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If you are looking for unique and attractive gifts for a one-year-old, we have compiled a list of the best gifts for 1-year-olds to help you out. These classic gifts can help engage and encourage them to learn through play, enhance their social, cognitive, and motor skills, and ignite their imagination. Our list also includes high-end electronic toys with interactive and engaging features such as automatic motions, flashing lights, voices, and music for audio-visual stimulation. You can choose colorful toys that your child can grab, push, or pull or those that need assembly, promoting muscle growth. Ensure the gift is durable, long-lasting, and aids in the child’s developmental milestones.
Choosing the right toy for a one-year-old may be challenging, with various options available. So, read on as we review and recommend some tried-and-tested toys that can engage your baby.
Top Picks
Tips For Buying Gifts For A One-Year-Old Baby
Before we move on to reviewing the products, here are tips for buying the right toys for your one-year-old.
- Always buy toys that stimulate the baby’s mind and encourage problem-solving.
- Make sure the toy you are buying sparks their imagination.
- It is wise to give them realistic toys to play with, which they can touch and feel, and help in sensory development.
- Invest in toys that build familiarity with numbers, letters, shapes, and sizes.
- Choose toys that help them stay active, such as toy cars and trucks for toddlers.
- A cross-generation play toy can be a good option.
- Ensure that the toys are safe and do not have any sharp or pointed edges.
- Avoid buying toys with small, removable components that a child can put in the mouth, as they can be a choking hazard.
- Avoid buying toys that contain toxic material.
26 Best Gifts For A One-Year-Old Baby
One-year-olds are curious and like to experiment and explore their environment. When buying a gift or toy for your child, read the manufacturer’s label for safety guidelines, instructions, and warnings.
1. Best Mini Outdoor Waterpark Toy: SplashEZ 3-in-1 Sprinkler, Splash Pad, and Wading Pool
SplashEZ brings you this 3-in-1 multi-purpose miniature water pool that offers an exciting, fun learning experience, making it one of the best water play toys for babies. This expert-approved inflatable toy set includes a mat for a base, learning tools, and sprinklers on all sides of the pool. The pool is shallow enough for your child to splash around and is designed to promote and develop letter awareness.
The SplashEZ 3-in-1 pool is a perfect escape from being indoors at home. It is BPA and phthalate-free and designed keeping in mind the safety of the child.
Pros
- Suitable escape from the screens
- Promotes children’s cognitive development
- Aids in emotional development
- Interactive set
Cons
- May not be mold-resistant
- Connector may be leaky
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
Over 20,954 Amazon shoppers have left good reviews about this product, citing its quality features and benefits.
2. Best Interactive Toy: Vtech’s Smart Shots Sports Center
Vtech’s Smart Shots Sports Center includes a basketball and a hoop, a football, and a goal post. The light-up smart toy offers several interactive features, such as an LED-operated scoreboard to engage your child. The interactive buttons activate songs and phrases and teach your children letters of the alphabet, colors, numbers, and other simple concepts in an easy way. Combining learning and fun, this is an exceptional gift item for your one-year-old. To learn more about this toy click here.
Pros
- Suitable for competitive play
- Easy to set up
- Can be played as a family
- Teaches concepts in a fun and easy way
Cons
- Requires adult supervision
- May be smaller than you expect
"My kids are fascinated by the lights and sounds, and I love that it aids in developing their coordination skills. They also learn to count while having fun dunking balls. Although battery power may not be satisfactory, this interactive toy has brought joy to my family. Recommend!"
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
About 27,030 reviewers on Amazon have given their seal of approval to the product.
Do remember3. Best Summer Outfit: Hudson Baby Girls’ Cotton Dress, Cardigan, and Shoe Set
The bright outfit made of 100% pure cotton is a perfect attire for a fun day out in the summer. Hudson Baby Girls’ Cotton Dress can make your baby look stylish and cute. The dress comes in different colors and prints with a pair of matching shoes. The set also has a solid cardigan and a pocket bow. The dress material is cool and comfortable.
