Finding good first birthday gift ideas is a little trickier than for third or fourth birthdays. Toys make great 1st birthday gifts, but year-old babies are still young enough that givers need to consider the needs of the parent as well. To help you with that decision, we've divided our first birthday gift ideas into gifts for baby and gifts for baby and parent.
Rocking horses
Rocking horses and other rocking animals hold a timeless appeal for young children. A 1-year-old would enjoy a rocking horse with sound effects or one that's made from soft, plush fabric.
Ride on toys
Ride on toys make great 1st birthday gifts for both boys and girls. Modern riding toys range from planes, trucks, and cars to pedal toys such as bicycles and big wheels.
Stuffed animals
Stuffed animals are one of the most popular first birthday gift ideas. Licensed characters from Disney or other movies are contemporary favorites, or go for classics such as bears and dinosaurs.
Baby blocks
Educational 1st birthday gifts are perennial favorites. Baby blocks are fun for building and teaching one-year-olds their colors and alphabet.
Books
Illustrated or interactive books include parent/child sing-along books, traditional hits like Dr. Seuss, or stories that teach children about colors, numbers, and shapes.
Rocking chairs
Rocking baby to sleep will be a lot easier for Mom or Dad with the first birthday gift of a rocking chair. Choose a baby rocking chair styled for girls or boys, or a classic wooden design that can be used in the living room or on the patio.
Baby clothes
Babies are always growing, which is why baby clothes are always thoughtful 1st birthday gifts. Pajamas, bib sets, or trendy baby outfits are gifts from which parents will get good use.
Picture frames
Picture frames are 1st birthday gift ideas that are given with the future in mind. Parents can use them to display photos of the birthday celebration for visiting grandparents or relatives. Personalized picture frames can also display an engraving of the date and baby's name.
Piggy banks
Parents these days need to start planning early for their children's futures. Piggy banks provide a cute and creative way for parents to start setting pennies aside for baby's college education fund.