The Best Holiday Gifts for 1-Year-Olds
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One-year-olds are some of my favorite people to shop for, especially as the holiday season gets going and shelves start to fill with new toys. But buying something that will bring joy into the life of a baby and that baby’s parents isn’t always easy. Do you go all-in on trendy interactive toys or err on the side of wooden Montessori heirlooms?
My son is almost 4 now, but when he was 1, his favorite toys were the ones that let him practice new skills, from opening and closing a box and recognizing common objects in his life — animals, fruit, buses — to, eventually, climbing, jumping, kicking, and learning to express himself with more complicated phrases. My favorite toys, meanwhile, were the more open-ended ones that looked nice in our apartment. Eventually, I found a balance between his tastes and my own, often thanks to the teachers, child-development professionals, tasteful fellow parents, and toy experts I called on to recommend the best toys for this age group.
Below, you’ll find more than 30 toys and books that would make fantastic Christmas and Hanukkah gifts for all the 1-year-olds in your life, organized by price, so you can browse according to your budget. And if you’re also shopping for older kids this holiday season, make sure to check out the Strategist Toy Hall of Fame filled with all of our greatest hits.
Gifts I personally think are the best
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Squishy color-changing book for “reading” in the bath.
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Squirrel stuffie that’s made with nothing but organic cotton and sheep’s wool.
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Thick cushioned play mat that doesn’t look like a play mat.
Under $25
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Silicone building blocks that look like oversize LEGO bricks.
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The finger puppet cappy makes this board book super enaging.
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Squishy color-changing book for “reading” in the bath.
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Play set with mama-and-baby animal pairs that’s soft and safe for kids under 2.
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Pull-along hippo from Hape’s collaboration with the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
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Roger Priddy’s iconic book of 100 first words, in sticker format.
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Penguin that swims in the bath. (Also comes in blue.)
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Veggie-themed turnable for the smallest DJs.
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Miniature enamelware mugs that are safe to drink from.
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Ali Brunson’s daughter loves these washable dot markers that work like Bingo daubers.
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Simple five-piece shapes puzzle that can entertain 1-year-olds for a shocking amount of time.
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Sweet and small board book that won’t get annoying, even when read over and over.
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Beautiful large-format board book with ‘Where’s Waldo’–adjacent settings and so many words to learn.
Under $50
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Cucumber car that’s also good for teething.
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Modular busy board that encourages fine motor development.
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A trio of durable construction trucks that link via magnets.
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Adorable animal house that helps them sort shapes.
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Park-themed play rug that’s centered on grass and paths rather than roads or buildings.
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Bedtime baby doll with three different outfits.
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Plywood moose that’s great for early climbing, balancing, and forest play.
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Old-school record player for toddlers and nostalgic millennial parents.
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Strawberry purse that’s also a house for a duckling, frog, and a ladybug.
Under $100
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Mesmerizing wheels that create optical illusions as they spin down the track.
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Plastic-free, organic-cotton squirrel stuffie filled with sheep’s wool.
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Light-up piano with three play modes: animal sounds, free play, and song guide.
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Mini stepping stones that stack, spin, and float.
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Walker wagon with rubber tread tires to prevent floor scratches. The front wheels are lockable too.
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$100 and up
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Outer-space-themed activity center that’s sturdy enough to keep a wobbly baby upright.
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Thick cushioned play mat that doesn’t look like a play mat.
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Baby balance bike from the best bike brand in the biz.
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Toniebox 2 bundle with squishy My First Tonies for kids 1 and up.
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Tunnel and foam blocks that encourage crawling, climbing, sliding, and eventually stepping up.
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Heirloom blocks with gems that look like stained glass.
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Grow-with-them scooter that they can use for up to five years.
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Stylish wooden play table and chair set that can be used as a desk too.
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More From The Strategist Kids' Department
- The Best Gifts for 3-Year-Olds
- We Tried All of the Kids’ Coats at Quince
- The Best Gifts for 5-Year-Olds
- $55 UGGs and 30 Percent Off Abercrombie Kids: The Week’s Best Kids’ Deals
- How to Build a Baby Registry, According to Parents Who Are Pediatricians
The Strategist is designed to surface useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Every product is independently selected by our team of editors, whom you can read about here. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
