Presents for one year old

[shreddednips]

Hi,
Hoping some other mums can help me with this. Our DS is nearly 6 months old, while it may seem premature to be thinking about Christmas and first birthday, we don't have a lot of spare money. I'd really like to start thinking about what to buy now so that we can make sure we are making the wisest possible use of our money.

When we were kids we used to get just a few really carefully chosen presents. Our parents never spent lots of money but they chose really well and we were always really grateful for what we got. I'm keen to go down the same route with our DS. We always used to get one thing we really wanted and then useful clothing, a nice book and some bits in our stockings. I don't want to be mean but we just can't afford loads and loads.

I really have no idea what DS will fancy at a year old, ideally we would like to get him one slightly more expensive item that he will get lots of fun/use out of for as long as possible, some clothing that he will wear again and again (dressing gown, maybe coat or something), a book that he's likely to really love and some small bits and bobs that don't cost too much but that he also won't lose interest in after a day.

I would be so grateful for any suggestions as we would like to spread the cost over the next few months and want to choose really well. Obviously at one he will have limited understanding of presents anyway but if we're spending money, we want to spend it well if that makes sense!

Thanks so much!

For my DS birthday, I didn't want to spend too much as he's only 1. It didn't seem like much when we were shopping but on the day it seemed more than enough.

• t-shirt set (boring but necessary)
• the cutest () swimming trunks as I'd be taking him a lot
• a baby doll
• a squishy toy that plays a theme tune that he loves
• a scuttle bug (toddler tricycle)
• a pull along caterpillar toy
• a book set
• a ball pit & balls

When ds1 was 1, one of his presents was a tunnel combination. We have not long thrown it away and the ds are 12,10 and 8! They have all loved it and have used it for dens. They would probably still be playing with it if it hadn't gone into holes!

I do think classic, multi use, long lasting toys are great. - wooden bricks, small world play, stacking and sorting toys, imaginative play. Books are a fantastic long lasting gift as well and outdoor toys. My ds had a climbing cube then a climbing frame and ride along , pull along and push along toys are always popular.

My 1 year old LOVES stacking cups and stacking rings. Also rattles (think amazon have a ‘my first band’ for a tenner with different rattles’ and those plastic boxes you can put shapes in to. Asda do a pack of 5 balls some of which rattle which he likes playing with and also bouncy balls that flash. He got a pop up ball pit for his first birthday and a slide for the garden. Also maybe a walker - whether it be one of the vtech ones or just a trolley or a pram as they’ll probably be finding their feet around then

Oh and the hide and squeak eggs - they get us through every meal time !

For DD's first birthday we got her a few nice baby musical instruments and put them in a big strong hatbox, then added to them year after year. They ended up with a fab collection and now both play musical instruments so I reckon it was a good idea!

@IHeartKingThistle
Thats a lovely idea of having something to add to each year.

Why don't you try a mum to mum market. You can find them on Facebook and it's like a car boot sale just for kids stuff. We've only ever bought DD toys from there, most of them are the plastic toys you pay £20 for new but we've got them for £2 and they're barely used. Just need a good wash (or a couple of runs through the dishwasher if it's not a battery toy). It's honestly fantastic. Our absolute fav which we still play with at 18 months was a plastic piggy bank with coins. She LOVES it and has played with it countless times. And it cost us £2!