Birthday Gift for Our Daughter Turning 1!

I bought my granddaughter a little kitchen set for her 1st birthday. She still loves it and she is almost 2. My daughter bought her a rocking Harley bike. She couldn't ride on it for a while but now loves to play on it. At that age, anything that she can play like she is "mommy" is a favorite.

I like classic push & pull toys for kids that age. Fisher Price used to (probably still does) have a push toy that popped like a popcorn popper. Great toy!

I bought my son a stool with his name on it for his first birthday- it's something he still uses and he's almost 8

One gift I believe gets a lot of action for many years to come is a play house or a play kitchen. All kids are immediately drawn to it - boys and girls alike. Our neighbors have had one handed down to them and is about 18 years old and is still in fantastic shape - even after going through about 6 kids!

Jewelry is a nice idea too. Silpada Designs jewelry carries 2 little girl bracelets. My favorite is the sterling silver wish/prayer box charm on a silver beaded bracelet. It is only $22 and the box even opens on a hinge. When she outgrows the elastic bracelet, the charm can be put on a necklace or added to a charm bracelet. You can see it online at www.mysilpada.com/J..mogck girls bracelets on pages 86 & 88

A professional family photo is a great idea the whole family and extended family too!

Enjoy the celebration!

I second the Bitty Baby idea! As your daughter grows, you can add to her collection -- accessories, clothes, etc. What little girl doesn't love taking care of her own baby? Our daughter has had American Girl dolls since she was very young, and she loves them. At 11, she now has several of the teenage dolls and plays with them constantly. We are excited about the new store opening at Mall of America in November!

Hi J.-when my youngest turned one I found the bounce and spin zebra from fisher price. I happened to find it on clearance and was lucky to get it for $22 instead of the normal $45-but my daughter loves it. It's really cute and just her size. It makes music and she plays on it daily.

We did not get this for our daughter, but got is as a gift from someone......they gave us a lovely little tree! And now that she is about to turn 14 at the end of this month, the tree is as old as she is! Its wonderful to see how much they have both grown!

I do love the suggestion from the 75 year old woman about a piece of jewelry as well. I, too have something from my childhood (actually a baptismal gift from my parents....a teeny tiny pin/broach) that I cherish.

Then get a fun toy for them to play with now.....think about what they are "into"now and what is develeopmentally appropriate to encourage skills as well as fun! Little people sets are fabulous...small sized climbers or riding toys to be pushed and ridden on are great (and are small enough that they can be brought inside for the winter if you have some space)..maybe a toy kitchen (just get a "nice"one" I suggest ...one that will stand the test of time becasue she would likely use it for many many years!)

Have fun!!

We went very simple for our daughter's first birthday. The night before she got to open her first present. A t-shirt that stated she was 1, for the next day.
We also got her the Elmo knows your name. You use the software to pick your child's name, favorite foods, some songs, and other little things. She still likes to play and dance with it at 2 1/2!

I got my daughter a book at Shutterfly.com for her first birthday. You upload your childs picture and they put it on every page in the book along with their name and their birthdate and hometown. I got the ABC adventure but they also have a Seasame Street one.
Happy Birthday to your little one!

The play kitchen is a good idea! I got one when I was 2 and my sister was 1, and we played with that thing forever.
My daughter just turned one a couple weeks ago, and we got her a sandbox. A couple of other relatives got her sand toys to go with it, and she loves playing in it.
My sister is her godmother and got her a "birthday girl" figurine. They're collectibles that go up to age 16. A neat idea if you're thinking along those lines. I believe they're made by Enesco and they have a website.

Hello, how exciting your daughter is turning 1! My little girl turns 1 next month and one of things we're going to get her is a print from storypeople - "Her Laughter". Might not be as fun as a toy, but is something she can have for a long time. We also got one for our son when he was born.

http://www.storypeople.com/

good luck on her and your upcoming birthday, too!

My daughter just had her first birthday, and price is a big to deal to us... Her favorite new things are her little people dollhouse (doorbell, phone and toilet make noise, along with a few songs) and minivan; and a doll with a stroller. She started walking at 11 months and the stroller is tons of fun for her. She has an older brother, so she was introduced to the "little people" phenomenon kinda early, but loves the toys and it's fun to see her four year old brother enjoy them too as he is now doing more pretend play. Have fun!

