First birthday suggestions, what is your favourite gift?

[RedHerring24]

Posted in the toys and games section but thread isnt visited alot so also posting here.

It is coming up to DD's first birthday and I feel a little stumped as to what to get as a 'main' present.
She will be receiving a play kitchen from a family member which will be lovely for her to grow into.

DH and I have been racking our brains and we keep coming back to a trike.
I am concerned about the amount of use she would get from one and wondering whether a balance bike when she is 2 would be better?
We do have a lot of open space near us but have read that quite a lot of them aren't any good if not used on a pavement?
But, she is very independent. She want's to do everything herself and wondering if a trike may be a good bet?
If you have bought one, did your child use it alot and what brand did you go with?

We have bought some smaller bits including age appropriate jigsaw puzzles, Playmobil, noisy toy, some clothes, threading toy.

What have been your go to gifts for a 1st birthday??
I feel I am missing the obvious here!

DD got one of these www.littletikes.co.uk/junior-activity-gym-natural/ from her grandparents which went down well. I’m sure it wasn’t that expensive a few years ago. You could get a slide or a swing if you have the space.

It sounds like you’ve already bought plenty and other people will be giving gifts too, so maybe just don’t get her anything else? I have to control this in myself too, but just because things are available and she’d like them doesn’t mean she has to own all of them.

It’s nearly my DD’s first birthday too. She has a play kitchen and trike from family. Honestly, we’ve just got her some small age appropriate toys,a wooden jigsaw, a couple of books, a new soft toy. She has similar for Christmas. I’ve spent about £50 and it’s going to be split between Christmas and her birthday. She isn’t going to realise what her birthday is and she doesn’t need a main present. As her parents, you’ve bought her toys throughout the year as she’s hit new stages and you’ll continue to buy toys next year. So we’ve taken the view of letting grandparents buy the things because we’ll buy lots of little things throughout the year.

If you want something like a trike, I'd look at getting a scuttlebug either for her birthday or for Christmas. Smaller and easier than most tricycles, folds up to take to the park etc. I think a lot of children get to grips with one between 12 and 18 months.