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Buying gifts for a one-year-old can be a lot of fun. At this age, they’re increasingly inquisitive about the world and changing all the time. From “real world play”, such as pretend food sets, to a shape-sorter that’s bound to delight little ones, there are so many lovely options to appeal to this age group.
If you’re looking for a toy to help with education and development, look for one that encourages problem-solving, hand-eye coordination or understanding cause and effect, as these are skills they are developing. As one-year-olds are often starting to walk and talk, you may also look for wooden walkers and books to spark their imaginations and help them get to grips with language.
Having had a baby last year, I’ve learned how much space a tiny human’s things can take up, so it’s often worth choosing gifts that are compact or easy to tidy away.
How I selected
I’ve included toys that one-year-olds and their parents will appreciate, focusing on things that will help little ones develop key skills, as well as encourage interaction and social play. I’ve excluded anything too unpleasantly noisy – parents, you can thank me later. I’ve put the products on this list through their paces with my daughter, along with some of her friends.
The best toys and gifts for one-year-olds
Walker this way
Multi-activity baby walker
My daughter’s eyes lit up when I presented her with this wooden walker. She’s obsessed with pulling herself up on our sofa, and enjoyed practising on this. As it’s on wheels and she’s not yet walking, I hold it still for her, though you can also use the brake setting to keep it steady. There are all sorts to play with on the front and sides, including a spinning mirror, lots of blocks, cogs and beads to move around, and a simple shape sorter. If you’re giving this as a gift, you may give the parents a heads-up that it needs assembling, though I found it straightforward.
Materials: wood
Suitable for: 1+ years
Fun figures
Pop-up wooden toy
I bought one of these for my niece years ago, and it has stood the test of time. The compact wooden shape has four little figures that jump out when you press down on them, while the wooden pegs are ideal for little hands to grab – good for hand-eye coordination and colour matching.
Materials: wood
Suitable for: 1+ years
Cute fit
Soft denim dungarees
These incredibly sweet denim dungarees from Mori are stylish and functional. Made from a mix of 88.5% organic cotton, 10% polyester and 1.5% elastane, they’re soft and comfy with some room to stretch. With poppers on the legs in all sizes up to the age of two (trust me, the parents will be grateful for this), they’re also designed for easy nappy and outfit changes. Clothes for little ones are often gendered, but these are unisex, making them an ideal gift that can also be passed on when they grow out of them.
Materials: organic cotton, polyester and elastane
Suitable for: from three months to four years
Classic tales
The Gingerbread Man book
Maybe it’s the singsong rhythm of the words, or the push-and-pull sliders on each page, but I always enjoy reading this book to my daughter. There are loads of others in the First Stories series too, including Little Red Riding Hood and The Three Little Pigs.
Board books have lots of benefits for little ones, says Emily Goodacre, research associate at Play in Education, Development and Learning (Pedal) at the University of Cambridge. “They have longevity. It’s going to be something that babies can look at by themselves, as they can pick them up and turn the pages, but they can also look at it with a parent,” she says. “With fewer words, you can focus more on the pictures and ad lib, which can be good for the child’s language development.” Unlike paper books, which can get easily torn or damaged by toddlers, board books are more hard-wearing, too.
Materials: board
Suitable for: 1+ (or younger for reading aloud)
All aboard
Wooden stacking train
With bright colours, animal faces, and blocks that can be stacked on and off the moving train, there are lots of ways your little one can play with this. My daughter was excited about this toy before I’d even taken it out of the box, which is always a good sign. She loves playing with the blocks and watching me pull the train around for her.
Materials: wood
Suitable for: 1+ years
Word play
Learning Friends 100 Words book
This interactive electronic book is packed with 100 words to help children develop their language skills in an engaging way. Each page is focused on a different category, including pets, food and vehicles. There are three different settings to choose from – you press the pictures to hear the word, a sound relating to the word or a fun fact about the word. My daughter loves to press the yellow star button and listen to all the different sounds the book makes. If you’ve got a bilingual child, or you just want to start them learning languages early, there’s also the option to switch between English and French. It’s handy for taking on the go, too, and a great distraction on long journeys.
