The 26 best gifts for 1-year-olds in 2024

Finding unique presents for young kids, especially ones that can be bought at the last minute, can feel like a challenge. Getting a meaningful gift for a 1-year-old, however, might be easier than you think: It’s that age when the box really can be more exciting than the toy inside.

That’s because favorite activities at age 1 include pushing and pulling, putting things together and taking them apart, and — yes — moving things in and out of boxes.

“It’s a very active time,” says Tovah Klein, Director of the Barnard College Center for Toddler Development in New York City, and the author of “How Toddlers Thrive.”

Melissa & Doug’s Go Tots round figures work in several of the brand’s play sets and are perfect for rolling through the play barnyard. Think of it as Connect 4 for little ones.

It’s a walker, a shape sorter and food play all in one. The shape-sorting grocery cart from Melissa & Doug comes with puzzle boards and chunky pieces that help with motor skills, sorting and more. Plus, there’s a cup holder so they can down some coffee on the go, just like their parents. (Don’t worry, this coffee won’t keep them up at night.)

These blocks are also a shape-sorter that is perfect for teaching your little one how to identify shapes and colors. Plus, once playtime is over, they can be neatly stored in the bucket and stowed away.

This adorable learning toy has won over countless parents and grandparents. Beyond teaching them all about fundamentals like numbers and the ABCs, it’ll also keep them engaged and active with the bright lights and catchy tunes.

Targeted for kids aged one to three, this bestselling bulldozer pops balls out of the chimney into the bucket and an handle for when they’re ready to get moving.

Kids can get an early start developing a love for music and rocking out with this 2-in-1 toy ukulele and banjo. It plays six popular melodies and even has buttons for the animal voices of a cow and a duck.

A push toy with popping sounds is a classic you probably used as a kid (that you probably don’t remember). Introduce the joy of a popping push toy to a new generation with this adorable cloud-themed version.

Choose this sweet stuffed animal in corduroy to gives tactile feedback, or jaunty stripes to shake up the toy box. Either way, it’s small enough to tuck easily in a stroller for play on the go.

These stacking cups allow baby to put a tower together and apart, a favorite activity for 1-year-olds. The set of six is offered in several colorways.

This classic train comes in a baby-friendly size for pushing, pulling apart and putting back together. It's also a great way to help them start recognizing the different animals and colors that appear throughout.

Spin the “pit” to see different faces and emotions on these pull-apart avocados that let your 1-year-old work on fine motor skills, colors and feelings.

Drums are great for pounding out rhythm and developing fine motor skills. When the drum rolls around, it emits melodies and flashing lights.

Landing on The Toy Insider’s Hot 20 list last year, editor-in-chief Marissa Silva had this to say about LeapFrog’s eco-friendly activity cube: “There’s just so much play and learning built into all sides of this cube. So it’s one of those toys for 1-year-olds that is not going to cost you an arm and a leg, it’s good for the environment and kids are gonna get so much out of it.”

Available in a variety of animals, these stuffed toys (previously one of Oprah’s Favorite Things!) are scented with French lavender and are microwavable to bring warmth, comfort and stress relief for bedtime, daytime or during travel. They're also perfect for teaching little ones how to care for others and how to treat friends.

Deals editor Rebecca Brown adores these play boxes from Lalo that provide stimulating and engaging toys for children in each phase of their infancy.

"Lalo just came out with these age-appropriate play boxes, which are so great for exhausted parents who are overwhelmed with making decisions and finding the ‘right’ toy. Each one of these boxes comes with research-backed toys that encourage development, not to mention, they’re gorgeous," says Brown.

This gift was also featured in last year's Shop TODAY Gifts We Love list, making a mark for itself as an "easy gift" you can customize by age.

The classic wagon (currently one of the most gifted pull-along wagons on Amazon) is a perfect pull toy that will last for years to come. “My mom got this for my daughter because she was obsessed with loading the big one we have at my parents house and trying to push it around,” shares commerce vice president Jen Birkhofer. “This little orange wagon is the perfect size for a toddler and my kids love loading their toys in it and pulling them around.”

This walker toy features chomping alligators, fish on the wheels, and spinning butterfly and ladybug beads. It also makes a gratifying click-clack sound as 1-year-olds push it along.

Another inclusion on Amazon’s Toys We Love list last year, this activity walker will keep them plenty occupied as they take on the challenge of standing and moving on their two feet.

“Pretty much every house I go into has this walker. It’s great for babies who are learning to walk,” says Birkhofer. “It also has a ton of fun buttons on the front and sings songs. If your kiddo isn’t quite walking yet, they can use it as a busy board until they start.”

Your little one can learn to walk and balance on a bike at the same time with this balance bike walker. Featured last year on the second hour of TODAY, this beginner bike proves to be a favorite among young infants (and their parents!).

Most walkers are designed to be obsolete fairly quickly, if all goes to plan and the baby starts walking independently. Not so with the Skip Hop 3-in-1, which transforms into a ride-on toy and a scooter as baby grows. The seat can also be flipped over and used as a storage place for their toys.

This classic wooden shape-sorter lets 1-year-olds put things inside a box and take them back out — similar to the joy of opening a gift box.

This Melissa & Dough puzzle has jumbo knobs that are perfect for tiny hands, making this a great gift for 1-year-olds. Birkhofer says her two-year-old and four-year-old still use this puzzle! “It’s great for small hands. We sing ‘Old McDonald’ while we put the pieces in,” she says.

If your 1-year-old is tactile, this touch-and-feel puzzle will be one of their favorites. It’s a good starter puzzle as tiny hands learn to fit pieces together.

This rhyming book celebrates the little star that lights up the sky, shooting so fast a year has passed. A great book for 1-year-olds, Little Star is a sensory book filled with animals that your tot can touch and feel to have a fun, tactile experience.

Books are always a great gift for 1-year-olds. This board book series features little pups with jobs to do, and enough humor to make repeat readings fun for parents, too.

Toddlers and 1-year-olds are huge fans of books with flaps. We recommend this flap-filled book, in which animals start their days with lively dances — that just may have your little one wiggling, too. Push and pull the tabs to make the animals shimmy, mambo and cha-cha.

From their first birthday onward, one-year-olds are moving on from baby toys and practicing speaking and recognizing rhymes, so they’re primed for books that teach words or engage them with lifting flaps. In toys, look for a variety of textures they can explore with their hands, says Marie Conti, Director of Regional Community Relations for American Montessori Society and the former head of The Wetherill School in Gladwyne, Pennsylvania.

Development experts agree open-ended toys are best. Look for something that lets 1-year-old boys and girls do what they want instead of following specific instructions.

Don’t forget to check out Shop TODAY’s other gift guides to find the perfect present for every kid on your list including babies, 2-year-olds, 3-year-olds, 4-year-olds, 5-year-olds, 6-year-olds, 7-year-olds, 8-year-olds, 9-year-olds and 10-year-olds.

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