1st birthday presents - help!

[Evianfash40]

I just wanted some recommendations for presents for my babys first birthday - I am keen to buy something with some sort of longevity. Totally aware that my baby will not have a clue whats going on. I have a gift voucher from my husbands work for a department store so thought we could use that - it's for £400 and the kind of store where a plate costs £200 etc just ridiculous we need to use it before it expires.....so I would rather spend some of it on my sons birthday. They have a wooden toy kitchen which I thought would be a good option maybe with the wooden food/plates etc to go with. A rocking animal (mammoth) from kids concept which looks cute but no idea if its worth it, and also from kids concept they have a teepee/pavillion tent - I know he's too young to play with them right now but thought they might be good when he's 18 months etc. Alternative options are wooden truck/fire engine, wooden pram, market stall, sit on racing car - although my SIL gave us second hand wheels bug - so not sure we need that. Its quite a limited choice online but those are the options or nursery furniture etc - anyway just wanted some advice on what might be a good option.

He’s on the young side for a toy kitchen but that would be a great present to grow into. At this age he would probably just bang stuff around but I bet he’d get into the role play side quite quickly as he got older.

My 18 month old loves pushing a toy lawnmower around and I suspect he’d also like a pram to push in the same way! He also has some vehicles (some bigger than others), which he likes.

If you were branching out, things we’ve bought for our DCs for first birthdays/Christmas around that age (they have generous grandparents and other relatives) include a swing for the garden, a push-along trike, a Little Tykes car, and a small Grimms Rainbow (which was about £25 but looks lovely and has been played with lots).

My Ds is 14 months. We bought him an outdoor wooden kitchen he likes and he got a sandpit from relatives which is a huge hit

I would say from 1 year the tunnel definitely will be used. I like that it’s cotton compared to most, have considered getting one ourselves.

We have the kids concept little wooden pram he likes as well

The Woolley mammoth rocker I would say would be used for the least time. The kitchen with bits, pram or wooden fire engine would be my choices.

DS got a Vilac ride-on car for his first Christmas. He’s still a little bit too young to use (8 months) it but it looks lovely in his room and was a nice ‘first Christmas’ gift.

I'd get the teepee or the kitchen as the best for longevity. My DSs were still playing with a 5 quid IKEA tent when they were about 10. Using it as a base for nerf fights and making videos etc.

Should add that they were under 1 when we got it but we'd have teddybear picnics and all sorts of games inside it.

Of all your suggestions I would go for the kitchen, however have you considered books? The " Spot" collection, Maisy mouse, some with flaps and other classic titles in beautiful editions ?

Thanks for all your advice. I'm definitely going to go for the kitchen, and then maybe the pram or tent as a second option - he can have one for his birthday and one for Christmas.

We have the Grimms rainbow already (randomly won a gift voucher to spend at Libertys - another department store where plates cost £200 - so we got some stuff for the nursery). And we have tonnes of books - second hand book bundles off eBay/charity shop. I was tempted by the Vilac ride on car but they're quite easy to pick up second hand, also his room is a bit small so I'm keen not to have too many bulky things. I love the sand pit idea - we have a big balcony - no garden so it might be an option.

Sand pit on balcony for in future, you can buy a standing sand pit and water tray option which is small ish as stacks and might be handy. Probably better for next summer now if he’s not 1 yet.

Like this: www.plumplay.co.uk/sandy-bay-wooden-sand-water-tables.html?gclid=Cj0KCQjw4v2EBhCtARIsACan3nyT2smmm8hVQcK5XLwTWWCYBiM6USRP_vnnfoqkVo5FnXEB-z-ujbwaAkNzEALw_wcB