It seems like just five minutes ago that your little bundle of joy made a grand entrance into your life – and now you’re getting ready to blow out candles on their very first birthday cake. Turning one is a milestone that kids might not remember, but you certainly will. Whether you're celebrating a first birthday, shopping for Christmas, or looking for the perfect gift "just because," I’m here to help with a curated roundup of the best gifts for one-year-olds.
Whatever you choose to buy, in the immediate moments after said present is unveiled there’s a good chance that your toddler is going to care about nothing more than the wrapping paper. But remember, children this young develop at pace and, as the months go on, you’ll quickly see how they grow into their gifts, with each one supporting your child to learn, explore and discover a different aspect of the world.
It’s for this reason, the best gifts for one-year-olds are those with staying power. They’re not necessarily flashy, loud and distracting gifts so much as they are creative, skills-boosting and durable. Plus, the joys of having a child who’s not yet aware of what a birthday or Christmas present actually is, is that you can buy something that’s a gift to parents as much as to tots.
My favourite gift for one-year-olds overall is The Learning Tower Company’s play tower (£149.99, Learningtowers.co.uk) – I think it’s a gamechanger and well worth the investment. That said, I completely understand it might be out of budget for some, so I’ve also included a range of great gift ideas at various price points. Whether you’re a parent, extended family member, close friend, or guardian, I hope you’ll find the perfect present for one-year-olds here.
How I tested
A wide range of gifts were tested over a series of months, with help from my toddler. While putting the products through their paces, I considered the following:
- Engagement levels: I assessed how well each gift kept my little one entertained, and whether the product helped to develop skills.
- Ease of maintenance: I checked how easy each gift was to clean and how durable each seemed.
- Parent-friendliness and aesthetics: I also awarded points for how good the gifts looked and if parents are able to get involved with play.
- Price point: I considered cost and whether the gifts provide good value for money.
Why you can trust IndyBest reviews
The Independent’s product reviews section, IndyBest, hosts product reviews from expert testers. Our knowledgeable reviewers use these products as you would in your own home to bring you an impartial list of the very best. IndyBest’s expert parenting writers have tested everything from baby monitors to high chairs and travel cots as well as a range of gifts and toys aimed at different age groups.
Alicia Miller is an award-winning lifestyle writer who has tested everything from the best Moses baskets to the best baby snowsuits for IndyBest. In her reviews, Alicia shares her honest opinions and will only recommend products she believes are worth your money.
The best gifts for one-year-olds 2025 are:
- Best overall – The Learning Tower Company the play tower: £149.99, Learningtowers.co.uk
- Best budget buy – Tomy toomies do re mi dolphins bath toy set: £16.99, Smythstoys.com
- Best activity table – Little Smoby activity table: £56.06, Amazon.co.uk
- Best timeless toy – Mamas and Papas rocking horse: £94.99, Amazon.co.uk
- Best puzzle – Jojo Maman Bébé fruit tray puzzle: £18, Jojomamanbebe.co.uk
The Learning Tower Company play tower
Best: Gift for one-year-olds overall
Age range: 1-7 years
Why we love it
- An interactive tool that facilitates all kinds of play
- Versatile and space-saving
- Gets kids engaged
- Feels made to last
Take note
- Smaller toddlers or those not yet standing with confidence will take some time to grow into this
- Children should be supervised during use
The moment my mini tester turned 12 months old, she was obsessed with being involved in the kitchen. She wanted to be at adult level as meals were prepped. This play tower helped squash her FOMO instantly – standing on the platform by the kitchen counter, she finally felt part of the action.
There are a lot of learning towers out there, and there’s no end to the list of how they can come in handy with toddlers, whether that’s creating a craft station on the kitchen island to functioning as a snack spot when the highchair becomes old hat. But the Learning Tower Company makes especially wonderful versions: high-quality, durable, sturdy, stylish, easy to clean and very simple to put together.
