30+ fun & practical holiday gifts for 1-year-olds ✨

This thoughtfully-designed pick from Melissa & Doug combines two of our must-haves for one-year-olds: A push toy and a shape sorter. The Wooden Shape Sorting Grocery Cart allows them to perfect their walking skills while encouraging their problem solving, shape and color recognition and imaginative play as well. They’ll be strolling the aisles with a coffee in hand in no time!

Ninety years in, Fisher Price is still making toys that become instant favorites. This year, the Laugh & Learn Ultimate Playhouse is one of ours. The 360 degree play set and activity center offers tons of interactive features like a crawl through door, drop-through rain spout, shape-sorter trellis, musical wind chime and plenty of lights and sounds. It also is equipped with their Smart Stages levels to teach ABCs, numbers and even the weather in developmentally appropriate ways as they grow.

There are stuffies and then there are Warmies stuffies. Lovingly packed with real French lavender, these cozy weighted pals are perfect for winding down at night or bringing a bit of comfort on-the-go. They can be warmed in the mircrowave or chilled in the freezer for a bit of extra oomph and come in a ton of adorable animals to choose from.

We’re big believers that the best, longest lasting toys in our kids’ toy bins are the ones that are open-ended and versatile. And when they can grow right along with your little one? Even better. One that checks all those boxes is this brilliantly simple b is for ball set. Made from 100% FDA-compliant food-grade silicone, the two-part design serves as a teether, bath toy, ball, fidget and squirter, providing sensory play options for literal years. Even the box is designed for peek-a-boo play. Simplicity at its finest!

The sweetest toy to help them capitalize on their new walking skills! Like the classic push and pull toys of yore, this one from Hape features the sweetest little butterfly with rainbow wings that flap as they walk (or run!) and a handle that can come apart for easy storage.

Radio Flyer has done it again with Ellie, their rolling elephant, perfect for 1-year-olds. EZ-Glide wheels allow your toddler to create their own motion and the ability to move in any direction. Safe for indoor and outdoor use, we also appreciate the durable, easy grip handles for little hands and super soft fabric when giving Ellie a hug after their ride.

A kid-sized throne that’s perfect for snuggling up with their favorite book and lovey! The PBK Anywhere Chair is a true classic that can be personalized with their name or initials. (As if they need more invitation to declare something “MINE!”)

The Lovevery Block Set is an entire system of 70 wood pieces, all designed to work together to create 20 stage-based challenges and activities, all in one beautiful wooden box. Build towers and bridges or work hand-eye coordination by lacing blocks with the wooden dowels and string. Four solid wooden people expand their imaginative horizons as they craft houses and buildings. Bonus: The included wooden box is not only ideal for neat and tidy storage, but also converts into a play car!

Soft, snuggly and as adorable as they are, the hooded cashmere cardigan from Quince had us from the second we saw those ears. But the slam dunk? It’s machine-washable.

Yes, it’s true we’re full on Microkickboard stans. #sorrynotsorry. Designed for the tiniest groms, their 3in1 Deluxe isn’t cheap but worth every penny. At first, they can get the hang of scooting with the ride-on seat. As they gain their footing and balance, they can use it more traditionally with the o-shaped handle. Around age three, you can swap to the t-bar and let them glide til their heart’s content. The lightweight three-wheel construction is stable and easy to ride while the smooth wheels allow them to ride inside and out. A toy that can get daily use from ages 1-5? It’s an absolute no brainer!

Few things are more impactful than taking time to read together. And when it comes to raising inclusive, empathetic kids, reading books with diverse characters can play a key role. Build their library one month at a time with a subscription to Jambo Books. Each month they’ll receive a beautifully illustrated box of three high quality, age-appropriate books that feature a child of color as the main character. You’ll have an impressively diverse library in no time!

There’s a lot to love about this blocks set from KiwiCo. At this age, their chunky construction is perfect for little hands and easy to stack. As they grow, they offer lots of opportunity for exploration. Set them up with a light behind to play with color and shadows or construct a colorful town of buildings and vehicles. They’re the perfect grow-with-me toy!

Once upon a time my 1-year-old and 6-year-old squabbled over these daily. It was annoying, but a true testament to the power of a simple toy. (And their commitment to a lifetime of bickering.) There are tons of different ways to play, from simply taking them apart and putting them back together, matching the inside color to the face, matching the shape on the bottom to fit into the carton and even staging egg hunts. If my experience is any indication, they’ll have a prominent spot on the playroom shelf for an impressive stretch of time. (And inspire sibling arguments for just as long.)

