Best gifts for one-year-olds: books, games, toys and more

They're born, you blink, and suddenly it's time to buy their first birthday present. Use our guide to help make it a special one.

With help from the parents, godparents and aunties of Which?, we reveal the gifts that were an absolute hit with the little ones in their lives to help spark your imagination while you're shopping around. 

From interactive toys to charming books, our hand-picked selection of the best gifts for one-year-olds will help keep them entertained while fostering their early growth and skills.

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Shape sorter toys

John Lewis Wooden Shape Puzzle

What is it? A wooden sorting puzzle with colourful blocks in a range of colours.

Available from John Lewis (£10).

• We like: Easy to store, affordable
• Watch out for: No travel case included

Simple yet effective, this shape sorter encourages little ones to match colourful shapes in their holes. John Lewis says it helps to support 'dexterity, hand-eye co-ordination, and shape and colour recognition'.

It's also made from wood certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), so you know you'll be making a more sustainable choice by picking this one. Additionally, it comes with a one-year manufacturer's warranty.

Our expert says:

'Shape sorter toys help babies to develop fine motor skills and hand-eye co-ordination, as well as teaching them about colours, shapes and patterns. You can get them in many designs, including a traditional 'cube' with apertures to pop the shapes through, but these can also be bulky and take up space.

This pretty pastel one from John Lewis is small enough to stow under a buggy, in a nappy bag or even in hand luggage, if you're looking to entertain them when you're travelling.'

Martha Roberts, Senior Content Producer at Which?, mother of one

Expecting a new arrival soon? See the baby products the parents at Which? couldn't live without

Peter Rabbit Wooden Shape Sorter

What is it? A shape sorter designed to look like a small house with colourful, decorative illustrations of Peter Rabbit.

Available from My 1st Years (£33).

• We like: Personalisation option, quirky shaped blocks, pretty illustrations 
• Watch out for: May not be the most portable

This shape sorter, adorned with images of Peter Rabbit and his friends, is made to look like a house with a removable baby-blue roof to retrieve the blocks. For little fans of the Peter Rabbit books, it'd make a great gift.

As well as the standard circle, square and triangular blocks, you have blocks with illustrations to fit into their own holes, including a carrot, bunny and watering can. You can also opt to personalise this gift by including a name printed on the front.

Our expert says:

'My 1st Years make lovely wooden toys, with soothing colours and cute designs. This one has been a hit with both parents and children, and the additional personalisation makes it even better!'

Giulia Tremolanti, Senior CRM Executive at Which?, godmother and auntie of two

Support your growing family: our expert advice can help you make the right choices, from improving your home to planning your finances

Stacking toys and building blocks

Little Dutch Wooden Stacking Train

What is it? A buildable wooden train with stackable blocks.

Available from Scandibørn (£25.95).

• We like: Multiple colours and themes available
• Watch out for: Comes in 17 parts – take care not to lose any pieces

Comprised of three carriage sections that slide together, the stackable blocks on this train mean you can build it as instructed, or little ones can get creative by moving the pieces around.

It's around 45cm long from tip to tail, with 12 wheels and a rope string at the front so it can be pulled around.

This particular model has a blue colour palette and is ocean-themed, but you can also get:

Our expert says:

'I bought this for my daughter and as a gift on countless occasions. I love that it comes in a range of colours.

It's a timeless toy, great for building motor skills and can be enjoyed way beyond the age of one. My daughter is nearly four and still loves playing with it.'

Anisha Mistry-Jones, Internal Communications at Which?, mother of one (nearly two!)

Mega Bloks Big Building Bag

What is it? A bag of plastic building blocks of different shapes and sizes.

• We like: Designed for younger children to easily grab and put together, portable bag included, affordable
• Watch out for: 60 pieces in a set, so may take time to clear up after play

Whether your little one enjoys creating houses, cars and creatures, or seeing how tall a tower they can build before knocking it down, a bag of blocks is an inexpensive way to hone their creativity.

For this 60-piece set of Mega Bloks, the selection of blocks is multicoloured, while the bag itself is available in blue or red. You can also get bigger sets of up to 300 blocks, as well as compatible additional toys such as:

• Mega Bloks Build 'n' Learn Table – SQUIRREL_TEXT_50015663
• Mega Bloks Build 'n' Tumble Table – SQUIRREL_TEXT_50015664
• Mega Bloks ABC Learning Train – SQUIRREL_TEXT_50015665

Our expert says:

'An intro to Lego, Mega Bloks are brilliant for little hands to help them develop their gross motor skills by building blocks and shapes.'

Sarah-Jane Tedd, Endorsement Scheme Account Manager at Which?, mother of one

For bigger kids, Lego might be a better suit. For the best Lego deals available now, head to our guide

Books

Wonderbly Bedtime for You Personalised Storybook

What is it? A customisable bedtime softcover book.

Available from Wonderbly (£29.99).