The versatile design means, with a simple flick of a hinge, the tower transforms into a toddler-level table with built-in bench, which is perfect for mealtimes or craft sessions. You also have the option to purchase the tower with a stool and/or a slide, for even more versatility – though that does, of course, add to the price.
Despite its myriad uses, the main tower has a relatively small footprint, so it shouldn’t take up too much space in your kitchen. Plus, even after months of daily use, including being under siege by Bolognese-smothered hands and dropped cutlery, it still looks pretty much as good as new. I can see children enjoying this tower for many years, making it great value for money overall, too.
Buy now £149.99, Learningtowers.co.uk
Tomy toomies do re mi dolphins bath toy set
Best: Budget gift for one-year-olds
Age range: 12 months plus
Why we love it
- Combines colour awareness, music and motor skills development
- Kept my toddler’s attention while I washed her hair
Take note
- Slightly chunky to store
There’s no end to the ways you can play with this tub toy, which combines colour, music and motor skills practice. Kids can work on counting the dolphins or naming colours before enjoying a musical performance by tapping each dolphin on the head. The dolphins can also be removed from their interconnected rings, for free play among the suds.
The crucial test for bath-time toys is whether they can grab the attention of a toddler during the dreaded hair wash. These dolphins, with their music and bright colours, did the trick. One moment there were tears, the next happy musical play.
Buy now £16.99, Smythstoys.com
Little Smoby activity table
Best: Activity table for one-year-olds
Age range: 1-3 years
Why we love it
- Nicer looking than many activity tables
- Uses interaction over distraction
- Light and small enough to be stored away if necessary
Take note
- Because not all pieces are attached, you’ll need to keep look out for misplaced bits and bobs
With its stylish pastel hues, lack of irritating jingles and lights, and compact footprint, there’s a lot to like about this little activity table. My mini tester certainly loved it – every time she saw it, she’d get to work popping the shaped cubes through the matching holes, smacking on the horn-like buzzers and using a button to launch the plastic ball included.
There will still be plenty for her to explore as she approaches two years old, too. A mirror spinner is particularly attractive when the light hits it. A counter will come into play when she’s agile enough to move the beads along the ribbon. And the marble-run-style slide will be a real hit when she’s able to reach a little higher.
Buy now £45.99, Amazon.co.uk
Mamas and Papas rocking horse Bugsy
Best: Rocking horse for one-year-olds
Age range: 12 months plus
Why we love it
- Well-made and durable
- Nice and soft to support wobbly little ones
- Built-in bell and shaker in ears
Take note
- Smaller toddlers may need help getting on and off for a while
My one-year-old shrieked with delight when she first set eyes upon this rocking horse. Even after weeks of playing with Bugsy, she would greet him with a kiss and a stroke of his mane.
Does it have hours and hours of play appeal? Not really – my mini tester would get excited, hop on for a minute or two, then be off again. But honestly this horse is as much about bedroom aesthetics as it is occasional play, and it feels like something that will truly last for years. Complete with a soft, integrated saddle (to prevent little ones from slipping off), Bugsy even comes with a hidden bell and rattle in his ears, to add a bit of sass.
Buy now £94.99, Amazon.co.uk
Belle Enfant gel lavant
Best: Toiletry gift for one-year-olds
Age range: Suitable for use from birth
Why we love it
- Smells amazing while gently cleansing
- Suitable for all ages
Take note
- Parents may end up pinching this for their own showers
Boutique brand Belle Enfant specialises in high-end knitwear, accessories and linens for babies, and its range of bath and skincare had me hooked at first sniff. Made in England, hypoallergenic and safe for use on sensitive skin, it smells like wafting orange blossom and left my daughter’s hair gently fragranced even after a day of messy play in the garden.
I used the hair and body wash on my one-year-old twice-weekly, and it brought a very chic mood to the bath-time routine. In fact, by week three, I was regularly stealing a bit of it for use in my own shower. Just as well there’s a 15 per cent discount when you sign up to a subscription.
