need 1st birthday present ideas

[LoveTrains]

Ok folks. My niece is turning one next month and I have some friends whose twins are turning 1 next month.

Give me present ideas. Help. You know I know nothing about children. 

[spankswife]

My all time favorite 1st bday gift is this music set. DD still plays with hers and she will 3 in a week!

m.target.com/p/b-parum-pum-pum-drum/-/A-12026425

[jessj222]

Water table
Wagon
Ball pit and balls
Puzzles
Books
Tunnel from Ikea (http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/90192014/)

[Deleted]

For your niece, definitely get the PBK Anywhere Chair. 

Ride on or push toys are a big hit with the new to walking crowd
Board books
Fill and spill purse/box
Band in a box (we have a Melissa and Doug version)

[bunch]

I know that everyone raves about the anywhere chair, but I have to admit that I'd be disappointed to receive one because the colors and style don't fit my decor and I really don't want something that big. Just throwing that out there since they're always suggested.

My favorite first birthday gifts are crayons and paper, the radio flyer ride on car and little people animals.

[scribellesam]

DS loves his B You Zany Zoo. I also thought about a water table for his birthday next month, he'd definitely enjoy that. Also, ball pit or tunnel are great ideas.

[celiacmom]

Apr 24, 2013 21:04:09 GMT -5 spankswife said:

My all time favorite 1st bday gift is this music set. DD still plays with hers and she will 3 in a week!

m.target.com/p/b-parum-pum-pum-drum/-/A-12026425

I agree with this. L got it for his 1st bday and plays with it everyday!

[Deleted]

For my niece's first birthday a while back I got her these things from her wish list and both were big hits:

www.amazon.com/Fisher-Price-Brilliant-Basics-Corn-Popper/dp/B00000IZOU/ref=sr_1_3?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1366862663&sr=1-3&keywords=ball+popper

www.amazon.com/Kidoozie-G02350-My-First-Purse/dp/B00005TQI7/ref=sr_1_1?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1366862797&sr=1-1&keywords=my+first+purse

[redheadk]

I think consumables are always welcome because you don't have to worry about repeats. Fun things like bubbles, crayons and paper, etc.

[6fsn]

A cute backpack filled with books. My kids love having their own bags and now I make them carry their own diapers and snacks.

An outdoor package- get a plastic container and fill with sidewalk chalk, a ball, bubbles, little things to play outside.

Push toys or ride on toys. I also love the corn popper idea.

[Deleted]

Since it's spring/soon to be summer, a little push mower that blows bubbles might be a good idea for the back yard. If you want to spend more, a combination sand/water table is always a good idea for summer. As a parent, I'm always happy when my kids get new books or clothes.

I always recommend these kinds of activity cube for first birthdays too:

[Deleted]

Apr 24, 2013 21:04:09 GMT -5 spankswife said:

My all time favorite 1st bday gift is this music set. DD still plays with hers and she will 3 in a week!

m.target.com/p/b-parum-pum-pum-drum/-/A-12026425

Oooh cute! Thanks for posting this, I'm going to bookmark this for DD's birthday

[LoveTrains]

Apr 24, 2013 21:19:28 GMT -5 @choco said:

For your niece, definitely get the PBK Anywhere Chair. 

Choco - this is such a great idea. But I should mention that my sister is currently obsessed with the idea that furniture off gasses and causes hormone disruption. She tossed all her old foam furniture and bought a new sofa that doesn't have any foam in it or fire retardants and is made with natural wool and latex. She also tossed her mattress and is only buying natural latex. 

Fun times.

[LoveTrains]

Oh, and if you have other suggestions that aren't plastic -she won't buy plastic toys either. Sorry, I should have mentioned that originally. These are all great suggestions!

[bunch]

Ohhhhh. That throws a kink in it. A wooden ride on toy.

[arch01]

Oof. Melissa and Doug puzzles?

There goes my Megabloks idea-DS LOVES them.

[Deleted]

Apr 25, 2013 7:31:10 GMT -5 LoveTrains said:

Oh, and if you have other suggestions that aren't plastic -she won't buy plastic toys either. Sorry, I should have mentioned that originally. These are all great suggestions!

Hmm, in that case try googling Melissa and Doug. They make a lot of nice wood toys, including puzzles.

[Deleted]

The Melissa and Doug band in a box was a huge hit for DS when he was 1, he is 4.5 and still busts it out.

[froggy76]

Anything by Melissa and Doug... except the sound puzzles, they are awful.

Here are a few suggestions that my DD loves:

Stacking/nesting alphabet blocks:
www.amazon.com/Alphabet-Nesting-Stacking-Blocks-Child/dp/B0039CZM90/ref=sr_1_4?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1366906597&sr=1-4&keywords=melissa+and+doug+nesting+blocks

Band in a box:
www.amazon.com/Melissa-Doug-488-Band-Box/dp/B00005RF5C/ref=sr_1_4?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1366906644&sr=1-4&keywords=melissa+and+doug

Geometric stacker:
www.amazon.com/Melissa-Doug-567-Geometric-Stacker/dp/B0006IRTU0/ref=pd_bxgy_t_img_z

Caterpillar gear toy:
www.amazon.com/Melissa-Doug-Caterpillar-Gear-Toy/dp/B004PBSUMU/ref=sr_1_10?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1366906644&sr=1-10&keywords=melissa+and+doug

[loskadoodle]

We have a walker like this that DS loves: www.amazon.com/Maxim-30949-EverEarth-Activity-Walker/dp/B00279MP3M/ref=sr_1_3?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1366907208&sr=1-3&keywords=wooden+walker

[Deleted]

A zoo membership (or Children's Museum, aquarium, etc) would also work for the niece, depending on your budget.

[momabear]

Keep in mind I have 4 kids and cringe at every new toy that comes in my house... I LOVE to give things that are practical but kid-centric. For summer birthdays, I like to do a beach towel with a favorite character on it and water toys or goggles(could be tough if she doesn't want plastic). For twins, I like to get personalized stuff. If I knew they had a beach vacation or belonged to a pool, I would do cute towels with their names.

My sister gave my 4th a tiny Land's End canvas tote with his name on it. We use it as his "busy bag" when we go out. It has toys and a few books to entertain him if we are waiting at a doctor's appt or restaurant. He loves it.

[momabear]

Apr 25, 2013 11:34:45 GMT -5 @tokenhoser said:

A zoo membership (or Children's Museum, aquarium, etc) would also work for the niece, depending on your budget.

I love this idea as well!

[BAMFMrsB]

Apr 25, 2013 7:33:11 GMT -5 bunch said:

Ohhhhh. That throws a kink in it. A wooden ride on toy.

agreed - I think we're getting DS this ride-on truck:

www.landofnod.com/fire-engine-speedster/s227161


This one is on mega sale:
www.landofnod.com/wooden-front-cargo-truck/s687718

HTH!