If price isn't an issue, take a day off from work and take her to the Como Zoo or something like that. Be sure to take lots of pictures and then put in in an album for her to enjoy later. That's a gift that will last longer than some toy. Plus, you'll both get to enjoy it! :)

You mention price is not 'a big deal'.Something she will always have would be nice.
For my first birthday my parents gave me a silver and turquoise bracelet with my name and the date engraved on the inside,that fit me at the time. I was able to have it altered to fit when I got older. I will be 75 in February and still have it.

She won't know what it's all about anyway, so don't stress to much. Save that for when she is 16 and wants a car. Turning 1yr is a big deal for the parents and you want to give her something special. I would give her something she can use when she is older, like a necklace with her birthstone or a savings bond.

Hi J.,

Turning one is so exciting! My daughter is now 2 1/2. For her first birthday we got her a toy kitchen and a outdoor/indoor playset swing/slide combo and lots of books. My daughter loved all of it and stills does!

M.

I made a scrapbook of my daughter's first year. I did the same thing for my son when he turned 1. I also made a little name plaque. I got a wooden board from Michael's and painted it white. Then I got some wooden letters and painted them. I spelled out her name and glued them down. I also got little wooden cutouts at walmart of flowers, butterflies and stuff like that and glued them around her name. I bought a clear glossy sealer so it's easier to clean and put something on the back to hang it. Then with a sharpie I wrote a note ont the back. I made one for my son too when he turned 1. I also got her a toy sorter. I got the one with plastic bins from target.

When my son turned one in April he got one of those classic red wagons (radio flyer?). We didn't use it right away but do now and are so glad to have one! He also received a short wooden stool with his name personalized in letters. There are many websites that customize these type of name/puzzle stools. Your daughter might like either (or both :)) of these.

My favorite gift to give for a first birthday is a wagon. I am surprised at how many people don't have one by the time their child's first birthday. It's a gift that can be used for many years and for many purposes! I also like to give stools with a child's name on it. The child's name is like a puzzle, so it's a toy but is also very useful...every child needs a stool in the bathroom or next to their bed!

Other good gifts would be a kitchen set. Kids are always drawn to them! It's great during play dates...both boys and girls can enjoy it! It's one of the few toys that is really worth its money! A piece of jewlery (for a keepsake) would also be nice, or kids can never have too many books! I am always happy when my kids are given books as gifts!

Enjoy your daughter's first birthday! I was sad when my kids had their first birthday too, but so far every year has gotten even more fun! Kids are a blessing! The years go by so fast!

I was in Nebraska Furniture Mart yesterday and saw the cutest rocking chair. It was one of the very few times I wish I had had a girl. It was a throne painted pink with a crown on the back that said Princess on it. It was the cutest thing. It was a cross between a rocking chair and rocking horse. She would have that forever and pass it on to her little girl.

What about starting a jewelry collection for her? I give my nieces a piece of vintage jewelry every year on their birthday. I've done broaches for 5 years and just switched to earrings (then it'll be bracelets, then necklaces). I also get them a more practical present too-- something that their Mom tells me they need or want.

How about a climber for outside, a push bike, a library of children friendly books, a baby doll made for little ones, any type of toy they can manipulate with their hands that has big parts, stackable toys, noisy toys, musical instruments made for little ones, etc.

Hi J.! I bought a Step2 kitchen for my daughter's 2nd birthday this year. But I think it would make a great 1st birthday present too! I bought mine online at Linens-n-things.

http://www.lnt.com
I typed in Step2 kitchen in the search field
Here is a 20% coupon code for check out: 250500000004

I bought my daughter the deluxe kitchen and with 20%...it was a great deal! Just a thought. Good luck! :)

At this age, I don't think that it is hugely important that you guys get her anything. If she is like most kids, she is going to be spoiled rotten by everybody else, and more so on this birthday because it is her big first. Instead of worrying about what to get her, think up something that you would like to start as a tradition: baking her a big elaborate cake and then taking pictures, or buy her a small collectible that you can add to each year. Something along those lines. When she is all grown up, she will appreciate those things versus a big stuffed animal etc.

