
Main Features
- Price: £29
- 393 locations
- Entry for 4 (2 adults, 2 children)
- Valid for 10 months
Kidadl Best Buys are curated from across the web-based on years of parent reviews and recommendations. If you are looking for more gift ideas for the whole family then why not take a look at our 12 Best Kids' Garden Toys or if you need toys that are easy to grab anytime, check out our 10 Best Baby Travel Toys To Take Everywhere.
Disclaimer
At Kidadl we pride ourselves on offering families original ideas to make the most of time spent together at home or out and about, wherever you are in the world. We strive to recommend the very best things that are suggested by our community and are things we would do ourselves - our aim is to be the trusted friend to parents.
We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family.
Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability.
Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
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