First Birthday Gift Ideas: Thoughtful and Unique Gifts for Baby Boys and Girls

A baby’s first birthday is one of the most heartwarming milestones for any family. It marks twelve incredible months filled with first smiles, first words, wobbly steps, and so many unforgettable moments. Whether you’re a parent, grandparent, godparent, or friend, finding the right first birthday gift is both exciting and challenging. You want something that’s safe, meaningful, and beautiful — a present that celebrates the joy of this first year while becoming a keepsake for the future.

The best first birthday gifts combine fun and function. They spark curiosity, encourage development, and fit naturally into a baby’s everyday life. They also hold emotional value, often treasured long after the child has outgrown them. Whether you’re shopping for baby boy gifts or baby girl gifts, or looking for something gender-neutral, there are endless thoughtful options that will make the celebration truly special.

When picking out a gift that will stand the test of time, wooden toys are always a safe bet. We love the tactile nature of wooden textures, their sturdiness and understated style, which makes them ideal for 1-year-olds who are using their senses to explore the world around them. One of our favourites is a well-designed wooden stacking toy, shape sorter, or rainbow tower, as these toys can keep babies engaged for hours and also support hand–eye coordination and problem-solving skills. These wooden toys are also great for baby showers if you’re hoping to give the gift of open-ended, creative play that has no “wrong” way of playing, which is a Montessori-inspired concept we love.

If you’re stumped for ideas on what to get a baby boy or a baby girl, some parent-approved gifts are a wooden train set or vehicle toy or a pastel-coloured stacking rainbow, animal puzzle or other wooden toy for a girl. Of course, when it comes to wooden toys, they are often completely gender-neutral and can work in any nursery. Classic wooden toys can last for years and be handed down to younger siblings and parents love that they are toxin-free and sustainable, too, which is a small win for the environment.

If you’re going for something more unique, you can never go wrong with a custom keepsake. Personalized gifts such as engraved jewellery, personalized blankets or a night light engraved with the baby’s name and birth date are always a hit. Not only are they functional but they also have a sentimental value that only increases over the years.

Gift ideas like this remind families of those precious first year memories long after the time has passed. Consider a photo projection necklace with a small photo of the baby or the family placed discreetly inside the pendant. When light is shone on the pendant, the small photo is revealed. It’s both a fashionable and modern keepsake for the parents to treasure. On the more practical side of things, a plush personalized hooded towel or an embroidered baby blanket are perfect keepsakes too. If you’re looking for more classic gift ideas, a keepsake box is always a winner. Parents can fill the box with their child’s first pair of shoes, or even photographs and birthday cards. Your gift becomes the keepsake box that will hold the cherished mementos.

As babies grow more curious by the day, sensory toys and developmental play sets become perfect choices. At this age, little ones explore the world through sight, sound, and touch, so toys that engage multiple senses can provide endless fun while supporting cognitive development. Soft stacking cups, silicone blocks, or fabric activity books are all wonderful ways to encourage exploration and imagination.

Parents who prefer natural materials will love wooden or silicone sensory toys, which are safe, durable, and eco-friendly. For active little explorers, a colourful ball tower or rolling car ramp encourages movement and coordination. To make your present extra special, you could even curate a “First Play Box” filled with a mix of textures, shapes, and colours — a thoughtful bundle that offers both entertainment and growth.

Reading is yet another delightful talent that can be acquired for life. Long before they can speak, babies enjoy hearing stories, turning the pages, and feeling snug in a parent's arms. A set of board books makes a perfect first birthday present, as it promotes language development and bonding.

Opt for books with simple text, vivid images, and durable pages that little fingers can't tear. The classics never get old: The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Goodnight Moon, and Dear Zoo are all favourites. Make your gift extra special by including a soft toy to match, such as a cuddly caterpillar or zoo creature. This way, your present is both educational and emotionally rewarding.