For our daughter's 1st birthday, we bought her a Bitty Baby. Of course Bitty Babies and American Girl dolls are very popular, but by buying her a Bitty Baby that looks like her was special to her. She is 5 and still plays with her. You can also buy clothes for her (size 3 and up) and her baby so they match. www.americangirl.com

I think she will like anything that she can keep and cherish for a life-time.

We plan to get our almost-1-year-old a child's table and chairs from room and board: http://www.roomandboard.com/rnb/collection.do?method=get&...

it's pricey but adorable and we expect her to get lots of use out of it for years.

P.S. I LOVE the tree idea that was already mentioned!!!

My big present for my daughter's first was to splurge on professional photos. We will forever have adorable pictures of her in a purple fairy costume with flowers from our wedding in the background. :) I found a frame at Walmart that had a big mat around the 5x7 photo and had everyone at her birthday party sign it with birthday wishes. Now i just need to decide to I leave the professinal photo in it or put one of her with her birthday cake?! :)
As for a present for her to open, I found a scooby doo foam chair that I thought her dad would love. She is almost 15months old and now loves that chair. Just find something that she can grow into. I've found a vast difference now since she can walk than before.
Congratulations on your first year as a mommy!

Hi J.,

the one suggestion i have is to give her money toward college. Our son received soooo many toys and clothes for his first birthday. We opened a savings account for him and put money into it. He will never feel liked he missed anything!!

You could give her a savings bond, or open an edvest account or open a savings account. These are just my suggestions....good luck!!

Hi. My daughter just turned a year this passed Saturday. I had a hard time with it too - cried a lot about time going by so fast, but when the day came and the party was under-way, I was fine. Hang in there, it's hard to anticipate it, but once it's here, it's so exciting! As for a good gift, I hope my ideas help you - we wanted to get our daughter a few things that she could use now including some age-appropriate toys and something "big." The "something big" is a Fisher Price (i think) Laugh and Learn table. She can pull herself up and push buttons and play with other elements and learn colors, numbers, letters, etc. It talks to her and plays music - she loves it. It's good until three years. We also wanted to get her something special that she would keep forever. We found a figurine at Hallmark called "daughter." It was perfect. She doesn't really care much about it now, but I hope that in years to come, it might be one of her most treasured possessions, and she'll know it was to celebrate her first year of life. Sappy, I know, but I don't care :) ha ha. And don't forget the ceremonial first birthday cake - video tape if you can - it's great to watch! But that's my suggestion - age-appropriate toys that will grow with her for a bit and maybe something special and unique if you like that sort of thing. (She also received an array of dollies and books are always great - for some more ideas). Have fun planning the party, and hang in there... I thought I'd be a mess the day of, but I was so excited and the day was perfect! Your daughter's will be too!

One of my daughter's favorite gifts from her first birthday was her dolly stroller, it was a great tool to help her learn to walk. My daughter is now 7 and still plays with it.

Love the tree idea, a friend of ours bought my daughter a tree for her first birthday and we planted it in the backyard. Or a keepsake, like jewelry is a great idea- small diamond studs if you think she'll have her ears pierced later in life or a locket with her name and date engraved. You can't go wrong with a play kitchen or play house- all kids love them. We bought our daughter a bounce house for Christmas the year she was one. $250 at ToysRUs- she was a bit young for it at 15 months but grew to love it during that year when she was walking better. We'd blow it up in our basement in the cold weather or outside when it was warm. It's something fun for kids to do during playdates and great for parties. She just turned 3 and loves to jump in it with her friends. It was a great investment, we'll have it for years for her and her friends to play in.

Hi J.~
My daughter just turned one on the 11th and I know how you are feeling! I found a great website called birthdaykeepsakes.com and found a few fun things for Macy! I got her a birthdate information page, just fun facts about the day she was born, a growth chart that has her specifics one it- birthday, time she was born, weight and heigth and a placemate with her name, address and phone number on it with place for her to practice writing. Not wasn't much but I always like seeing personal gifts instead of the same old thing!
Good luck and I hope you have fun shopping for her!
~T. T. :)

It's not like they will remember anything at this point, so when our kids turned one (we have two: 3 year old and 1 year old) we just got a really neat keepsake. We got each child a birth plate- we really like it and it's something they can keep someday (if they care) plus we can put it up right now to remember the blessed day they were born. It's through Nelis' Dutch Village (check it out on line). Around $50. Just a possible idea~