Ideal present for a 8month old - 1yr old baby

[Perriwinkle]

What do you suggest?

Are there any toys that your child/ren of this age just can't live without?

Just posted this on another thread:

I'd recommend any musical toys as I think all babies enjoy making noise and DS loves playing with the musical stuff at playgroups.

Anything with wheels also goes down well, e.g. trains, cars. DS loves to crawl one handed whilst pushing around the toy. Vtech have some musical ones Which we've bought www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/3619065.htm

Otherwise I always think books are a nice present, Dear Zoo, The Hungry Caterpillar and Peppa Pig are all favourites in our house

Otherwise depending on your budget my DS is 11 months old and is currently obsessed with his baby walker www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/3479865.htm

Thank you so much for taking the time to post CheungFun. I'm trying to get as much response as possible but not having much luck so far so posted again.

Wow toys make fabulous toddler vehicles. Might be better at slightly older though.

A xylophone - a proper one you bang, not a battery powered one with flashing lights - and a tambourine and maracas are stilled played with by 2 year old DS and his 3 year old friend. Given at 9 months.

He also enjoyed banging pots and pans with a wooden spoon...

Large soft balls and wheeled toys on strings are popular too as they grasp cause and effect.

Vtech treat their workers very badly indeed so might be worth looking at ethical toys?

Agreed with Schanpps also look into BPA. Plastic toys are not the best.. plus the music is enough to drive you potty.

I reccommend organic wondercube toy Its a lovely toy and you can buy extra fillings for birthdays/other Christmases or just in general. The gift that keeps on giving!

My dds are a bit older now but if you want something to stand the test of time, look at toys like stacking cups, blocks or boxes, they are good from about eight months but are still being used for different things at 3. The other thing that most one year olds love is pushing stuff around so maybe a pram.

I would get the building blocks the ones like the big version of lego. can't think of the name

My DD wasn't really bothered about her walker until quite a bit older.
She loved these -
Tomy eggs

www.amazon.co.uk/Tomy-Hide-n-Squeak-Eggs/dp/B00068Q7LC/ref=sr_1_1?s=baby&ie=UTF8&qid=1355586805&sr=1-1

And this -

www.amazon.co.uk/Galt-6850007-Classic-Pop-Up-Toy/dp/B00005OB9H/ref=sr_1_1?s=baby&ie=UTF8&qid=1355586852&sr=1-1

Both been played with lots.

My 8 month old loves dd1's dancing teletubbie, naff but makes her laugh hysterically. Also Noah's ark which dd1 had as a 1st birthday present. They play with it together, dd1 plays "properly", dd2 pulls each animal out and chews it.
Anything noisy or chewable basically, she will be getting a flashing walker thing, dd1 has the trad wooden one with blocks.