Finding unique presents for young kids can feel like a challenge. Getting a meaningful gift for a 1-year-old, however, might be easier than you think: It’s that age when the box really can be more exciting than the toy inside.
That’s because favorite activities at age 1 include pushing and pulling, putting things together and taking them apart, and — yes — moving things in and out of boxes.
“It’s a very active time,” says Tovah Klein, Director of the Barnard College Center for Toddler Development in New York City, and the author of “How Toddlers Thrive.”
If you're stuck trying to find the perfect gift for the little one in your life, it's your lucky day! We're here to make your search for the perfect gift even easier by finding deals on the best gifts for 1-year-olds. Keep reading to find gifts that will encourage growth, exploration and development at every stage.
Best gifts for 1-year-olds under $25
Spin the “pit” to see different faces and emotions on these pull-apart avocados that let your 1-year-old work on fine motor skills, colors and feelings.
These blocks are also a shape-sorter that is perfect for teaching your little one how to identify shapes and colors. Plus, once playtime is over, they can be neatly stored in the bucket and stowed away.
This Melissa & Doug puzzle has jumbo knobs that are perfect for tiny hands, making this a great gift for 1-year-olds. Commerce vice president Jen Birkhofer says her two-year-old and four-year-old still use this puzzle! “It’s great for small hands. We sing ‘Old McDonald’ while we put the pieces in,” she says.
This adorable learning toy has won over countless parents and grandparents. Beyond teaching them all about fundamentals like numbers and the ABCs, it’ll also keep them engaged and active with the bright lights and catchy tunes.
Kids can get an early start developing a love for music and rocking out with this 2-in-1 toy ukulele and banjo. It plays six popular melodies and even has buttons for the animal voices of a cow and a duck.
This classic wooden shape-sorter lets 1-year-olds put things inside a box and take them back out — similar to the joy of opening a gift box.
Choose this sweet stuffed animal in corduroy to gives tactile feedback, or jaunty stripes to shake up the toy box. Either way, it’s small enough to tuck easily in a stroller for play on the go.
They also come in other characters you may recognize include Marie from “The Aristocats” and Patch from “101 Dalmatians.”
Melissa & Doug’s Go Tots round figures work in several of the brand’s play sets and are perfect for rolling through the play barnyard. Think of it as Connect 4 for little ones.
Turn bath time into a sail across the ocean with Moana and her rooster sidekick Heihei. This set comes with individual boats for each of them and flowers that float and can even spray water when squeezed.
Associate Editor Kamari Stewart recently gifted this set to her best friend’s son and he can’t get enough of it. “She tells me he loves it so much that he doesn’t want bath time to end,” she laughs. “Now, they even leave one piece in the car because he doesn’t want to go anywhere without it!”
Developmental toys for 1-year-olds
These stacking cups allow baby to put a tower together and apart, a favorite activity for 1-year-olds. The set of six is offered in several colorways.
If your 1-year-old is tactile, this touch-and-feel puzzle will be one of their favorites. It’s a good starter puzzle as tiny hands learn to fit pieces together.
This classic train comes in a baby-friendly size for pushing, pulling apart and putting back together. It’s also a great way to help them start recognizing the different animals and colors that appear throughout.
Let your child’s imagination fly with this five-piece play set filled with plush toys. The set includes a snail crinkle, an acorn rattle and fox and squirrel squeakers, along with with a unique mushroom house. Plus, the house doubles as a carrying case so they can play wherever they want.
Available in a variety of animals, these stuffed toys (previously one of Oprah’s Favorite Things!) are scented with French lavender and are microwavable to bring warmth, comfort and stress relief for bedtime, daytime or during travel. They’re also perfect for teaching little ones how to care for others and how to treat friends.
Little ones will be infatuated with these textured, chunky blocks in different shapes that they can push into and pull out of elastic bands.
Deals editor Rebecca Brown says, “My son just turned 1 and can’t get enough of sticking his hands inside of the stretchy string. He is absolutely mesmerized at this idea that he can go and retrieve his little toys himself. Huge win!”
Landing on The Toy Insider’s Hot 20 list last year, editor-in-chief Marissa Silva had this to say about LeapFrog’s eco-friendly activity cube: “There’s just so much play and learning built into all sides of this cube. So it’s one of those toys for 1-year-olds that is not going to cost you an arm and a leg, it’s good for the environment and kids are gonna get so much out of it.”
Would you believe us if we told you this cuddly plush also doubles as a sound machine? Well, it does! The otter itself mimics breathing motions and you can customize an array of sounds and lights for up to 30 minutes of continuous play. Plus, you don’t have to stress if it gets dirty — it’s machine-washable with the electronics removed.
This activity gym allows babies to stay engaged and stimulated while lying down on their backs or having tummy time. It comes in two colorways: the pictured beige and pink.
Brown adores these play boxes from Lalo that provide stimulating and engaging toys for children in each phase of their infancy.
"Lalo just came out with these age-appropriate play boxes, which are so great for exhausted parents who are overwhelmed with making decisions and finding the ‘right’ toy. Each one of these boxes comes with research-backed toys that encourage development, not to mention, they’re gorgeous," says Brown.
