1st birthday - what gifts were the biggest hits?

[lecach]

DS will be 1 on Dec. 7. So far we are planning on giving him some small gifts for his birthday and then for christmas he is getting the Little Tikes Cozy Convertible Coupe. We went to Toys R Us on Sunday to test drive all the cars and he liked this one the best. Of course -it was the most expensive . So DH and I are set - but all his grandparents and aunts and uncles are asking what to buy him. He is not quite walking yet - he cruises very well though. And he has a Fisher Price toy that he can walk behind and loves. He also has the Leapstart Learnaround Playground. He loves things with sound and things with wheels. Can any of you tell me what gifts were the favorites of your DC around this age?

PS - I tried to post this yesterday but had a lot of trouble getting it to post. I couldnt find it this morning so I think it never went through. Forgive me if it did.

 

[Sleeping~Beauty]

My DS now 15 months loves the Fisher Price Laugh and Learn Learning Home. It has a music option or learning option. It teaches morning/night, lights on/off, doors open/close, etc. It has a little radio that baby can pick which song to play. It comes with mail to put in the mailbox.

It is a big hit in my house.

 

[EthansMom]

Dec. 7 is my Mom's birthday too!

At one, both of my kids have enjoyed wooden blocks (at first we'd build them up and DC would knock them down and then as DC, he/she would be able to stack blocks on his/her own) and balls (all sorts, just make sure they aren't so small as to be a choking hazard). I highly recommend the Little People products; the Little People Farm is good for young children and if your DS loves cars, he may like the Little People Garage.

Our family went to a 1st Birthday Party for our neighbor boy last weekend. We gave him a Shake 'n Go Car, which was a big hit. The birthday boy probably still has a couple months before he figures out how to use the Shake car, but ALL of the other kids thought it was great (incl. my 19 mo. DD). Its a good-sized (say about 8 in long x 6 in wide x 4 in high) plastic car, when you shake it up it stores energy in a little motor, then you put the car on a flat floor and it goes about 20 feet. Shake 'n Go Cars cost $8 at Walmart. DS4 and DD19 mos. liked it so much that Santa is putting one in each of their stockings for Christmas!

I hope your son has a great birthday!

 

[lecach]

Dec. 7 is a great day isnt it? My Great Grandmother was born that day - and incidentally her name was Pearl. Of course she was born WAY before Pearl Harbor day. When I heard I needed a csection since DS was breech and had to pick a day I picked Dec. 7 on purpose - it really meant a lot to our family. And its easy to remember too.

Thanks for the suggestions - I'll check out the things you both mentioned. Anyone else have ideas?

 

[SaratogaShan]

What gifts were the biggest hits with my daughter? The boxes and wrapping paper! LOL

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

For my DS the number one toy at 1 was the baby doll stroller. He got the stroller and a baby doll (who he named "Jesus" LOL) for Christmas and spent hours pushing the stroller filled with all sorts of things around the house. I used to be able to take him and the stroller to the mall and he'd be happy for hours just pushing it around and letting me shop. The only downside was that if the baby doll fell out he'd yell "Jesus" at it and people thought he was swearing!

I'd rethink the crazy coupe at 1 and get the kind of toy car you sit straddled and that has the push bar on the back. For kids who aren't walking it worked great as a push toy, and it's easier to actually move because the legs are in more of a walking position. The coupe was a big hit for DS at 2 or 3 (they had them at daycare) but for a child who isn't a really confident walker they can be challenging.

Other big things for DS at 1 were lift the flap books, anything you filled and dumped (the laundry basket full of clothing, a laundry basket with lightweight cardboard blocks, a toy Noah's ark with little figures), balls of any kind, dot markers (like bingo markers -- you just push them on the paper and they make a nice bright circle), homemade playdough, and a toy I don't know the name of where you have little doors and when you open them (by pushing a button or sliding something or whatever) and a Sesame Street character pops out. He also really liked the Buckwheat Zydeco children's CD (I think it's called Choo Choo Boogaloo) which has lots of nice danceable tunes on it.

I hope that helps.

 

[Mom to Jordan]

I agree about the little tykes car. It is great but really too much for a one year old to manipulate. The small foot powered trike is much better. The love balls and blocks. The like things that make noise and light up. They now make a baby lego that is really good and great for hand- eye movement. Books are wonderful for this age. Have fun shopping!!!!

Jordans' mom

 

[KeepSwimming]

We got our son a new plastic swing set. My husband bought me a new TV for our sons first birthday and I bought him a really nice spa package (of course we bought the gifts for ourselves....but it's all about giving, right?).

