Brilliant Toys for a 1 Year Old
Here is a selection of the best toys for a 1 year old. The recommendations are based on the toys my son, his friends and my niece loved to play with between the ages of 1 and 2 years. All the toys featured make great 1st birthday gifts for girls and boys or fantastic Christmas gifts. There are links to further articles to give you more advice. The toys featured are ones my son played with at home and others he enjoyed at friend's houses and toddler groups. If you're looking for inspiration on great 1st birthday toys, check out the list below.
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1st Update: Since writing this article I now have another son who has celebrated his 1st birthday in June 2012. I have updated this article to include toys he has received for his 1st birthday and loves to play with too.
2nd Update: 2016 - My boys are growing older but I have nephews and nieces around this age. I have also updated the article to include some of the latest toys available for this age group.
*Please note as an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. This means we may get a small commission for purchases made through Amazon links in this article.*
1st Update: Since writing this article I now have another son who has celebrated his 1st birthday in June 2012. I have updated this article to include toys he has received for his 1st birthday and loves to play with too.
2nd Update: 2016 - My boys are growing older but I have nephews and nieces around this age. I have also updated the article to include some of the latest toys available for this age group.
Ride on Toys
My son was given a ride on for his 1st birthday (in June 2012). The great thing about ride on toys is that they last for ages. My kids still played with them until age 3. When looking for a ride on toy, many have activities aimed at young 1 year olds as it may be a while before they are riding the toy around confidently. It's best to look for a toy which has activities that will entertain them immediately.
When buying a ride on toy for this age, you could also for one which they can push around and use as a walker as well as sit on. Many ride ons have bars at the back to enable them to push around.
At age 1, my youngest son loved to be pushed around his ride on. He loved to sit on it and push all the buttons which started music and lights up as well as play on the steering wheel.
When buying a ride on toy for this age, you could also for one which they can push around and use as a walker as well as sit on. Many ride ons have bars at the back to enable them to push around.
At age 1, my youngest son loved to be pushed around his ride on. He loved to sit on it and push all the buttons which started music and lights up as well as play on the steering wheel.
  
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This ride on toy has lots that 1 year old babies will love to do.
It includes a colorful keyboard which babies will love to press. They will enjoy touching the keyboard to hear any of the 5 marching tunes, or switch to play mode to create their own music by pressing on musical instruments. There's also a trumpet and a drum to create extra noises. There is under the seat storage. My boys used to love putting toys into the storage seat on their ride on and pushing it around when they were toddlers. There's a push handle on the back which toddlers will love to use to push the ride on around. Plus there are engine start and revving sounds. |
This toy is so much more than just a ride on. Babies and toddlers will love it.
Educational Toys for a 1 Year Old
Most toys for 1 year olds have some educational value teaching vocabulary, colors, numbers and shapes. Many also have activities to help hone fine motor skills too.
Here are some great ideas of educational toys for 1 year olds:
Shapesorters - fantastic for learning shapes, colors and honing fine motors skills. Many toys have shapesorter elements to them so it's worth looking out for.
1st peg puzzles - there are very simple peg puzzles aimed at very young babies. These can be good for honing fine motor skills. The pictures are often good for teaching babies simple vocabulary such as pictures of animals.
Musical toys - Drums, keyboards and other musical instruments are fantastic for teaching babies about cause and effect.
Fisher Price Laugh and Learn series - there are numerous toys in this series which have been designed with learning in mind. Check out the piggy bank below.
Here are some great ideas of educational toys for 1 year olds:
Shapesorters - fantastic for learning shapes, colors and honing fine motors skills. Many toys have shapesorter elements to them so it's worth looking out for.
1st peg puzzles - there are very simple peg puzzles aimed at very young babies. These can be good for honing fine motor skills. The pictures are often good for teaching babies simple vocabulary such as pictures of animals.
Musical toys - Drums, keyboards and other musical instruments are fantastic for teaching babies about cause and effect.
Fisher Price Laugh and Learn series - there are numerous toys in this series which have been designed with learning in mind. Check out the piggy bank below.
Fisher Price Laugh and Learn Piggy Bank
  
