1st Birthday Gift Ideas for Boys and Girls

The first birthday is a special day – for the child and at least as much for the parents, who look back on an exciting first year. Here you'll find 1st birthday gifts that suit the development of one-year-olds: toys, books, keepsakes and ideas for boys and girls.

What can children do at one year old?

At around one year, many children pull themselves up on furniture, walk holding hands or take their very first steps on their own. They grasp things deliberately, put things in and take them out, bang, pour and stack. Every child develops at their own pace. The best 1st birthday gifts build on exactly what your child loves doing right now.

Toys for a 1st birthday

Baby walker or push toy: for children who are just learning to walk – ideally a sturdy model that won't tip over.

Stacking cups and shape sorters: simple classics that stay exciting for a long time.

Toddler-sized building blocks: big enough to grab and too big to swallow.

Bath toys: cups, watering cans or floating animals for the bathtub.

Ride-on toy: Many ride-on cars are suitable from about one year – check the manufacturer's age recommendation.

Books for one-year-olds

Sturdy board books with big pictures, touch-and-feel books and lift-the-flap books are ideal. At this age, children love pointing at pictures and soon name their first animals and objects – so a book quickly becomes a daily bedtime ritual.

Gifts with sentimental value

Photo book of the first year: A gift that parents and child will still look at in many years' time.

Time capsule: A box with letters, photos and a newspaper from the birthday that the child can open later.

Memory album or calendar for the second year.

Hand and footprint for the first birthday – lovely to compare with the print taken after birth.

1st birthday gift for a boy

Boy or girl: at one year old, interests hardly differ yet. Many boys at this age love anything with wheels, marble runs for toddlers or toys for banging and pouring. Practical and cute at the same time is a cap of his own for the first summer at the playground – ideally in the same style as Dad's. You'll find matching sets in our Matching looks for father and son – and for Mom in our matching looks for mother and son.

1st birthday gift for a girl

For girls, too, push toys, building blocks, soft-bodied dolls or a cuddly toy make lovely first birthday gifts. If you'd like to give something to wear, it's best to choose one size up – or something adjustable. Sets for mom and daughter are available in our Matching looks for mother and daughter.

A cap or hat for the first birthday

At one year old, most children fit our size KIDS M, which is designed for toddlers of approx. 1–2 years and has an adjustable snapback closure – so the cap keeps fitting for quite a while. You'll find all styles among our Caps for toddlers (KIDS M). If your child's birthday is in fall or winter, a kids' beanie is just right for the cold season.

Head circumference shows whether the size fits: for one-year-olds it averages about 45–46 cm. Find out more in our head circumference chart by age.

A 1st birthday gift from the parents

Many parents wonder whether they should give anything at all for the first birthday – the child gets plenty anyway. A lovely idea is a gift for the whole family: a day out together, a photo book of the first year or a matching set that parents and child can wear together from now on. With an older sibling, our sets of 3 are a great fit.

What to keep in mind

No small parts: Toys with small parts that can be swallowed are not suitable for children under three. Look out for the warning label.

Less is more: Too many gifts at once can quickly overwhelm one-year-olds. Some can be unwrapped later.

Check with the parents: That way nothing is doubled up, and the size is right.

You'll find ideas for the second and third birthday in our article Gifts for 2-year-olds and toddlers.