Pros
- Suitable for competitive play
- Easy to set up
- Can be played as a family
- Teaches concepts in a fun and easy way
Cons
- Requires adult supervision
- May be smaller than you expect
- May shrink after wash
- Shoes may not be true to size
4. Best Riding Toy: Little Tikes Go and Grow Lil’ Rollin’ Giraffe Ride-On
Your one-year-old will love the bright-colored toy. Little Tikes Giraffe Ride-On toy promotes gross motor skills and cognitive development while your child has rollicking fun riding on it. The bike comes with an adjustable seat and oversized wheels for balance and stability, making it one of the best ride-on toys for one-year-olds. This toy is easy to assemble and perfect for indoor or outdoor use. Check out this video to learn how to assemble this toy.
Pros
- Controlled steering radius
- Ideal for most surfaces
- Weight limit up to 50lb
- Cute design to attract children
Cons
- May be smaller than you expect
- May outgrow the child quickly
- Requires adult supervision
"This giraffe ride toy is one of our home's most loved toys, providing endless indoor and outdoor entertainment. It stimulates movement and can be used as both a ride-on toy and a push toy. I only wish assembly was a little easier."
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
With over 13,149 reviews on Amazon, this product is a winner.
5. Best For Hand-Eye Coordination: Top Bright Wooden Ramp Racer
This car racing ramp from Top Bright is a safe toy made of high-quality solid wood and painted with non-toxic water-based paints. The toy is suitable for one to two-year-olds and helps develop hand-eye coordination. Each part of the toy is carefully curated to ensure that they are not detachable.
The set comes with four-mini cars that can slide down the rainbow-colored race tracks, and your child can learn to put the cars back into the ‘parking space’ on the top of the toy.
Pros
- Helps improve agility
- Increases attention span
- Carefully curated to prevent swallowing
- Suitable for both indoor and outdoor play
Cons
- Small parts may pose a choking hazard
- Cars may be smaller than you expect
"My son loves this toy's simple design and bright colors. It provides endless fun and helps with his hand-eye coordination. I wish the parking area on top could fit all the cars for easier storage; nevertheless, it is a great buy."
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
Join the 10,670 satisfied buyers on Amazon who have said the product meets their needs and expectations.
Quick tip6. Best Educational: Just Smarty Electronic Interactive Alphabet Wall Chart
The electronic alphabet chart from Just Smarty is an excellent educational gift and early developmental learning toy that makes learning easy and fun. The interactive toy helps toddlers learn numbers, alphabets, word associations, and quizzes. The colorful wall poster can be put up in your child’s playroom or nursery so they can see it every day.
Pros
- Suitable for daycare or homes
- Tear-free edge material
- Auto shut-off function to preserve battery life
- Does not take up much space
Cons
- Sensory buttons may not be easy for the children to find
- Some songs may not match the pictures
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
It's no wonder that this quality product has earned over 28,466 positive reviews on Amazon.
7. Best For Fine Motor Skills: Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Smart Stages Chair
The interactive Fisher-Price Smart Chair can play more than 50 songs and has age-appropriate learning content. It allows you to select a stage of development that is best for your child. You can slide the switch or enter the baby’s age for automatic level changes.
It helps improve your baby’s fine motor skills as they flip through the pages. The toy can be used to teach shapes, numbers, colors, alphabets, and nursery rhymes. Have a look at this product testing video that highlights the different features of this toy.
Pros
- Hassle-free design
- Does not contain any cords or wires
- Helps develop baby’s cognitive skills
- Suitable for gifting
- Grows with the child
Cons
- May requires assembly
- May be smaller than expected
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
The product boasts 11,667 reviews on Amazon, and many buyers have said they would purchase the product again.
8. Best Versatile Tent Toy: UTEX 3 in 1 Pop Up Play Tent
If you are looking for colorful ball pit playsets for babies, then the versatile UTEX three-in-one Pop Up Play Tent can keep your child busy and entertained for hours. It includes two differently shaped tent houses and one long tunnel. The unique design allows you to use the tents as ball pits, and the three items can be rearranged to form mazes, ball pit grounds, race tracks, and obstacle courses.
Made of durable material, the toy is highly resistant to wear and tear. Each part of the set has large mesh windows to provide proper ventilation to the child during play.
