First Birthday Toddler Toys

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I’m going to be honest, I think people put too much emphasis on first birthdays these days. Heck, I think people are putting too much emphasis on most birthdays these days. Even adults who still feel the need to celebrate their birthdays with extravagant events are annoying to me. As we approach our girl’s first birthday I think it’s elicited my true feelings on birthdays. It’s also funny to compare what our celebration is planned to look like vs. what my sister (who’s son is a couple months older than our daughter) is planning for their birthday celebration. However, just because I think the celebrations are a lot does not mean I think the gifts can be overlooked. The first birthday is a chance to go from baby toys to toddler toys and it means they are getting more active and require more activities to keep them moving and wear them out! I struggled with what to get both kids so I decided to put together a list to make first birthday toddler toys much easier for you to purchase.

Clarification

Just so we’re clear, our girl will NOT be getting all of these. We’ll likely pick one or two and her grandparents will pick something and that will be it. The rest will give me more ideas for the future and things like Christmas gifts or we’ll add it to the list of Easter ideas.

Water Table

First up on our first birthday toddler toys list is a water table. These are great and keep kids occupied. Most kids are walking around one year of age and they can at least pull themselves up to stand by things and splash in the water. Our girl loves to splash so I know this one would be a huge hit around here. (Plus I happen to know this is her gift from her grandparents and she is going to love it.)

Balance Bike

A lot of people wait to get balance bikes until around 2 but I don’t think one is too early. They can still walk with it and climb all over it. It’s a really good tool to help them start to get balance and the earlier they can get that the better. This one has light up wheels which just seems so exciting for a kid, too!

Climbing Set 

There are a couple different options for climbing sets and I like both of them so I’m going to share them both. 

The first is a Pikler set. This is more of the Montessori variety, but it allows kids to climb, crawl, stand, etc. They have different elements which help to build different skills and abilities. I also like that you can get them smaller or larger. Most small sets typically have 3 pieces that connect to each other in various ways but can also be used individually. There are larger and more expensive sets that contain even more pieces and activities. 

The second is just a set of foam blocks. The wood seems like a lot for a toddler at certain points and it’s obviously going to create some bumps and bruises. If you are worried about that but still trying to get a similar effect, the foam blocks are a great option. They still allow kids to crawl, climb, and slide around on them. 

Activity Cube

The cool part about this activity cube is that it has so much combined into one. It can be a walker that helps them as they take those first steps. Plus, it has tons of different activities that can be done while they are sitting or standing to help them build more skills. 

Ball Pit

To be honest, unless someone gives it as a gift, there is no way one of these is coming in my house. They are so dang popular though and people love them. I, on the other hand, can’t imagine having to pick up all those balls all the time. I have friends who can attest to the fact that the balls end up everywhere. You find them all the time. I don’t need that level of chaos in our house but if you’re up for it I’m sure your child will thank you in the form of giggles, smiles, and balls.

Musical Instruments

Another one that I don’t want to let in my house but will probably make the cut. Music is so helpful for kids as they develop. Allowing them to hear the different sounds and figure out how they are made can be super educational and good for their brain development. Sure, they are loud and can be annoying, but on our list of first birthday toddler toys it’s important to have some things that are more learning centric. 

Sprinkler

This one might be dependent on the time of year that your child has a birthday but I’m still going to include it. It’s cheap so you can always tuck it away for later. A sprinkler is so great for helping kids beat the heat! It’s so cute how they love to see and play with the water as it sprays everywhere. Keep them occupied for a while and get a break or run through it with them. 

2 in 1 Tricycle

I know I already included a bike on our first birthday toddler toys list but I want to include another option because I like them both for different reasons. The reason I like the 2 in 1 tricycle is that it helps with kids who aren’t walking super well or it’s great if your family likes to take walks. Put your child on it and push them for the walk instead of a carrier or the stroller. This allows them to get up and off of it as you go along. This means they can use more of their energy and it also helps them build skills to get on and off. I’m not sure which one we’ll end up with but I do like the idea of this one so that I can push her until she’s more ready to ride by herself. 

Cozy Coupe

The Cozy Coupe is a classic gift for kids. Though I highly recommend you check facebook marketplace for a used one, there are plenty of different options on Amazon. You can go with the classic, truck, dinosaur, pink, princess truck, etc. There are so many different varieties and you can choose the perfect one for your little. Such a fun toy for them and you can probably boast that you had one too! 

If you’re feeling super into the cozy coupe you can grab the gas pump for it, too. Such a fun little piece that allows them to be just like mom and dad and pump their own gas. 

Battery Operated Ride On

This is the variable Mack Daddy of the first birthday toddler toys list. There are so many options for ride-ons for kids these days. Jeeps, tractors, excavators, motorcycles, trucks, side by sides, cars, dumptrucks, quads, and probably even more than that. These are a staple for kids and I love that they come at all different price points to make it so they aren’t so hard on the budget too. They’ve finally made them affordable for more people but you can also check your local facebook marketplace because this is another good one to find used. 

In Summary: First Birthday Toddler Toys

I tend to treat holidays and birthday the same way. Christmas follows a form of something you want, something you need, something to wear, and something to read. That’s what I anticipate doing for her birthday as well. I think it’s so important to help your kids build libraries! However, I also recommend thriftbooks because used books are so much cheaper. I’ll usually grab a couple of outfits, sometimes from the thrift store and sometimes on sale. The something she needs and wants are usually bigger items because that’s just how it goes so far. Thankfully she has a wonderful set of grandparents and aunt and uncle who will spoil her with one of these too and that narrows down our options too. I’m honestly thinking it’s going to be the ride on for her. Stay tuned, I’m sure I’ll share more of my mama heart as we approach that day. 

What are your birthday traditions? We’re hoping to start some new ones and I can’t wait so I’d love some good ideas.