Non toy gifts for 1 year olds:
If your 1 year old doesn’t need any more toys, and you’re looking for meaningful, practical gifts for them that they will actually use and enjoy, then look no further.
As a mom of four, I’ve gathered a list of my favorite non toy gift ideas for 1 year olds, and I’m so excited to share it with you.
Related:
Gift ideas for kids they will actually use all year long
Amazon Idea List:
You can also view all these ideas on my Amazon idea list:
OK, let’s get to the list:
23 non toy gifts for 1 year olds
Note: As an Amazon, Bentgo, and Chatbook Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This post contains affiliate links, meaning that if you choose to click through and make a purchase, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.
1. A family photo book
You can make a board book on Shutterfly that has a picture of a different family member on each page.
We’ve made a book like this for each of my kids when they turn 1, and they love it!
We include aunts, uncles, grandparents and cousins. It’s a super fun way to practice learning the names of everyone in your family.
We also LOVE Chatbooks!
We get the monthly minis every month. They take me less than 5 minutes to make using the photos on my phone, and they cost $8 each, which is a little mind blowing. And my kids look at them over and over again. Definitely a favorite.
2. A new cup or water bottle
| Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
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Contigo Kids Spill-Proof 14oz Tumbler… |
$21.28 |
Buy on Amazon |
|
Bubba Flo Kids Water Bottle with… | Buy on Amazon |
1 year olds love things that belong to grownups (or older siblings.) So a big kid cup or water bottle is perfect for them.
We have both the water bottle and the cups pictured above, and they’ve both held up really well so far.
3. Diapers and wipes
| Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
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Amazon Brand – Mama Bear Gentle Touch… |
$32.25 |
Buy on Amazon |
|
Amazon Elements Baby Wipes, Unscented,… |
$18.95 |
Buy on Amazon |
1 year olds do not need a lot. But they probably do need diapers and wipes. Why not wrap them up as a gift? They’ll think it’s just so fun to unwrap a big box, and it’s actually something you will use. Win-win.
4. Pajamas, a robe, and slippers
| Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
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Simple Joys by Carter’s Baby Boys’… |
$25.92 |
Buy on Amazon |
|
Simple Joys by Carter’s Girls’ 4-Piece… |
$19.85 |
Buy on Amazon |
|
Rising Star Baby Boy Robe – Soft Plush… |
$14.99 |
Buy on Amazon |
A cute new pair of pajamas is always fun.
You could also get them a cute little bathrobe or a pair of fuzzy slippers. Just think about the adorable photos you’ll get!
5. A new toothbrush
| Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
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Colgate Kids Battery Powered Toothbrush,… |
$11.00 |
Buy on Amazon |
|
Colgate Kids Battery Powered Toothbrush,… |
$4.19 |
Buy on Amazon |
New toothbrushes every once in a while are a necessity- why not make it fun by picking out a toothbrush with a fun character on it?
6. Tickets or experiences
There are so many possibilities here, including tickets, memberships, gift cards or gift certificates, lesson vouchers or enrollment, or even money to put towards an event or experience. Here are a few ideas to get you thinking:
- Swimming lessons
- Zoo tickets or membership
- Aquarium tickets or membership
- Petting zoo tickets
- A live show
- Tickets for a scenic train ride
- Tickets to a fair or amusement park
- Indoor playground
- Children’s museum or playhouse
- Toddler music classes
- Dance or gymnastics classes
- A baseball game
- Baby/toddler gym
7. Money for a college fund
If you haven’t already, consider opening a 529 college savings plan for your child, and asking family members to contribute for their birthday or Christmas. It might not be super exciting for your kids now, but they will definitely appreciate it down the road.
8. A backpack or lunchbox
| Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
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Skip Hop Toddler Backpack Leash, Zoo,… |
$19.99 |
Buy on Amazon |
I’ve found that sometime during their first year, kids start getting excited about things like backpacks and lunchboxes- especially if they see older siblings who use these things regularly.
Get your little one a backpack or lunchbox, and they can use it to bring along their own diapers, wipes, water, snacks, or toys when they go on a trip.
You can use the lunchbox for special snacks or picnic lunches at the playground. The Bentgo Kids is my favorite, and it is truly leak-proof. Don’t forget to fill it with snacks before you wrap it up!
9. A travel bag
| Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
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PUMA Kids’ Evercat Transformation Duffel | Buy on Amazon | |
|
IntiMom Kids Toiletry Bag Cute Kids Wash… | Buy on Amazon |
These little bags are perfect for vacations or sleepovers with the grandparents. And this kid-friendly travel toiletry bag is just so fun.
10. Art supplies
| Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
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Crayola Classic Color Pack Crayons 16… |
$4.65 |
Buy on Amazon |
|
Do A Dot Art! Markers 6-Pack Rainbow… |
$17.99 |
Buy on Amazon |
|
Crayola Washable Finger Paints (6ct),… |
$16.49 |
Buy on Amazon |
|
Melissa & Doug Drawing Paper Pad (9 x 12… |
$12.62 |
Buy on Amazon |
You can see the full list of all our favorite toddler art supplies here. But the links above are a great place to get started.