Pros
- Foldable design
- Encourages physical play
- Zippered bag for portability and easy storage
- Tool-free assembly
Cons
- Meshed panels may be a tad thin
- May not be easy to clean
9. Best Child-Safe Bubble Outdoor Toy: Art Creativity Bubble Lawn Mower
Art Creativity offers an exciting bubble lawn mowing toy that keeps your toddler entertained. One of the best baby gifts for a one-year-old, the toy helps in improving your child’s motor skills. The toy comes with a bottle of child-safe bubble solution that can be used as ‘fuel’ for the mower.
Pros
- Produces realistic sounds
- Suitable for outdoor use
- Space friendly storage
- Helps child get exercise
Cons
- Container may not be spill-proof
- Amount of bubbles that come out may be underwhelming
"Its easy-to-use design has made it a hit with my toddlers. They love to use it as a bubble machine and support while walking. It does require frequent refills, but it has encouraged my toddlers to move around and sustains rough use well."
10. Best LED Learning Toy: LeapFrog Spin Sing Alphabet Zoo
The alphabet zoo from LeapFrog is a fun interactive toy that helps your child learn animal names and their unique sounds. The toy features letters and animals, and the colorful ball spins and lights up and produces sounds with each touch of a letter. The toy has setting options (ABCs, Animals, Music) that the toddler can flip between with ease.
Pros
- Displays colorful LED lights
- Teaches nursery rhymes
- Suitable for sing-along sessions
- Helps develop fine motor skills
Cons
- Sound quality could have been better
- Paint may wear off after extended use
"Although my baby is too young to understand the alphabet, she loves to dance and clap along to the lights and sounds of this toy. The music, while repetitive, doesn't detract from its educational value. Plus, the toy stimulates her senses and has helped improve her motor skills."
Point to consider11. Best Highly Functional: M Sanmersen Musical Mat
The M Sanmersen Musical Mat is a soft piano mat like a musical book, but larger and more interactive. The mat comes with eight piano keys, with eight different animal sounds that help stimulate the child’s hearing and teaches them identification. The volume of the keys can be adjusted to what suits the child best. The mat is highly functional and plays the keys even if the child does not touch them accurately.
Pros
- Multifunctional
- Soft on the toddlers feet
- Easily foldable and highly portable
- Made of high-quality fabric
Cons
- May be slightly slippery
- Some children may not like the flickering of lights
"This musical piano mat has been an excellent find for my little one to burn all that extra energy. It can be a bit slippery on some surfaces; however, this issue was solved with a bit of tape. Moreover, interactive features like clear sounds, melodies, and flashing lights make it worthwhile."
12. Best Multi Sensory: RenFox Musical Mat
The early educational toy for toddlers from RenFox has eight keys, each playing a different instrument. The toy keeps your child engaged for several hours while also teaching them about different musical instruments and sounds. Your toddler can sit on this mat and crawl around while playing different keys and record their own tunes with the ‘record’ and ‘playback’ modes. The mat is made of premium fabric that does not hurt the child’s feet.
Pros
- Encourages crawling
- Mat is non-toxic
- Can be cleaned easily
- Suitable for outdoor use
- Foldable and portable
Cons
- Sounds may not be loud enough
- Opening the battery compartment may be a task
"My baby finds it entertaining to make the piano mat emit sounds and lights by crawling and walking all over it. While it keeps her entertained, I wish it came with an option for volume control. Nonetheless, watching my child dance and giggle has been priceless."
13. Best For Motor Skills: Rolimat Hammering & Pounding Toys
Rolimat’s interactive toy set in bright colors has been crafted to help aid your child’s growth. The toy comes with an eight-key xylophone, which helps babies learn about music and rhythm. The musical instrument toy has pounding balls on the top to promote motor skills and coordination.
The toy is made of premium materials and is painted with non-toxic water-based paints. The toy is a practical gift that fuels a child’s imagination.
Pros
- Helps improves fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination
- Fuels a childs imagination
- Encourages self-expression
- Made of non-toxic water-based paints
Cons
- Small parts may pose a choking hazard
- Some keys may be off tune
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
The 8,902 reviews on Amazon indicate that this product has a loyal following.