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My eldest son had a mailbox and he used to love slotting the mail into the slot.
This toy isn't a mailbox but you have to slot the coins in the top of the piggy bank which is similar to what my son used to love doing. The 10 coins are great for introducing colors and counting. You can press the piggy's nose and hear songs, music and speech, There's also an open door for put in and take out play. |
Fisher Price Laugh and Learn Chair
  
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The seat features 50 plus learning songs, tunes & phrases.
There's also 3 levels of play on offer. You can choose the most age appropriate play by flipping a switch on the side of the chair. There are 3 stages and each stage offers fresh songs, phrases & sounds for your little one. The stages include: Explore – from 1 year - First words and sounds spark baby’s curiosity Encourage – from 18 months - Prompt baby though questions and simple directions Pretend – from 2 years - Imaginative fun and early role play Babies and toddlers will love the seat with the lid. They can open and close it and put little things inside. There is a story book and remote control to play with on the chair's arms too. |
Shape Sorter and Stacking Rings
  
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Sometimes it's the classic toys that are the best and it's difficult to go wrong with this combined toy of a shapesorter and stacking rings. By 1 year old babies have developing fine motor skills and will have a good go at getting the shapes into the right holes. A shapesorter is not only fab for developing fine motor skills but also fantastic for teaching the shape names and colors. Little ones will also enjoy carrying around this shape sorter by it's handle when they start toddling around.
At around 1 year old, children will also have a good go at getting the stacking rings on the pole. |
A stacking ring is a great toy for teaching babies about sorting from the largest to the smallest too. They can also have a go at trying to stack the rings on their own without the pole too.
Lots of play value in this set. It's a nice, quiet toy as well when adults would like to go without any flashing lights or music.
Lots of play value in this set. It's a nice, quiet toy as well when adults would like to go without any flashing lights or music.
Toys for Outdoor Play
Toddlers just love to play with water and a water play table will be an investment in play for the next few years. Both my boys loved his the water table. They would enjoy the toy for a long time pouring in water and watching the water wheel turn around. They stand holding onto it, spashing in the water, playing with the little toys that come with it, they both enjoyed watching the water wheel when I poured water in the top. It's a great summer toy (great from when children are standing up). It is guaranteed to keep little ones occupied with play while the carer can relax a little bit.
  
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This water activity table has lots of cool features and toys.
Drop balls down the funnel and watch it spiral down the tube in the water and float. Then scoop the balls up in the hand crank ferris wheel. Turn the spinner to make waves. Or pour water into the big funnel or the small funnel to watch the twin wheels spin. The toys includes 1 water cup and 5 round characters that squirt water There's a drain plug to easily drain the water. |
Play Tents
Play tents make a great summer toy for 1 year olds. My mother in law has one for when the grandchildren come around. They're great for having picnics or filling with play balls. When the sun gets too hot, they're great for shading baby while they're playing with toys or reading books. As they get older they are perfect for imaginary play too. Some play tents offer high UV protection and others can be taken to the beach as a sun shade too.
Radio Flyer 4 in 1 Trike
  
