1st Birthday - what actually gets played with?

[tiredmama2020]

1st birthday coming up for DS. I’m getting texts and calls from family asking what they can get him for his birthday.
He’s a very lucky boy and had lots of lovely toys already and really doesn’t need much more but family are insisting that they specifically want to get him toys. DH and I will be getting him a few bits and putting some money in his savings account because he really doesn’t need anything!

Can anyone recommend some toys that they’re LO got lots of use out of at about 1 year old? Winter baby so probably not any garden toys!

Empty boxes!!!

We had a Happyland zoo which was heavily played with at that age.

I usually get experiences for my little girl! My mum pays for things like her swim lessons, zoo pass, farm memberships etc

Other family members get us us things like a day out or things she needs ! While she’s so small I don’t think they really appreciate toys 😂🙈

@EnjoyingTheSilence

Empty boxes!!!

...and wrapping paper!

Seriously though, it depends what he's already got and what sort of things he likes. You could maybe start building up a set eg wooden train, duplo etc that they can buy bits for.

i was going to say empty boxes too! Duplo and Mega blocks were a big hit with DS. He didn't actually play with it properly at that age, but i used to build him towers that he'd knock over, until he was able to start building it himself!

I know you said no garden toys, but a Wendy house would get many years of use (if you were able to ask for money towards)

A big bag of ball pit balls.

My DS got this for his 1st Birthday & didn't want to play with anything else for ages. We were sat there waiting for him to open gifts from his grandparents but he just didn't want to move on.

Still plays with it daily now.

Also he really liked - water & sand table, IKEA wooden peg toy with hammer, cheap ball pit & balls. If you don't have anything similar already, the leap frog picnic basket shape sorter is great and got loads of use.

Mine actually wasn't that interested in boxes/wrapping paper.

My DD was 1 last week, she loves this www.amazon.co.uk/Galt-Toys-Classic-Pop-Up-Multi-Coloured/dp/B001P3SJG8/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=pop+up+toy&qid=1630441405&sr=8-3

Also peg puzzles, a ball drop thing, scuttlebug and an intensely irritating singing picnic basket shape sorter thingy

Ball pit
Stacking cups
The cookie jar of doom
Board books
A pull along toy

@EnjoyingTheSilence

Empty boxes!!!

@EnjoyingTheSilence This is my thoughts exactly 🙈 He’s happiest when playing with anything that isn’t a toy 🙄🤣 Boxes, coasters, pressing the Q on my SkyQ box so the remote beeps (🙄), the screen for his baby monitor...I’m sure you get it 🤣🙈

I’ve tried explaining this to family but apparently it’s “ridiculous” not to get toys for your 1st birthday 🙄 So if that’s going to be the case I’d rather steer them towards things that will hopefully be used a lot.
One has already informed me they’ve bought him a Lego set (proper Lego - not baby duplo or whatever) and another is talking about a bike - like a proper toddler bike for him to “grow into” 🙈

I was coming on to say the pop up Galt toy above. It is brilliant x

Happyland, we have loads of it and both dc played with it from about that age. Dd is 8 and still occasionally plays with it now. There's also lots of different sized sets to suit different budgets

The Usbourne sound books are brilliant & mine loves gruffalo felt lift flap book.

If you have the room..

Elc have a little activity house/ball drop toy. I'm a cm and I've never met a child who doesn't like it. It's often half price. here

Otherwise I'd suggest something open ended, wooden bricks, little music toys, an acrylic mirror, a disco light, balls, cars, and lots and lots of books.

Bath toys?

Ball drop toy, ride on if you have space, play tent or tunnel. Or how about starting a duplo or brio collection, which he might not love now, but will grow into over the next year.

At that age my DD liked board books especially ones with touchy feely parts or big flaps to lift up, big balls to throw and roll, blocks to build towers, shape sorters, stacking cups...not much else tbf and attention span extremely limited!

The playmobil 123 Noah's arc

Click clack car track, hapoy land train set, push along wooden Peter rabbit, doll and pushchair, John Deere assemble a tractor, duplo- all been winners with my lot at that age

Oh and a Little Tykes
Activity garden. They’ve played with it indoors and out

Bubble wands!! 50p each from Sainsburys/ASDA.

My DS has about 5 in different colours and absolutely loves walking around with them & when I blow bubbles for him. Just don't use unsupervised obviously

Thank for the suggestions so far 👍🏻 I haven’t seen Happyland before but that looks like something he would love!
We already have a shape sorter, the Galt pop up toy liked above, a ball drop toy, stacking cups/rings, a ball pit, baby Einstein, an activity table, a push along walker, peg/hammer toys, some instruments and many many other toys 😬
Family have a habit of just turning up and giving him toys so he really does have a ridiculous amount already!

DH and I were planning a balance bike or something (scuttle bug or similar), mega blocks, and a few other wee bits.

Books are always very welcome - he absolutely loves his books!

Someone beat me to it but get the bike relative to buy the scuttle bug. They are amazing and will be used indoors for a year or so and then outside for at least another year.