Buy now £26.00, Belleenfant-boutique.com
Avery Row organic cotton cotbed bedding set
Best: Bedding gift for one-year-olds
Age range: 12+ months (see NHS guidance on introducing toddlers to using pillows)
Why we love it
- Timeless prints
Take note
- Check NHS advice about when to introduce your toddler to using a pillow
Made from organic cotton and printed with one of nine neutral nature-inspired patterns – whether it’s a scattering of wild chamomile, nettles or riverbank foliage – this set features a 120cm x 150cm duvet cover and a 35cm x 57cm pillowcase, which are perfect for when you’re ready to take the next step in your baby’s night-time routine and introduce proper bedding.
The set comes with an organic cotton bag, so you can store away the linens when not in use (though it also makes a lovely tote for shopping trips). Pair with the matching cot bed fitted sheet, sold separately, for a fully matching set.
Buy now £45.00, Avery-row.com
Lovevery the block set
Best: Block set gift for one-year-olds
Age range: 12+ months
Why we love it
- Well thought out to maximise playing, learning and creative potential in a compact kit
- Gives you the chance to sample popular Lovevery brand without a subscription
Take note
- Expensive
Made from solid wood painted in beautiful rainbow hues, this building block set features 18 different shapes and has been designed by child development experts to help kids learn and develop from 12 months until they reach school age. An included guide gives you ideas of where to start (and where to go), once your baby gets past the simple block tower-building phase.
The set looks beautiful and truly feels built to last. A classic toy you’ll want to pass down through the generations, it tidies away nicely, too, thanks to an included bag that lets you quickly stash blocks if you can’t be bothered to stack them back in the box. The only real downside is the price.
Buy now £80.00, Amazon.co.uk
Elodie bathrobe
Best: Bathrobe for one-year-olds
Age range: 1-3 years
Why we love it
- Ultra-soft and cosy for little bathers
- Buttons keep it closed on smaller toddlers
Take note
- Pricey
Between the nursery craft sessions and mess from self-feeding – and your toddler’s intense love affair with the local park’s sand pit – expensive clothes are generally a hard ‘no’ for a first birthday gift. However, something stylish and adorable to wear after bathtime, when little ones are clean and drifting towards bed, is an exception.
It’s for that reason that I could justify the splurge on this gorgeous Elodie robe, which is available in six pastel hues and adorned with cutesy bunny ears. Ultra-soft to the touch and absorbable, it’s perfect for when you scoop up your child from the bath, negating the need for a towel. Front buttons ensure it stays on while little ones run about, too.
It is on the pricey side but it’s designed to fit children aged one to three, which means you shouldn’t need to buy them another bathrobe until they’re in school.
Buy now £52.90, Elodiedetails.com
Jojo Maman Bébé fruit tray puzzle
Best: Puzzle for one-year-olds
Age range: 12+ months
Why we love it
- Doubles as individual play items, as well as a puzzle
- Inspires food and language awareness
- Made from wood
Take note
- Smaller pieces may be easy to lose
Jojo Maman Bébé is best known for its adorable baby and children’s wear, but here’s a buy that won’t be outgrown in just a couple of months. Helping children develop hand-eye coordination, learn colours, sizes, shapes and the names of common fruits, it’s a puzzle with a difference.
Most one-year-olds aren’t quite ready to tackle proper puzzles but what’s nice about this one is the individual pieces double as wooden toys, so my tot could enjoy playing with them from day one. In time, I’ll use them to teach her about food and play with them in the kitchen, too.
Buy now £18.00, Jojomamanbebe.co.uk
Halilit baby’s first birthday band gift set
Best: Musical gift for one-year-olds
Age range: 12+ months
Why we love it
- Has everything you need for musical fun
- High-quality and used in many baby classes
- Bright colours to catch little ones’ attention
Take note
- Contains plastic
Musically inclined tots have all they need in this set to begin their journey towards becoming a mini Mozart. Containing a variety of different shakers, bells and maracas, it’s perfect for learning how to keep a beat when listening to the radio or providing back-up rhythm to their favourite children’s songs.