14. Best Durable: ToyVentive Play & Learn Gift Set
ToyVentive’s playset is a 5-in-1 learning center that combines five different activities and improves your child’s sensory learning and coordination skills. The set contains a toddler activity play cube with four different sides, each containing a different activity, an essential word book, and nine colorful stacking cups.
The toy aims to improve a child’s counting skills, and understanding of shapes and colors. The compact baby toy set is easy to store, and each part of the cube is detachable and can be played with separately.
Pros
- Light and compact
- Sharpens puzzle-solving capabilities
- Stimulates the senses
- Painted with non-toxic paints
Cons
- May not be sturdy enough
- Edges may not be round enough
15. Best Puzzle: Magifire Wooden Puzzle Toy
Magifire offers a six-pack animal puzzle toy designed for young toddlers. The toy improves hand-eye coordination. These safe toy pieces are made of BPA-free material and water-based paints, making them one of the best puzzles for one-year-olds. Further, the puzzle pieces have soft edges and are easy to grab and place.
Pros
- Easy to carry around
- Bright and attractive
- Suitable for both indoor and outdoor play
- Help in learning about shapes, colors, and animals
Cons
- May be smaller than expected
- May not be easy to put the pieces together
"The puzzle’s chunky pieces are the perfect size for my baby’s hands. I am also impressed with its build quality and the paint’s chip-free nature. Overall, it has been the ideal find for improving her problem-solving skills."
16. Best For Beginners: Radio Flyer Scoot 2 Scooter
The Scoot 2 Scooter toy from Radio Flyer is a two-in-one toy for toddlers. It works as a ride-on and can also be converted into a scooter for when the child can stand. With this two-in-one toy, your child can start in a seated position on the bike and, over time, remove the flip top and ride around on the four-wheel scooter.
Pros
- Adjustable handle for comfortable rides
- Comes with a storage unit under the seat
- Ideal baby toyfor developing motor skills
- Built to last long
Cons
- May require additional hammering to keep the nuts intact
- No instructions for assembly
"My little one was instantly taken by this scooter. Even though made of plastic, it feels very durable, and the assembly was also a breeze. Plus, the convertible design has allowed her to ride the scooter while sitting or standing."
17. Best Easy To Move: Animal Adventure Sweet Seats
The character chairs from Animal Adventure are a perfect addition to your toddler’s nursery. They make cute room decor and a soft, cozy seat for your child to spend their time on while they eat, read, or watch TV.
The sturdy chair has a handle, making it easy to carry from one room to another. It even comes with a safety zipper closure and is available in different colors and designs.
Pros
- Perfect little throne for your child
- Made of soft fabrics
- Lightweight
- Cover is easy to wash
Cons
- Quality of the zipper could have been better
- Seat may not be sturdy enough
"This plush chair has quickly become my baby’s favorite sitting spot. She finds it very comfortable, and the washable cover has eased my worries about keeping it clean. While I find the back support lacking, the soft material and adorable design more than make up for that minor issue."
18. Best For Learning: Top Bright Toddler and Baby Activity Cube Toy
If you are searching for activity cubes for one-year-olds, then the Top Bright activity cube for babies is ideal as it offers five different game-plays on five sides to keep your child engaged. Each side offers different learning activities, including rainbow spinning gear, a turning wheel, a rotatable and detachable bead maze, and color-counting beads.
The cube toy is safe and durable. Each part of the toy ensures that the parents have nothing to worry about while your child plays.
Pros
- Improve baby’s color recognition skills
- Improves basic counting skills
- Made using harmless water paints
- Smooth edges for reducing injuries
- Improves fine motor skills
Cons
- May not be sturdy enough
- Some parts may be difficult to play with
"This activity cube has engaging features like a ball pull and a bead maze, which is great for motor skill development. However, the top detaches easily, so you must keep an eye out when your little one is playing with it. Despite this minor issue, my toddler loves the bright colors and thoroughly enjoys this engaging toy."
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
The 6,454 positive customer reviews on Amazon are a testament to its quality and reliability.
19. Best Easy Assemble: Hide N Side Play Tent and Tunnels
The Hide N Slide play tent is the perfect gift for toddlers, as it features different activities. The toy set comes with detachable tents, ball pits, and even a hoop attached above the ball pit for your child to throw and practice shooting.