Another simple toy that gets an impressive amount of mileage! The Post & Play Peg People from Lovevery are a traditional Montessori pick that invites little ones to make their own rules. They’re sized perfectly for little hands to take in and out as they match, line up and play pretend.

Introduce little ones to 100 words in both English and Spanish with the touch activated word book from LeapFrog. They’ll learn colors, animals, mealtime words and more with plenty to explore as they grow. There’s a reason it’s totally ubiquitous!

This sturdy board book has extra-durable pages and tactile cut-outs for little fingers to explore to their heart’s content. The hyper-graphic designs also appeal to art lovers big—and small.

A learning tower allows your child to be at counter height in a secure environment so they can help you cook (or pretend cook!) or do the dishes or work together on a craft project. One of our favorite styles is the 2-for-1 design from Piccalio. When they’re done at the counter, it converts to a kid-sized table and bench to sit and enjoy the snack they’ve helped prepare. It adjusts to three different heights as they grow and even comes with a free wooden mini cutter to keep them safely busy. It’s a super versatile gift that’ll be used for years to come.

A personalized wooden name puzzle makes for a thoughtful gift—and will not only keep them playing by trying to put the correct letters in their place, but you can also start teaching them their name, the letters in their name and how to spell it.

Bubbles are the MVP of parenting toddlers as far as we’re concerned. Radio Flyer’s tot-sized wagon will have them swirling in a cloud of delight as they push or pull–no batteries required!

The Dimpl checks all our (toy) boxes. Engaging? Check! Mess free? Sure is! Portable? Yup, that too. It’s an on-the-go sensory activity that quite frankly, we find as addicting as our littles. The dimples can be popped in and out and come in various bright colors to keep little ones playing happily for longer than two minutes. Usually.

David Guetta had to start somewhere! With Hape’s DJ Mix & Spin Studio, budding DJs can hone their mixing skills and vibe with a variety of instruments and sound effects as they push, twist, slide and scratch their own original mixes. The sturdy design isn’t overly large so it’s a great high chair toy too!

This toy race track is made of high-quality wood and is BPA-free. My son loves watching the cars zoom down each of the tracks “racing” each other as they go. The four cars are big enough for kids ages 1 and up to handle.

A true winter childhood classic, the heirloom quality wooden sled from L.L.Bean offers a cozy ride around the backyard or through the woods. Truth be told, it’s also a great place for an outside winter snooze while the bigger kids get their snowball fight on.

Bath time with a side of STEM-based play? Yes please. This engaging set of tubes, pipes and spinning cogs will thrill your tot as they experiment with the cause-and-effect action of pouring water through the tubes to watch the spinners start and stop.

Got a tiny climber on your hands? This set of foam pads turns any humble corner into a veritable play gym. We love the small footprint of this set and the fact that the mini slide can transform into a car ramp in a jiffy.

Play silks are a perfect vehicle for open-ended play—and one that your kiddo will keep coming back to. Turn them into flags when exploring new lands, a cape for saving the day or a quick cover for a simple game of peek-a-boo. These Montessori faves are costly upfront, but so worth the price.

It’s not too early to gift them their first set of wheels! The parent and tot-loved Cricket Baby Walker Balance Bike from Retrospec will help them develop the skills they’ll need to ride a real bike soon enough.

We love these soft little plush doll friends that clean up well—they’re fully machine-washable and dryer-safe, meaning your little one can tote their new pal along anywhere and everywhere.

Brand new from Radio Flyer, the City 4-in-1 Stroll ‘N Trike is a super versatile stroller-trike hybrid that lets your little one *feel* like they’re in control, though you’ve still got the wheel. It grows with your kiddo up to age five, thanks to the four functional stages, ranging from classic stroller to solo tricycle. We also love the thoughtful features like a UV protection canopy, snack tray and cup holder, three-point harness and a generous storage basket for all their essentials.

Little hands will love coloring with Honeysticks, which are big enough to get a whole palm around and smell like honey. The non-toxic beeswax formula will mean you can rest easy if they end up getting gnawed on, mama.

We can’t get enough of this wooden activity table that comes fully loaded with tons of options. From bead runs to gliding woodland creatures, it’s sure to keep the most discerning tot engaged for (what feels like) hours.

You can’t go wrong with a classic block set. The timeless toy can be transformed into a tall tower, train station, busy city, castle and more—all you need is a little imagination.