Halilit has been making high-quality children’s toys for years, and if the pieces in here look familiar it’s because they’re among childcare industry favourites, with many of them being commonplace in nurseries and baby classes. Bright colours capture attention, and thoughtful design makes the musical toys easy to use. My tot loved the under-the-sea style shaker in particular.
Buy now £23.49, Amazon.co.uk
Smartmax my first safari animals
Best: Starter set to build on
Age range: 1-5 years
Why we love it
- Easy to use, the magnetic pieces enthralled my mini tester
- Encourages creativity and problem-solving
- Can act as a base set to build on over coming years
Take note
- You’ll want somewhere to store and organise to keep pieces from going walkabout
This starter set from Smartmax kept my toddler busy for ages on a long-haul flight – a sign of endorsement, if ever there was one. This is a standalone kit of six animals, each one made up of a front and back end plus a connecting magnet, and our toddler got the hang of it pretty quickly – mixing and matching to create her own creative combinations. The magnets snap effectively and cleanly, making it easy for little hands.
While the kit works nicely as a standalone toy, it can also be used as a starter piece for the wider Smartmax magnet set, which can be used to build all sorts of structures.
Buy now £19.73, Amazon.co.uk
SmarTrike xtend ride-on plus
Best: Trike for one-year-olds
Age range: 12 months to 12 years
Why we love it
- Longevity – designed for use from 12 months until 12 years
- Good quality
- Storage in base is handy for a few small essentials
Take note
- Takes time to grow into and get the most out of it
- Expensive but grows with your child
If your 12-month-old is barely crawling, the idea of them zooming off on a scooter might seem far-fetched. But the idea of the SmartTrike is that it grows with your child, from 1-12 years – so think of it as an investment.
At the earliest phase, the SmarTrike begins as a ride-on option, which is controlled by a parent at the back (a handy way to get to nursery, perhaps, once they begin rejecting the pram). Later, it transforms into a standard scooter with extendable footboard.
Big wheels keep things stable, while storage within the seat can hold essentials, such as toys or snacks. My tot tester is on the small side, so had a bit of trouble balancing on the trike at first. But once she got the hang of it, she loved being pushed along.
Buy now £109.00, Amazon.co.uk
Rex London wooden push-along vehicle toy, digger truck
Best: Vehicle toy for one-year-olds
Age range: 12+ months
Why we love it
- Beautiful and well-made
- Soft rubbery wheels are easy on floors
- Wood finish feels like a timeless toy
Take note
- Not as easy to clean as plastic ones
Cars, trucks and trains often capture tots’ focus, so having construction toys that are built to last, look good and are easy on floors and other surfaces is essential. I recommend this toy digger – a rendition of the classic construction truck in blue-painted wood, with rubber-lined wheels and a moving arm and bucket.
While the materials mean it’s not quite as easy to clean as some plastic options, the overall aesthetic makes up for this. My mini tester loved pushing this toy truck across the kitchen floor.
Buy now £19.95, Amazon.co.uk
LeapFrog dancing colours giraffe
Best: Voice-recording toy for one-year-olds
Age range: 1-3 years
Why we love it
- Combines counting, colour learning, music and soft toy in one
- Record and playback feature allows for personalised fun
Take note
- Can start to get annoying after a while
Is there anything this dancing giraffe can’t do? Combining counting features, musical ditties, colourful lights and all the snuggles of a soft toy – not to mention some seriously wiggly disco moves – this giraffe is packed with silly fun.
The brand aims to sync up play with learning, and you can even record your voice using the playback feature, which will then play your own voice through the giraffe’s body, with added music and effects. Just the thing to entrance toddlers. The sound effects do get a bit annoying for parents after a while, but that’s the trade off you get with any musical toy.