Materials: plastic
Suitable for: 1+ years
Round and round
Bead maze
In my experience, a bead maze is a hit with every baby at soft play, and my daughter was delighted when I produced one at home, where no one was about to grab it from her. Made from sustainably sourced wood, kids will love moving the different coloured shapes around as they develop their fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and get to grips with colours and shapes. It’s relatively small, so won’t take up loads of room and could easily be taken on trips.
Materials: wood
Suitable for: 1+ years
Wheely good
Push & Go scooter
This neat scooter is designed to adapt to a child’s needs as they grow. A two-in-one, it can be used as a seated ride-on toy or as a stand-up scooter. There’s also a parent push bar to save your back, which can be used whether it’s in the seated or standing position. The adjustable seat and handlebar, as well as removable footrests, mean you can change things around as your child gets bigger, so they’ll get plenty of use out of it.
Materials: plastic and metal
Suitable for: 1-5 years
Reading material
Who’s Hiding In The Park? book
With charming illustrations by Axel Scheffler (who also illustrated The Gruffalo) and different coloured felt flaps – sturdier than paper ones that are often ripped out – both kids and grownups will enjoy reading this sweet book. It’s a huge hit with my daughter, and she often reaches for it when we’re choosing a story.
There are others in the series, too, including Who’s Hiding On The Farm? and Who’s Hiding On Safari? As well as being sturdier, “felt is more tactile,” says Larissa Hazell, a nanny with 14 years’ experience and founder of The Childcare Guide. “They can manipulate it, squash it and push it between their fingers. With those sorts of books, they’re not just about looking at the pictures and reading a story – there’s a sensory element, too.”
Materials: board
Suitable for: 1-3 years
Frame game
Four-in-one climbing frame
This Montessori wooden indoor climbing frame set includes a climbing arch, which can also be flipped upside down and used as a rocking seat, and a Pikler triangle (named after the Hungarian paediatrician Dr Emmi Pikler, who designed it to encourage physical development).
There’s also a slide board that can be used either to connect the two climbing bits or as a slide, as well as a cushion that fits the climbing arch when used as a seat. As far as toys go, it takes up quite a bit of room, but if you or your recipient has the space, it’s the perfect option for little ones to clamber all over as they get increasingly mobile. My daughter has a great time pulling herself up on to the two climbing frame parts and crawling through the Pikler triangle. It comes as a flat pack and – while the assembly process isn’t too complicated – that does take a little time.
Materials: wood
Suitable for: 1-3 years
Throw shapes
Shape-sorting box
My daughter loves to put all of the shapes from this toy in her mouth, which is a sure-fire sign of approval. It keeps her engaged for a good while, too. “A well-designed shape-sorter, where the child can get them back out again and re-sort them, will help them learn what fits together and what doesn’t,” says Pedal’s Goodacre.
My baby isn’t yet at the stage where she can do shape-sorting herself, but it’s a great toy to play with together. “A shape-sorter is the sort of toy that a parent would be more likely to get involved with,” says Goodacre. “You can do problem-solving together, for example, saying: ‘Can you see where that goes? Shall we try it on this one? Oh, it doesn’t fit there, let’s try another one.’”
Materials: plastic
Suitable for: 10 months+
Perfect plushies
Bashful bunny toy, small
This classic Jellycat bunny is soft and comes in different sizes – the small one is great for babies to play with both at home and when out and about. My daughter was given one as a gift and has become attached to it, and her friends love playing with it too. As a bonus, it comes in useful for distractions during nappy changes when your child doesn’t want to cooperate. You can also get the bashful bunny in rattle and comforter form, and there’s the option to have gifts personalised.
Materials: polyester
Suitable for: from birth
Make a splash
Upcycled boat bath toy
“Bathtime with toys is brilliant,” says The Childcare Guide’s Hazell. “It’s a time when parents aren’t distracted, so the child has their undivided attention. Most children love being in the water and playing, so it’s also a lovely bonding time.” Featuring three different parts which stack to make a boat, this toy from Oli & Carol is perfect for making bath-time fun. My daughter was excited when I presented this – she loves the bright colours, getting the boat to float and watching me pour water out of the different shapes. Made from natural rubber from hevea trees and upcycled cherry seeds, it has great eco-credentials, too.
