Incredible First Birthday Gift Ideas | Eco-friendly Edition
Are you looking for the perfect birthday gift ideas for your 1-year-old? We’ve got 8 Incredible First Birthday Gift Ideas to ensure your little one has the best birthday! Celebrate your baby’s first birthday with a special toy that will bring a smile to your face and theirs. From ride-on toys to educational toys, you can give plenty of great presents to your one-year-old that they’ll love and treasure. Check out these 8 Incredible First Birthday Gift Ideas to make your little one’s special day more memorable! I promise you will find the perfect baby gift below!
Sometimes the most loved gift at the party is something simple and not overwhelming. Too often, 1st birthday gifts and parties can be very overwhelming for them. Toys that are flashy and contain batteries can be too much stimulation, along with a room full of guests. Choosing simple toys which your little one can focus on is best. A toy that seems boring or essential frequently turns out to be a child’s favorite, as little ones love repetitious play and mastering skills that build confidence. View my Top 6 Wooden Baby Toys to Own. Your little guy or gal love any of these below!
1. Ride-on – See my Top Ride-On Toy List!
These toys help babies and toddlers to balance and work on their gross motor skills. Climbing on and off of a ride-on toy helps strengthen their muscles and develops coordination. Ride-ons are essential for baby development and a fun way to cruise around.
The 2-1 wishbone mini flip is my top pick for a first-birthday ride-on toy. It is a rocker plus a ride-on toy once the wheels are flipped. Many parents love this ride-on toy because it is also stable enough to use as a walker.
This Hape Scoot Around is a popular seller because it is low to the ground and easy for toddlers to get on and off. It has rubberized wheels that make it easy on flooring and quiet as well. This scoot also grows with your child, and older preschoolers love to ride on this as well. This classic style trike is more sturdy than the popular balance bike style ride-on.
It’s delivery time! Let’s take a ride with the PlanToys Delivery Bike. It features a storage container, a stable base, sturdy handle grips, and a button-to-go “beep beep”! (Weight Capacity: 60 kg.)
- It comes with a storage container on the front of the bike, a stable base, easy-to-grab handle grips, rubber tread on the wheels, and a button that goes “beep beep.”
- You can stylize the side of the storage container with chalk
- It has a max weight capacity of 60 kg or 132 lbs
- It is sustainably made in Thailand with chemical-free rubberwood trees, formaldehyde-free glues, organic pigments, and water-based dyes.
2. Educational Toys – See my Top Educational Toy List!
Learning toys are a great way to help your one-year-old learn and develop. From wooden blocks to interlocking shapes and sorters, your baby will enjoy the challenge of trying to fit and stack shapes. Many educational toys build fine motor skills, problem-solving skills, and skill mastery, which makes their confidence.
Wooden Sorting Bus | Orchard Sustainable Toy | 5401
This Sorting Bus contains three colorful shapes. Pull the tab on the bus, and all the pieces will slide out.
- Practice sorting and counting the different colors and shapes included with the Sorting Bus! As a push-and-pull toy, children can actively play with this vehicle and develop their mathematical, problem-solving, fine motor, and communication skills simultaneously.
- Children are encouraged to focus on sorting the various colors and shapes included with the Sorting Bus playset. By doing so, they develop in a variety of ways and also support their imagination through free play. Suitable for children 12 months and older.
- This set has three brightly colored blocks, one bus driver, and a pullable bus.
- It is sustainably made in Thailand using chemical-free rubberwood, formaldehyde-free glue, organic pigments, and water-based dyes.
- To learn more about PlanToys and their sustainable mission, see our Brand Spotlight HERE.
- I included in my top Sustainable Toy Companies
The Le Toy Van walker with blocks has this rainbow block set included. The blocks are beautifully stained and will hold up to years of play once your little one outgrows the walker.
The Town Maze Magnetic Puzzle Game is an a-maze-ing puzzle that teaches problem-solving, spatial recognition, perspective, and fine motor skills. This magnetic maze puzzle is like a board book and is perfect for learning colors and shapes, featuring colorful balls trying to find their way home to their matching garage.
3. Pretend Play – See my Top Pretend Toys List HERE!
One of the first ways babies pretend to play is to learn and make animal sounds. Having stuffed animal toys that your little one can “bring to life” through sound and action is very fun. Pretend play builds communication skills through play dialogue and helps build vocabulary.
HABA Soft 12″ Doll Freya with Red Pigtails | Pretend Play
Introduce Freya, the 12″ soft doll perfect for toddlers to play with and cuddle. Freya is stylish and sturdy with her fashionable outfit, including a mustard-colored top, grey striped leggings, a removable blue cap, and sewn-on shoes. Her dress, pants, and hat are also removable for added fun and versatility. Freya’s sweet embroidered face features blue eyes, freckles, and red chenille hair that won’t tangle. Her slightly weighted bottom allows her to sit independently without falling, making her great for imaginative play. Freya is compatible with other HABA 12″ outfits and accessories (sold separately) and is machine washable in the cold (do not tumble dry).
