The 20 Best Gifts for 1-Year-Olds of 2022

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At one year old, little ones officially make the transition from baby to toddler. Suddenly, a whole new world of fun gift ideas opens up. The downside is, all of those options can be a bit overwhelming to sort through. You'll want to consider practical and more whimsical items, as well as gifts that can be customized. It can be a challenge to figure out what’s safe, what’s age-appropriate, and, most importantly, what they'll really use and enjoy.

Here, our picks for great gifts for the 1-year-old you love.

Our Top Picks

Fisher-Price Rollin' Rovee at Amazon

This toy plays peek-a-boo, throws a ball, counts, crawls, dances, lights up, and plays fun music, so basically it has it all.

Lalo Play Kit at Meetlalo.com

Little kids love table sets that are sized for them, and this one is specifically made for kids as young as one year old.

Anthropologie Derrick the Dinosaur Stuffed Animal at Anthropologie

Made from soft fabric, safe for kids of all ages, and it’s a good choice for any kid who loves dinosaurs (so, any kid, really).

Skip Hop Zoo Stack & Pour Buckets at Amazon

Comes with five buckets, each with their own animal design, that have holes in the bottoms so kids can watch the water drain out.

No!: My First Book of Protest at Amazon

Comes as a board book and each page teaches them about someone who stood up and fought for what's right.

YGJT Baby Balance Bike at Amazon

Has four wheels, so they don’t have to actually balance to stay on it, but it will get them used to that style.

Pottery Barn Kids Giraffe Plush Nursery Rocker at Potterybarnkids.com

The runners and handles of the toy are made from strong, durable solid wood and the fur of the giraffe is so snuggly.

Pantone Box of Color Board Book Set at Amazon

They come in board book format and have different ways for kids to interact with them thanks to peek through cutouts.

EZPZ Happy Bowl at Amazon

A silicone mat with a bowl in the middle that will help kids master eating out of it without making a giant mess.

Mon Ami Uliana Unicorn Plush Play Mat at Maisonette.com

If they live in a house with hard floors, this playmat will make the space a little more cozy. Made with super soft fabrics.

Rovee Interactive Musical Activity Learning Toy

This toy plays peek-a-boo, throws a ball, counts, crawls, dances, lights up, and plays fun music, so basically, it has it all. It has four different stages of play, so it becomes more advanced as your baby grows, so it has great longevity. Designed for kids between 6 months old and 5 years old, Rovee says more than 190 phrases, teaches the alphabet, numbers, and more, and is simply just a lot of fun for kids to play with.

Little kids love table sets that are sized for them, and this one is specifically made for kids as young as a year old. It comes with a white table and two chairs, which come in a few different colors and can be mixed and matched.

The pieces are made from beechwood so they can be wiped down easily, meaning kids can eat, play, or craft without worrying about destroying the furniture.

Anthropologie Derrick the Dinosaur Stuffed Animal

Now that they’re 1 year old, it’s finally safe to put stuffed animals and blankets in their bed, and this little dino is the perfect place to start. It’s made from soft fabric, safe for kids of all ages, and it’s a good choice for any kid who loves dinosaurs.

Bath time is fun for babies, but it’s really fun for toddlers as they continue to refine their fine and gross motor skills. One thing they definitely love to do is pour water from one cup to the next, which is exactly what this set is made for. It comes with five buckets, each with its own animal design, that have holes in the bottoms so kids can watch the water drain out or try to pour it out before it all drains out first.

These cups are safe for kids as young as 9 months old and will only become more fun as your little one grows.

Start teaching your kiddo about some amazing activists early with this book. It comes as a board book and each page teaches them about someone who stood up and fought for what's right including Gloria Steinem, Martin Luther King Jr., Alice Paul, and even Greta Thunberg.

If you plan to teach them how to ride a two-wheeler by using a balance bike, you can start them out early with this toddler-size one. It has four wheels, so they don’t have to actually balance to stay on it, but it will get them used to that style as opposed to a tricycle or bike with training wheels so that when it’s time to transition to a larger balance bike, they’ll be ready.

This bike is available in four different styles and is safe for kids between 10 and 36 months old.

Pottery Barn Kids Giraffe Plush Nursery Rocker

Instead of a rocking horse, gift them with an adorable, soft rocking giraffe. The runners and handles of the toy are made from strong, durable solid wood (so it won’t fall apart easily) and the fur of the giraffe is so snuggly kids won’t want to get off it. The toy is safe for kids between 1 and 5 years old, and can even be personalized.

You get six separate books in this set, each focusing on its own color. They come in board book format and have different ways for kids to interact with them thanks to peek-through cutouts. Great for learning colors, this mini board book set is a great addition to any library.

Truthfully, this gift may be more for the caregiver than for the 1-year-old, but that’s totally fine. It’s a silicone mat with a bowl in the middle that will help kids master eating out of it without making a giant mess.

The mat, which comes in several color options, sticks to the table to keep the bowl in place, and then, once the snack or meal is over, the mat just peels off and can be tossed in the dishwasher or wiped down with some soapy water.