Materials: natural rubber
Suitable for: from birth
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Easy as ABC
Wooden alphabet abacus
Small enough for little ones to pick up and hold, this wooden abacus will keep kids entertained in different ways as they grow and develop. Each block has a letter on one side and a picture of something beginning with that letter on the other, as well as numbers one to 10 at the bottom. Right now, my daughter loves spinning the blocks, and I’ve been talking her through what’s on them; it’ll be a great educational tool for helping her to learn the alphabet and new words as she gets older. It’s also compact and easy to tidy away.
Materials: wood
Suitable for: from 18 months
All-weather adventures
Waterproof scampsuit
While a puddle suit might not be quite as exciting as a shiny new toy for a one-year-old to unwrap, they’ll be thrilled when they can roam about outside in all weathers. Hazell advises looking for one that is fully waterproof rather than showerproof: “Showerproof ones are cheaper but they’re not actually waterproof, so as soon as a child sits down in the puddle, which they love to do, they’re wet through,” she says.
This three-in-one waterproof scampsuit from Muddy Puddles fits the bill, with a 10,000mm waterproof rating that promises to keep kids dry in heavy rain. It’s versatile, too, with two layers including a waterproof suit and an inner fleece onesie. Each layer can be worn on its own or together, and the adjustable stirrups will keep the suit in place.
While they aren’t the cheapest, the Muddy Puddles suits have been recommended to me by various mum friends, who say they hold up well. There’s also a preloved section on the Muddy Puddles website where you can pick up secondhand items at discounted prices.
Materials: recycled polyester
Suitable for: newborns to six-year-olds
Hits the spot
Bear hammer game
Kids are generally big fans of bashing things, which is what this hammer bench toy is all about. Made from wood, the bench has a cute bear at each end, six wooden cylinders in pastel hues and a mini hammer that’s easy for little hands to get hold of. “They’re really great for hand-eye coordination, as well as learning about cause and effect, and different levels of sound,” says Hazell. My daughter and her friend had great fun playing with this, bashing and pushing the wooden cylinders through the holes.
Materials: wood
Suitable for: 1+ years
Screen-free stories
Toniebox 2
The Tonies Toniebox 2 is an audio player that aims to engage kids with stories, songs and games without the need for screens. This is its second version, launched this year and suitable for one-year-olds and upwards (unlike the first-generation Toniebox, which is for ages 3+).
You or your child place Tonies (little characters you buy separately) on top of the box to play different stories. Ideal for one-year-olds are the new My First Tonies sets (£29.99 at Tonies), which include three squishy figures (choose from Farm, Jungle or Travel) that play sounds and songs designed for toddlers. We have the farm set, and my daughter gets engrossed in the animal sounds and songs it plays.
Other new features of the Toniebox 2 include interactive games and quizzes through Tonieplay, as well as a sleep timer with a light and a sunrise alarm, which is handy if you want to use the stories for bedtime.
Materials: plastic
Suitable for: 1-9+ years
Hit the right note
Caterpillar musical stand
This toy from the French brand Janod will help children explore their musical side. With maracas, a xylophone, a scratcher and two removable rattles (one has bells and the other is a rain stick), there are five different instruments contained in an aesthetically pleasing caterpillar-themed design.
Materials: wood and metal
Suitable for: 18 months+
Farm fun
Large peg puzzle
Made from thick wood, this farm-themed toy is ideal for introducing little ones to puzzles. It comes with eight different pieces, which each have a corresponding picture behind them on the board, so kids can match them up. It’s sturdy enough to stand up to being manhandled by toddlers, and the big wooden handles on each puzzle piece are easy for small hands to grasp.
Materials: wood, metal and paper
Suitable for: 1+ years
Tall tales
Giraffes Can’t Dance board book
This book tells the story of Gerald the giraffe, who – as the title suggests – is not a natural dancer, unlike his other animal pals in the jungle. It’s a sweet story that’s accompanied by lovely illustrations. It’s available as a paperback, but the board book is ideal for toddlers as it’s much more durable. Our copy is a hand-me-down from my nieces that’s been loved for years and is now a firm favourite in my daughter’s collection of books.
