coming up to PFB´s 1st birthday, what are the best toys to get for presents?

[thegoldenfool]

it seems there is so much crap you can buy for children, what in your experience do they actually play with

I have 4dc's and 3 are above 1. Things that have got used lots here between 1-2 are some sort of sit n ride car, shape sorter, Fisher Price little People similar to ELC Happyland and a traditional block cart that you can push around as you start to walk but also stack the block with. Lift the flat books are great for that age.

Every toddler I know loves those little pushchairs. Really light and easy to push.

Dd has the little tikes cosy coupe and loves it.

We got her a smart trike for her first birthday and it has had loads of use. She's nearly three and pedals it on her own.

A sandpit and or a sand/water table if they're standing.

A little trike with a parent pole. It would be fab over the summer, if we get one

this monstrous piece of plastic. played with daily.

A big empty cardboard box.

I'm getting my pfb a swing - I don't know how to do links, but there's a lovely wooden one I've seen which starts with a baby seat (usefully enough) which changes to a normal seat, so you get years of use out of it. It's rather expensive but I had a swing when I was a little girl and I played on it every day, so I am hoping she'll love hers as much.

A bloody big box, and the cardboard tube from the inside of a roll of wrapping paper. And the wrapping paper.

Anything you've actually bought will almost definitely be gleefully discarded in favour of the wrapping.

Mine liked Happyland and the always played with Tomy Hide 'n' Squeak eggs.

DS got a plastic push along/ride on car, Lightning McQueen piece of tat and he loves it and kisses it goodnight and plays with it every day and he's just turned 18 months.

He does quite like his tasteful wooden PFB toys but the car rules, along with is smelly battered panda.

A pram. Only toy I've seen cause real trouble between toddlers. They f'ing love them.

trike, trampoline with handle, slide

Aquadoodle
3 in 1 trike
Beach ball

trike sounds a bit of a winner here!

thanks a lot :)

I had a little tikes 2 storey climbing frame / slide. Small enough that I could bring it into the house for the winter and it was a lifesaver when it was too cold n wet to go outside, it's now in the garden and still gets played with 2 years later (we had it going into a paddling pool during the hot week)

DS mostly got one of these trekkers for his 1st birthday present - the only thing I found really annoying about it was the non-adjustability of the safety straps. They were just too short! But he still uses it now as an outdoor ride-on (he's now 4.6) so it's been a good investment (and I bought it in the sale so it was about 40% off, which helped a lot too!)

I think he got cloth books and a wooden abacus too, but honestly can't remember .

Pram
Tomy eggs
Brio dog