This guide provides Christmas gift ideas for 1 year old girls. Included are the top toys and unique gifts, as well as an explanation of the developmental stage at 12 months.

Contents show

Developmental Stage for 1 year olds

What They Like to do

When thinking about what toys to buy for a one year old for Christmas, we first need to understand what they like to do.

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Right now 1 year olds love to explore – open drawers and cupboards.

They can now bang things together, hold cups and use things as they were intended (example run a brush through their hair or hold a phone to their ear).

Physically they can sit on their own, crawl, stand and maybe even cruise along furniture or walk a few steps on their own (source).

Toys that encourage exploration and help them perfect their new found mobility will be their favorites.

Developmental Differences – 1 year old Girls

According to Parenting.com there are differences between 1 year old girls’ preferences and 1 year old boys’, which means that buying Christmas gifts for baby girls can be slightly different then buying Christmas gifts for 1 year old boys.

Girls’ fine motor skills typically develop earlier than boys – so they may be more interested in a shape sorter earlier for example.

Girls are also ahead when it comes to mimicking behaviour and enjoy things like taking care of a baby doll.

As the same article points out – interestingly there are no differences between boys and girls when mimicking actions that don’t require human interaction, like pretending to drive a car.

Click for our Gift Guide: Toy and Gift Ideas for 1 Year Old Boys

Gift Guide: Toy and Christmas Gift Ideas for 1 Year Old Girls

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Best Toys for 1 Year Old Girls

Selected based on what your little girl likes to do at this age. This list contains classics and new brands you can be confident in gifting.

Manhattan Toy Wee Baby Stella

This smaller version of the Stella doll, is super cuddly and comes with accessories that allow the baby girl to take care of her.

Check out our full review of Wee Baby Stella here.

Personalized Name Crayons

For the little girl who has everything these crayons are not only beautiful, but completely usable! Help your little girl practice drawing with this great gift set (or keep them on display – they are so pretty).

See it on Etsy

LEGO DUPLO My First Number Train

Lego® has a line of brick building toys for younger children.

This Learn to Count Train will help fine motor skills.

At first the baby may only be able to bang the pieces together, or take them apart, but as he gets older he will begin putting the pieces together.

Shape Sorter

Another fine motor skill developer, this classic toy from Fisher Price ® introduces shapes and colors.

Melissa & Doug 20 Animal Magnets in a Box

These animal shaped magnets are bright and colorful, they help your little one learn her animals and (bonus!) they don’t contain a small magnet that can come loose.

Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Smart Stages Chair

Give your little girl a chair to call her own.

The Fisher Price Laugh & Learn Smart Stages chair is the perfect place for her to read her books, practice counting and learn how to go from sitting to standing.

Play Tent Crawl Tunnel and Ball Pit

This ball pit features a playhouse, crawl tunnel and basketball hoop.

Hours of fun for your little boy.

Balls sold separately here

Best Gifts for Her Room – Gift Ideas for 1 Year Olds

Personalized Sequin Pillow

Perfect for the little lady in your life. Move the sequins up and it looks like a regular pillow, swipe again and the her name and design appear!

See it on Etsy

Personalized Wooden Name Puzzle

Pick the name and then customize the colors and animals. Pretty enough to be room decor as well as little game.

See it on Etsy

Personalized Dachshund Puppy

This cute long puppy can be customized with your little girl’s name and her favorite color scheme too! This stuffy will get a LOT of hugs.

See it on Etsy

Award Winning Toys – Gift Ideas for 1 Year Old Girls

These toys have been awarded prizes based on their design.

Hape Pull Along Snail

Hape has amazing wooden toys and their toys appear a lot on this list. Hape doesn’t disappoint with this pull along snail that includes a shape sorter.

Winner of a Parent’s Choice Award.

Manhattan Toy Playful Pony Wooden Toddler Activity Center

Winner of a Hot Diggity Award, this toddler activity center is beautiful as well as fun. This pony shaped toy contains shape sorters, bead runs and spinning dials.

Manhattan Toy Tree Top Adventure Activity Center

Another stylish activity center, featuring bead runs, spinning dials and more exploratory fun. Chosen as one of the best toys of the year 2014 by Parents Magazine. Scholastic Parent & Child Gold Star toys Award winner 2014.

Unique Gift Ideas for 1 Year Old Girls

For the 1 year old girl who has everything, these gifts are a bit more sentimental. If this gift is for a second, third or fourth child, then something unique to just them will be even more special.

Teddy Bear made from a Baby Sleeper

Little girls love something to cuddle. This unique present is made from their own newborn sleeper and becomes a keepsake.

See it on Etsy

Rose Bush or Tree

Planting something that will be around for years to come and that the 1 year old girl can help take care of (help water for example) teaches them about caring for living things and it can be enjoyed every year. If you can find a plant that contains the girl’s name even better. Ex. A Queen Elizabeth rose for Elizabeth. You can also gift a toy watering can to complete the gift.

Subscription Box

Monthly subscription boxes are becoming very popular. You receive a package each month and can choose between getting toys or books. Our favorite book subscription box is:

Lillypost.com – The Board Book Box is great for children aged 0-3. In each box, you will find four perfect reads that will bring so much joy to the baby or toddler in your life!

READ OUR FULL REVIEW HERE

Educational Toys – Gift Ideas for 1 Year Old Girls

STEM – Science, Technology, Engineering and Math toys can be given as early as 1 years old.

STEM Toys are gaining momentum as parents want to expose their children as early as possible to these concepts. The US Bureau of Labor estimates that there will be 9 Million jobs in STEM by 2024, a 1 million increase over 2012 jobs. (Source)