1st Birthday Gifts

Great gifts for a 1-year-old focus on building motor skills, cause-and-effect understanding, and sensory exploration.

A padded play mat or a baby beanbag is a lovely place to start, and a ball pit suits babies who can sit unaided. It's always worth checking the age guidance on each product page.

At one year old, most children aren't fussy about colours or themes, so the best gifts for girls and boys are the same: something safe, tactile and fun to explore. If you're unsure, soft neutral colours are a lovely choice and you can check out our unisex gifts page for more inspiration.

There's no right amount. Grandparents often choose one larger gift, such as a ball pit or a new piece of nursery furniture for their adult children, while friends and cousins might pick a baby gift under £100, like a play mat. 

If several people would like to give, one shared gift can work better than lots of small ones.

Look for items that adapt as a child grows rather than toys meant for a single developmental stage such as:

• A baby beanbag or child-sized armchair offers a comfortable spot for infants and converts into a cosy seat for reading and relaxing through the toddler years.
• Padded play mats provide a cushioned floor space for early crawling and walking that later serves as a soft base for imaginative play.
• Hardcover storybooks and sturdy board books spark early language skills and remain bedtime favourites for years.
• Nursery wall art and framed prints bring warmth to their room and can be kept as decorative keepsakes as they grow.
• Keepsake memory books give parents a dedicated place to record milestones and childhood memories to look back on together.
• Classic wooden building blocks encourage open-ended creative play, hand-eye coordination, and problem-solving skills throughout early childhood.

Yes. The Bola Baby Ball Pit is suitable from 6 months, or when baby can sit unaided, up to 4 years. It has foam edges and comes with 200 balls, and the cover is removable and machine washable at 30°C. As with any play equipment, stay close while your little one explores.

If your little one already has lots of toys, it can help to look beyond them. A baby beanbag or a play mat gives them somewhere cosy to sit and play, and a gift card lets the family choose what suits their home.