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When shopping for the best gifts for one-year-olds, it’s helpful to remember that at a mere 12 months old, babies aren’t all that clued in to what’s happening on their birthday or during the holidays—Mom and Dad are the ones taking notes here. And most parents will be most impressed with something practical (such as adorable baby clothes) or something that hones a particular skill (like a balance bike).
If you really want to go with a toy, look for a baby gift that will enrich their day-to-day and help their development. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests buying “toys that will grow with the child, foster interactions with caregivers, encourage exploration and problem-solving, and spark the child’s imagination.” This means sensory toys like a water table, wooden puzzles, musical instruments, activity centers, and walkers are all winners. Plus, as a mother of a little girl who recently turned one, I can vouch that push cars that help them get the confidence to venture out during the dizzying toddler era are also great gift ideas.
To help you find the perfect present for the little munchkin in your life, we relied on our own experiences in this department (this guide has been co-written by a mother of four under six and a mom of an 18-month-year-old), plus tapped other parents deep in the toddlerverse to find out what they’ve given and received. Below you’ll find highly reviewed picks from baby-focused brands like LeapFrog and Little Tikes, personalized baby gifts, and more.
The best gifts for 1-year-olds, at a glanceBest Overall Gift for 1-Year-Olds: Skip Hop Baby Activity Push Walker to Toddler Scooter, $53Best Developmental Toy for 1-Year-Olds: LeapFrog Learning Friends 100 Words Book, $18Best Furniture Gift For One-Year-Olds: Anywhere Chair, $129Best Gift Under $25 for 1-Year-Olds: Mushie Paint Palette Press Toy, $15Best Push Cart Toy For-One-Year-Olds: VTech Sit-to-Stand Learning Walker, $40Best Musical Toy for 1-Year-Olds: Manhattan Toy Musical Lili Llama, $42Shanna Shipin is a mom to a toddler and newborn in Los Angeles, as well as a writer specializing in motherhood and parenting, with more than a decade of experience. She’s currently the shopping director at Allure.Brigitt Earley is a writer and editor specializing in kids’ shopping, beauty, home, and of course, parenting—she has four children under the age of six.Anna Moeslein is the deputy editor at Glamour and a mom of one-year-old twins.Stephanie McNeal is a senior editor at Glamour and a mom of a toddler.Madeleine Bokan Thares is a freelance writer, content creator focused on motherhood, and mom of an 18-month-old.1/41
Skip Hop 3-in-1 Baby Activity Push Walker to Toddler Scooter
This is our top pick for best one-year-old gifts, but it’s also an excellent gift for a two-year-old. It’s designed to grow through three stages: Prewalking, it’s a seated wagon for riding along; during early walking, they can push or pull the vehicle; and once the toddler has enough balance and coordination, it works as a scooter.
The best part? At whatever stage the baby boy or girl is in, the scooter is a storage bin. Kids love this feature, because they love a place to put stuff. Not just their toys—pillows, the charging cord you can’t find… you name it. “My kids load up toys like this with whatever they can find and happily cruise around the house for what seems like hours,” says Glamour contributor Brigitt Earley.
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Step2 Whisper Ride II Push Car
Babies don’t keep, and once your little one approaches one, they’re less likely to snooze through your daily walks. Help stop the squirm by upgrading their ride. “My kids all cycled through a red version of this car when they were in the one- to two-year-old range,” says Earley. “It was such a hit. And it clearly is with everyone else in my neighborhood, since I see these cars all over the place on a daily basis.”
There’s a safety belt and a foldable handle, but the toy’s unique features are the Whisper Wheels and the poppable hood for storage (yes, like a Tesla frunk). FYI, the Step2 car also comes in a cool blue for something a little more chill.
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Hape Pull Along Toy
When in doubt, snag a pull toy (that essentially doubles as a push toy) to help encourage movement and coordination. Hape makes a series of animal-themed ones that have hidden talents, like this cat whose yarn ball bobbles up and down with every step.
“This toy is so adorable in action,” says Earley. “And as a nice little bonus that’ll make you seem totally in the know: My friends gush about the fact that Hape is one of the most storied sustainable toddler toy brands out there.”
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Fat Brain Toys InnyBin
Here’s a way to get their hand-eye coordination going. Sure, the parents can take an old Kleenex box and wrap rubber bands around it for the same effect, but that takes more effort, plus this will last longer and ensure no miniature hands are snapped in the toy-rescuing process.
“This is a simple toy that gets a surprising amount of mileage,” says Earley. “It’s a little challenging at first, especially for kids just turning one, but that’s a good thing, since it’ll grow with them. If your baby is anything like mine, they’ll probably shake it around for the rattle sounds until about 18 months when they’ll master the toy for what it’s really meant for.”