Buy now £26.99, Amazon.co.uk
Melissa & Doug wooden shape-sorting grocery cart
Best: Push toy for one-year-olds
Age range: 1+ years
Why we love it
- Combines walking practice with puzzles, shapes and colour practice
- Well-made, wooden toy with 16 pieces
- Has appeal beyond early walking stage
Take note
- Requires assembly
When little ones are beginning to toddle, they love pushcart toys that help them keep their balance. As they get more confident on their feet, they still love using them, to ‘shop’ your house, popping their various finds (from books off your shelves to favourite stuffed toys) into the basket. This solid wood grocery cart toy from Melissa & Doug enables them to do all that, with a couple of great extra bells and whistles.
First off, it doubles as a shaper-sorter toy, and also has two separate food-themed puzzles – ideal for supporting learning around shapes and colours. There’s also a matching roller drum and a cup holder – plus an actual play coffee cup and lid – for further interest.
My mini tester was glued to this from the moment she saw it. She loved pushing it around the kitchen, putting the individual puzzle pieces in and out and adding items of her own into the cart. With the added functions of puzzles and shape sorting, I can see her enjoying this for a long while to come. The only downside from an adult’s point of view is that it doesn’t come fully assembled.
Buy now £74.99, Amazon.co.uk
Kaloo baby mimosa fabric doll
Best: Doll for one-year-olds
Age range: From birth
Why we love it
- Lovely and soft, making it ideal for cuddles
- Small enough for tot to tote with ease
- Made from 90 per cent recycled fabrics
Take note
- Likely to get mucky but it is machine-washable
If your one-year-old is as obsessed as mine is when it comes to holding baby dolls, pushing them in prams and feeding them bottles, this Kaloo one is a lovely pick.
Available in myriad other styles and sizes, it is made from 90 per cent recycled materials, and it’s ultra-soft to the touch – making it extra snuggly against our toddler’s soft skin. At less than 10in long, it’s a nice size for toting around, too. Even better, it’s machine washable at 30C.
Buy now £19.99, Amazon.co.uk
Edx Education junior rainbow pebbles, earth colours
Best: Versatile gift for one-year-olds
Age range: 18+ months
Why we love it
- Versatile and encourages creativity
- Colourful without being garish
Take note
- The brand recommends these for kids aged 18 months and up, so they may take a while to grow into
These durable (and safe) faux rocks in tones of terracotta, burnt orange, lime green and soothing blue, give kids the chance to play with pebbles, without the worry. You can help your one-year-old sort them by shape, size or colour; learn how to balance them on top of each other, to refine motor skills; use them during water play; or even set them in jelly and ‘unearth’ them with a spoon. The possibilities are endless.
To begin with, my mini tester just enjoyed removing the pebbles from their jar and putting them back in again, one by one. This is the kind of versatile, creative toy that will be around for years to come and receive hours of play before you’ve finished with them.
Buy now £18.99, Debenhams.com
Taf Toys pop-up tissue box
Best: Travel toy for one-year-olds
Age range: 12+ months
Why we love it
- Encourages sensory diversity with fabrics and different surfaces
- Durable and easy to clean
Take note
- Not all pieces are attached
Whether on the bus, a plane or just when popping over to a friend’s house, you’ll need something to keep your tot busy. This compact sensory cube – which nods to toddlers’ love of pulling tissues from a box – is light, tactile and versatile, doubling up as multiple toys in one.
10 colourful tissues, one illustrated with a bunny, can be stuffed into (and pulled through) a range of different openings, including a tissue box-style top and a grid. A ‘peek-a-boo’ bunny can be pulled up and pushed down over and over again, teaching cause and effect, while 3D panels provide sensory stimulation.
Buy now £22.99, Amazon.co.uk
What is the best gift for one-year-olds?
Whether you’re hoping to gift a classic toy or something useful that parents will love, too, there is plenty of choice. I’d happily gift any of the products featured here, but my favourite was The Learning Tower Company’s play tower. It’s not cheap, but all its versatility, functionality and quality means I can see it being enjoyed for years to come. Looking to spend less? Try Little Smoby activity table for a great-value toy or Tomy toomies do re mi dolphins bath toy set for happy bath times.
For older siblings, cousins or friends, check out IndyBest’s guide to the best gifts for six-year-olds
