first birthday presents

[SueandBen]

Can people out there please tell me what they have bought they're little ones for their first birthday?? Having a problem coming up with ideas for something meaningful (want to get him something to keep and also something fun to play with!)
Thx

I have added problem of ds birthday being on 5th December - so have Xmas to think about as well. Oh and we are broke!! so think it will be quality not quantity as he will get spoilt by his grandparents and other friends.

So i am no help but also looking for advice!!

Noahs Ark shape sorters are great to use and keep afterwards.

Our boys got a brick trolley, that is the one thing I remember above all others. Got/gets used so often.

Nothing - seriously, do consider who else will be buying for your child - my DS was inundated with presents from relatives & friends - make sure you give loud hints & suggestions about what you want from other people otherwise you will end up with a load of rubbish.

My d.s will be 1 next week and we have similar problem to Manfwood re finances!! We are planning to get one of those Fisher Price shape sorter things (both other kids had one but invariably we lost the bits!! I don't think our d.s. will be that interested yet TBH, but he will certainly enjoy the empty boxes!! Also, the Fisher Price garage is good value and ours has lasted three children, tho youngest d.s. uses it as a climbing frame rather than a toy!! And no, I'm not on commission!!

In our experience the toys that have endured for our 4 1/2 yr old ds are :-

Fisher Price Play Family(little People)Garage
Thomas the Tank Engine 'my first Thomas'
-both these are sets to which you can add on future occasions

ELC Activity Table - converts to sand/water table

Sit on and ride car thing ( we just bought one with a rocker for dd's 1st bday)

Trike with parent handle

Traditional shape sorter & bricks in trolley

hth

LizS

Ps Don't spend too much - the boxes are more fascinating at this age!!

Our 'special' present was a Noah's arc made by dd's grandfather - but I apprecciate not everyone has his wood working skills ( and we resorted to Ikea finger puppets ( EXCELLENT value, 10 for £5) for the animals)
I think she most enjoyed her sit on /rocking/push along car - and I'm glad we paid the extra for one ( Can't remember is chicco or FP)with an electronic key board thing on the front as this was a big hit. Not very seasonal - but she also loved her sand pit!

If lots of people are going to be buying presents it might be worthwhile considering something that will be more useful in a few months. For example, DS was 1 in Feb and had loads of recent presents from Christmas so we bought him a trike with seat belt and parent handle which would come in over the summer. Also my sister bought him a sand/water pit on legs which has been a great hit all through the summer.

Is the birthday before or after Christmas? If its within a couple of months of Christmas beware of relatives buying two lots of clothes in the same size. DS was a large 10 months at Christmas and was bought loads of clothes in the 9 - 12 month size which he was already in so had enough and then 12-18 for his birthday and before we knew it, it was summer and they all had to be discarded in favour of shorts/t-shirts. This year if asked I am going to specify sizes and maybe suggest summer stuff for his birthday. I don't mean to be mercenary but it just seems so wasteful.

thanks to everyone for the replies - helping loads!
I think I'm just going to get him something special to keep (money box or another piece of the Winnie the Pooh set he's been given already), he's not christened/blessed you see so hasnt go the usual things from that.
My parents are getting the trike so the only other thing I might consider is the play table/sandpit idea.
It is just difficult with his birthday being mid November - so close to Christmas!
Thx again

We had a party and asked everyone to donate money to a tree fund, either to plant your own or to donate to the woodlands trust. Also for our neices 1st b'day we bought her a lovely wooden statue that she will enjoy when she is much older - although she did actually enjoy feeling it then too.

We got our first a beautiful wooden Noahs Ark with all the animals. I had to take the people away as she tried to eat the clothes and hair but it has given her hours of pleasure and looks great on her shelf too. For her first Christmas we gave her a lovely wooden chair.