Gift Ideas for 1 year old girls: 18 of our favorites

Looking for a Christmas gift for a one year old? Maybe a little girl you know has a first birthday party coming up?

Today I’m sharing my favorite gift ideas for 1 year old girls- from a mom who has had two of them. These are the things both of my girls played with the entire time they were 1- and some of them, they continued to play with when they were 2 or even 3.

 

1. A baby doll

Emma’s grandparents bought the only baby doll they could find at the store that was labeled as “safe” for one year olds. It has a completely soft body, and Emma loves it. To this day she will not go to bed without it. This one comes in a few different ethnicities.

If your little munchkin already has a special baby doll, baby accessories are also sure to be a hit.

2. Mega Bloks

These are like legos, but bigger. (Better for little fingers.) Even if your one year old doesn’t build with them yet, they certainly will be able to before their second birthday!

3. Ball pit balls

This was a yard sale purchase for us, and has been a huge hit with every kid that has come over to our house to play. We bought a ton of balls, and we keep them in this inflatable pool.

The pool is pretty small, which means that the balls are deeper and it doesn’t take up a ton of space. I will say that you’ll probably need more balls than you think you do. I thought the 2 huge garbage bags full that we got would be way too many, but it’s actually perfect.

4. A play purse

One year olds are very interested in everything that isn’t theirs… like Mom’s purse, wallet, keys, etc. So they’ll love having their own purse full of goodies!

We bought this purse for Kate on her first birthday, and I have to say, it is adorable! Just be careful because there are a couple of smaller pieces in this one.

5. A play kitchen

We didn’t want to get a play kitchen. We don’t like clutter, and didn’t feel like we had room for one. However, we gave in when we found one that was so small it would fit against the wall in our dining room. Best decision ever.

Now when we are cooking, the girls “cook” too. Not only do they love it, but the kitchen is also very popular with friends who come over to play. Don’t forget to stock up on some yummy plastic food.

Oh, and if you’re feeling really wild, consider creating a functional toddler kitchen with running water- like we did here!

6. Pots and pans

These are super realistic- just mini. They’re kind of adorable. The girls really like to wash these in the sink, or “cook” pompoms in them.

7. Tea set and dishes

Our girls loved setting up tea parties for their stuffed animals- especially when we let them pour with real water!

8. Sandbox

What one year old doesn’t love sand? I had one of these when I was little, and I guess some things just don’t change, because Emma and Kate love theirs just as much as I remember loving mine. Don’t forget the sand toys!

9. Water table

I didn’t understand water tables before I had a toddler, but now I get it. Here’s what’s so great about them:

• Toddlers like to stand up. Here’s something they can play with while standing.
• In a world where not much is low enough for them to reach, here’s a table that’s just the perfect height for them.
• Toddlers LOVE splashing and playing in water. Now they can do it outside where there will be no mess to clean up.
• It’s fast and easy to fill, drain and clean.

This water table also has a little slide for the plastic ducks, which amused my daughter to no end. We spent many happy summer days splashing in this table.

10. Inflatable Pool

Simple inflatable baby pools are not too expensive, and they provide hours and hours of outdoor fun for us every summer. Our water toys range from fancy water wheels to shampoo rinsers to empty bottles from our recycling bin.

11. Cozy Coup Car

Here’s another one that’s been around since I was a kid. . . and it’s still one of the most popular toys among the kids every time we have a backyard barbecue.

12. Art Supplies

Have you seen the art station that I created for Emma? If your little one has a love for art like mine does, an area like this will be very well used! Click here for my top 10 favorite art supplies for toddlers.

13. Play-Doh

Play-doh is great for restaurants, quiet table time, the kitchen floor while you’re making dinner, etc. I really enjoy doing play-doh with the kids, because they make so many cool play-doh toys now.

14. A shopping cart

Our cart has been the star of so many pretend shopping trips. Emma used to put her baby doll and her purse in the seat, and then go to the “store” (her play kitchen) and fill her cart with food. We even gave her “credit cards” (used gift cards) to pay for her purchases. She felt like such a grownup!

15. Books

We are huge readers around here. Click here to see my top 15 favorite books to read with babies and toddlers. These are our tried-and-true favorites. Any one of the books on this list would make a great gift.

And if you really want to take it to the next level, get the grandparents, aunts and uncles to each record themselves reading a book out loud, and create a listening library that your baby will love for years to come.

16. A bubble machine

Toddlers love bubbles, but sometimes it can be frustrating (and messy!) for them when they can’t figure out how to blow them themselves. That’s why we’re such fans of bubble machines. Plus, Mom and Dad won’t get light-headed from all that blowing. 😉

17. Bath crayons

These bath crayons are the BEST. They are really vibrant and easy to use. They wipe off super easily in just a few seconds with a wet washcloth. Just make sure you wipe off the drawings at the end of bath time. If you let them sit overnight you’ll have to scrub a little bit to get them off. 😉

18. Musical instruments

These Melissa and Doug instruments are great for toddlers. (What toddler doesn’t love to make noise, after all?) And they’re not too loud or obnoxious for listening adults, either. These are one of our favorite first birthday party gifts to give.

P.S. While you’re at in, check out this post about The Top 10 Best Movement Songs for Toddlers for our favorite songs to sing and dance along to.

So there you have it!

The best gifts for one year old girls. Surefire winners for first birthday parties and Christmas presents.

Did I miss anything? Let me know if you have a favorite that’s not on the list. 🙂

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Check out these other posts on The Organized Mom Life:

Top 10 best movement songs for toddlers

Road trip activities for toddlers and preschoolers

Why you should absolutely give your toddler a camera