Safari Animal Train Set | Made in the USA | NameTrains
Embark on a wild and adventurous safari with the NameTrains Railroad Safari Animal Train Set! This medium-size train set includes 27 pieces, including a figure-8 track, a tiger train engine, and various safari animals like giraffes, lions, and zebras. With its detailed and colorful design, children can create their own unique safari adventure. Check out our farm animal sets as well!
The NameTrains Railroad Safari Animal Train Set is made in Middlebury, VT, from hardwood maple and finished with non-toxic clear lacquer and ink. This ensures that the train set is safe and durable, providing parents with peace of mind and children with hours of imaginative play. The NameTrains Railroad Safari Animal Train Set is compatible with other wooden train and track systems, and the connections between the train cars are made with strong, safe, and simple magnets. This makes it easy for children to assemble and disassemble the train set, encouraging them to experiment with different configurations and designs.
Featured in my Made in the USA toys article:
4. Active Play
Many toddlers are ready to take their first steps around their first birthdays. Choosing a safe walker, push toy, or another toy such as a ball helps encourage gross motor skill learning and development.
Baby Walker | Push & Pull | Orchard Collection | PlanToys 5100
Cruise through early developmental stages with the PlanToys Baby Walker! This toy can help develop fine and gross motor skills while encouraging children to walk on their own two feet. The handle is adjustable to fit various heights. This Baby Walker comes with 13 colored and 11 natural wooden blocks so children can create and build things with their imagination for endless fun!
With adult help to build, this My First Ball Track by HABA is fun for many ages. It is a great family toy that is made from heirloom quality materials. Your child will not outgrow this one quickly like other toys.
5. Water Play
Building a gift basket with several water/bath toys is a cute idea for a first birthday gift which is sure to please. Water toys are perfect sensory toys! They often get played with in the bath, water table, pool, or beach. Water toys are educational and can entertain little ones for water time. Most water toys are made of plastic, but those listed here are made of natural wood and rubber, making them sustainable.
The Yellow Submarine is durable, popular, and plastic-free! Perfect for the beach or bathtub! Propeller turns, and the man is removable for play.
Plan Toys sailboats and sea life bath creatures gently float in the water, making bubbles and trickling water. These beautiful bath toys are made with PlanWood, which is water-resistant.
6. Musical Toys
Toddlers love making music which develops hand-eye coordination, rhythm, and listening skills. They learn action and reaction from sound by tapping, pounding, shaking, and drumming. Music even helps with language development. Check out all our favorite musical instruments below as they all make great gifts!
The Pound & Tap Bench from Hape Toys is an award-winning best-seller for baby toys. Kids love to pound the balls through and hear the musical sounds as the balls roll down the slope. The xylophone is removable as well to play on its own.
Shake, twist, and bang together these rainbow-colored wooden egg shakers that come in a set of 5. Made of solid beech wood, they are safe for toddlers and foster color recognition and auditory discovery. Get these musical eggs from HABA USA and experience our 100% satisfaction guarantee. Even use them for Easter the next few years after!
The Solid Wooden Drum by Plan Toys has been around for several years. It is the perfect first drum for little ones and grows with your child for years. A near-perfect musical toy for a one-year-old.
7. Vehicles
Toddlers love to make objects roll along and move. Sturdy but easy-to-push cars, trains, and trucks help kids learn to crawl or walk because they are incentivized to get the toy. Below are three fun toys that get your baby moving. Vehicles can promote gross motor skills, communication skills, social skills, and pretend creative play.
Will’e Wobble Car | 6m+ | Made in the USA
The Will’e Wobble Car is a push toy perfect for pre-toddlers. The off-center wheels create a wobbling motion as it rolls, providing endless entertainment. Made in the USA from sustainable hardwood maple and decorated with a non-toxic ink print, this toy is eco-friendly and safe for young children.
- Push toy designed for pre-toddlers
- Off-center wheels create a wobbling motion as it rolls
- It can be converted into a pull toy with the addition of a string
- Made in the USA from sustainable hardwood maple
- Decorated with a non-toxic ink print
- Measures approximately [insert measurement]
- Eco-friendly and safe for young children
- Provides endless entertainment and promotes gross motor skills
- Ideal for children aged 1-3 years
My First Wooden Train – Made in the USA | Sustainable
My First Wooden Train is a sustainable and durable toy made in the USA. Crafted from locally sourced, sustainably harvested solid maple, this train features four cars that connect easily with a ball and socket hitching system, making it perfect for little hands to play with. The engine can pull or push the train, allowing children to use their imagination and create their adventures. Each car is about 4.5″ high, and the train measures 24″ long. The train comes on a 24″ stick that can be slid over the front ball to tow the whole train, making it easy for young children to play with.
