What should I get my one year old - if anything?

[onlyatchristmastime]

DC2 will be 14 months at Christmas and I cannot think of a single good idea for him. My older one is exactly two years older, so will be just turned three and she really understands the idea of Santa and gifts this year, so I don’t really want to not get him anything - but because of the small age gap he has the use of all of her things as well as his own, and that is a LOT of stuff - my house is positively creaking at the seams. Budget isn’t really an issue except for that I don’t want to waste money or space for the sake of it. Does anyone have any inspired ideas for one year olds that we may not already own?! TIA!

What about buying useful things you might need to get anyway and wrapping them up- clothes, toiletries etc- will older DD notice?

New teddy 🧸.
Do you have some toys that have been put away, that oldest will have forgotten you could wrap them up?
Mini micro scooter with seat.

LO definitely needs somethings of their own or you risk awkward questions- why did Santa forget my little sister.

Or passes to a local attraction?

I would buy one, classic toy. Spinning top or train set, something that will be treasured, not a pile of plastic!

Role play toys, happy land stuff, little kitchen or shop?

A toy in lots of parts (eg pp suggestion of a toy kitchen) that you can wrap up individually?

I think it is important to get them something if only to show your older child that Santa has included their younger sibling too

What about a little grapat nins set?

We bought few toys that he would be into at they age and then others which he would grow into and for spring/summer.
Some ideas;
Mini trampoline for garden
Little tikes car
Balance bike
Scotter
Sand/water pit

Books
Bright starts silly whale
Disco light (off Amazon, my son was obsessed for months)
Toy keys
Tunnel

Take some toys away now! Wrap for Christmas and your 3yo hopefully won't remember them. We did this when we had an older one and a young baby - it worked a treat!

The idea of wrapping up toys they already have made me laugh - sadly my soon-to-be three year old has the memory of an elephant and a very keen sense of when her brother is being given ‘her toys’ so not sure we could pull that one off! I myself like the idea of a classic wooden toy but I know from experience that another relative (probably a sibling of mine) will bring my —proletarian— children some flashing shit that will relegate the beautiful classic toy. I think I’ll go with a combo of the stuff he’d have needed anyway and maybe passes/tickets for a local attraction. I’ve bought the oldest age-appropriate theatre tickets for her birthday in a couple of months - I’m not sure if she’s quite old enough to appreciate experiences as gifts but I really want to get them used to the concept early on. I love that my children have lots of loving family but, much as I try not to be the grinch, I really hate the toy excess that accompanies it!

I agree (especially as I fear that she might not be entirely displeased if she thought he’d come to her and not her younger brother )

New books are always a good thing for younger siblings as obviously new ones come out all the time and you can never have too many books :)

Could you not add to a collection your older child has, so

More brio
New Duplo set / happyland / Playmobil 123
Different accessories for a play kitchen
Replace old bath toys

Important to get one definite present as l found as mine grew they liked to look at photos of their Christmas presents through the years and especially loved their early ones. Alongside that presents like books / playdoh etc can be shared with his sister and you always need new fresh ones. Even some nice pouring toys for the baths will have an attraction for both.

I have a child just 2 months older than you and cannot understand how you cant think of anything to get, not having much space is a different matter but Im personally a firm believer that younger sibling deserve some of their own belongs not to just forever live off hand me downs.

Does your child like any specific things?

for example if they like Bing then some good examples are the Bing wood skittles, Bing carry case house or Bing blocks train.

Mr tumble is usually popular too as is Hey Dougie, Bluey, Peppa Pig etc... places like B&M, Argos and Home bargains are great for these things.

As for my items not characters my daughter who is about the same age she LOVES her magna doodle if you dont have one yet I would recommend it.

I agree books is the best idea. Also a happyland set ( the train is great ) and wrap each part separately

@mam0918 its very easy to run out of ideas for a second child especially if families have gone OTT for the first child. For a LO who has a birthday just before Christmas too and if in many families everyone looks at mum for ideas and all mum can see is cupboards already bursting at the seams.
As they get older different intrests mean it becomes easier but the baby / toddler stage is tough.

I remember my dd having a baby walker when she was one.

Don’t bother. He’ll get presents from other people and he won’t care. It’s just more stuff.

Another recommendation for a Happyland train if you don’t already have one. My LO is obsessed with the one he got for his 1st birthday recently.

Mj d started to live role play kitchen/food stuff at about 17 months so maybe a little basket and pretend food?

Things my 15 month old currently LOVES-

Floating mummy duck with three babies- www.smythstoys.com/uk/en-gb/baby/baby-toys/bath-toys/playgro-duckie-family-bath-toy/p/124084
(i think this is a containment thing as well as a fun floaty bath thing but she can spend a ridiculous amount of time saying 'duck duck!' and putting them all back on mum.

A Punch balloon (the strong balloons with the elastic band on one end). All the fun of a balloon without the bursting and she can pull it around and bounce it against her hand which sets off fits of giggles

A pop it (one of those cheap things that feek like bubble wrap). She spends a long time pushing them through one at a time and seems to love the sensation

All cheap presents but prefered over any of the happyland etc!

I did a stocking for mine with toothbrush, animal flannel, felt stickers, soft toy, Organix gingerbread men biscuits, orange, book and water cup. Then a scuttlebug scooter as the main present as it folds up small and we are tight for space!

Space is a premium in our house too, so it’s a tough one. We were thinking something nice from My 1st Years each for our twins, as they have some beautiful wooden toys they would love. They will be 15mo by Xmas.

I have 3 children and go WAY over the top and have never come close run out of ideas/options (although running out of money/space can be a big issue).

There are litrally BILLIONS of toys for kids, its one of the most saturated markets.

The issue is actually not being able to buy ALL the different thing (there has to be a line in the sand somewhere).

If you walked in Smyths or the Entertainer right now are you saying your kids own anywhere close to every age appropriate thing that could apply to their imagination or interests?

Its impossible, especially with new things coming out daily (between each of my children so much changed and the smallest age gap is only 2 years).

You just have to walk in a shop, watch kids tv or open google to be assaulted by 100s of ideas of gifts for kids.

I would also counter argue older kids are much harder/worse, my teen is by FAR harder to buy for, apart from his Xbox and Minecraft game he hasnt wanted or played with anything else for over 5 years.

He might aswell be a grumpy old man saying 'bah humbug'.

Toddlers however have huge imaginations, require specific age appropriate learning tools (hand eye co-ordination etc...) and actually WANT to play and need constant entertaining hense why the big market exists.

Some toddler stuff can also be picked up SUPER cheap, they dont care about it being secondhand and are usually happy/excited with virtually anything (its the cutest age).

Up until 8 is by far the easiest ages to buy for.