Materials: board
Suitable for: from birth
Green shoots
Gardening role-play kit
Teach little ones about growing things and encourage their imaginations with this cute gardening-themed toy. Made from natural cotton, wood and recycled polyester, it comes with a set of three soft toys in the shape of different vegetables, as well as a wooden watering can and a wooden container with soft padding for them to practise planting them in. It’s a great one for role-play games, and toddlers will love putting the squishy vegetables in the pot, and taking them out again.
Materials: cotton, plywood, solid wood, polyester
Suitable for: 1+ years
Farmyard adventures
Animal farm playset
With a two-storey barn, a selection of farm animals and a farmer and all kinds of interactive features, this Fisher-Price set aims to keep children entertained and engaged for a good while. It’s perfect for imaginative play, as kids can move the animals around the barn and whiz the hay bale down the drop-through silo. Toddlers will also enjoy pressing the big orange button, which plays more than 50 songs, sounds and phrases to encourage learning about things like opposites, colours and counting. For those with bilingual children, you can set the language to English, French, German, Italian or Dutch.
Materials: plastic
Suitable for: 1+ years
Colourful creations
Stacking rainbow
The Grimm’s wooden stacking rainbows are beautifully made toys that are ideal for all sorts of open-ended play. My nieces have a set, and they’ve had hours of fun with it over the years, and they now enjoy playing with it with my daughter. While the bigger sets are more expensive (about £70), this medium set is suitable from 12 months and comes in at less than £30. It has six parts that are made from the same piece of lime wood and stained using non-toxic, water-based colour, each in a different shade of the rainbow. Kids can use the different parts to build their own creations or use them with other toys as bridges, tunnels and more.
Materials: wood
Suitable for: 1+ years
Mess to impress
Play-dough starter set
Designed to introduce kids to the joys of play-dough, this set comes with four different coloured tubs of soft dough, which are ideal for tiny hands to get to grips with. Suitable for 18 months onwards, it comes with various tools to encourage creativity, including a rolling pin, and pizza wheel cutter, as well as stamps and animal-shaped cutters. There’s also a dough press, which little ones can use with the stamp templates and push down on to create all kinds of fun shapes. The dough is designed to be non-staining, which parents will appreciate, too.
Materials: modelling dough and plastic
Suitable for: 18 months+
Timeless toy
Paddington Bear
As toddlers get increasingly interested in cuddly toys, this sweet (medium-size) Paddington Bear toy makes for a lovely gift. As you’d expect from this much-loved, classic character, it comes with Paddington’s signature red hat and blue duffle coat, as well as a luggage label with the message: “Please look after this bear”. It’s cuddly and a good size for little ones. Marmalade sandwiches not included.
Materials: polyester
Suitable for: from birth
What you need to know
What to buy for a one-year-old
“For me, there are two key things when it comes to gift-buying for this age. Firstly, looking for toys that are open-ended, can be used in multiple ways and for a long time,” says Hazell, from The Childcare Guide. “Secondly, a toy that will encourage conversation between parents and their child, and spark their imagination.”
When choosing a gift for one-year-olds, Hazell suggests looking for “toys that are repetitive with a clear consequence”, colour- and shape-matching toys, as well as things that “encourage creativity, imagination, story telling or building”. Anything that inspires “real-world play”, such as people, animals and vehicles is also a good idea.
How often should I rotate toys for a one-year-old?
Don’t feel you have to rotate toys on a set schedule, says Pedal’s Goodacre. “It depends on the child and how intensively and how long they’re showing interest in something,” she says. “If they’ve really latched on to a toy, I’d let them play with it for as long as they’re getting something out of it. At this age, if they’re showing active interest in something, then they’re learning from it. Letting them see that through will be beneficial.”
On the flip side, if you put a toy out and your child shows no interest, it may be worth putting it away for a few weeks and then trying again.
Isabelle Aron is a lifestyle and culture journalist. Having become a parent last year, she has spent months getting to grips with which products for little ones are worthwhile (and which will only get used once), from must-have toys to sanity-saving sleep suits