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I can't tell you how much my younger son loves his smart trike. It was another first birthday present and he is so content being pushed around. I have used it to pick up my eldest son on the school run.
The great thing about this trike is that it will grow with your child. There is a 3 point harness and safety bar for babies. The push handle will allow you to push 1 year olds around in the trike. As your child grows, you can adjust the trike to suit each developmental stage. The seat is adjustable and the safety bar, push handle and harness is removable. Eventually it turns into an independent trike which they can pedal on their own. An excellent gift! |
Ball Pit
One year olds love balls and they love sitting in ball pits, throwing, rolling, picking up and dropping balls. Both my boys love ball pits and as babies would literally sit in one for ages just playing with the balls. A good tip is to put some different sized balls in there. As well as the small ones, add big balls, beach balls, squashy balls and balls with different textures for babies to explore and feel. A great gift to keep a one year old occupied.
You could make a tent into a ball pit by adding balls. There are some tents with mesh tunnel (which is a great material because you can see your child in it) and 1 year olds will love to crawl through it and roll balls back and forth down it.
Tents can easily be put up indoors in the winter and outdoors in the summer. You could also use it without balls. You will need to buy any balls separately.
You could make a tent into a ball pit by adding balls. There are some tents with mesh tunnel (which is a great material because you can see your child in it) and 1 year olds will love to crawl through it and roll balls back and forth down it.
Tents can easily be put up indoors in the winter and outdoors in the summer. You could also use it without balls. You will need to buy any balls separately.
Imaginative Play
It's not too early to try and introduce some imaginative play for 1 year olds. One idea is to use food in the imaginative play as babies will have experience of eating foods in different situations. Check out the Leapfrog Picnic baskets which facilitates imaginative play for young children and gives lots of learning opportunities too.
LeapFrog Shapes And Sharing Picnic Basket
  
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I bought this for my nephew for his 1st birthday and he loved it. It's a great toy for this age.
It features a shape sorting plate, where babies can learn to fit the different foods into the correct place on the plate. There's lots of songs which are great for learning about shapes, manners, colors and more. There is a lid which plays music when opened. As babies get older they will love to carry around the basket and put in and take out the items. It's also great for imaginative play, have fun having pretend picnics. A great toy that will grow with the child. |
Walkers and Push Along Toys
Many 1 year olds will just be learning to walk so a walker is a good toy. Look for a walker which can be used as a toy after they've started walking. Some walkers come with bricks and activity tables, others convert into ride ons and other toys. Toddlers love to push things around, that is why any toys they can push are great.
Car Toys
Car toys make great toy for 1 year old babies. My youngest son loves cars, He lays on the floor pushing and pulling them backward and forward.
A fantastic 1st car garage is the Vtech
A fantastic 1st car garage is the Vtech
  
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These toy is great because the vehicles it comes with is chunky and perfect for little hands.
The toy offers lots of other play opportunities. It features interactive role-play including a gas station and a car wash. Moving the vehicle around and through the different features and pushing it down the ramp will improve fine motor skills. You can also purchase more vehicles to play with the set. Each vehicle says a different letter. The vehicle included says the letter "V". As the vehicle passes through smart points on the toy it plays music and says different phrases which is great for increasing babies and toddler's vocabulary. |
Vtech Drop and Go Truck
  
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This is the perfect vehicle toy for this age group.
It's big and chunky so little hands will have no problems moving it around. They can also use it as a pull along toy once they are toddling. As well as pushing and pulling the vehicle which my boys would have just spent hours doing at this age, there are lots of other activities. Put the balls in the top of the truck and it will fall into the bucket. Hear the truck count the balls as the go in. Then lift the hinged bucket to unload the rocks and start again!! There are also 3 colorful buttons to press that play melodies, phrases and teach tools and colors. |
For Energetic Kids - Vtech Smart Shots Sports Center
  
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Suitable for kids aged 1 and up this is a great way to introduce very young children to balls and sporting activities.
Both my boys loved balls between the ages of 1 and 2, like a lot of children do. This toy allows you to shoot baskets and score goals. It counts the number of shots scored too so a great way to introduce numbers. There is an animated board which displays the number. There's also shape buttons which introduce shapes, numbers and sounds. The toy has over 50+ songs, sounds and phrases. And there's gears to turn which is great for developing fine motor skills. |
Kids Ball Pit Tents and Tunnels
  
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This is an awesome toy with tons of play value.
1 year olds will love crawling through the tunnels to sit and play in the ball pit. (Balls aren't included). As they get older they can have a go at shooting balls into the hoop. There are other games to play too including a super cool target wall (with 3 dart balls included). The entire play jungle gym pops up and open in seconds! Tunnels fasten closed with frustration-free easy-locks. It easily bends and folds away in the included lightweight carry case. |
Books
Although books are not strictly toys, babies love playing with them and having stories read to them. Lift the flap books are particularly popular. There are some great lift the flap books for 1 year olds. When looking for lift the flap books, choose books with big flaps as they are easier for little fingers to open.Also I've learned from experience, never leave alone a baby or a toddler with a lift the flap books as their game will become rip off the flaps!My own 1 year old loves the Karen Katz book featured below.
Where is Baby's Belly Button?
  
