Best holidays gifts for an 11 month-old? Need ideas, please!

[rielly]

My husband and I both have huge families and I have recently received many questions about what our DD, who will be 11 months-old at Christmas time, would like for Christmas.  All I can come up with is wooden puzzles, blocks and shape sorters.  It will be great to have some new toys but I need to make them "count." Our apartment isn't as spacious as a suburban home, and we need to conserve space and limit clutter. 

What are some great toys for a one year-old? 

How about for an 18 month-old?

TIA for your feedback!

[TiredX2]

You might want to cross-post in Toddlers so you find out what has been the most use for a long period of time.

For DD's first Christmas we got her a kitchen (she was a January baby). 

For DS' first Christmas we actually got him a train set.  He needed so little and that was something I knew he would use for years.  It was a combined gift for him and his sister.

You can always think ahead--- what could you use for a long time.  This could include things like a wagon, a mini trampoline, one of those foldable slides.  The little shopping carts (the good quality ones) are generally a hit.

I loved Little People at that age (if you're not anti-plastic).  If people are open to non-toy items things like bookshelves, zoo memberships, children's museum passes are all great.

[tooraloora]

A little wooden doll family set could be useful for a long time to come, though it would need supervision for now due to the small parts. DS (16 months) and DD (6 years) have had their set for about 6 months, and it's seen a lot of play since they got it. Small wooden animals could also go the distance. Both kids adore matryoshkas (Russian nesting dolls). Their matryoshka came around last Easter, and DS has been very interested in it from day one, though I kept the smallest doll put away in the beginning. They have a wooden skittles set (bowling) that DS plays with nearly every day, and it's great for when DD has friends over.

[Megan73]

These foam blocks are great - DS1 got them about age 1 and is still playing with them constantly at age 3: http://www.leevalley.com/us/gifts/page.aspx?c=&p=52901&cat=4,104,53201&ap=1

[KTProvi]

11 mo and 18 mo - books and music!  you can never have too many.  toys always get discarded eventually.

music: anything by Dan Zanes (new album, little nut tree, is great), Elizabeth Mitchell (sunny day).... lots of places to get recommendations.

books: all by Leslie Petricelli, Sandra Boynton, Kit Allen... are my kids' favorites.  check commonsensemedia.org.

Also, you can feel good about supporting authors and artists, not giant toy companies, and not creating more plastic in the world.

[batlvr]

Maybe think beyond toys and playthings.  We are getting our 1 y.o. DD a kid sized upholstered chair.  It's purple with Tinkerbell on it but you wouldn't have to get that if too commercial for your tastes.  DD has no idea who Tinkerbell is but she is madly in love with this chair.  She first saw it at SIL's house and climbed right in and sat there looking so pleased with herself.  We visited SIL and Brother at Thanksgiving and DD made a beeline for the little chair and climbed in with a huge smile on her face.  she seems to like that it is her "size" and I can't wait to see her reaction when she gets her own.