Grandson's 1St Birthday

Think long term..... Start a college fund if he doesn't have one already, (which he should), or special savings account for him. At each occasion for gifts, donate to this fund.

How about a family membership to their local zoo? Everyone can enjoy it, memberships usually involve special events, and you can go with them when you are in town.

Beond that - I am a believer that every toy is an "educational toy" (a "learning toy"), because all play builds imagination / dexterity / etc. You could look around some fun toy-stores near you, maybe some smaller mom-and-pop type places, and choose a toy.

I think you're missing all the fun of being a grandma by asking what he needs and then simply paying for what someone else puts on your list. Go to the toy store and look at things that are 6-12 months beyond where he is. Keep it simple - toys that are experiential and not just, say, a stuffed animal. Look at science museum or children's museum gift shops - they often have interesting things. Stick with the basics - those principles haven't changed in 50 years!

Depending on where they live, you can also consider a year's membership to the children's museum - something they can really use. A child this age doesn't really understand gifts so it doesn't matter if it's not something that's fun to open. And then take your grandchild to said museum when you are in town and enjoy the hands-on exhibits!

And please - stop thinking of 50 as old! You gotta change your outlook!

If she is asking for clothes then buy him some cute everyday outfits. My son could go through onesies and pants three outfits a day with spills and spit up and getting into things. Buy them his current size and a few bigger ones for winter come January he will be out growing his things he can wear now. Pajamas are good too. Clothes are so expensive unless you have a good resale shop close by so she probably really means it with some clothes. (He will pay with the boxes or gift bags they come in maybe more than the actual toys if you get both.)

One thing my kids played with longer than any other toy were the huge Duplo lego-like toys. They come in a big bag (or used to) and the stack like a lego but are like fifty time bigger. My kids also liked the fisher-price toys that came with blocks or balls and if you put them inside it lit up and played music. Oh and stacking toys.

Go have fun shopping grandma who is 50 years young!! My kids have grandparent over 85 and they still buy fun gifts and go to school shows and concerts....you have 30 plus years ahead of you!! Hugs!!

My oldest grandson is turning 21 in September! I'm not even 60! You think you feel old - LOL! Just go to the store and have fun picking something out. It really doesn't matter at this age what you get. My mother used to buy the kids savings bonds for every birthday and xmas. She knew they got a lot of stuff, most of which they didn't use/need/want. As they are turning 18, I am giving them their bonds - my mother passed away two years ago.
They are very touched to receive something from their great grandmother years after her passing. It reminds them how much she loved them.

An indoor slide/playset. My granddaughter got one for her first birthday from my daughter. Five years later now both girls play on it everyday.

I love the idea of a membership somewhere! My kids loved going places and it gets expensive when you feel like you're bleeding money in diapers, wipes, etc. If you can afford a zoo membership or a children's museum membership (the Kohl Children's Museum in Chicago is amazing!!) or something of that nature, I bet it would be used and appreciated.

Other than that I agree that books are awesome and if they want clothes, do clothes. Some of our favorite toys from that age were stacking/nesting blocks, ride-on and push toys, balls of all shapes and sizes, and bubbles (Gymboree has great bubbles/bubble wand).

If the mom is suggesting clothes, buy clothes. 1 year olds don't care about presents (wrap the present in colorful paper he can rip with lots of bows and the kid will be happy), and the mom will be grateful that you bought something she can use and not a big toy that she doesn't have anyplace to put.

First 49 isn't old. My sister is 46 and has 5 grandchildren and 1 on the way. What ever you get him will be appreciated. I love buying books, touch books with different kinds of touch things (soft, smooth, bumpy, lumpy, sticky, etc.) Many babies/toddlers love these books.

Perhaps a gift for the future is in order. Beginning a college fund is also a great idea. Use the funds that would have been for a gift toward a deposit into an account or fund for the child's college. Talk with the institution or financial planner about this possibility and its particulars.

Go to various stores or check out online stores for possible toys for children of this age range. He may enjoy cars, balls, toys that make sounds, toys that light up. His parents may want you to get him clothes.

Congratulations on Grandson's 1st Birthday and having a grandson doesn't make you old. It makes you alive. Enjoy this phase of life.

Mine liked duploes, a push/ride on toy, musical animated dolls, easy puzzles, and fast moving balls that are easy to grab and throw (like an oversized whiffle ball).

Books, books, books. Baby safe books (the kind designed for teething kids with safe "pages"), and books for mommy and daddy to read to the baby. Get colorful books with lots of pictures. Don't focus only on the books that teach numbers or colors. Buy books with timeless stories, or stories about trucks and puppies, etc. Get age-appropriate books and also books for when the child gets a little older.

Just keep it simple.
A baby safe small stuffed (washable) toy will be fine.
It it becomes a major lovey then get a few more of them so they can share the wear and tear, stand up to washing and hopefully don't get lost.
Really - for the next few years - you'll get him something nice, he'll open it up - and then happily play with the box it came in for days and days!

Just give him a big box. You can spend money on expensive toys but what he will play with most is the box. I know that's what both my boys did.

I do agree with the others that say a membership.

One of my favorite 1st year birthday gifts to give is an outside water table. They have a lot of different options. Even one's with a sand table option or one with just water and toys. Once they learn how to stand they love it and it grows with them for many years. Can find great one's on amazon or toys r us. Hope this helps!!

My favorite toys for that age were the Fisher Price type toys where they stood and did things with balls, or cars, and toddled around - they were large and they would keep them entertained and active for quite a while. I got one new one for each of my kids for their first birthday and they were always a hit. If you go to the Fisher Price website, or Toys R Us and go by age, they have some good ideas.

I always got them a little more advanced than where they were so that they lasted a long time. They would be considered learning toys.

Added: Ride on toys (we had some that had bells and beeps) were good too at that age. Our favorite though was just a 20 year old basic ride on little car from Little Tykes that we all handed down. I think it beeped but that was it. Later, they drive their bears around on it, etc. Wagons were handy too (as more of a family gift). We got one that got a lot of use out of it.

Books are always good! Also, one of the things I always appreciated having around were Stride Rite gift cards for shoes (you know, they out grow shoes in about 5 minutes when they're small) and he actually did like going shoe shopping. I also like the idea of starting an account for him.....Enjoy your grandbaby and happy 50th (you're not old!!)

Honestly, I would go for more traditional toys such as the learning blocks with the alphabet. My favorite was the traditional ABC block set . . . Melissa and Doug has one that comes with a cart so that the child can pull them around as they start to walk, etc. (My son LOVED these!) Plus, as they grow they can build towers and stuff.

In addition I would add on some age appropriate board books! So great for bonding, etc.

At that age it really doesn't matter the cost as he doesn't understand it. Just make sure that the toy is sturdy especially if he is a rough playing guy.

You are not old. My grandson will be 20 next month and I will be 70 in December.

For my grandson's first birthday he got a cake to destroy and a few gifts. It was fun watching him become a huge mess which went directly into the bathtub after the cake eating. There was another cake for the adults and ice cream.

Take lots of pictures so you can bribe him when he gets older. Enjoy the fact that you can hand him back when he is not listening to you. Love and enjoy him.

the other S.

I'm 48 and I don't consider myself old at all. Perhaps I will when I'm 49 yo though.🤣😳🤣

I get 1 yo's Fischer Price toys typically for a birthday present. Since he's your grandson you could also start investing for him. Open an ING account and put $20/ month in the account. With this account you can purchase partial shares of a stock. Over 18 years you will be able to have a decent amount of money to give to him at 18 yo or whenever you decide.