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Birthday Gift Ideas for One-Year-Olds (Gender Neutral)

  • Writer: Brittney Kovacs
    Brittney Kovacs
  • Feb 4
  • 3 min read

Updated: Feb 20

Figuring out the right gifts for kids of any age can be difficult, so I am here to help. Typically, the easiest thing to do is to ask the parent if there are any specific toys they have in mind. However, if they have no ideas either, I've got your back.

My go-to for kids ages newborn to five years would normally be some kind of Montessori toy. These are toys that combine learning and fun to help small children develop many crucial skills during their more impressionable years. For a baby turning one year old, I would suggest any of the following Montessori toys:

Coin Box helps babies work on fine motor skills, object permanence, and hand-eye coordination.
Coin Box helps babies work on fine motor skills, object permanence, and hand-eye coordination.
Busy Cube toys help babies learn fine motor skills, as well as problem solving, while enhancing creative and cognitive development.
Busy Cube toys help babies learn fine motor skills, as well as problem solving, while enhancing creative and cognitive development.
This multi-sensory shape toy helps with several different skills, including fine motor, spatial reasoning, and tactile exploration.
This multi-sensory shape toy helps with several different skills, including fine motor, spatial reasoning, and tactile exploration.

Another category I like to explore when it comes to tiny tots is the busy books and busy boards section. These not only help young kids develop and strengthen important life skills, but they also really do keep them busy for more than 30 seconds, unlike other toys. They come in all colors and sizes, and have so many different activities built in. These awesome toys are also perfect for travel! They typically stay attached to the book or board, so the pieces won't get lost, and most busy books do not have sound, so they won't be grating on your brain. Here are two of my favorites:

8-in-1 busy board book for toddlers helps learn all different skills, including colors, numbers, shapes, and letters.
8-in-1 busy board book for toddlers helps learn all different skills, including colors, numbers, shapes, and letters.
Made with natural wood and organic paints, this busy board is an amazing example of all the activities included to keep your tot busy and learning!
Made with natural wood and organic paints, this busy board is an amazing example of all the activities included to keep your tot busy and learning!

As far as the typical "fun toys" to get for a one-year-old, there are loads of options for those as well. I will list a few that seem to be the go-to toys if you want to be the ultimate gift giver at the party this year...starting with a ball pit and tunnel, of course!

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While most parents seem to be springing for the thick memory foam pool to fill with pastel and beige colored balls, while paying upwards of $70 (not including the price for balls), this ball pit/tunnel/tent combo not only stimulates the mind with color and activity, but it is also only $30 (not including the price for balls). That's all to say this type of ball pit toy does get more expensive the bigger they are and the more tunnels they have, but they are half the price of a simple foam pool you just sit in. For the crunchy moms, they do actually have a couple beige versions of this for you as well.


Boy and girls alike seem to love this fun little truck, complete with colorful "rocks" and sounds. Little one puts the rock in the round hole on top, and it tumbles into the bucket. They can then use the lever on the side to dump the bucket and do it again! This toy also has buttons on the side that help teach numbers and colors!

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These classic guys have been around since the dawn of time, and honestly, they have never failed to be the best gift! Just look at what I've posted, and you'll understand.

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Finally, what do you get when you mix cardboard with fun? Books for babies, of course! There are so many options for all differing ages when it comes to books, but my staple type that I love for age one would be the poke-a-dot books. They are simple, but fun, while also STILL helping your kid with their fine motor and hand-eye coordination skills. Here are a couple cute ones linked just for you:

These are perfect for a baby turning one and just learning to talk!
These are perfect for a baby turning one and just learning to talk!
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I hope this helped you to either directly find a gift or guide you towards the right idea of what you are looking for in a birthday present for a one-year-old! If you need more suggestions or have a different type of toy you are in search of, feel free to comment below, or go to the "contact us" section of the blog and write to me!

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Hi, thanks for stopping by!

My name is Brittney, and my goal with this blog is to help parents with kids of all ages find whatever they may be looking for as far as party themes, decor, gifts, and more!

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