Help me find a gift for a 1 year old!

[Mudonstairs]

It’s my friend’s daughter’s first birthday on Thursday and I have asked her what sort of present she would like/need. She has said she would prefer books or clothes. I have a budget of around £20 but have no clue what to buy. I don’t want to buy a voucher, we always buy each other presents but I find it increasingly difficult to buy kids stuff as I have a boy and I’m not clued up on girls clothes. I’m not very stylish myself so this simple task has me stumped. Wouldn’t know what books to get either as her daughter isn’t currently into books and is at the stage where she prefers to chew them 😂

I have been looking at Next and M&S and have seen some lovely items but the minute I have to start piecing together an outfit I get stuck as I’m second guessing whether I’ve made it too matchy or that they completely don’t look right! As I said, I am not stylish 🤷🏻‍♀️ please help, oh stylish Mnetters, can anyone find me some nice gifts for £20ish??

She may want something practical. You could ask her what specifically she needs.

If you’re going to get a book go for a sensory/picture book

I'd get a book that she can grow into. A collection/treasury of something like Shirley Hughes stories or children's poems and rhymes.

If you're going for clothes, don't bother trying to make a stylish outfit!! Get an outfit that's already together or get a pack of five t-shirts and five leggings which is probably what she needs.

Or get some PJ's and a book of bedtime stories as a little package.

For my friend’s little ones I usually buy something from either Arket or Newbie, depending on what kind of clothes their mum likes (if they are asking for clothes)

If I need to buy something in person / on the high street, H&M is my go to - they usually have some nice sets for £15-20

I'd have a look at the sale on the Frugi website for a cute t-shirt, then go for a classic lift the flap book.

Thanks for all the comments so far. If anyone has any specific links to the items they are suggesting that would be so helpful. I’m sick of scrolling through websites and my indecisive thoughts have defeated me! 😊

Thanks, yes I was thinking about this just now as I saw on the M&S website there is an ‘outfits’ category in the baby bit. I’m afraid I’m still so indecisive that scrolling in that section has left me a bit overwhelmed too. I have to make some tough decisions every day in my job but finding clothes for a one year is clearly too much for me 😂

Depending on what your friend usually chooses, I’d go for something like this : Linen set. Or this: blouse set or this Flowery from H&M

I'd get books if she wants books or clothes.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/I-Want-My-Hat-Back/dp/1406338532/ref=sr114?crid=2AZWE3MIKCS9B&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.VaznCWvJ4FIT72IciF5t1mtLw9Ris6ZaJo15sTxDakShpjO6NKzsyUOUvANh5490GtsssIfhBtvf0jeU0Ob2iLG6f-r5hkS9mR2FxzTkuizORPEfLYNq7cs7hofMROjlRnrY40uInkMYeD6xf3ETHOjyXosTWmJHCgFlj5HMfkvfE7ivypo3udSG51-yn95r3I4309soWkQS1OWKN62Px7CQY6Z2xZry1lu7zsbK0w.g1PJdDnpGooW0nnrZc7F3Sp0HVtUM32elPvNGO9W2x0&dib_tag=se&keywords=Hat+book&qid=1718656854&sprefix=hat+book%2Caps%2C108&sr=8-4

The Usborne Noisy books are great.
With clothes, presumably the baby is crawling if not toddling so I'd avoid dresses and stick to leggings & tunics. What sort of things does the mum normally put her in? Is she in bright colours, pinks or muted tones? Plain, patterned or cartoon characters?

You’re right, she is crawling and my friend has told me she can leave her bare legged as her legs get scraped. Her mum puts her in dresses with leggings or trousers/joggers with a top. She usually dresses her in bright colours but nothing overly patterned.

I am thinking of doing what @NuffSaidSam suggested and buying a little board book set I’ve seen featuring the hungry caterpillar and looking at some pyjamas from M&S.

Can’t leave her bare legged that was supposed to say! I don’t know how to edit my posts, sorry.

What do people think of these pyjamas?

Is it specifically clothes you want?
I love the baby girl's range at JoJo Maman Bebe and they have some nice stuff on clearance at the moment if your budget is £20
https://www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk/style/st951987/542876#542876
https://www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk/style/su329567/168545#168545

And for books, DC absolutely loves this
https://images.app.goo.gl/1bAJEGNEDBqKHVyb8
It's got felt lift the flaps, and has lots of things with the vocab she's just learned AND a mirror under one of the flaps which is just such a big win for us!

Julia Donaldson books are fantastic and ageless don't forget she's not getting another gift until December so it doesn't have to be for now.
Or go for sensory ones...you can get personalised ones on line which are nice keepsakes.

A few Beatrix Potter books.

I am now thing of doing what someone on here suggested. I’ve just seen a set of hungry caterpillar board books I want to get and am thinking some nice cosy pyjamas will be a good little bedtime gift. I’ve posted link to the PJs.

https://www.boots.com/mothercare-blouse-leggings-and-headband-set-10337138

These 3 books are classics. They have been so loved by all babies and toddlers I know. They also just have quite a few pages each. I find the newer ones have less..
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Campbell-Lift-Collection-Books-Noisy/dp/9123969261/ref=asc_df_9123969261/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=256138708498&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=15651080293315778744&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9045993&hvtargid=pla-1157728974199&psc=1&mcid=f6a93b0ceb083c399babebf02482b8e0

I like these jersey dresses as they don’t need to be ironed! https://www.boots.com/floral-jersey-dress-10335927

then get leggings that match from next or H&M

board books like that’s not my kitten or dear zoo are always a safe bet

Another recommendation for Julia Donaldson. I wouldn’t bother with clothes (especially with the weather at the moment!), unless you have specific direction. A friend bought us some Julia Donaldson books at that age. We read them most nights and they ended up able to recite them! They then loved the films, they have a stage show which we are hoping to see soon.

This reminds me to thank the gift giver again (2yrs later), as they’ve provided so much joy and learning.

The pyjamas you've linked to are very cute but just in case you didn't realise / your friend's daughter doesn't need this kind of clothing: they're part of the 'adaptive' range that M&S do, which are clothes adapted for children with specific needs like access for feeding tubes or wider necklines to be removed without disturbing medical devices etc. If this is not what you need I'd recommend getting a pair of non-adaptive pjs.

If you're not sure on clothes I wouldn't bother. Unless you are getting like a matching character set to go with a book. Go with a classic from your own childhood maybe.

One of our best loved 1st birthday gifts was hardback books of Mog and The Tiger who came to Tea. Literally read every night for 18 months. And sparked a love of the Mog books and we now have the whole collection and audio books on repeat in the car and a soft toy Mog that goes everywhere.

M&S pyjamas are nice but the velour ones are a bit too warm for this time of year. They do lots of shorts and tshirt type pyjamas that are nice.

If you aren’t sure on clothes then I would just go with a book and soft toy set, they will probably get loads of clothes anyway. For my nieces 1st birthday I got a hardback copy of the gruffalo and the gruffalo teddy.