• We like: Personalised, lots of stories to choose from, colourful illustrations
• Watch out for: May take a couple of days to dispatch, slightly pricier than a normal book

The Wonderbly Bedtime for You book puts your little one right in the middle of the story – literally! You can customise the name included on the front and throughout the book, then choose one of 12 illustrated characters that looks most like your child to up the realism.

The book cover is available in dark blue, red, green or yellow, and you can opt to add a dedication to make it a truly special keepsake.

Our expert says:

'A little more meaningful than a normal storybook, these personalised ones make a sweet keepsake. You can personalise everything from their name to how their character looks in the book, and little ones love seeing themselves in stories.

Aside from the bedtime story, you can also get books personalised to celebrate birthdays or the birth of a new sibling, so there's loads to choose from.'

Natalie Turner, Digital Content Producer at Which?, auntie of five

We're Going on a Bear Hunt Sound Book

What is it? A story book with interactive buttons that make noises.

• We like: Interactive sound board
• Watch out for: Slightly pricier than a normal book

Interactive books add a fun twist to story time, and can help kids to learn new noises and sounds.

You can get 'noisy' versions of many children's books, including classics like 'We're Going on a Bear Hunt', 'The Gruffalo' and 'Dear Zoo'.

Our expert says:

'Books that make sounds are a great way to engage little ones when you're reading to them.

We loved this version of Michael Rosen's classic 'We're Going on a Bear Hunt', which includes buttons for little fingers to press and hear the swish, swish, swish of the grass and the splash, splash of the river.'

Jenny Harby, Content Editor at Which?, mother of one

LeapFrog Learning Friends 100 Words Book

What is it? An interactive book designed to help children learn new words.

• We like: Two languages, educational, very colourful
• Watch out for: Not a story book, slightly pricier than other books

LeapFrog has been making educational books for almost 30 years, and is still a popular choice among many parents.

These highly interactive books allow kids to touch almost any part of the page and hear words, sounds or music. In the case of the '100 Words' book, it essentially works as a fun and colourful dictionary, where little ones can hear and practise new words in English or French.

Our expert says:

'This is a great book with sound effects to teach little ones their first words.

It has pictures to correlate with the words – baby can touch the picture and it gives the sound effect (for example, animal noises) and then speaks the word.

It also has a setting for French, if parents want to teach multiple languages.'

Sarah-Jane Tedd, Endorsement Scheme Account Manager at Which?, mother of one

Ten Little Dinosaurs Board Book

What is it? A children's book – part of a wider series – designed to help children to learn counting.

• We like: Board books tend to be more durable than paper or hardback, affordable
• Watch out for: Series sold separately

'Ten Little Dinosaurs' is a simple rhyming book for young children, complete with colourful illustrations. It's available as a board book, but also paperback, Kindle and as an audiobook.

The 'Ten Little...' series is comprised of several books following different counting stories, featuring everything from elves to pirates.

Our expert says:

'My son loved these books when he was younger, and still loves them now that he can read them by himself.

The rhyming language is great for engaging small children, and there are lots of noises that they can join in with.

The designs are very engaging and there's lots to look at on each page, plus it helps children learn numbers and counting.'

Dr Steph Kipling, Science Team Manager at Which?, mother of one

A cheap and cheerful ebook reader might be a good option for older children to keep their little siblings entertained, and you can find cheap and free ebooks for kids at many ebook stores

Crawling, walking and climbing gifts

Vtech Crawl and Learn Ball

What is it? A motorised colourful ball that rolls around the room and plays music and sounds.

• We like: Colourful and interactive
• Watch out for: Batteries not included

Designed to help encourage babies to crawl, the Vtech Crawl and Learn Ball is a battery-powered toy that spins and rolls around the room with flashing lights to attract babies' attention.

The ball also features several chunky buttons which, when pressed, play music and animal noises.

Our expert says:

'Both of my nieces loved this – it makes noises and moves around the room. It encouraged them both to crawl and to spend more time on their tummies (which they didn't really like!)'

Alicia Day, Scientific Adviser at Which?, auntie of two

Nuby Educational Wooden Baby Walker

What is it? A baby walker with wheels featuring several interactive toys on the front and side panels.

• We like: Helps encourage walking, toys on the panels, colourful
• Watch out for: Pricey 

This woodland-themed walker on wheels is designed to help babies to stand and walk, as well as entertaining them with shape sorting puzzles, colourful blocks, a mini xylophone and a mirror.

It's fairly bulky, but also features a handy compartment underneath to neatly store parts away.

Our expert says:

'Little ones learning to walk is always exciting, and it usually happens when they're around a year old. An interactive walker keeps them busy, whether they're trotting around the living room or sitting and playing.

Once they get confident using one of these, you may quickly end up with a little race car running around your living room, so make sure to always supervise them when in it's use.'

Natalie Turner, Digital Content Producer at Which?, auntie of five

When little ones start walking and exploring, you might want to double-check your babyproofing arrangements. Check our babyproofing guide to help you stop potential accidents

Pikler Triangle set

What is it? A small wooden climbing frame with multiple parts.

