For a 1-year-old, consider toys that stimulate their senses and promote motor skills. Soft building blocks, stacking rings, and colorful sensory balls are great choices. Toys with textures, sounds, and bright colors can engage their curiosity and development. Always prioritize safety and age-appropriate designs.
Melissa & Doug Grocery Cart
Almost any Melissa and Doug toy is worth buying being that they are made from wood and this item is no exception. With a pushable cart, shape sorting & matching, a play cup with lid, and so much more. There is other cart that we got my youngest which is the target shopping cart and she loves it because she looks just like mommy but the Melissa & Doug one is a great learning toy.
Books
I always love getting a child of any age a book. The more parents read to them the better. We actually do it in replacement of a card. Cards are expensive and a throwaway item so I figure give them something that can help parents bond with them and they can continue to enjoy for years.
Alphabet puzzles
These are so simple and yet one of the toys my youngest played with the most. Not only is it great for hand eye coordination with trying to match the letter shapes but also in learning the alphabet. There are also the number version as well/ We have the Mellisa & Doug version just because we like wood toys because they are more durable.
Shape sorting blocks
There are all kinds of these on the market. We had the Vtech Sort and Discover Drum, the Fisher Price one seen in the image here, as well as the Mellisa & Doug Match & Roll Shape Sorter.
One other great looking one is the Green Toys shape sorter because not only does it have great reviews for its durability but it’s made from 100% recycled plastic, made in the USA, and the best part is it’s dishwasher safe.
Bath toys
What kid at any age doesn’t love a good bath toy. These are also useful for parents when they are trying to distract their kid as they are washing them. I strongly suggest if you get any squeeze toys that they are mold free as in the bottoms don’t have a hole in them. We had a huge problem with mold in bath toys and now we only buy those if we can.
Pillow Friend Projector
A cute nightlight that projects stars on the ceiling. NOTE:For this item there is mixed messages about age. Some say 3+ others say all ages when in doubt you can just leave it on a dresser and still let the stars project for them. When the child is old enough they can control and hold the stuffy at night. Each of our kids have their own. We have the Minnie Mouse, Ninja Turtle, and a Puppy.
Hatch Rest+
In addition to the Pillow Friend we have the Hatch Rest+. This is a great sleeping aid to add in early to sleep train kids. Light indicators teach them when it’s ok to get up and when to stay in bed. It also has calming sounds and a digital clock all controlled by phone. We have this and it’s been a huge help in teaching the kids that 4am is not an appropriate time to get up and watch Scooby Doo.
Learning books
Our kids loved the leap frog 100 words book series. These are a good transitional educational toy and they are both English and Spanish. I like these because they can learn words as well as they play music and volume control.
Rolling Monkey
A rolling toy like the Roll and Glow monkey by Bright Starts is a good one if they are crawling or walking because what kid doesn’t like chasing a toy. We had this one for our youngest what I liked is it is good for 6m+.
Mega Bloks
These are a classic toy for a reason. These bocks build hand eye coordination, are easy to clean and are fun for parents to play with the child. I use to build tall towers and my daughter would knock it down and laugh.
Clothes
In addition to a toy we usually do one outfit for a child’s birthday. I know not much fun for the kids but with them growing so fast it can help the parents because at this point they are transitioning into 12-18 month clothes.
Savings bonds
Savings bonds might seem silly at first, but giving kids money that they just stick in a piggy bank that they eventually buy candy or toys with later is a waste. When kids get ready to go to college or eventually buy a house where they will need a down payment these $25, $50,$100 savings bonds can add up. You might know but if you don’t, starting out on your own or later in life when you need money but don’t for can’t get a loan, this money can be a huge relief I know from experience.
Things to remember
A lot of toys for this age group will be 6-24 months. A huge range when buying kids toys. So here is a list of things to find out or know before buying so you have the best chance to get something they will like and will be useful. Obviously if your the parent you know these things but if your buying for someone else’s child these are good to know.
1. What stage of walking are they at- At 1 years of age a child may or may not be walking yet considering kids start walking between 10-18 months.
3. What toys to they gravitate towards
4. What do they already have for toys
5. How much room does the parents have in the kids play area. -You’d hate to get a ride along toy and they all live in a cramped 1 bedroom.
6. Carpets or hardwood floors. I don’t know how many toys my kids have gotten over the years that are awesome toys but not made for carpet, making it difficult to play with.
7. Ask the parents- Sometimes just asking the parents what is the kids favorite show (If they are letting them at this age) and what their favorite character is can help.
I said it in the beginning but I must reiterate, kids toys can be a choking hazard so make sure they are age-appropriate.
I see a lot of forums or articles where people are suggesting toys for a 1 year old that are not safe for that age. A lot of what they suggest are 3+. I won’t name the site a very reputable one suggested small wooden beads with a shoe lace for stringing the beads. That toy is a 3+ toy as the lace is a choking hazard. That wasn’t;t the only one either I found 4 items in that age range within the article that were for older kids.
I know from my 15+ years as a product designer, half of that time was spent in the toy industry, that what they’re suggesting has the potential of being a choking hazard.
Remember the reason the company puts a age range isn’t always because a younger child can’t understand the toy but because of potential choking hazards within the toy.
