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Help a Mom: Gift ideas for a one-year-old boy's birthday

By Sarah Lindenfeld Hall

Posted: September 4, 2012

Tags: Activities, Birthdays, Mom's Life, Help a Mom

I received this email from a grandma last week. Here's what she wrote:

Could other moms suggest a really good toy for my grandson's first birthday? He's able to run around like crazy, if that makes a difference. Started walking at nine months.

Here's what I recommended: The classic Fisher-Price corn popper, a small parachute for outdoor play, simple puzzles with larges handles for kids to grab on to and a bead maze where colorful beads move along a wire path. At least that's what my girls loved at that age.

Happy birthday!

Do you have advice for this grandma? Please share your tips in the comments box below. (If you don't see the comments box below, you'll need to log in or sign up for a WRAL account. You can do that by going to the top of the page and clicking on either "log in" or "register").

Help a Mom features questions from readers every Wednesday. If you have a question that you'd like to ask Go Ask Mom readers, click here to email it to me.

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My baby girl at her first birthday party received a lot of clothes and toys, which were all great! However, about 2-3 months after her first birthday she started throwing tantrums. It seemed like over night she went from a baby to a toddler. I highly recommend getting The Happiest Toddler on the Block DVD and book for a child's first birthday. When my daughter started throwing tantrums we could not order it fast enough! We ordered ours from amazon.com Recently, my friend's baby boy turned a year old. We got him a little truck toy (he loves trucks!), but we also got his parents the DVD. It's soooo handy to have when the baby you once knew becomes a spunky toddler!

In addition to the DVD and book, some great ideas for a first birthday present would be: Outdoor: a red wagon, toddler swingset (could order from Babies R Us/Toys R Us), a baby pool, watertable, sand box.

Indoor: Melissa and Doug ABC/123 blocks, toddler yoga DVDs (nice for rainy weather days!), Singalong DVDs.

rathburns2011
September 4, 2012 9:27 p.m.

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How about contributing to a family museum membership or a toddler class ?

dragonflysong1
September 5, 2012 6:51 a.m.

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Any sort of stacking toys are great for one year olds! Both of my kids loved stacking items and then knocking them down!

hgaunc
September 5, 2012 8:31 a.m.

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My oldest really liked musical instruments when he turned 1 - drums, maracas, bells, etc. He was also into books - and still is. Maybe a collection of Dr. Seuss board books? My sons also love bouncy beachballs - big ones, small ones, you name it! Weebles are also popular with my kids, as well as cars/trucks.

erinaaronsbaby
September 5, 2012 9:24 a.m.

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track shoes

americaneel
September 5, 2012 9:54 a.m.

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My son just had his first birthday! He got a wagon, which was a great gift! Melissa and Doug puzzles, books, a ball, and toys with wheels (cars, trucks, etc) are all his favorites too. Also, the Pottery Barn Anywhere Chair is a GREAT gift! Someone suggested a museum/zoo membership and I completely agree! I wish someone would have given us that!

jamcclamroch
September 5, 2012 9:57 a.m.

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Any and every kind of ball- football, basketball, golf ball, baseball, bowling set, bouncy ball. As long as the ball isn't small enough to be a choking hazard. My son's favorite gift was a 6" kickball that cost me $5. Take advantage of the fact that kids this age are very easily amused and usually have more fun playing with the packaging and the box the present came in than the actual toy.

grantfamilysavings
September 5, 2012 9:59 a.m.

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A museum membership to Marbles or the Museum of Life and Science would be great starting around this age. Also, does he need a new convertible car seat? We got our two daughters special keepsake boxes at their first birthdays. Nice wooden ones made by a local woodworker. Something they can use the rest of their lives, though clearly not something to play with now. If you want to get a toy, how about a play lawnmower that blows bubbles?

jrwachholz
September 5, 2012 10:59 a.m.

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get the kid a simple toy but offer to babysit for his parents - they're the ones who need a gift after a year

JAT
September 5, 2012 12:00 p.m.

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jrwachholz...

Museum membership to Marbles or the Museum of Life and Science? Yea, I am sure he will really be excited about that.

americaneel
September 5, 2012 12:13 p.m.

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