One Year and Growing: Thoughtful Presents for a Growing Toddler

More than once I have googled something along the lines “good gift for a one-year-old”. Especially, if you don’t currently have a child at home in that age bracket, it can be daunting trying to buy something that the parents and child will actually want in their home. 

And so begins a new series on Aisle 85 as we curate lists of the best gifts for kids at every age. Starting with one…

I don’t even totally understand the love my daughter has for this doll but it is deep and it is true. My daughter received a Madame Alexander Baby doll for Christmas and watching her receive that baby was like a scene out of a Norman Rockwell. Five months later, she will say “baby” while holding the baby to her face. I don’t understand why this particular doll has captured her love but it's undeniable.

My daughter was gifted this bike by her bonus grandparents and she LOVES it. This little bike is great for developing fine motor skills and our girls loves to feel “big” zooming all over the house on it. 

For a kid with two parents who grew up doing musical theater, my daughter has quite the arm on her and I credit this ball (and my in-laws dog who loves to play fetch with her). The ridges on the ball make it easy for little ones to pick up and play with. 

There are some toys that just never go out of style and a set of wooden blocks is perfect for a one-year-old. My daughter loves to stack and make towers and I love that it’s great for further developing her fine motor skills.

Want to keep a baby busy? A water table (and adult supervision) will do just the trick. This is one of those magical toys that just captures a child’s attention. 10/10 recommend!

Almost every night after dinner, it is bath time. Do you know what every parent wants during bath time? For their child to be happily playing. Enter bath toys. I am DELIGHTED on the days that my daughter happily plays in the tub and honestly when it comes the bath toys, the simpler the better. Simple squeeze toys or cups like these ones are her toy of choice in the tub.

Have I mentioned how vital it is to keep a toddler busy? One-year-olds are like little scientists exploring the world around them and figuring out how things work. This busy board book would be a great thing to bring along on an airplane or to a restaurant to keep the little one occupied figuring out the buckles or how to unzip the zipper.

Simplicity really is key when shopping for a one year old and this wooden permanence box has been a huge hit in our home. One years olds are learning about object permanence and it was endless delight for our daughter to drop her ball into the box and then open the door and find the ball inside. Over and over and over again!