If I was giving YOUR 1 year old a non-clutter present...

[CalmingRoseQuartz]

...what would you genuinely welcome?

Friend's son imminently turning 1.

Parents very keen to limit 'stuff'.

I'd like to have given an activity/ subscription/ membership type of present, but budget can only stretch to £15 max so not really doable.

Any inspiration for alternatives?

[RedToothBrush]

100% books. Finger paint would be a no no from me, because they need adult supervision and cannot do it immediately. Therefore it sits somewhere waiting for an appropriate time to be used (and probably gets forgotten about).


Clutter free to me means no plastic toys and not stuff that is a pain in the arse to use (craft stuff).

I do think its a euphemism for books, clothes, food or money tbh.

[TheGirlWhoLived]

I’d assume if they didn’t want ‘stuff’ the consumables are the way to go! As pp mentioned, colour wow pens/books are great, magic painting book, bath crayons, gelly baff, bath foam. Maybe even some child’s farm or burrs bees baby bath stuff- Plus a pack of milkybar buttons?

[RedToothBrush]

@Ducksurprise

Something brass and plastic, whilst the parents maybe minimalist, the kid isn't. And kids love clutter and tat.

Kids will play with stones and cardboard boxes too.

They still don't need clutter toys.

[IceCreamAndCandyfloss]

@TeenMinusTests

Why not finger paints ?

The kind of parent who doesn't want 'clutter' sounds like someone who doesn't like mess and won't do things like painting. So either they embrace it and let their LO have the experience, or they get left with 'clutter'!

I hate clutter but love craft and messy play so would love anything from the toddler range of crayola as very less mess and washable.

[orangejuicer]

@RedToothBrush

100% books. Finger paint would be a no no from me, because they need adult supervision and cannot do it immediately. Therefore it sits somewhere waiting for an appropriate time to be used (and probably gets forgotten about).

Clutter free to me means no plastic toys and not stuff that is a pain in the arse to use (craft stuff).

I do think its a euphemism for books, clothes, food or money tbh.

I don't disagree with the rest of your post but babies generally need adult supervision

[ShowMeHow]

The snail and the whale book is my go to solution for this dilemma.

[rrhuth]

Finger paints are clutter. They are also an annoying gift as it is an instruction to the parent to do fingerpainting!

[Goldbar]

Although to be fair, for a 1 year old, giving a book is an instruction to the parent to read it to their child .

[Redsquirrel5]

Some dolphins from Croglin Toys. They are wooden and in different poses and the balance on each other to make ever changing sculpture. My children loved them and we still have them as adults change play with them too. Not a low clutter present but so enchanting they won’t want to part with them. Not sure how much they are now but if a family member you could buy one and add to them.

[orangejuicer]

@rrhuth

Finger paints are clutter. They are also an annoying gift as it is an instruction to the parent to do fingerpainting!

God forbid a parent plays with their own child.

[ArranMumma]

An invitation for the baby to come to yours for a play date. When they get there you could have set up painting or another little activity for them x

[ArranMumma]

Or a photography shoot?

[Baker90]

What about those water 'paint' books with some brushes and a pot. Minimal mess but the fun of 'painting!' My little girl loved those if I didn't want to get the full messy paints out

[BikeRunSki]

Or an Aquadoodle mat

[MrsSkylerWhite]

Books, clothing, zoo (play centre)!membership.

[kitkatsky]

A book

[CalmingRoseQuartz]

Wow, you lot are brilliant! So many ideas already...

Will go through all the suggestions carefully when I've got a bit more time later, but just wanted to say a massive thanks.

Do keep them coming.

[MaverickDanger]

We are probably those parents. We hate clutter & tat, particularly when DS will grow out of it or bored of it soon.

We use Whirli & have asked family to buy from there. It means we can swap it for something more appropriate as he grows up. I’d appreciate that or soft play vouchers.

We do loads of messy play and aren’t uptight about mess. We just haven’t bought into the whole consumerism for a baby thing.

[BertieBotts]

Books or brio trains.

Do they have one of those wooden rainbows? :o can't remember if that's under £15.

[degsydoodoos]

For a 1 year old, I'd either go with clothes / pyjamas, a gift voucher, or money in a card so that the parents can decide to either buy something for the child or save it for them.

[BertieBotts]

And if books, spend some time in a bookshop and choose nice ones. Not just book shaped objects that tie into some crap TV series.

[Hydrate]

@CalmingRoseQuartz , these personalized name puzzles look great, and are in your budget too. They won awards for their puzzles. You help choose the style and colours too. www.tinyme.co.uk/personalised-name-puzzle-choose-design?PPBANNER=1

[Aroundtheworldin80moves]

Ask them. I know some people hate being asked but I always find it useful to direct people to things so they aren't duplicated. So I might say to X they need an umbrella, or Y they need a dressing gown, or Z a board game... a few people used to always send Amazon vouchers which would add up to a big thing like a swing set or a trampoline etc.

[ichundich]

Voucher for a pottery place / soft play
Music CD
Books
Ball
Schleich animals
Lego Duplo
Clothes

[Bunnycat101]

I like the day out idea but here are some ideas that have been brilliant for my toddlers and don’t take up a lot of space:

• busy board
  
• water drawing - galt to some travel ones which I take everywhere in the changing bag
  
• bath toys
  Bubbles
  Stickers
  
  Don’t get shoes/wellies - sizes/ time they start walking will vary so much