My son is just about to turn one and my family would like to get him some gifts. I am seeking advice on "must-have's" for the upcoming year...what types of toys and baby gear will become essential and interesting to him? particular books or music? other items?
Wow, ladies! This is so helpful! Thank you so much for taking the time to respond. I never would have thought of some of those things (especially the big items, like outdoor mini-playgrounds).
The classic Shapo-ball is a tried and true toy that my son received for his first birthday and has continued to play with for years. It's low-tech and quiet, which I like, but we generally have to do it with him. He also has a toy where you send balls down spiral slides that he LOVED and played with constantly around that age. Maybe he would like something like that.
Hi there and happy holidays! I am struggling myself what to get my 19 month old son for the holidays, but at least I can help you as from 12-19 months, ha! First, the obious...baby proofing stuff like gates, plug covers, oven lock, door handles,, etc. And the new front facing older carseat (if you haven't done the former and the latter already.)As for fun stuff, books really come into play...my son is always going to the bookcase and bringing one over and wanting us to read something. He's also really into any sortof ball or thing with wheel (like chunky cars, train,planes etc.) We have a few Little People toys that go over well, and an air Ball Popper by Fisher Price toy that he's really into. He enjoys his rocking horse more now too. Oh, and anything Elmo (which cracks me up, because we don't even have tv, but he knows who Elmo is and adores him.) We do occassionaly watch a Baby Einsetin DVD, which he actually sits and watches (On the Go, Baby McDonald, Baby Signs, the ones geared towards 1+)But all in all, anything outside (which may not help so much in the toy department), because he will be REALLY actve in the next few months. Maybe a set of classes within your county for the next semester? (Like music, or tumbling, or Watertot swimming, etc.)Whatever you pick, he will love, because mommy gave it to him!!
My oldest, who is now 6, got some of the Fisher Price Little People sets for her first birthday. She and her two younger sisters still play with them; they are so durable and are fun for a long period of time.
One-year-olds also love music; I have a CD player in my youngest child's room, and she loves to listen to kid music and books on CD.
Enjoy your son!
What an important age your son is becoming. At this age brain development is so important, and I thank you for offering up books and music as options for gifts. Video games have their place, but self propelled, child-powered toys are best. I found, the Dr. Seuss books to be particularly helpful in many areas. "Go, Dog, Go" which sounds silly to us, is incredible for teaching, colors, up-down-over-under-in-out-fast-slow etc. all the things we take for granted that children must be taught. (my adopted son did not know what to do when told to hide under the table when he was 4 yrs old, because he had never been taught the concept of 'under' - Go Dog Go helped immensly!!!)
Also fine and gross motor skills toys. Things that let you get up close & make eye contact with him. Old Fashioned wooden alphabet blocks, teach him to stack, and be gentle or they'll fall.
Visit www.ttgo.com it's the website for Toys to Grow On, and they have great toys that are fun & helpful in development.
Remember his best 'toy' is a Mom/Dad that take time to get on his level, play peek-a-boo and pat-a-cake!
Merry Christmas!
S.
I don't know if he's attempting to walk or not but the FP Stride to Ride Lion was a big hit for my daughter's 1st birthday. The child can push it to help with walking & then after, the handle can go down so the child can ride on it.
She also loves anything Little People! For Christmas last year, she got a few different sets - the plane & the slide/clubhouse, among them.
For our sons 1 year old party we threw a Thomas The Train party and so everyone who came either brought a train or a piece to the train set. We didn't need all the other toys and it helped a lot to have everyone bring a piece to the set since the Thomas stuff is so expensive. We bought him the train table, so it all worked out. He still plays with them to this day and now his sister is starting to like them. The good thing is I can put it up for my grandbabies because we all know Thomas never goes out of style.
Hi A.,
It sounds like you already were given a lot of great ideas. Here are a few things that my two liked. Both of my daughters LOVED the Leap Frog activity table. They were fascinated with manipulating the sounds and letters and lights. It was also a help with cruising, since they stood at it and built strength in their legs. Anything that they could put a stuffed animal or doll on and push! Books, Books, Books...my girls still spend half the evening pulling out books to read. The way they have been handled has changed through the last 2 years, but any books for a 1yr old should be board books with lots of colors, simple stories or word/color/number associations, etc. It is actually a skill to turn the pages, and the repetition is how they learn. I have found that with some of their favorite books-that are took simple for them now-they use them differently. Now instead of worrying abt the story (at 2 and 3), they race to find certain letters in the text. Go with a climber and slide for outside, but I found that unless you get a big enough swing that attaches somewhere you can be comfortable pushing, YOU will be unhappy. Enjoy the holidays. The other mothers had great suggestions, too.
S..
A.,
I am a mom of 5 and a huge fan of the V-tech educational toys, they teach colors, numbers and letters and songs. They are so interactive and I find my older kids playing with them with my younger ones. Wal-Mart carries a great selections.
Truly - tupperware and more tupperware and anything you don't want him to have. If you are looking for bigish presents - a small outdoor slide or playhouse will be wonderful for you (there are fantastic deals to be had by getting these used since they last for years and years). A sand and water table is also awesome. I can't tell you how many trips to the big park I haven't had to take by having a couple of outdoor toys. Bigger things also include a ball pit (actually I like a swimming pool and a couple bags of balls), rocking horse, wagon, and push bikes (no pedals, just feet). Closer to two you start getting into coloring, little people, trucks, big legos etc.
As far a books, my kids really love things with touchy feely patches and lift the flaps. Some favorites are the Very Hungry Caterpillar, Lamaze's Who's at the Zoo, and several Usborne books like Animal Hide and Seek, The Farm, That's Not My Dragon, Thats Not My Lion, A Squirrels Tale, and The Jungle. I sell Usborne books though so I can't be objective there. They are fantastic and so different than your average books, so if you want to find out how to make a wishlist for your relatives and get extra books free you can personal message me.
Hope these ideas help,
A.
www.snuggleandread.com
The 2 toys my son actually played with a lot were the leap frog learing activity table and the Chicco train that he could either push or sit on and ride. The V tech walker is also good, and leap frog has one of those ride ons with a fire engine theme, my nephew loved the one we gave him for his first birthday. It has a lot of buttons to push.