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Gund Oh So Snuggly Hippo
If you’re looking for a plush toy, make sure to check out Gund. It’s one of the oldest makers of soft toys in the US, having been established more than 100 years ago. While Gund is known for its vintage-looking teddy bears, we think the additional selection of somewhat unusual animals, like this too-cute hippopotamus, make great gifts. “It’s rare to see my friend’s child without this hippo in tow,” says Earley.
They’re not just ultracute—they’re thoughtfully designed with features like quilted feet and ears to promote tactile play. We also love—as will any other parent—that this stuffy is 100% machine-washable.
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Mushie Paint Palette Press Toy
Need something extra quiet for play in the car or on a plane? Why, yes, of course you do. Silicone press toys are gaining traction as the new fidget spinners (you see versions of this in every goodie bag that comes home), but they’re much safer for babies to engage with. They can even double as teething toys.
This aesthetically pleasing imitation paint palette will keep their little hands—and brains—occupied with minimal sound. “My twins take theirs (‘my poppy’) everywhere, even to their cribs at nap time,” says Earley. “I don’t mind, because it’s quiet and mess-free.”
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Good Banana Unicorn Bubble Machine
When it comes to sensory activities, bubbles are a surefire win. But little ones this age can’t do it themselves (they just spill the liquid everywhere), so the onus is on the caregiver—fun for the first five minutes!
Thankfully, this gal is very lightweight and battery-operated, so you can bring it anywhere. “At the risk of sounding lazy, I love that I don’t have to blow bubbles for minutes on end—just switch it on,” says Earley, and pretty much every parent she knows that has one. It’ll pump out hundreds of bubbles per minute, which is extremely entertaining—basically the perfect kid’s gift. Bonus: The bubble formula is premixed and won’t leave the kiddo with sticky hands.
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Elephant Critter Nursery Rocker
One-year-olds have energy to spare, but they’re not exactly the most coordinated individuals. This adorable rocker (from former Teen Vogue editor in chief Elaine Welteroth’s curated Pottery Barn guide) will help them practice their balance and—even better—channel their energy into contained motions. Make it even more meaningful by personalizing it with the little one’s name.
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Manhattan Toy Harper Playdate Friends
Baby dolls can help toddlers learn how to nurture and empathize—which is especially meaningful when the toy they’re caring for resembles them. Manhattan Toy has six Playdate Friends of differing sexes and skin tones, each with some serious sartorial style and their own stuffed animal companion.
“At this age, the hard plastic dolls are too heavy for their little hands,” says Earley. This doll is a manageable 14 inches and supersoft (great for cuddles!) but still durable. What parents love the most though? The entire thing is washable—perfect when your child totes it, well, everywhere.
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LeapFrog Learning Friends 100 Words Book
One of the most highly anticipated milestones happens around the time baby turns one: They’ll finally utter a few words. And one of the best ways for little ones to learn language is through repetition. You might have to listen to the same words over and over again, but babies love pushing the buttons in this interactive book. “The audio is very clear and easy to understand, so any child trying to learn words should have no trouble with it,” one parent said. “Also, I love that it has the option to change to Spanish. Why not make him bilingual?”
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Hape Musical Whale Fountain Bath Toy
This colorful toy has three strong suction cups that adhere to the surface of baby’s tub to create a floating piano of sorts. Each whale functions as a key—press them and they’ll sing the notes do, re, mi, sol, la while spraying water from their spouts. It’s engaging and interactive, and also teaches baby all about cause and effect.
“Trust me on this one: At this age, bath time is a chance for the caregiver to actually sit (while supervising, of course) for five minutes, so anything that makes it even more engaging is a huge win,” says Earley.
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Best Custom Gift for 1-Year-Olds: Kids Chenille Letter Patch Jean Jacket
What mom doesn’t love to see her little girl all done up in a sparkly denim jacket like this one? It’s a personalized gift that’s bound to elicit all kinds of oohs and ahhs, probably even a few squeals of delight. “My three-year-old daughter absolutely loves this jacket, but I think I might love it even more,” says Earley. “It instantly elevates any OOTD and is ripe for any photo op.”
Sizes start at 12-to-18-months, but we recommend sizing up. Kids grow like weeds at this age, and this is a jacket you’ll want to make sure fits them for as long as possible. “For anyone worried about the durability of the patches: We’ve washed ours on more than one occasion without any issue.”
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Best-selling Gift for 1-Year-Olds on Amazon: Top Bright Wooden Race Track Car Ramp
This toy has been an Amazon bestseller for years. It’s simple yet colorful and engaging—perfect for the one-year-old in your life. All they have to do is tip one of the included four mini cars off the parking deck up top, then watch it zigzag down the ramp.
“It’s smaller than it looks, but that’s part of the beauty of it,” says Earley, who recommends this over Hot Wheels ramps for kids this age. “Nobody wants a giant race track overtaking their playroom, and there’s no setup with this one,” she says. “It’s just as engaging and also sturdier, so little hands can grab at it.” We like that the paint is all nontoxic too.
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