S.R. asks from McKinney, TX on November 10, 2007
Christmas Presents for a 1-Year-old
Hi ladies,
Our little girl just turned 1-year-old and we know this Christmas is going to be fun! Even though last year was technically her first Christmas, she was only 2 months old, so this year feels like the first one as far as shopping for gifts and such. She's kind of at a transition between baby toys and stuff for "toddlers." I want to get her some special, fun toys that she will be able to play with for awhile. She's been walking for a couple months now, almost running, is very smart, independent, loves music & dancing, growls & squeals at animals, loves & pats her babies, and loves pulling every single article of clothing out of her drawers and every book off the bookcase (which she then proceeds to read "da da da... da da da...")! I was thinking a play kitchen, and even though she might not know exactly what to do with it, I know she'd enjoy opening and closing the doors and taking stuff off the shelves inside... but my mom just bought her a pink retro kitchen set from Costco, today, so now I'm back at square one!
What have y'all gotten for your new-toddlers that they loved? What have you gotten that you were super excited about that didn't quite hold their attention?
I would love any feedback. I just don't want a bunch of stuff she won't play with. And I want it to be somewhat special, since its somewhat of a "first" Christmas.
Thanks!
S.
Featured Answers
S.Y. answers from Dallas on November 13, 2007
My 15 m/o son LOVES to play with his sister's play kitchen, so I think that will work out great. My daughter (almost 5) has always been very girly-girl, so when she had her first Christmas (also her first birthday) we got her a Disney Princess play vanity with the play makeup and stuff. Dress up clothes are great if she knows how to dress herself yet (I don't think my daughter did...) Play jewelry is good... Maybe a couple new movies? More books (I'm a book addict...)... A sandbox if you find one on clearance?
T.W. answers from Dallas on November 12, 2007
Hi S.
Happy Holidays to ya. My 16 month old LOVES her SmartVille 1-2-3 Treehouse and her SmartVille Alphabet Train Station. She has had them since last Christmas and still plays with them daily. Both come with and identify lots of animals and play music. The Train Station helps teach the alphabet, plays music and even has a clock. VTech makes them.
She also LOVES her Baby Einstein "First Signs" video. She has learned lots of new words and is doing most of the signs on the video too. They give lots of kisses in the video and she loves to give kisses even more than she did before.
Have a fabulous Christmas!
T.
More Answers
L.I. answers from Dallas on November 12, 2007
Tupperware has some great classic toys for little ones! I don't know about you, but I am so nervous about toy shopping with all the toy recalls going on! Tupperware has some safe, fun toys from a trusted company that does not cut corners! I love the Shape-O toy and the Kids Mini Party Set - I have an almost 3 year old and she is getting both of these for Christmas - either would be fun for a 1 or 2 year old too! I am a tupperware consultant - if you are interestd in any of these check out my website at www.my2.tupperware.com/laraiezzi. Happy Shopping!!
J.J. answers from Dallas on November 11, 2007
My son loves his Playskool Busy Ball Popper. I think the recommended age was 9 months+. We got it when he was around that age and he still plays with it almost every day (he'll be two next month.) It is always a huge hit at playgroups with the girls too. Kids just seem to love it. He also loves his Mega Block wagon. Like your daughter and most toddlers, he has a blast taking blocks out and tossing them back in over and over. Again, he's played with that just about every day all year.
As others said, the Red Pull Wagon is a favorite also, especially if you live in a neighborhood you can take nice walks in. I have the Radio Flyer one.
I got him tons of books for his first birthday (mostly from Half Price Books - kids don't care if they're used!) Some he loves, others he doesn't care for. If you buy a variety she may surprise you on what she takes to. For example, one of my son's favorites is "Baby's Book of Nature." I'd never have guessed he'd like that one so much. It's a great age for you to start seeing them really develop their own personal tastes rather than just what we like. I did the same with DVDs. If you aren't opposed to TV time, there are some great educational DVDs out there as well as the classic kid TV.
You can also consider enrolling her in a class such as The Little Gym or Kindermusik, etc.
L.A. answers from Dallas on November 11, 2007
These little spy bags are great for toddlers:
C.P. answers from Dallas on November 12, 2007
My daughter LOVED playing with "Little People" by Fischer-Price--she would play and play and play for hours. She had the little doll house, the school bus, a jungle, etc. etc. They're age rated for 18 mos & up, I think, but she played with them from about 12 mos on. She still played with them up until she started kindergarten, and beyond!
(she might even still play with them at 9 years old if we had not given them to a friend with a younger child! :o) )
S. answers from Dallas on November 11, 2007
Yes, my 1st was born in Oct too so the 1st Xmas wasn't into the toys yet. My are age 2 and age 4 and the toys that had there attention the most was music and sounds. Vtech and leap frog has alot of toys. We had a Vtech piano and leap frog had 4 piano keys and teaches ABC 123. They both loved it. I would look for toys 12 mo-18mo for her age. We got our daughter her 1st baby at 10 mo for xmas but she didn't know what to do with it. But last xmas she was 18 mo and she loved Baby Dolls.
We had gotten a little red wagon and the both have pulled that little wagon everywhere.They put anything in it.
Take her to Toysrus and try different toys and see if any she likes. Thats also a good way too.
B.W. answers from Dallas on November 11, 2007
Hi S., Let me tell you what I'm doing for my one year old Grand daughter. I'm making her first First Christmas Tree. They are small I'm doing her's using a white tree decorating it with Pink ball and pink ballerina bears, tiny lights and other pink decorations. Around the bottom are diapers and I cover them with white shreader paper and it looks like snow and add a larger bear of course I can make with any decorations you would like.Her mother is going to put it on her table next to the big tree. I make these along with diapers cakes and more. Please check out my web site diapercakesbybetty.com and give me a call
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Thanks B. West
E.H. answers from Austin on November 12, 2007
The best "big" presents I got for my daughter for her first Christmas were:
1. The jump and spin zebra
2. The Kangaroo Climber (we keep it in the house)
She still plays with both of those things every day (she's going to be 2 in December,) and her friends love to play with both those toys when they come over. She's just now getting into pretend play so we're going to get her the kitchen this year. I can't wait!
Hope this helps.
E.
D.S. answers from Houston on November 12, 2007
A small slide will last many years. We got one for my first born and she used it all the time. My twins came along 3 1/2 years later and they used it when they started crawling until the age of three. So we got six years out of this slide. It was a great purchase.
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