gifts for 1st bday!

[Kim Allen]

Not sure were to put this. I figured since it has to do with simplifying it could go here.

Oh my ds is turing a yr on the 31st and I need ideas for birthday gifts.

WIth DS1 we have sooo many toys. I am going to get rid of a lot of them because I would rather them have a few nice toys then tons of crappy plastic ones.

They dont even play with the toys they do have. I noticed the more simple the more they play with. What are some toys your LO enjoy? I will be buying on amazon most likely because we dont have anything around besides a walmart and well... I am sure all the family is going to be shopping there

[mumkimum]

Hmm. . I can't remember what we did for dd1's 1st birthday. Folkmanis puppets are really nice and versatile - I'm sure she liked them around then. Non-toy wise, I like these thinkbaby cups and have tentatively been thinking about one of those for dd2's first birthday.

Toy wood cars like this have been pretty appealing, and some kind of specialty blocks (like haba discovery or kaleidoscope blocks) might be a cool addition to other toys you've got.

(as for others - I always push bath or outdoor toys as gifts when I know they don't share the same toy preference sensibilities. I don't have to look at those all the time and outdoor toys always seem to need replacing more often ).

[Oliver's Mama]

I second a nice set of wood blocks. Not only can you play with them alone, but they become tunnels and bridges for vehicles, houses for figurines, etc, so they can supplement any other toy. Nesting blocks are fun too, I like this kind of set:
http://www.amazon.com/Melissa-Doug-1...9296059&sr=8-1
doesn't take up space to store, and has educational stuff pictured on the sides in addition to building fun.
Craft items are a good idea to give others- finger paints, toddler crayons, etc, and they get used up quickly so it's not permanent clutter. Board books too, since books don't take up space, are practical, and they tend to get chewed up and destroyed by a one year old so they don't stick around forever. or activity gifts like a membership to a local zoo or museum or park district certificate. We also have college funds set up and some relatives are happy to contribute to that (though they also HAVE to throw in a cheap toy too..)

[Kim Allen]

thanks. We have wooden blocks already and papa made the boys some tree blocks.
Its so hard when there spoiled rotten lol.

I was thinking about getting the plan toys water blocks. I dunno still.

[Chamomile Girl]

My kid just had his first birthday and he loves, loves, loves the play kitchen he got. He also loves his new walker wagon.

[HappyMommy2]

my kids still love the things that they push, or things that pull, which are great for one year olds learning to walk.

melissa and doug has this purple hippo that you pull around on a string that is still a hit 2 years later.
http://www.amazon.com/Melissa-Doug-3...07033&sr=1-100


Walmart will also have that pushy popcorn thing.... although I hated the popping one so my mom got one that just jingles.... like this...
http://www.amazon.com/Fisher-Price-C...307083&sr=1-15
Ca't find the jingly one, here is the popper one...

ETA... here is a nice wooden one (the kmart version is ten bucks)
http://www.amazon.com/Plan-Toys-5137...307199&sr=1-82

[zoebird]

for his first birthday, my son got:

1. african drum (he picked it, plays it daily; loves it!);
2. wooden blocks
3. wooden train (picked up at a craft show)
4. beads on twisted wire thing
5. spinning tops made by his grandfather

---

for his second birthday, my son is getting

1. wooden cars
2. wooden air plane or helicopter
3. money to help pay for zoo membership and his play group dues
4. new clothes and shoes (sent from the US to NZ)

------

i'm really about toy minimalism. christmas he got a lot of instruments as gifts; and we got him a trike that he rides every day. he has a few stuffed animals as well.

otherwise, we contain everyone in the extreme. it frustrates them, but that is life. i tell them to focus on experiences that he enjoys--and they like the idea of pitching in for his playgroup and a zoo membership.

so, it works for us.

[NicoleLee]

I made a waldorf style baby doll for my 1 year olds birthday. She loved it. My son also has one and he is now 5. He still sleeps with it every night. My sister made one for her 2 year old son and he also loves it, plays with it, and carries it everywhere. Just one gift is all we do. There are many websites to buy waldorf style baby dolls. The most simple are good for one year olds.

[crunchy_mommy]

DS (17mos) loves wooden puzzle toys (on this idea http://www.amazon.com/Melissa-and-Do...9477101&sr=8-3) and the Melissa & Doug latches board...

Also books, he can't get enough of them...

He likes those wooden cart/walker wagon things at the children's museum (it's kind of like this: http://www.amazon.com/Plan-Toys-5123...477183&sr=1-10) and he also likes turtle puppets (but he's afraid of other types of puppets)...

Oh and he likes bead mazes & musical instruments...

To be honest though, he's not big on playing with toys, most of those above are ones we play with at the library or museum... you could also consider getting him something nice to store all the toys he'll get... like a nice shelf or bins or a playstand or whatever works in your space...

[OkiMom]

I have an 18 month old and a 3 1/2 year old. THe things they love to play with:
- Baby dolls/stuffed animals. Stroller and other things to carry them in.
- Bead mazes
- blocks and legos
- cars and a car mat.
- Tricycle and push car. My 3 1/2 year old started riding her trike around 18mo-2years old (I forgot exactly when, I have pictures of her right before her 2nd birthday riding around).
- balls, balls and balls. They both love their ball tent and the tunnel tent I got them. Good for runny/stormy days.