Have you been making a holiday gift list and checking it twice or even a third time and you’re still not sure where to start? Well, here’s a gift from Melissa & Doug! We have pulled together a list of our favorite toys for babies and 1-year-olds. You’ll discover a variety of gifts that are sure to bring the fun, while also building up those essential early developmental skills. Whether you’re shopping for Christmas, Hanukkah, or December birthdays, we have the best baby and 1-year-old gifts and toys for you to choose from!
The 10 Best Toys and Gifts for Babies and 1-Year-Olds
Wooden Shape Sorting Grocery Cart
Why it’s a great gift for babies and 1-year-olds: This rolling cart is filled with exciting skill-building activities. With puzzle pieces to sort, a roller drum to spin, and plenty of fun accessories, kids can engage in imaginative play while practicing important skills.
Fun feature: Realistic coffee cup with removable lid
Skills: Fine and gross motor, problem-solving, sorting and sequencing, shape and color recognition
How to wow: Place a favorite stuffed animal friend or the Pineapple Stacker Toy in the cart for company.
Wooden Surprise Gift Box
Why it’s a great gift for babies and 1-year-olds: This 5-piece toy is filled with surprises that will delight the senses. It holds multi-textured pieces including a squeezable ball with a chime, a cloth book, and other items that kids can hug, tug, and crinkle. Even closing the box is loads of fun for little ones as it becomes a “wrapped” gift with a bow!
Fun feature: Peek-a-boo mirror attached to bottom of the box
Skills: Fine motor, sensory development, skill-building play
How to wow: Place other kid-friendly items like these cute Rollables inside for more “out of the box” a-ha moments.
Pineapple Soft Stacker
Why it’s a great gift for babies and 1-year-olds: Kids can sort, squeeze, shake, and stack this happy little pineapple. It features soft, fabric-covered rings, a durable plastic texture ring, and a soft textured topper with crinkle leaves and silky smooth ribbons. It’s a sweet way for little ones to discover textures and sounds while practicing important skills.
Fun feature: Rattling, rocking base and post
Skills: Sensory development, problem-solving
How to wow: Add to the food-themed play with the Soft Taco Fill & Spill
Rollables Wooden Ocean Slide
Why it’s a great gift for babies and 1-year-olds: This sturdy, ocean-themed wooden slide includes 3 squeezable Rollables with chimes, a built-in bead maze, sea star and whale flipper to press, and a removable funnel. So many features to keep babies’ attention and inspire joyful discovery!
Fun feature: Adorable, diverse characters and variety of shapes and textures
Skills: Cause-and-effect, sensory and fine-motor, problem-solving
How to wow: Add other animal Rollables such as Safari Friends or Farm Friends
GO Tots Roll & Ride Bus
Why it’s a great gift for babies and 1-year-olds: Kids can roll, stack, and grasp the double-sided wooden GO Tots friends and make them spin and bounce as they ride along in the colorful wooden bus!
Fun feature: Press the release button on top to make the discs come rolling out the back.
Skills: Cause-and-effect, fine motor, sensory development
How to wow: For more vehicle play, add the GO Tots Wooden Race Cars.
Market Basket Fill & Spill
Why it’s a great gift for babies and 1-year-olds: It’s a basket full of delights for the senses! The soft, tactile farmer’s market play food and mesh mini-grocery tote are sure to keep your little ones entertained while they discover textures and sounds.
Fun feature: Each of the play food items features a fun sound effect!
Skills: Fine motor, sensory development, problem-solving
How to wow: After the farmer’s market it’s taco time! Add the Soft Taco Fill & Spill for more sensory play.
Mine to Love Jenna
Why it’s a great gift for babies and 1-year-olds: With her adorable pink removable romper and matching cap, Jenna is the perfect practice sibling for children 18 months and older. Jenna is just waiting for a child to say that she is "Mine to Love"!
Fun feature: Jenna can suck her thumb or pacifier.
Skills: Empathy
How to wow: Add twins, Luke & Lucy, to the family!
Take-Along Shape Sorter Baby and Toddler Toy
Why it’s a great gift for babies and 1-year-olds: Our Take-Along Shape Sorter is the gift that keeps on giving. The baby- and toddler-friendly toy is great for enjoying together or for independent play. It’s sure to keep little ones giggling while they learn.
Fun feature: Crinkly flaps have pictures of familiar things above, matching shapes beneath.
Skills: Fine motor, shape & color recognition
How to wow: Show baby how the toy can become a rattle! With all the pieces inside, hold the case by the handle and shake it gently to make a rattling sound.
Turtle Ball Pit
Why it’s a great gift for babies and 1-year-olds: This friendly turtle comes filled with 60 squeezable, multi-colored balls that are easy to grasp, toss, and roll. It also features holes to push and pull balls through, crinkling feet, squeaking buttons, textured ring, mirror, silky fabric tags, and attached soft ball rattle.
Fun feature: When zipped up with balls inside, the turtle doubles as a pillow!
Skills: Gross motor, fine motor, sensory development
How to wow: Wrap and hide smaller gifts — such as Rollables — in the ball pit for kids to sift through and find!
First Bead Maze
Why it’s a great gift for babies and 1-year-olds: Multi-shaped and brightly colored beads swoop and slide along roller-coaster wires to encourage color and shape recognition and fine motor development. With a sturdy wooden base, this eye-catching activity will keep a little one busy for a long while!
Fun feature: 18 wooden beads in a variety of shapes and sizes
Skills: Fine motor, color recognition
How to wow: Challenge baby to a bead race!
We hope all these gift ideas make your holidays even happier!
Looking for more of the best Christmas and holiday gift and toy ideas for kids of all ages? Check out these blog posts:
Best Gifts for Kids By Interest
