first birthday present - no toys no clothes?!

[Twodogsandababy]

My best friend’s daughter will be one next month and I’m really struggling to come up with a present for her! I asked my friend what she’d like and she said she honestly couldn’t think of anything.

I asked about toys but her little girl isn’t into them and the ones she got for Christmas haven’t been opened. Her favourite thing to do is open and empty bags and cupboards but I’m struggling to find any toys with a similar theme that she would enjoy?

She also has clothes for the next three sizes all purchased and boxed away so she doesn’t need clothes!

They live in a smaller space that’s lacking storage so I don’t want to buy anything huge/bulky that’s going to take up space. My budget is about £30. Has anyone got any ideas? I mentioned looking for emptying/filling toys to my friend who said she’d love that but I’m struggling to find any!

TIA

Do they have a garden? A slide, swing or sand pit are perfect for this age.

How about something like this?

www.smythstoys.com/uk/en-gb/toys/pre-school-and-electronic-learning/fisher-price/fisher-price-infant-toys/fisher-price-laugh-and-learn-magic-colour-mixing-bowl/p/185114

(sorry for the long link!)

A nice family picture on canvas for her room ?

They’re in a flat so no garden unfortunately!

Money to do something, play centre, zoo visit, for when lockdown has finished ( I’m guessing you are uk based?)

A book to put away for when she's older. A classic, one of your childhood favourites, a namesake book (eg Alice in wonderland for a girl called Alice).

I do this for toddler DC each birthday and Christmas. He's got a lovely selection already

What about something as a keepsake? I got DN a little hanging plaque thing that says her name, 'happy 1st Birthday' and the date on

A nice money box?

Someone gave us this when DD was that age and it was a favourite for ages as the caterpillar goes through the holes...something to do with the child for the parent as much as the baby.

www.amazon.co.uk/Very-Hungry-Caterpillar-Giant-Board?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

Ah that's a shame.

If you're after filling / emptying toys how about something like this?

Piggy bank

Books always make a lovely present, or a Waterstones voucher

@Aebj

Money to do something, play centre, zoo visit, for when lockdown has finished ( I’m guessing you are uk based?)

I was thinking something like this. A voucher for a family day out somewhere local that they could use over the summer.

Voucher for Clarks?

A treasure basket? You could make one theimaginationtree.com/baby-treasure-basket-12-months/
Filling and emptying is a “schema” or way of playing in the early years, if she likes that she might like bath toys that let her fill and empty cups, jugs etc?

www.smythstoys.com/uk/en-gb/toys/educational-toys/fisher-price-laugh-and-learn-count-and-rumble-piggy-bank-activity-toy/p/173502?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=surfaces_across_google&gclid=CjwKCAiA65iBBhB-EiwAW253WwFmCrsCmYcCHYsLy7DrN3sSJPsrQ6_6tAWUIYKuMNOHrdKcKM1vshoCDUEQAvD_BwE
This is a good toy for emptying and doesn’t take up too much space.

Books or put together a sensory bag/ box/ bucket.

There are lots of nice picture books/rag books/toddler books that would be good starters for a lifetime of enjoying reading. Getting used to sitting with mum and looking at a book together is good for attention span and bonding.
Or there are rag dolls with a button, a popper, a velcro, a zip, etc for toddlers to practice finger skills and dressing - a one year old can just cuddle it as a soft toy, but will later explore the fastenings.

Best present ever

Helium balloon- the metal kind- in a big cardboard box. make sure that it has a weight and a long string

It was my DDs best 1st birthday present and I have done the same for so many children- all who have loved it.

Picnic basket toy - excellent for putting things in and out
www.smythstoys.com/uk/en-gb/toys/pre-school-and-electronic-learning/leapfrog-toys/leapfrog-infant/leapfrog-shapes-and-sharing-picnic-basket/p/167490

A wall height chart to measure how tall she is at different ages. Could then be a keepsake and maybe be used for her children too

Books a child can never have to many books 📖 x

@Nineinchnailfile

www.smythstoys.com/uk/en-gb/toys/educational-toys/fisher-price-laugh-and-learn-count-and-rumble-piggy-bank-activity-toy/p/173502?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=surfaces_across_google&gclid=CjwKCAiA65iBBhB-EiwAW253WwFmCrsCmYcCHYsLy7DrN3sSJPsrQ6_6tAWUIYKuMNOHrdKcKM1vshoCDUEQAvD_BwE This is a good toy for emptying and doesn’t take up too much space.

No toys though?

I would say a book, or maybe money//voucher for a day out when restrictions have lifted?

Dogsarehairy

Op did say

I mentioned looking for emptying/filling toys to my friend who said she’d love that but I’m struggling to find any

So I assume toys along that theme are ok, hence the suggestions.

Books - DS started to love books once he hit 1 and it's what I always ask for. You can never have too many.