A mini human being that you can’t imagine you once looked like. But still, you did. Incredibly fun, of course, but that girl’s birthday is coming up, and you still have no idea what gift to give. A problem with an easy solution, as it doesn’t need to be a real problem. Read in this blog about the best gifts for a 1-year-old girl. Additionally, read all kinds of relevant information that leads both you and us to the choice of these gifts.
Directly to the best gifts? Click here
Developmental Stage of a 1-Year-Old Girl
First of all, we want to point out that the milestones we mention are only general guidelines. Each child develops at their own pace, and some will develop certain skills earlier or later than others. Be patient, focus on individual needs, and respect her pace as your one-year-old girl goes through a beautiful development. Oh yes, a fun fact is that the girl is no longer a baby but can proudly take on the title of ‘toddler.’
Know that a 1-year-old girl is still completely dependent on adults. She can do very little on her own and will not develop much without support. Let her practice motor skills, among other things. For example, fine motor skills will change significantly. Where she can now only grasp with her whole hand, by the end of the year, she will even be able to perform a pincer grasp. Furthermore, the senses will develop rapidly. Hearing, seeing, smelling, and exploring by touching and mouthing; you name it, and progress will be seen. Putting everything in her mouth may not be very handy, but it is a sign of progress. Alertness is thus of the highest priority (she might accidentally swallow something…).
In the coming year, she will improve her crawling skills and even start walking independently. Mom and dad will be addressed from now on, and she will babble several words. This probably only happens near mom and dad because other adults and people are still a bit scary. She understands who her trusted people are and who are not. Some children will become very quiet when in contact with strangers, while (among others) your girl will start crying. Emotions (joy, sadness, and frustration) will also be better displayed. Very fun, if you ask us.
Don’ts (types of gifts you don’t want to buy for a 1-year-old girl)
What do you buy for a 1-year-old girl? Quickly check out our 10 gift categories. But what do you not buy for a 1-year-old girl? In any case, items with sharp edges, small parts, or toxic components are absolutely not recommended for a 1-year-old girl. Another thing that is not ‘suitable’ is gender-specific toys. Your girl is not yet concerned with that, so why ‘forbid’ her from playing with cars or toy tools? Let her imagination run wild and encourage her to try everything, instead of putting her in a box right away.
What is an appropriate budget for this age?
Let’s start by saying that a 1-year-old girl has absolutely no knowledge or awareness of money. She won’t see the difference between a ten-pound stuffed animal and a climbing frame costing almost eighty pounds. However, it is often more customary for parents to give a larger gift than, for example, the neighbor. So the neighbor indeed shows up with that stuffed animal, while a parent gives a fun climbing frame that stimulates motor skills.
- Parents/caregivers: £30.00 to …
- Immediate family members (uncle & aunt, grandparents): £10.00 to £50.00
- Neighbors/acquaintances: £5.00 – £20.00
Keep these amounts as a possibility and not as advice. You are not obligated to purchase anything.
Further Tips
At this age, children mainly explore the world through their senses. Choose toys that offer different textures, colors, and sounds to stimulate her senses. Think of storybooks where, for example, you can feel the ‘skin’ of each animal or some sensory blocks. In other words: buy something to stimulate her development. Gifts without any developmental value can be given often enough in the coming years. It may sound harsh, but you also want your one-year-old girl to develop optimally, right? A combination of ‘useless’ gifts and gifts that stimulate her development is also fine. In fact, it’s just a tip, not a ‘must’.
1. Stacking Tower
Building, knocking down, starting again, accidentally knocking over, starting again, and so on. A stacking tower will be rebuilt over and over, only to collapse again. Not because that’s the intention, but because your little toddler of a few months is simply not very good at building yet. Playing with a stacking tower is likely an activity you want to do together with an adult or other older person. So, everyone basically understands the concept of a stacking tower, and we don’t need to explain it to you again. Take a look at the selection we have made, choose one, and buy it. You can’t really go wrong with this unless the 1-year-old girl already has fifteen others.
2. Stuffed Animals
Not all children love stuffed animals, and the benefits we are about to mention do not apply to all children. However, we will mention the benefits because they might mean something to your little one. First of all, whether it’s a cute teddy bear, a fluffy bunny, or a friendly giraffe, it will certainly become a beloved friend for this little girl. If the stuffed animal goes everywhere with her, she will never feel alone. A stuffed animal provides comfort and supports other aspects of her emotional development. Moreover, a stuffed animal stimulates her imagination as she plays and explores. We believe she can’t have enough of them, but of course, it’s entirely up to you how you handle it.
