. . . if I buy my in-laws a bottle of wine instead of a gift for their 1 year old?

[Iconfuseus]

Hello All,

I have no idea what to buy.

Last weekend we were supposed to pop down to DH's DB and SIL party for their 1 year old daughter. Unfortunately my DS and I were sick with a nasty cold and we couldn't go. I'd planned to get a gift the day before the party but this didn't happen due to illness.

We are going down this weekend instead and will drop off a gift then. Problem is I have no idea what to get. The factors are . . .

• They have an older DD so they already have more then enough toys for DD2 and probably feel they are drowning in a tidal wave of pink plastic and I don't really want to add to that burden.

• As a family we've agreed a 10 pound gift limit, which I whole heartedly approve of - but it does limit our options a bit.

• They have loads of books and if I buy a book it will probably be a repeat.

• What does a 1 year old DD really need anyway? I had to get rid of loads of unused toys and stuff from when my own DS was one.

• Our DN is going to have no memory of this birthday and will have no idea whether we buy her a gift or not.

I'm seriously tempted to just get them a nice bottle of wine and say this is for you in honour of her birthday - because I'm totally stumped for ideas.

Suggestions welcome

Something that gets used up is a good idea. Crayons, bubbles, play doh, colouring book, stickers (especially the re usable gel kind). You can always have more of these. If she's a little young for some of these things, so much the better, she will grow into them and they will be "hers" rather than her sister's half used up ones.

We'll exactly, that's why I pick something targeted at the other gender if I think they will be drowning in whatever the default present is, at least whatever they get from us will be different! I have bought blue babygros for girls and toy buggies for boys etc... They always seem to get a lot of use.

New Julia Donaldson book makes a nice gift - about a scarecrow, I've forgotten the title

Clarks voucher. Shoes are so expensive and often can't be handed down.

No, Quiet - I agree, I wouldn't specify, I just meant that they money saved is really appreciated when they are teens / maybe in their early 20s, that wouldn't have been missed by a one yr old
I'd verbally say something to the parents so they see your thought process "thought it would come in useful when they want something expensive when they are older" type thing, rather than thinking you couldn't be bothered to look for something... just showing you did think about it

Just go and buy a bloody teddy.

A bottle of wine is a seriously weird present to take to a first birthday.

I'd get a nice top/outfit or maybe a soft play voucher. I'm apprehensive of giving toys as we are also drowning under a sea of toys.

Clarks voucher is clever, I like that idea.

Other non-pink toys for a 1yo under a tenner
Megabloks

Bath toy from WOW In fact anything from WOW

Lovely pull-along wooden dog

Retro spinning top

Clever dress/vest combo things for little girls from GAP

Nice plate set or divided plate for the youngest?

Some friends did Grey's idea of a bottle of fizz and told us to celebrate surviving the first year. We LOVED it!

Pjs - 18 to 24 months. Always come in handy.

Actually we lived in Bulgaria when DS was a baby and in his first birthday I got flowers from our cleaner and some people in DH's office as it's traditional there.

I think giving some money to put towards saving is quite lovely. We opened a bank account for her and I'd love it if friends said, here is a tenner or a fiver to put in the account for her future.

A voucher for a new pair of shoes at Clarks / Startrite would be nice too. Good quality shoes are always needed.

Wine sounds an EXCELLENT idea to me. Congrats, you made it through the first year type thing. I do wine or flowers for all first birthdays

Also, your original idea is totally fine too. Especially if Mum has recently stopped or plans to stop BF.

Start a tradition of Premium Bonds as presents. My children and my brothers kids are building a nice little nest egg. All winnings go back into the pot, so to speak.

How about some craft supplies like chubby crayons or markers and some stickers which DN would be interested in experimenting with soon? They would be fun while they lasted, not take up much room and wouldn't have to be got rid of after.

Premium Bonds is a lovely concept, YouAre but you have to start with £100 these days, so not practical, sadly.