Holiday Gift Guides
The Best Holiday Gifts and Toys for 1 Year Olds
I’ve been through the one-year-old stage three times now, and my youngest just turned three. So I have a pretty good sense of which toys get played with for a week and which ones last for years. One-year-olds are tough to shop for. They’re too old for most baby toys but too young for anything with small parts. The best gifts grow with them, and we own (and love) almost all of these, or something similar. If you’re shopping for a slightly older toddler, here are my favorite gifts for 2 year olds.
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The Best Holiday Gifts and Toys for 1 Year Olds
At this age, kids are pulling up, cruising, stacking, and putting absolutely everything in their mouths. So the best toys are simple, sturdy, and safe: no small parts, non-toxic materials, and nothing that breaks easily. I look for toys they’ll keep playing with as they grow, like blocks, chunky puzzles, and pretend play sets. And honestly, non-toy gifts like pajamas and first shoes are always appreciated by parents. Whether you’re shopping for a first birthday or the holidays, these are the best gifts for 1 year olds.
These are the toys that got the most use in our house: things to stack, build, pretend with, and carry around everywhere. Some still come out now that my youngest is three, which is the best sign a toy was worth it.
Non Toy Gifts
Practical gifts are so underrated at this age. First walkers, a cozy sleep sack, and matching pajamas get used every single day, and keepsakes like a memory trunk or photo album are gifts parents hold on to forever.
Toniebox
I’ve raved about the Toniebox for years. It’s one of the best gifts for toddlers and preschoolers, and it’s been one of my girls’ favorite things for as long as I can remember. Toddlers love switching characters (great for fine motor skills), listening to stories, and dancing to music. It was designed for kids three and up, but my younger daughter started using it independently at around 15 months, with supervision.
Play Tab
A busy board that keeps little hands occupied with buttons, switches, and textures. It’s great for fine motor skills and perfect for the age when they want to touch everything.
Cupcakes
One of my favorite first birthday gifts. These cupcakes are perfect for stacking, sorting, and learning colors, and they’re sized just right for little fingers. They’re durable, eco-friendly, and work anywhere: playing bakery, in the bath, outside, or in a water table.
Jellycat
Jellycats are so soft and so well made, and they hold up to a lot of love. This one is the perfect size for a one-year-old to carry around everywhere.
Duplo Creative Vehicles
Duplo is the perfect first building toy. The pieces are big enough for little hands, and it grows with them for years. My kids still play with Duplo almost daily.
Flash Cards
Flash cards may not sound fun, but all of my kids have loved these. This set comes with over 100 cards with animals, vehicles, and everyday objects, and the back of each card has a game for colors or numbers. They’re great for first words and language development, and durable enough for small hands.
Safari Magna-Tiles
One-year-olds are a little young for Magna-Tiles, but they’re still on this list because they’re a toy your kids will use for years. Both my girls love them, and it took my older daughter until she was 4 to really get into building, but now she plays with them almost daily. The animal sets make them even more fun.
Baby Stella
When it comes to baby dolls, this is it. Baby Stella was my older daughter’s first doll, and years later, both girls still play with her. She’s soft, the perfect size to snuggle, and great for little boys and girls.
Little People Farm
I usually avoid larger plastic play sets, but this farm is gold. All three of my kids have used it. It’s great for younger and older toddlers and is one of those toys that gets years of use.
Chunky Wood Puzzle
These puzzles are amazing for tiny hands. They’re solid, and most pieces stand up on their own, so they double as figurines. We have a handful and keep all the pieces together in a basket.
Wooden Letter Puzzle
You’re never too young to start learning your letters. This is a simple, sturdy puzzle your toddler will keep using for years.
Slumberkins Snuggler
The perfect lovey for once they turn one. I gave both of my girls a Slumberkins on their first birthday, and they still love them years later. They’re free of stuffing and buttons, so they feel extra safe.
Lovevery Toddler Play Kits
These kits are beautiful, and while some toys are more open-ended than others, I’d still recommend them. They’re more interesting than a typical shape sorter, perfect for little hands, and beautifully made. We passed everything down from Margot to Kate, and I love the learning aspect.
Ride-On Mouse
This ride-on is easier to use than most, since it moves in multiple directions, and it’s so cute. It’s a toy that goes well beyond the first year.
Scooter
I can’t say enough good things about this scooter. My daughter started using it at around 18 months, but could have used it earlier. The seat and push handle are key for walks, and as they get older, the handle comes off, then the seat comes off, so it grows with them.
Screen-Free Tablet
All the fun of buttons and sounds without a screen. It’s a great way to give toddlers something that feels like “theirs” without handing over a phone.
Toddler Play Kitchen
This is a definite (big) splurge, but Pottery Barn Kids regularly has sales for 25% off. It’s so well made and gets used for years, even longer if you have more than one child. It’s also really beautiful, so it blends in with your decor if you’re trying to keep kid stuff to a minimum.
Nugget
The Nugget is part couch, part fort, part jungle gym. It’s great for climbing, building, and rainy days, and it grows with kids for years.
First Walkers
Flexible, lightweight first shoes that are perfect for new walkers. They’re easy to get on and off and come in so many cute colors.
Grippy Socks
Grippy socks are a must for new walkers on hardwood floors. These are soft, stay on, and help little ones stay steady.
Blanket
The softest blanket for naps, car rides, and snuggling. It’s the kind of gift that becomes a favorite and sticks around for years.
Sleep Sack
A sleep sack is one of the most practical gifts for this age. This one is soft, breathable, and something parents will use every single night.
Photo Album
A beautiful photo book to capture the first year. It’s a thoughtful gift for parents, and one they’ll keep forever.
Play Table
A sturdy, modern play table that’s the perfect size for toddlers. It’s great for crafts, puzzles, and snacks, and it grows with them for years.
Memory Trunk
A keepsake trunk for first outfits, artwork, and special mementos. It’s a sweet gift for a first birthday that parents will treasure.
Kids’ Robe
The coziest robe for after bath time. It’s soft, absorbent, and can be personalized, which makes it feel extra special.
Floral Pajamas
These are the softest pajamas ever. The prints are so fun, and they’re super stretchy, so they last forever.
Car Pajamas
The same soft, stretchy pajamas, in a fun car print. They’re perfect for little boys and car-obsessed toddlers.
