Bieco activity cube, Scandi-Chic, FSC wood
1–2 years
A wooden activity cube from age 1 in Scandinavian style, made from FSC wood.
From 1 year
Gifts for 1-Year-Olds: First Birthday Ideas for Girls and Boys
At one, grabbing, stacking and looking matter more than rules. These ideas are sturdy, safe and made for playing together.
The links lead to Amazon. We receive no payment for them.
Learning & discovering
Bieco wooden stacking tower, rainbow
1–2 years
A colourful wooden rainbow tower for stacking from age 1: a simple, small gift.
HABA stacking cubes: Farm
1–2 years
Stacking cubes with a farm theme: a small gift for children who like building towers.
Hape activity cube: Little Animals
1–2 years
A wooden activity cube with several things to do. A calm gift for the first years of play.
Books
Hör mal rein: Lieblingstiere (German sound book)
1–2 years
A German-language sound and touch book about favourite animals. Good for bilingual families or learners of German.
Wenn kleine Tiere müde sind (German bedtime story)
1–2 years
A first bedtime story in German for ages 1 and up. Good for bilingual families or learners of German, and easy to read aloud as a calm evening routine.
Wo bist du, kleine Eule? (German lift-the-flap book)
1–2 years
A German-language lift-the-flap book with big touch flaps. Good for bilingual families or learners of German; a small gift for reading together.
Outdoors & movement
BIG Bobby Car Neo ride-on with whisper tyres
1–3 years
A ride-on car from age 1 with whisper tyres: children sit on it and push off with their feet.
ROBOTIME wooden walker with play centre
from 1 year
A wooden push-along walker for children who are learning to walk, with a play centre.
Scoot & Ride My First Ride-On, EPP
1–2 years
An EPP ride-on for first rolling attempts from age 1: sit on it and push off.
What one-year-olds are busy discovering
Around the first birthday, many children are absorbed in grabbing, stacking, emptying and refilling. Some are walking, others still crawl, and both are perfectly normal. A good gift therefore does not need any particular skill: it should be something to hold, shake, stack and chew on without harm. The product cards below are grouped by type, from stacking and motor-skills toys and picture books to ride-on toys to push along.
First birthday gift ideas for girls and boys
Whether a present goes down well depends on the individual child, not on whether it is a girl or a boy. Some babies love balls, others spend an hour pulling scarves out of a box. Watch what your child is most interested in at the moment and build on that. Three questions help when choosing:
- Can the toy be used in several ways, such as stacking, rolling and rattling?
- Is it sturdy enough to be dropped and chewed?
- Can you sit down and play along?
Playing together is often the real attraction at this age. A simple picture book comes alive with your voice, and a tower of blocks is twice the fun when someone knocks it down.
Safety: check the age rating and small parts
Many children under three put lots of things in their mouths. Toys with small, swallowable parts carry the warning that they are not suitable for children under 36 months. Check the manufacturer’s age rating on the box, and when in doubt leave the item on the shelf. Look for smooth edges and firmly joined parts, and throw away packaging straight away, because plastic wrap is not a toy. Second-hand items are fine if they are intact and cleaned thoroughly.
Experiences and small gifts without shopping
For a first birthday, parents are often happiest with things that take up no space: an afternoon of babysitting, a voucher for a walk together or a home-made photo book of the first year. A basket of wooden spoons, cardboard boxes and soft cloths costs almost nothing and is often used for a long time, ideally under supervision. If you are planning a bigger gift, team up with relatives: together you can give something bigger.
Less is often more
A lot can pile up around a first birthday. Some children find it easier to play with a few things than with many. Many families keep only part of the toys out and swap them after a few weeks, so things feel new again. Feel free to ask the parents what they already have and what is missing. A short message avoids duplicates, and they know what suits their home.
The links on this page lead to Amazon Germany (amazon.de), which also delivers to many other countries.
Frequently asked questions
- What should I give a child for their first birthday?
- Sturdy toys for stacking, rolling and rattling, board books and ride-on toys to push along work well. Choose things that are safe to chew and check the manufacturer’s age rating.
- What should I look for in toys for 1-year-olds?
- Avoid small, swallowable parts and look for the warning about children under 36 months. Edges should be smooth and parts firmly attached.
- Are gifts for girls and boys different at this age?
- Not really. At one year old it is the individual child’s interests that count, so watch what they enjoy and choose accordingly.
- Are there gift ideas that cost nothing?
- Time is often welcome: an afternoon of babysitting, a trip out together or a home-made photo book. A basket of harmless household objects to explore, under supervision, also delights many one-year-olds.
On wimolino you will also find colouring pages and learning games for this age. Go to the learning games · Go to the coloring pages