It also features a target dart set on one side of the tent, along with a see-through mesh tunnel running through them, making it one of the most versatile crawling tunnels and tents available. Made of non-toxic polyester fabric and thick steel wires, the toy set is lightweight, durable, and easy to fold and set up.
Pros
- Suitable for family playtime
- Non-toxic polyester used
- Offers good ventilation
- Can keep the child busy for hours
Cons
- May not have enough cushioning
- May not be very sturdy
20. Best For Pedal Free: Xiapia Baby Balance Bike
The expert-approved Xiapia Baby Balance Bike is built with lead-free, BPA-free, and non-toxic materials. This tried-and-tested pedal-free bike allows your toddler to learn how to ride and how to balance. It meets ASTM, CPSIA, and EN71 safety standards, making it a safe and trusted choice for your little one.
Pros
- Sturdy and comfortable to sit on
- Anti-slip handlebar
- Easy to set up
- Can be used both indoors and outdoors
Cons
- May be smaller than you expect
- A wider support base would have been nice
"The bike's thick wheels and soft seat have kept my baby comfortable even when seated on it for a long time. It has also helped improve my little one’s balance and coordination. While the assembly was easy, I wish the seat’s height was adjustable."
21. Best For Wide Balancing: Ancaixin Baby Balance Bike
Ancaixin Baby Balance bike is a riding toy built for babies who are just learning to balance. The bike has a sturdy steel frame, comfortable seating, and wide-balancing wheels that are safe for the baby to move around. The toy bike promotes motor skills and balance and is a great gift option.
Pros
- No-pedal design to let your child improve balance and coordination
- Ergonomic seat pad
- Sturdy carbon steel frame
- Noiseless EVA wheels
Cons
- Plastic cushion seat may have a peculiar smell
- May require effort to assemble the bike
"My baby loves to scoot on this bike indoors and outdoors. Its smooth edges and large wheels have kept her injury-free regardless of the terrain on which it is used. Moreover, the ease of assembly was a big plus."
22. Best Multifunctional: CifToys Musical Learning Workbench Toy
CifToys Musical Learning Workbench Toy is a fun interactive workbench for your toddler. It includes high-quality construction tools with engaging lights and sounds to enhance your child’s cognitive skills, hand-eye coordination, and communication skills.
The learning workbench toy is designed with the help of qualified engineers and child development experts. The CifToys workbench contains four shapes and is a great shape sorting toy.
Pros
- Helps boost curiosity
- Encourages pretend-play
- Enhances spatial skills
- Encourages cooperative play
Cons
- Sound quality may not be great
- May be way smaller than you expect
23. Best For Music: Amy&Benton Toddler Piano Toy
Amy & Benton Toddler Piano Toy is a one-of-a-kind educational training piano toy that is great to get your toddler started with learning music and the different notes. The multifunctional toy makes sounds of eight percussion instruments, four musical instruments, and different songs. It has a record-and-play karaoke button, an option to adjust the volume and rhythm, and an LED butterfly on the top.
Pros
- Promotes hearing skills
- Improves hand-eye coordination
- Portable and easy to store
- Auto shut-off function to boost memory
Cons
- May not be stable enough
- A few parts may come off easily
"This toy piano has charmed my kids with its accurate notes and playful features. Although it was slightly smaller than I had expected, I appreciate that it doesn't require any assembly. Plus, my kids always have a blast with this toy. Hence, I would recommend it."
24. Best For Socialization Skills: Hakol Jungle Friends Talking Plushie Animals
Hakol Jungle Friends Talking Plushie Animals will allow your toddler to take their little troupe of stuffed animals around everywhere they go. The set comes with five cute stuffed animals – a lion, elephant, tiger, monkey, and zebra.
Pros
- BPA-free
- Made from non-toxic materials
- Makes realistic sounds
- Suitable for learning about animals
Cons
- May be noisy
- May require frequent battery change
25. Best For Superior Material: GoStock Exquisite Construction Vehicle Toys
GoStock offers a set of four construction vehicle toys, including a dumper, a tractor, a bulldozer, and a mixer. The interactive toys require no batteries, just a gentle push by the toddler, and the vehicles roll. These multi-colored toys improve hand-eye coordination, sensory perception, fine motor skills, and imagination.