Public Service Scoot Set – Made in the USA | Cars
Get your little one’s imagination rolling with our Public Service Scoot Set! Made from responsibly harvested pine with hardwood wheels, and these durable wooden vehicles are the perfect size for little hands and playmats. This set includes six favorite public service vehicles: a fire truck, police car, ambulance, school bus, waste and recycle truck, and taxi. Each car is proudly made in Vermont, USA.
The PlanToys Stacking Train Trio features wooden blocks for stacking, sorting, and manipulating. Pretend you are carrying precious cargo across the country, or create an imaginative scenario of your own! The set has one locomotive, two detachable bogies, and four removable wooden blocks. Compatible with other transportation systems in the PlanWorld series. This version comes in the Orchard colorway.
8. Blocks – See me Top Block Sets to Own!
Blocks are so much fun for families and teach many skills, such as stacking, sorting, and early engineering at a young age. Plus, blocks are my number one recommended toy for all families. They grow with your child from ages 1-10 years, making them one of the longest-lasting toys for childhood. One of the best first birthday gifts for fine motor skills. I did not include any Melissa & Doug as I their quality is inferior compared to any of these brands and as they are manufactured in China.
Junior Builder Wooden Blocks Set (41 Pieces)| Made in USA
One of the best-made blocks is from American Maple Landmark. They are made from Vermont Maple and are the perfect size first block set. The blocks are free from any finish and are sanded smoothly for splinter-free play. Also, these blocks are uniquely precision cut for easy stacking. Most block sets are for ages 2 years plus but Maple Landmark blocks are for ages 1 year and up. Get your little builder’s creativity flowing with the Junior Builder Wooden Blocks Set from Montgomery Schoolhouse! This set is constructed from locally-sourced, sustainably-harvested maple hardwood and includes 41 pieces in 11 different shapes.
All blocks are multiples of 1″, allowing them to lock together neatly and uniformly. Plus, the sturdy box makes storing their creations easy – a perfect way to get those imaginative juices flowing! (Block set shown in photos is Advanced Builder)
- Ages 1+
- Weight: 5 lbs. Dimensions: 8.8″ x 4.3″ x 4.3″
- To learn more about Maple Landmark, see my Brand Spotlight HERE.
- Included in my top Sustainable Toy Companies.
- Featured in my Top Blocks List.
Activity blocks are a 2-1 toy for discovery and sensory play. Toddlers love to look, touch and feel and hear these HABA blocks.
Foster your child’s early perception and musicality with these Wooden Discovery Blocks. Each cube measures 1.75″ x 1.75″ x 1.75″ and features a different acoustic effect, including squeaking, clacking, rattling, and tinkering. These blocks provide endless entertainment for little sound explorers, encouraging them to create their sounds and acoustic experiments. Made of solid beech wood and colored with a non-toxic water-based stain, these blocks are safe for ages 12 months and up. This would be a very thoughtful gift for any one-year-old.
While most large-sized blocks are listed for ages 2 or 3 years and up, this HABA set is safe for ages 1 year and up. Unit blocks grow with your child from ages 1 year to 10 years. Perfect for younger kids but also fantastic for the older kids around.
This Le Toy Van set of blocks comes in a lovely cotton tote bag. Perfect to fit in toddlers’ hands. The modern colors are beautiful, and your baby will love these.
HABA Lighthouse Stacking Game – German-made Classic Toy
Introducing the Lighthouse Stacking Game from HABA – a beautiful and fun toy your little one will love! Made in Germany with HABA’s signature minimalist design, this toy is perfect for fostering and teaching kid’s motor skills and hand-eye coordination through stacking fun. The toy consists of colorful sections with little pivots that latch quickly into the holes underneath, making stacking simple and engaging for your child. The bright, cheery colors keep little ones interested and entertained for hours, while the sturdy construction ensures this toy will withstand years of play. Blocks are the best long-lasting gifts you can buy!
Summary:
I hope you loved these 8 Incredible first birthday gift ideas to ensure the best 1-year-old birthday for any child. Buying gifts is not easy for any age, but these first birthday gifts are amazing ideas! I started The Baby Penguin to highlight the fantastic sustainable toys and companies that chose to put our children, the environment and our communities ahead of the bottom line. There are so many incredible benefits to sustainable toys. I hope your try one soon. To see my Top Sustainable Toy Companies, Click HERE.
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