Happy parents = Happy kids.

 

[lecach]

The little tykes car I am talking about has a floorboard and a parents handle for now, and then when the child gets older the floorboard comes out and the handle comes off. I put DS in it at Toys R Us and he loved it. Especially since the steering wheel turned (it didnt steer - but he could turn it).

I really like the plastic swing set - but I thought I would wait until next year for that. It would be a great grandparents gift (they could go in on it together)

 

[sandiegosusie]

For our DD's 1st birthday, which is this December, we purchased a Bitty Baby and BB doll bed. Our little one loves her big sister's BB, so we thought we would get her one.

I know the Little Tikes you are talking about. We also bought one of those from Santa this year. Ours is not the Little Tikes one. I think the one we bought was from Step Ahead? It was also at TRU and it came highly reccomended from several friends.

Grandparents are asking what to give her this year and I have suggested Disney Dollars for our trip next year. She would then be a little older and may find something fun in the parks to purchase.

 

[DsnyGrl]

We have now 18 month old triplets. We LOVE the Coupe Car. They fought so much over these, we actually had to get 3 (we usually do not buy 3 of the same toy.) Our all time favorite though has been the Fisher Price Laugh and Learn Home. It is around $50-60 and a great investment. We loved this toy and play with it every single day! Good luck and Happy Birthday to your little one!

 

[BevS97]

My dd's favorite has been some massive lego blocks - they are called quatro and are much bigger than duplo- she has played with them loads, they are great for building and also for counting and colours as well.

 

[mommystieg]

My DS now 15 months loves the Fisher Price Laugh and Learn Learning Home. It has a music option or learning option. It teaches morning/night, lights on/off, doors open/close, etc. It has a little radio that baby can pick which song to play. It comes with mail to put in the mailbox.

It is a big hit in my house.

ITA!!! DD#3 received this for her first birthday last week and she loves it It was a pretty big hit with the older girls, too....

 

[HLAuburn]

Have you seen this car?

It looks really cute. We're getting one for DD for Christmas. For $30 more than the Little Tykes coupe, seems like this one would get some more "mileage" on it since you can convert it when they get a little older.

I also vote for the Fisher Price Laugh and Learn Home, and the FP L and L Chair is cute, too. And I just bought the "Knows Your Name" Pooh (also comes in Elmo and Dora). You program him to say your child's name, favorite foods and animals, family members name etc. Super cute...supposed to be this year's "Tickle Me Elmo".

 

[dzneelvr]

Geez, at one y/o my kids were more interested in the boxes the gifts came in than the gifts themselves. (DS is 18 and DD is 15 so it's been awhile) I think we purchased a few stacking toys and puzzles; definitely a new book or two--please remember to buy some books, a well-read child is the greatest gift you can give to the future. Have fun with the car, sounds like its the "in" thing. We just bought a 2006 Cobalt for DS and he's in heaven.

 

[TinkerbellMama]

I will let you know...my son turns one TOMORROW!!!!!!!

 

[mom2alix]

DS just turned one and his favorite presents were the stuffed Elmo and the stacking blocks he got. He's really into knocking down those blocks. He also got some cars that he really likes. One idea - I wouldn't have thought of it before, but he really liked playing with my nephew's wodden train set.

We already had a car, since DD had one. The one we have has a handle to allow an adult to push it and both the kids have loved it! DD got the Little Tykes garden for Xmas right before she turned one and both the kids still enjoy playing with it too.

 

[RRBB]

Grandparents are asking what to give her this year and I have suggested Disney Dollars for our trip next year. She would then be a little older and may find something fun in the parks to purchase.

I don't know if it will change between now and your trip, but we just got back from WDW and they really had NOTHING for toddler. We didn't really see much in the parks so we went to DTD where we were sure we'd find at least a few things. We asked at World of Disney, we asked at Once Upon a Toy. All they really had was Fisher Price toys for toddler age, and you can get that stuff most anywhere. I was so disappointed because our DS's 1st birthday is also in December and I really hoped to find some unique Disney toys for him. (We found some neat stuff last year for toddlers which I'm so glad we purchased then rather than waiting for our trip this year.)

Anyway, I just wanted to give you a head's up that you may not find anything age appropriate at WDW when you go. But I'm also hoping that you will.

 

[Vijoge]

What gifts were the biggest hits with my daughter? The boxes and wrapping paper! LOL

Oh, YEAH!! Little kids love boxes. Pots and pans are good, too.

 

[McKelly]

Board books and Leapfrog's Little Leap.