Pros
- Made of non-toxic materials
- Free of phthalates, BPA, and lead
- Suitable for teaching names of different vehicles
- Safety-tested and lab-approved design
Cons
- Fingers may get stuck
- Toys may be tiny
26. Best Resuable: Lodby Magnetic Doodle Sketch Pad
Lodby sketch pad and doodle board comes with a pen that can draw in four different colors to keep the child engaged and excited. The board comes with two stamps to make the drawing experience more fun and has detachable legs that can be removed for easy storage. The eraser can be easily slid across by the toddler. Children can learn how to draw and write by practicing on this reusable sketch pad.
Pros
- Can help inspire your child’s creativity
- Suitable for teaching, writing, and drawing
- Stylus is comfortable to hold
- Ink leaves no stains
Cons
- Material might be thin
- Pen may not be durable enough
"This drawing toy has been a great way to bring out my son's creativity and engage his fine motor skills. He loves the colors that appear as he draws. Its compact size has made it easy for me to keep him occupied during car rides and mealtime."
How To Choose The Right Toys For 1-Year-Olds?
Consider the following factors when choosing the right toy for your one-year-old.
- Safety: Choose toys that do not have sharp edges, are big in size to prevent choking and are made of non-toxic materials to ensure your child’s safety.
- Simple instructions: Consider toys that are easy to assemble and understand so your child can play with them easily.
- Visual and auditory development: Select toys with bright colors, lights, and music as they attract children and keep them engaged. These features help your child build the necessary skills.
- Motor skill development: Ensure the toys help develop the child’s gross and fine motor skills, including crawling, walking, climbing, carrying objects, and other movements.
- Variety: Choose toys that offer various features and activities to promote the child’s overall growth and development. Multiple sensory activities can keep the child entertained and help them learn age-appropriate skills.
- Quality: Ensure the toys are made of high-quality materials for long-lasting use. They should be durable, smooth, and endure rough play.
Toddlers are inquisitive about anything and everything around the house. While toys are a fun and essential part of every child’s development, parents should ensure that they choose toys with safety features. Shape-sorters, stacking objects, hammering tools, mixing toys, etc., that require the child to problem-solve are perfect! Ensure the toy parts are safe and do not pose a possible choking hazard. So, go ahead and pick one from the list of 26 best gifts for a one-year-old baby.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Does a one-year-old baby recognize toy colors?
Your baby can start differentiating color hues between four and six months. By six months, they identify red, green, blue, and yellow hues, and by one year, your little one can identify almost all colors (1).
2. What kind of gifts does a one-year-old need?
Gifts or toys such as building blocks for babies, busy boards for sensory exploration, cause-and-effect toys for toddlers, activity centers, trucks,shape sorters for toddlers, push and pull toys, and more can help develop their logical thinking, problem-solving, and socio-emotional skills (2).
3. Are gifts helpful for a one-year-old baby’s development?
Gifts in the form of toys can help stimulate your baby’s senses, improve their motor and thinking skills, and support language development.
Turning one year old is nothing less than a milestone in your little one’s life. The best gifts for a one-year-old can help commemorate this occasion. The toys we have listed are not only fun to play with but can also help them improve their imagination; develop familiarity with shapes, numbers, and letters; and stimulate their mind for problem solving. Choosing a toy that is colorful, safe to play with, and not made with harmful chemicals are some pointers you can keep in mind while picking one. Besides, avoid toys that have sharp edges and are heavy.
References
- When Can Babies See Color?
https://sleepbaby.org/when-do-babies-see-color/ - Important Milestones: Your Child By One Year
https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/milestones/milestones-1yr.html
Why Trust MomJunction?
We know it’s not easy to pick the perfect gift for babies. To make your job easier, our team of experienced writers and reviewers bring you a list of the best gifts for a one-year-old in this post. We have explored various gift ideas, including dresses and toys, to bring the best ones for you. The brief detail about every product helps you narrow down the choices and pick the right one. These gifts are long-lasting, durable, made of premium-quality materials, and are safe.
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