Ist Birthday - seems soon after Christmas

[AlderTree]

so what presents are a good idea?

We still have all the stuff she got for christmas. Which she doesn't really play with yet. And as she is a much younger second child we have been given a lot of toys, especially electronic ones from my friends whose children have out grown them.

So should I suggest to relatives that they buy keepsake type gifts - we didn't have a christening, 18 months plus stuff to keep for later or vouchers or money for her account. There is nothing practical she needs except a sleeping bag for next autumn/winter.

Can't decide if we should go for things to look back on and think 'she got that for her 1st birthday', stuff that will last ages and have lots of play value or more of the things she really loves now like her roll around balls/peek a blocks?

Ideas much appreciated thank you

DS has had his 1st birthday in last few weeks - said to people to get him something in the summer, as he had lots for christmas, and he hasn't a clue what's going on anyway! some gave money for his CTF, we just gave him some 2nd hand duplo. sounds like you've got a good plan anyway.

My dd was 1 on 3rd Jan. We asked family to give her money which they were all more than happy to do. We are going to buy her a trike, and then a wendy house for the garden when the weather warms up. So instead of having another load of little things to add to the christmas pile, she gets something big that she will get a lot of use out of (and that we probably wouldn't have been able to afford otherwise). Also, by getting the wendy house later in the year, it spreads it out a bit rather than everything in one go iykwim.

Maybe you could buy her one keepsake present yourselves? If you got lots you probably wouldn't keep them all anyway. We got dd one of these. We thought that she can still play with it now, but we can also keep it as her 1st dolly.

I'm yet to decide on how we will play it as she gets older, but I guess we will cross that bridge when we come to it.

Love the Berry Rag Doll. Like the idea of a bigger thing for outside later in the year. We have done this with DS as he is an Autumn birthday. He got a bike last easter because he had so much birthday/christmas/new baby sister money we added a bit to it and there was enough for such a big purchase. Made sure he knew that too!

Ithink i'll have to sound out the relatives on what they were thinking about getting and sread my suggestions out. Mostly they are keen to get useful items we actually want so shouldn't be a problem.

how about a toy box with her name on?