It’s nothing short of amazing to watch a 1-year-old become more and more themselves every day. Their unique personality and quirks begin to shine through, and even though we’ve known them since they were born, we can begin to really see who they are. Every time we turn around, they’ve learned something new… which is cute when they learn to say “mama” and less cute when they learn to climb out of their crib. One thing they’re not so good at – and won’t be for a while – is telling us what gifts they want. It’s not on them – learning a language is hard! – but it’s still a problem for those of us who want to shower them with gifts. (And who amongst us doesn’t want to give them all the gifts?!)

　　So we’ve compiled a list of the best gifts for 1-year-olds, from throwback winners to award-winning contemporary favorites. We wanted to make sure we checked all the boxes: educational, durable, and, most importantly, toys that will provide hours (or even years) of fun for your little one. They may not know what they want, but we’re certain they’ll like our 1-year-old gift picks!

　　1Keeps Baby Busy

　　Manhattan Toy Treetop Activity Center

　　This fun-filled, beautifully designed learning toy is a perfect addition to any toddler’s play. Four quadrants feature nature-themed activities perfect for busy hands and developing fine motor skills!

　　2Best Balance Bike for Toddlers

　　SEREED Balance Bike

　　They may not be ready for their first bicycle, but you can get them started on the core motor skills they’ll need with this absolutely adorable ride-on toy, available in a variety of colors.

　　3For Hours of Fun

　　Moncoland Toddler Ball Pit

　　Back when I was a kid, heading to a play area with a ball pit was the most exciting thing I could hope for in any given week. Babies these days can experience that thrill every day with this adorable memory foam ball pit. Easy to clean (because 1-year-olds) and sure to be a hit for a long time.

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　　4Splish-Splash!

　　Little Tikes Fish n Splash Water Table

　　No matter what your child is doing, if you bring them anywhere near a water table they’re going to want to stop whatever they’re doing and start splashing. This gift will entertain your 1-year-old not just for hours but years.

　　5Foster Creativity

　　Baby Einstein Magic Touch Piano

　　This adorable piano is made from wood and features touch technology, no buttons or keys required! Two different modes allow your child to create their own melodies or play along with color-coded “sheets” of classical music when they’re a little older. Two-level volume control means your little Mozart can practice whenever they want without disturbing your Zoom meeting.

　　6Best Indoor/Outdoor Toy

　　Playz Play Tent and Tunnel

　　Whether inside or outdoors, these durable, easy to assemble pieces connect to one another for a maze of imagination and fun. Whether your child is playing make-believe or just resting in a tent with a teddy, this is the perfect play spot that they’ll enjoy for years to come.

　　The real question is: Do they come in adult sizes?

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　　7Best Toddler Rocker

　　Qaba Giraffe Plush Rocker

　　They may not quite have the core strength for a traditional rocking toy just yet, but this adorable giraffe, with its plush seat, is a perfect first rocker. And with a weight capacity of 88 pounds, it will last them well past 1 year old.

　　8For Little Mozart

　　Manhattan Toy Musical Llama

　　We love this toy as a gift for 1-year-olds for a few reasons. For one, it’s a great way to encourage your little one to develop musical interest and ability through play. For another thing: Just look at it! How cute is this little llama? It's room decor as entertainment — do it for the ‘Gram!

　　9Early STEM Development Toy

　　Playkidz Pound-A-Ball

　　Once they hammer down four brightly-colored balls into the maze, your child will be hypnotized, watching them zig-zag along before rolling out — and then the fun starts over again.

　　Not only is this gift for 1-year-olds fun, but it also encourages dexterity and hand-eye coordination and begins to teach cause and effect.

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　　10For Education

　　BEST LEARNING Learning Cube

　　With six functions for your little learner, a push of a button will teach them the alphabet, numbers, colors and entertain them with lights and music. This little cube is a favorite on Amazon, with thousands of overwhelmingly positive reviews.

　　11Perfect for Music and Movement

　　RenFox Kid's Musical Mat

　　Your little one will love creating music with their own hands and feet. Maybe you will, too. We don’t judge — we all loved that iconic scene in Big.

　　Each key makes its own note in one of eight different instrument sounds. As they grow older, they can enjoy the toy’s more sophisticated features, like “recording,” which will play back their latest song.

　　12360 Degrees of Play

　　Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Smart Learning Home

　　This activity and music filled little doorway is the perfect place for your 1-year-old to play make-believe. See who’s at the door, what’s in the mailbox, or what you can whip up in the kitchen. More than 200 songs enhance the experience of helping your little one learn about colors, shapes, weather, and more.

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　　13For The Little Nature Lover

　　AYMZ Montessori Wooden Garden

　　Dare we dream this will encourage them to actually eat vegetables? Perfect for creative play and developing fine motor skills, this adorable garden allows your little one to sort fruits and vegetables into their proper spot.

　　14Best Toddler Swing

　　Little Tikes 2-in-1 Snug 'n Secure Swing Magenta

　　This is the perfect gift for 1-year-olds who have outgrown the baby swing. This classic design from Little Tikes is indoor/outdoor safe and comes with everything you need to install. With a weight capacity of 50 pounds, your kiddo will enjoy this for a long time.

　　15Best Bath Toy

　　Yookidoo Spin N’ Sprinkle Water Lab

　　Nothing hits quite like a fun bath toy. Attach this water lab to the wall of the tub (don’t worry — it’s just suction cups), and your little scientist can use their “test tube” to fill the funnel and watch the water spin through the various spouts and sprays.

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　　16Personalize It

　　Pottery Barn Kids Anywhere Chair

　　We know 1-year-olds aren’t known for sitting too much, but even toddlers appreciate being able to kick back in a big ol’ comfy chair?They’re fully customizable (they don’t all say Wesley … that would just be weird) — and are an adorable decor addition that will serve them through toddlerhood.

　　17New Twist on an Old Favorite

　　Fisher-Price See N’ Say

　　Would any of us even know what a cow said without this thing? This version of one of our childhood favorites has another ring of animal friends to meet (just fold it over) and features two modes — quiz and animal identification — for even more ways to play.

　　18For The Future Builder/Musician

　　KIDWILL Hammering Toy & Xylophone

　　This 3-in-1 toy has a xylophone, number puzzle, and pounding toy, all of which are educational and fun to play with. It’s also just too cute!

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　　19For Little Builders

　　Mega Bloks Big Building Bag

　　This set comes with 80 colorful blocks, making them perfect for your little 1-year-old builder to create anything… even though they’ll probably just wind up building a big stack of blocks.

　　But that’s OK! It’s an important first step and loads of fun.

　　20Parent- and Critic-Approved

　　Hape Scoot Around Bike

　　Winner of multiple critic and parents’ choice awards, the Hape Scoot Around is the perfect ride-on toy to prepare your child to ride a bike by developing motor skills, muscle strength, and balance. Suitable for indoor or outdoor play. Also: look at it! How charming is this?