At one year old, kids are still playing on the floor a lot, and if they live in a house with hardwood versus carpet, this playmat will make the space a little cozier. It measures 36 x 28 inches, is made with super-soft fabrics and is filled just enough to keep it fluffy without being too plush.

This book not only teaches kids shapes, but also shows them how the shapes may appear in everyday life, like a circle cookie, the star on the end of a magic wand, or a triangle slice of pizza. It comes in hardcover format and each page is full of pretty and unique illustrations that are engaging and educational.

Once they reach 18 months old, they can safely ride around in this very cool wagon. It has a three-in-one design so it can be set up as a wagon with a canopy, a bench, or a traditional wagon. When it’s not in use, it can collapse down for easy storage with just a pull of a handle.

The wagon is also equipped with water bottle holders, a storage pocket, two seat belts, and the canopy is perfect for keeping them protected on hot sunny days.

If your tot likes bubble baths, then they will love this little bath toy. Pour a few drops of liquid bubble bath into it, push it down into the water, and watch the tub fill up with bubbles. It’s a fun way for kids to learn cause and effect, plus it’s a toy that’s also functional.

One thing to note, though, is that it's best for kids 18 months old and up so the giftee can store it for a few months down the road.

Melissa & Doug Chomp & Clack Alligator Push Toy

Whether they’re working on learning to walk or they’ve mastered the skill already, little kids will love pushing this wooden toy along and watching the alligators chomp their teeth together with every step. It’s safe for kids 12 months old and up and is covered in bright colors and fun designs like spinning butterflies!

While a 1-year-old may not be able to master getting all eight pieces of this puzzle in their correct spots right away, it is a fun challenge for them to work towards (and maybe even master by the time they’re 2). As a whole, the puzzle has an adorable design, and each piece is its own little character including a unicorn, sunshine, puppy, butterfly, and more.

Ingrid & Isabel Babe Toddler Denim Jacket

How cute is this jacket? It comes in sizes from 0-6M all the way up to 6T, so you can purchase one that’s just the right fit for now, or even go a size bigger to make it last through their next growth spurt. The jacket is made from 99% cotton and has all of the features of an adult jacket like button closure, pockets, and an adorable collar.

This toy teaches colors, matching, and gives kids an excuse to enjoy a little tea party while engaging in pretend play. It comes with a teapot that talks, sings, and makes sounds when it’s “poured” or is “brewing” its tea. The set also comes with a cake with four different slices, each their own color and flavor, as well as two teacups for a complete tea party.

Great for sensory play and fine motor skill development, these colorful balls and beads click together, stack, and can be played with in so many different ways. They’re safe for kids between 10 and 36 months and are made from plastic that can be easily wiped clean.

This toy may be simple, but it’s perfect for a 1-year-old because the pieces can be stacked together and it introduces tots to numbers. The set comes with 10 numbers (0-9) that are made from bamboo as well as a bag to store them in when they’re not being played with.

Pottery Barn Kids Where The Wild Things Are Pajamas

Few things are as cute as little footie pajamas, and these ones that feature characters from Where The Wild Things Are are no exception. They’re available in sizes 0-3M up to 18-24M, made from 100% organic cotton, and feature a zipper closure with a snap at the top.

The fabric is super soft and light, so kids won’t get too hot when they’re wearing them, and it's safe to toss into the washer and dryer after each wear.

Final Verdict

Any of these products would make for a great gift for a one-year-old, so you really can’t go wrong with any of them. However, the Fisher-Price Rollin’ Rovee (view at Amazon) and The Play Kit Table & Chairs (view at Lalo) rank highest for us for a toy, and the EZPZ Happy Bowl (view at Amazon) is our favorite gift for a caregiver of a 1-year-old.

What to Look for in Gifts for 1-Year-Olds

Practicality

Busy parents will undoubtedly appreciate practical gifts. One-year-olds are on the move, which means there are lots of outfit changes, messes, and toys to play with. Gifts like clothing, blankets, bath products, dinnerwear, and toys are likely to be well-used and gratefully received.

Fun

Toddlers love to explore, learn, and play. So give a gift that engages a 1-year-old's senses and attention and offers opportunities for development and skill-building. Think toys and other gear that offers different textures, colors, shapes, and sounds.

Personalization

Parents tend to love gifts that can be customized for their child. Often, clothing or other items can be monogrammed or personalized with the toddler's name. Or you can match the color of your gift to their nursery or eye color, Alternatively, choose a theme based on something the child (or their parents) loves, such as music, sports, construction vehicles, dinosaurs, or a particular animal.

Why Trust Verywell Family?

Ashley Ziegler is a full time parenting writer and mom to a 2-year-old and a 5-year-old. Over the years, she has researched and tested hundreds of children’s products from clothes, to diapers, to car seats, to toys, both professionally and personally. When creating this list, she considered the products’ quality, longevity, entertainment value, and safety, as well as shopper reviews.

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