Available from Busy Kids (£215).

• We like: Great for active children who love climbing, colourful, edges are rounded
• Watch out for: Very expensive, may be tricky to store, requires assembly

This playset is comprised of individual pieces, including a triangular frame, a semi-circular 'swing' and a double-sided board, each of which can be reassembled in multiple ways.

You can purchase the pieces as a complete set or individually, and they are designed to nurture creative play. For instance, the set can be used as a climbing frame, or the pieces can be turned on their sides or upside down to be used as bridges, tunnels or even pretend kitchen counters.

Our expert says:

'This was a favourite in my daughter's baby group as a first birthday present. We didn't get one, but definitely would have if we'd had the space'

Lisa Galliers, Principal Researcher at Which?, mother of two

Keeping kids safe while letting them have fun is paramount – see the summer safety hazards every parent needs to know about

Fancy dress

Find second-hand clothes online

What is it? Use online marketplaces to find clothes, toys and other children's items.

Browse pre-loved clothes and baby products on sites like Vinted or eBay.

• We like: Cheaper than buying full-price, may find products that are out of stock from retailers
• Watch out for: Buying second-hand online comes with risks

Roped into playing dress-up doctor or fairy princesses? You can get cheap fancy-dress items online, usually for a fraction of the price. And as these items are pre-loved, you'll be making a more sustainable buying choice as well as saving some pennies.

It's important to remember that online marketplaces aren’t legally responsible for products sold through their platforms, so they aren’t held to the same standards as high street or regular online retailers.

Make sure you're clued up on how to shop safely online before you buy, and check any clothes you purchase are washed thoroughly when they arrive.

Our expert says:

'Most kids love playing dress-up, and you can get some really great second-hand fancy-dress costumes like Disney princess and superheroes on Vinted.'

Sarah-Jane Tedd, Endorsement Scheme Account Manager at Which?, mother of one

Get great bargains using hassle-free sites. See the best places to shop second-hand online

A play kitchen

Ikea Duktig Play Kitchen

What is it? A toy cooking set-up for kids, complete with a two-ring stove, sink, oven, microwave and storage.

Available from Ikea (£85).

• We like: Adjustable height, detachable sink for cleaning, realistic glowing hob lights
• Watch out for: Batteries are not included, toy kitchen utensils sold separately

This wooden play kitchen from Ikea is on the expensive side, but it has adjustable legs to grow as your child does, which means they can use it for years to come.

It comes in a white and birch wood colourway, but you can also get the slightly cheaper Silltrut set, which comes in grey.

Our expert says:

'Other kitchens are available, but this was the number one first-birthday gift in my daughter's baby group. We also had one which was well used.

In my experience, one-year-olds tend to start emptying cupboards at this age and love this sort of role-play toy'

Lisa Galliers, Principal Researcher at Which?, mother of two

When baby is in the actual kitchen, it's important to take steps to prevent accidents – see our advice on baby safety in the kitchen

Playmobil

Playmobil Junior

What is it? A selection of Playmobil toys suited to younger children.

Browse all Playmobil Junior sets at Playmobil.

• We like: Lots of sets available, kids can mix and match and build their collection
• Watch out for: Bigger sets can be expensive  

Playmobil says its Junior range is 'made for the youngest Playmobil fans'. This classic toy has been specially designed for small hands, and is intended for children aged one to four. It differs from regular Playmobil sets as it has no small parts. The pieces are also made from at least 90% plant-based materials, according to Playmobil.

While there are more standard sets available – including Airport Shuttle Bus and Merry Go-Round – there are also several featuring well-known Disney characters like Moana, Mickey and Minnie Mouse, and Winnie the Pooh.

Our expert says:

'This is a first-stage Playmobil set with no tiny parts that could be swallowed. It's great for encouraging imaginative play'

Ceri Thomas, Editor of Which? Gardening, mother of two

Looking for more toys? Our experts have tested everything from board games to trampolines to find the best

A trike

Q Play Cosy 4-in-1 Trike

What is it? A tricycle for small children, complete with front and back baskets and UV cover.

Available from Smyths (£64.99)

• We like: Includes safety harness and sun cover, adjustable as child gets older, push handle for parents
• Watch out for: Pricey, make sure baby doesn't go speeding off without you!

Designed for children between ten and 36 months, this tricycle can be adapted into four stages as your child gets bigger. For younger kids, it's completely parent-controlled via the back handle, while older kids can start to use the pedals and eventually pilot the trike all by themselves.

This model is available in black or blue, and you can also purchase an optional rain cover so you can keep adventuring, whatever the weather.

Our expert says:

'This trike is great as it grows with them – you can use it as an alternative to a buggy if your little one is starting to grow restless.

It can start to teach them how to use pedals and is a great first step to a balance bike or pedal bike'

Sarah-Jane Tedd, Endorsement Scheme Account Manager at Which?, mother of one

If you'd rather a two-wheeler model for your toddler, check out our balance bike buying guide