This gift was also previously featured in Shop TODAY Gifts We Love list, making a mark for itself as an "easy gift" you can customize by age.
Looking for a toy that can develop the senses of your toddler? Stewart recently gifted this one to a 1-year-old for his first birthday, calling out that it can be used for climbing, tower building, drums and even bath time.
"[My best friend] just told me last week that he’s obsessed with these for bath time. They keep him entertained and he loves them so much he wants to play with them all the time!"
Best push, pull and ride-on toys for 1-year-olds
Targeted for kids aged 1-3 years old, this bestselling bulldozer pops balls out of the chimney into the bucket and a handle for when they’re ready to get moving.
This walker toy features chomping alligators, fish on the wheels, and spinning butterfly and ladybug beads. It also makes a gratifying click-clack sound as 1-year-olds push it along.
Your little one can learn to walk and balance on a bike at the same time with this balance bike walker. Featured last year on the second hour of TODAY, this beginner bike proves to be a favorite among young infants (and their parents!).
NBC News senior photo editor Becca Delman says her son had this bike and loved it! She’s also recently gifted a balance bike to a 1-year-old in her life.
It’s a walker, a shape sorter and food play all in one. The shape-sorting grocery cart from Melissa & Doug comes with puzzle boards and chunky pieces that help with motor skills, sorting and more. Plus, there’s a cup holder so they can down some coffee on the go, just like their parents. (Don’t worry, this coffee won’t keep them up at night.)
Another previous inclusion on Amazon’s Toys We Love list, this activity walker will keep them plenty occupied as they take on the challenge of standing and moving on their two feet.
“Pretty much every house I go into has this walker. It’s great for babies who are learning to walk,” says Birkhofer. “It also has a ton of fun buttons on the front and sings songs. If your kiddo isn’t quite walking yet, they can use it as a busy board until they start.”
Most walkers are designed to be obsolete fairly quickly, if all goes to plan and the baby starts walking independently. Not so with the Skip Hop 3-in-1, which transforms into a ride-on toy and a scooter as baby grows. The seat can also be flipped over and used as a storage place for their toys.
Best books for 1-year-olds
Books are always a great gift for 1-year-olds. This board book series features little pups with jobs to do, and enough humor to make repeat readings fun for parents, too.
This rhyming book celebrates the little star that lights up the sky, shooting so fast a year has passed. A great book for 1-year-olds, Little Star is a sensory book filled with animals that your tot can touch and feel to have a fun, tactile experience.
Toddlers and 1-year-olds are huge fans of books with flaps. We recommend this flap-filled book, in which animals start their days with lively dances — that just may have your little one wiggling, too. Push and pull the tabs to make the animals shimmy, mambo and cha-cha.
Anything is possible when you let your toddler dress up as they wish. This book is written by a renowned stylist who knows the power of dressing up. The illustrations and story will transport them to a magical place in New York City and will help them start to learn self-confidence through imagination.
More gifts for 1-year-olds
This coverall is the perfect winter outfit for your 1-year-old. The zipper closure offers easy on and off access and the whole set is machine washable.
Whether you are heating up frozen milk or want to give them something cold, this bottle can go directly from the freezer into boiling water. The bottle has a shock-resistant silicone sleeve, so it is perfect for little ones who tend to drop things. The wide lip also makes it easy to clean and sterilize.
These baby boots are made of 100% natural wool. They are the perfect boots for those who might not have started walking yet. They have a simple lace tie that secures them onto your little one's feet.
What do 1-year-olds like to play with?
From their first birthday onward, one-year-olds are moving on from baby toys and practicing speaking and recognizing rhymes, so they’re primed for books that teach words or engage them with lifting flaps. In toys, look for a variety of textures they can explore with their hands, says Marie Conti, Director of Regional Community Relations for American Montessori Society and the former head of The Wetherill School in Gladwyne, Pennsylvania.
Development experts agree open-ended toys are best. Look for something that lets 1-year-old boys and girls do what they want instead of following specific instructions.
How we chose
The Shop TODAY team works hard to find the best products and coolest gifts out there. We interview experts and use our own personal experiences with brands and shopping to find the most unique gifts on the market that are sure to be a hit with the 1-year-old in your life.
Meet the experts
- Marie Conti is Director of Regional Community Relations for American Montessori Society. She was the former head of The Wetherill School in Gladwyne, Pennsylvania. Conti is based in Greater Philadelphia.
- Tovah P. Klein, Ph.D., is Director of the Barnard College Center for Toddler Development in New York, as well as the author of “How Toddlers Thrive." She focuses on young children's social and emotional development, as well as parents' experiences raising them. Klein is also an adjunct associate professor and teaches a year-long course on toddler development.
Don’t forget to check out Shop TODAY’s other gift guides to find the perfect present for every kid on your list including babies, 2-year-olds, 3-year-olds, 4-year-olds, 5-year-olds, 6-year-olds, 7-year-olds, 8-year-olds, 9-year-olds and 10-year-olds.