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This book has big flaps so is perfect for younger children and my 1 year old son enjoys looking at it.
Each page has a question such as "Where's baby's belly button?" and an answer such as "under her shirt". You then lift the flap to find baby's belly button. It's great for teaching body parts and other vocabulary. My baby enjoys flipping the pages of the board book and helping me lift the flaps too. |
Musical Toys
When buying toys for babies and toddlers it is very noticable that many of toys have music and songs. Also throughout time nursery rhymes have developed due to adults singing to babies.
Music and songs is very good for babies. Babies respond to and appreciate music. It is also instrumental in the early wiring of a babies brain. Singing to babies helps them learn language as the words are slowed down and emphasized.
Babies and toddlers learn a lot through rhythm too. Rhythm is also fantastic for language development and helps babies learn how words should sound.
There are tons of musical toys for 1 year olds that they will love, check out some ideas below.
Music and songs is very good for babies. Babies respond to and appreciate music. It is also instrumental in the early wiring of a babies brain. Singing to babies helps them learn language as the words are slowed down and emphasized.
Babies and toddlers learn a lot through rhythm too. Rhythm is also fantastic for language development and helps babies learn how words should sound.
There are tons of musical toys for 1 year olds that they will love, check out some ideas below.
Fisher-Price Bright Beats Smart Touch Play Space
  
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This toy accommodates babies who are sitting, crawling, standing or crusing. So whatever stage the 1 year old you are buying for is at, it will suit them. It will also grow with as a 1 year develops too.
The toy features a smart bar which responds to babies touch with music, lights, colors, sung songs & more!! There are 3 ways to play. Piano play allow baby to sit in the middle and press the bar for different piano notes, music and lights. In the dance party mode babies are encouraged to get up and move with upbeat music, spoken phrases, sounds & instruments as baby cruises around and touches the bar. The learning mode taches baby ABCs, counting, numbers. There is also a game where baby looks, cruises and follows the moving lights. On top of this the toy features ramps for fun ball play, a spinner and a colorful, bat-at roller ball. |
Drum
1 year olds will love the effect of making noise when banging the mallets on a drum. Drums introduces babies and toddlers to rhythm and music. My son is now 2 1/2 and still loves banging on drums so I think it will be a drum will be a toy that lasts.
Vtech Drum Set
  
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This is a cool little drum set. Be aware it's smaller than it looks in the picture but that doesn't make it any less of a great toy.
Although the drums are actually aimed at 2 to 5 year olds, 1 year olds will really enjoy banging on this. They can use the two drumsticks or if they are not ready for these yet, it will work by using their hands too. 1 year olds will enjoy using the free play mode the most. Here they can just bang away to their hearts content and enjoy the lights and sounds that respond to their movements. |
There are lots of learning elements with this toy that will be great when babies get to age 2 or 3. This means this toy will grow with a child too so there should be lots of use to come out of it. The learning elements include follow the lights and learning numbers and letters.
Fat Brain Toys Dimpl
  
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This is a very unique to that little fingers can't resist.
It's a simple but brilliant toy that really keeps little one's attention. The toy features 5 vibrant silicone bubbles that you can push and pop through the other side. It's portable and lightweight so really easy to transport and makes a great travel toy. It engages thes sense and helps fine motor skills. The sensory exploration facilitates cause and effect learning. |
This is what an awesome 1 year old looks like
  
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A very cute 1st birthday onesie that comes in a variety of different colors.
He or she can wear it on their birthday but can also wear it all year long too. It's 100% cotton so soft and comfortable for baby to wear. |
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