3. Children’s Books
The big little girl can’t read yet, but that doesn’t mean you should ignore books. Having a parent read to her is incredibly important for development. Not only for everything related to reading but also for things like emotion regulation, sense of time, and such. Choose a book that you think she will like the subject of. This ensures that the girl gets involved and interested in more. It’s best to choose a book with many pictures (a picture book) at this age; otherwise, it quickly becomes unrelatable. And you do want the girl to be tired enough to go to sleep and dream after you’ve read to her. We’ve made a selection of books for you below, but feel free to look further on the website because there are many more books.
4. Musical Toys
For a 1-year-old girl, you don’t necessarily need to think of a toy guitar that’s bigger than she is, but possibly other items. For example, there are music books. When she presses the buttons in the book, fun sounds or melodies play, stimulating curiosity and discovery. Alternatively, you could choose a rattle or plush musical instrument. Keep it simple and don’t burden her with something like a xylophone just yet. She’s only 1, not 3 like her big sister. It might be something she’s not ready for yet. Then you either buy it to grow into, or you choose something from the other gift ideas we’ve listed for you here.
5. Balance Bike
A balance bike is probably an item used from about 18 months old. However, it also depends on the balance bike how attractive it is for the girl to use it. If you choose a stable tricycle, it can be used much earlier than a two-wheeler. It is recommended to always let the little one wear a helmet to prevent accidental injuries. We think there is a good chance she might bump into something. Since everything in the head is still developing, you want to protect it well. But a tricycle, therefore. If the little girl can walk quite smoothly, you might consider switching to a two-wheeler.
6. Children’s Bookcase
All those books that the little one, or actually her parents, have collected over the years need to be stored somewhere. What about a children’s bookcase? This is a small bookcase where she can reach all the shelves herself. You can fill all the shelves with books, but if you have some space left, it’s also fun to place some non-breakable decorative items. Just something like her favorite toy or a stuffed animal she doesn’t sleep with. See a children’s bookcase more as a storage unit than a classic bookcase as you might imagine it. But you probably already saw that in the products below, we thought. We can already imagine what the ‘child and bookcase’ picture looks like. Super cute!
7. Hammer Bench
Can you remember the newborn phase of your child? Yes, well, you’re not the only one. It was complicated, heavy, but at the same time, the little one slept a large part of the day. Much more than she does now, you could say. But just because they sleep a lot doesn’t mean they don’t have energy. Especially at certain times, it’s serious, and the energy almost bursts through the roof. A great way to practice motor skills and lose a lot of energy is through a hammer bench. Although you generally don’t please the parents of the little child much with the noise, it will be appreciated by the little one. Choose a hammer bench with nice colors or in the color that matches the interior where she spends most of her time.
8. Activity Cube
An activity cube is a versatile toy that helps young children develop various skills. With colorful shapes, spinning gears, buttons to press, and more, the cube offers a range of activities to stimulate the senses and motor skills. Its interactive nature encourages curiosity and problem-solving. It is an educational and fun toy that promotes the development of young children. In principle, this is a type of toy that does not always hold interest. However, it is something fun to take in the car, for example. It distracts the child from the long journey, doesn’t take up too much space, and doesn’t consist of loose parts that can get lost. In other words, this is an item you just want to have in the house.
9. Montessori Toys
Montessori toys are based on the principles of the Montessori educational method. These toys are designed to stimulate children’s natural curiosity and independence while also promoting their sensory perception, motor skills, and cognitive development. Examples of Montessori toys include sensory materials such as stackable blocks, sorting and counting materials, puzzles with simple geometric shapes, and activities that help the child develop practical skills such as buttoning and zipping. You’ll see that they are made from natural materials and are immensely popular with young parents. Buying Montessori toys does not necessarily mean you will send her to a Montessori primary school later.
10. Walker
A walker is a piece of equipment designed to help young children learn to walk. It usually consists of a sturdy (wooden) frame with a handle and four wheels. Children can hold onto the handle while walking behind the walker. Walkers are, for your information, often equipped with colorful elements such as blocks or other activities that attract the child’s interest. Besides functionality, it also has interesting features through literal toys. They did this very cleverly because it keeps the child busy with things like bending, standing up, balance, and movement without focusing on it. A wonderful thing for, often, a wonderful price.