11. A new plate and silverware
Personal plates and silverware make meals so much fun for little eaters. We have everything linked above, and use them all regularly.
12. Books
| Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
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Goodnight, Gorilla | $11.96 | Buy on Amazon |
|
Where Is Baby’s Belly Button? A… |
$5.57 |
Buy on Amazon |
|
Llama Llama Red Pajama |
$5.47 |
Buy on Amazon |
Here are a few of our favorites. If you’re curious to see our full list of favorite books for 1 year olds, check out 15 amazing books for babies and toddlers.
13. A magazine subscription
Here are 3 of our favorite magazines for babies and toddlers. They are all fantastic.
14. Clothes
If you are in need of clothes, don’t be afraid to ask friends and family to buy clothes for your 1 year old’s first birthday (or Christmas.) People love to shop for tiny little clothes. 🥰
In addition to everyday outfits, don’t forget about jackets or coats, shoes, socks, boots, swimsuits, sun hats, dress outfits, or anything else that you might need over the next year.
15. Panda Crates
Note: I am an affiliate with KiwiCo, which means that if you choose to make a purchase, I earn a commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products that I truly love. ☺️
Panda Crates are the baby version of Kiwi Crates. It’s a subscription service, although you can also buy individual crates. They are fantastic and loaded with play-based learning toys and tools for babies and toddlers. We love them.
16. Favorite snacks
| Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
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Pepperidge Farm Goldfish Cheddar… |
$12.99 |
Buy on Amazon |
|
GoGo squeeZ Applesauce and Fruit Puree… |
$12.58 |
Buy on Amazon |
It can be really fun to wrap up some of your 1 year old’s favorite snacks and give them to him or her. They’ll love unwrapping them, and be super excited to try them all out!
17. Gift cards to a favorite restaurant or ice cream shop
Think about a place nearby where you could take your 1 year old for a special treat: ice cream, frozen yogurt or Italian ice. Or it might be a local coffee/donut shop or bakery. Toddlers love special outings!
18. Outdoor play clothes
This idea might include rain/mud gear, like rain boots or a rain suit. Or, depending on where you live, it might be a good idea to get your 1 year old snow boots, a snow suit, a hat and mittens. Either way, they’re sure to enjoy spending time playing outside in all kinds of weather.
19. A toddler travel bed
| Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
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Intex Kids Travel Air Mattress… |
$28.99 |
Buy on Amazon |
Once your toddler has grown out of his or her travel crib (we used a pack-and-play) it can be a good idea to invest in a travel bed like this one.
20. An inflatable pool or sprinkler
| Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
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Melissa & Doug Sunny Patch Splash Patrol… |
$14.99 |
Buy on Amazon |
|
Jasonwell Splash Pad Sprinkler for Kids… |
$23.99 |
Buy on Amazon |
|
Intex Inflatable Stars Kiddie 2 Ring… |
$14.46 |
Buy on Amazon |
Think ahead to things that you can use in a different season: 1 year olds love little inflatable pools, splash pads, and sprinklers! They’re perfect for the deck or the backyard.
21. A music center
| Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
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Augshy 24 Packs Shaker Musical… |
$17.95 |
Buy on Amazon |
|
Novelty Place 12Pcs Dance Juggling… |
$9.95 |
Buy on Amazon |
|
Magnavox MD6924 Portable Top Loading CD… |
$32.99 |
Buy on Amazon |
Dancing to music is one of my favorite things to do with toddlers. It’s such a fun way to play with them! We use things like shaker eggs, dancing scarves, simple instruments, and songs with actions or motions.
(Check out a list of my favorite movement songs for toddlers here)
And you’ll also need a way to play music for your 1 year old. We love the Echo Dot because our kids can use it themselves at a pretty early age (pretty much as soon as they can speak clearly enough to be understood.)
And, as crazy as it sounds, we also have a CD player in each of our kids’ bedrooms. They can figure out how to use it themselves by the time they’re 2 or 3, and we love to check out CDs from the library for free.
There are other listening devices available as well, and I’m sure any of them would be a hit, and something to grow with your child for years to come.
22. A bird feeder
| Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
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WENMIXER Window Bird Feeder with… |
$15.99 |
Buy on Amazon |
My kids have all been fascinated with animals, including birds, at this age. A bird feeder- especially one that attaches to the window like this one- would be a huge hit.
23. Bath accessories
| Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
The Honest Company Foaming Bubble Bath |… |
$12.97 |
Buy on Amazon |
|
Upgrade Baby Bath Mat Non Slip Extra… |
$11.99 |
Buy on Amazon |
|
VOOVA & MOVAS Toddler Towels Age 3-10,… |
$26.51 |
Buy on Amazon |
Baby bath towels are cute, but kids outgrow them. So now is the perfect time to gift your child with a bigger (but still cute!) bath towel. Non-slip bath mats and bubble bath are also great gifts.
Well, that’s my list for this year! Do you have any non toy gift ideas for 1 year olds to add to this list? Let me know in the comments!
-Laura
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Vivek says
These thoughtful non-toy gifts for 1-year-olds are such a wonderful idea! It’s refreshing to see meaningful options that go beyond toys. A family photo book sounds perfect for creating lasting memories. Thanks for the inspiration!