Of course, gifts don’t need to be extravagant to be useful or thoughtful. In fact, it’s often the most practical items that new parents are most grateful for. Silicone feeding sets with coordinating plates, bowls, and spoons are great for getting your little one to start eating independently. Adorable lunch boxes and drink bottles are also useful for daycare and family outings. Soft organic cotton pajamas, sleeping bags, and hooded bath towels are also a nice touch for everyday activities.

If you are buying a gift that involves clothing, a tip for your guide is to always go one size up. Babies really do grow like weeds! For baby boy gifts, navy, olive, or sand are neutral colours that feel both classic and modern. For baby girl gifts, blush, lavender, and cream are soft and sweet. If you’re wanting to go with more gender-neutral options, earthy tones like sage, oat, or grey are also always easy to use at home or in the nursery.

If you want to make your gift extra special and sentimental, you could buy something that preserves memories. Photo frames, memory books, and handprint kits are great for parents to capture milestones throughout the baby’s first year. Handprint or footprint impression kits, for instance, make a lasting keepsake which preserves a small sliver of time.

Another idea would be a digital photo frame preloaded with images from the baby’s first year — this is a particularly popular gift idea for grandparents! Sentimental gifts like these are memorable not just for the birthday itself, but as ways of converting temporary moments into lifelong memories.

As many one-year-olds are starting to walk, gifts that promote movement are both thrilling and useful. Push walkers and ride-on toys are perfect for helping babies develop strength and balance while offering them a sense of independence. A wooden balance bike, such as the Kinderfeets Tiny Tot, is also a particularly meaningful gift because it is designed to adapt to the child’s needs as they grow — for instance, the Kinderfeets can transition from a trike to a two-wheeler as they start to gain more confidence.

Of course, with gifts of this type, safety and stability are always the top priorities. Baby boy gifts might feature themes such as cars or animals, while baby girl gifts could incorporate pastel colors or floral designs. In either case, they’re a great way to incorporate fun, exercise, and learning all at once.

If you’re struggling to decide on just one item, consider putting together a first birthday gift basket. Gift baskets feel extra special because they’re curated with care and offer a variety of surprises. You could include a plush toy, a wooden rattle, a muslin blanket, a board book, and a silicone feeding set — a perfect balance of play and practicality.

For a baby boy, choose tones like navy, beige, or forest green. For a baby girl, delicate hues such as blush, ivory, or gold create an elegant aesthetic. You can finish the basket with a handwritten card or a “Happy 1st Birthday” topper for that personal finishing touch. The presentation itself becomes part of the joy.

And finally, remember that gifts don’t have to be tangible. Experience gifts are wonderful, sometimes more valuable than physical gifts. A baby swimming class, baby music session or professional family photoshoot will create memories that will last much longer than a first birthday.

Even something as simple as a trip to the zoo or a picnic in a favourite park can be a lovely gift. Experience gifts let families bond, discover and celebrate this special milestone in a very personal way. They also teach us that the best gifts are often memories to share rather than items to own.

Picking the first birthday gift for your little one may seem like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. The most special gifts are those that are made with love, thought, and utility. It could be an artfully crafted wooden toy that encourages creative play, a personalised keepsake box that preserves precious memories, or a soft blanket that provides comfort and warmth every day. What matters most is that it is made with love.

The best gift ideas for a baby boy could be timeless toys, a balance bike, or a keepsake box, while for a baby girl, soft colours, personalisable jewellery, or a well-curated gift basket will bring both magic and practicality. But at the end of the day, every great gift has the same purpose – to commemorate this momentous occasion and the wonderful first year of life that brought us here.

A child’s first birthday is a unique event that only occurs once in a lifetime, but the happiness and memories it brings last forever. Whether your gift is for play, learning, or spending time together, it will always be part of the story that this little one will grow up hearing. So take a little time to choose something that you know will be made with love, will reflect their growth, and the wonder of this special first year.