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This post is all about the best gifts for a 1-year-old under $30. If you’re looking for memorable, fun, and educational gifts for any toddler in your life, you’ll find something for them on this list while staying within your budget.
Finding the perfect gifts for a 1-year-old can be a huge challenge. Kids in this age range aren’t infants anymore and they’re just beginning toddlerhood.
They’re growing out of their baby toys and need more stimulation to develop their growing minds.
However, most toys that offer the kind of stimulation 1-year-olds want to get their hands on can pose a danger to them if made with small parts. That’s why it’s so important to find toys appropriate for their age group.
As a mom of 3 toddlers, I found it difficult to find the perfect toys for this age range. In addition to that, it wasn’t easy to to find the best gifts for other young toddlers I know.
The gifts you’ll find on this list are all recommended for ages 1+. All on one list so you won’t have to spend time searching.
This year may have proven tough on your finances. But you still want to give a gift that will be memorable, fun, and even educational for that special toddler in your life. All of the gifts on this list will surely be all of those things and be kind to your budget. That’s because they’re all under $30.
So if you’re looking for the best gifts for a 1 year old for Christmas, a first birthday party, or for a toy drive, it’s all here for you. You can feel confident that these are the best gifts to give to a 1-year-old that their parents will love, too. If they’re for your own 1-year-old, you’ll be giving your kid the best rated toys under $30.
Best Gifts for a 1-Year-Old Under $30:
1. Radio Flyer My 1st 2-in-1 Wagon.
Radio Flyer is a trusted brand and most of their products fall in a much higher price range. That’s why I love this as a toddler gift.
It carries the brand name parents love without the hefty price tag.
This wagon has 2 functions. First, the walker mode teaches young toddlers how to walk. Second, the wagon mode is a fun way for kids to learn how to pull and carry their toys around.
Parents will also love the added bonus that this Radio Flyer wagon can be used as a toy storage bin when not being used for play.
2. Edushape Rainmaker Stick Musical Instrument.
A rainmaker stick seems like a very simplistic toy, but it truly captivates young toddlers. When toddlers flip the stick over, it makes a soothing rain stick-like sound that is just irresistible. The colorful beads within the tube cascade down and create the soothing and captivating sound of falling rain.
This rainmaker stick engages visual, auditory, and tactile senses. It also helps children learn how to grip, shake, and track with their eyes. This develops coordination and fine and gross motor skills.
You’ll find other rainmaker sticks out there, but this extra long 16-inch version is impressive and allows for longer rain sounds.
My daughter used to attend a toddler music class. I have to say that every single child in the class was absolutely captivated by this toy.
3. Baby Einstein Magic Touch Wooden Piano.
If you want to give a memorable gift, this Baby Einstein Magic Touch Piano is what you’re looking for.
The piano is made of wood, so it will complement most modern kids rooms and home decor. It really looks beautiful.
It comes with 3 double-sided music sheets, so your special toddler will have 6 pieces of music to play. The keys are painted on the wood, but when pressed, it really plays notes. There’s just something magical about that.
Toddlers love this toy and will find this toy amusing even as they get older. The wooden design will definitely be durable enough to keep up with them.
4. VTech Care for Me Learning Carrier.
This VTech Care for Me Learning Carrier is an interactive pet carrier that comes with a plush puppy and pet care accessories.
It’s perfect for encouraging role-play fun, but it also teaches little ones so many more things. The interactive buttons and sliders on the carrier introduce colors, shapes, opposites, letters, and music.
Plus, all of the accessories and plush pet fit inside this neat carrier with a handle that’s ideal for on-the-go fun.
Perfect for any animal-loving toddler and future veterinarian.
5. Toyventive Wooden Activity Cube.
This makes for such a beautiful gift for any one-year-old for so many reasons. First, this wooden activity cube arrives in a either a blue or pink gift box (you choose the color when you place your order). Second, it’s made of durable wood that will last of a very long time. Third, it has learning activities that are essential for toddlers.
It includes a wooden bead maze, abacus, spinning gears, learning clock and shape sorter. These activities promote counting, math skills, and color, pattern and shape recognition.
My favorite feature is the clock. What great way to introduce time-telling to your little ones.
And as a bonus, your special toddler will receive stacking cups and an essential words board book.
All of that for under $30? Yes! It’ll seem like you spent a fortune on this gift, but you really didn’t!
6. Hape Walk-A-Long Snail Toddler Wooden Pull Toy.
This award-winning toy is a wonderful gift for any one-year-old. You can feel confident that you’re giving a safe, educational, beloved toy to any special toddler in your life. Their parents will be impressed with this gift because it has won a Parent’s Choice Recommended Award.
This cute snail can be pulled along as a companion as your newly-walking toddler gains confidence in exploring. The shell of the snail can be removed and rolled back and forth as a fun game for parents and toddler. The shape sorter helps your toddler learn shapes and sorting.
7. Baby GUND Animated Flappy the Elephant Stuffed Animal Plush.
I don’t know what it is about Flappy, but young toddlers absolutely love it!
This is an animated plush elephant that has two different play modes. Press the left foot and it plays a game of peek-a-boo. Flappy’s ears move with almost life-like movement and plays peek-a-boo. Press Flappy’s right foot and it will sing Do Your Ears Hang Low while flapping its ears.
This is probably most adorable, gender-neutral gift you can find out there. It’s also one that will be so memorable for toddlers and parents alike.
My kids are captivated with Flappy. It’s even my secret weapon to get their attention when I want to snap a photo of them.
8. Mega Bloks Let’s Get Learning! Playset.
Toddlers love stacking and building things. It’s not only fun, but it’s essential for their development. This Mega Bloks playset is great for developing these skills and for sparking their creativity. It also prepares one-year-olds for school as they learn colors, numbers, shapes, counting, and problem solving.
I love that this gift is large and looks impressive when received as a gift. But it certainly doesn’t come with a large price tag. It’s a very affordable, yet nicely presentable gift for any 1-year-old.
9. Baby University Board Book Sets.
Look for the Baby University Science Board Book Set as well as the Baby University Physics Board Book Set. These books make great gifts for future rocket scientists and toddlers of nerdy parents.
Okay, teaching toddlers about quantum physics and astrophysics may seem way out there! I get it. But it’s really never too early to introduce small kids to big ideas.
If anything, these books will give parents a good chuckle. But honestly, these books are so cute and educational, just the same.
The author, Chris Ferrie, is a physicist, mathematician, and father of four. He manages to simplify these complicated topics into language that toddlers can understand. I’ve learned a thing or two myself from these books.
10. Jamohom Wooden Shape Sorting Clock.
A clock is one of the best gifts for a 1-year-old who is difficult to shop for. Every kid needs a clock because it’s a wonderful way to introduce the concept of time-telling.
I especially love this wooden shape sorting clock because it gives young toddlers the option of also learning shapes and colors. This clock will make teaching time easier because of the clearly marked numbers and markings.
11. Activity Cube Toy.
This activity cube toy is a 6-in-1 educational toy that can keep kids busy. It’s has a shape sorter, rotary phone, steering wheel, piano, key and door, and gears.
All 6 cube faces can be assembled into different formations. When you assemble the cube faces flat in a 3 x 2 formation, this resembles a busy board.
If you’ve ever wanted to create a baby busy board but don’t have the time, this is the answer to that.
12. Orcamor Wooden Stacking Rings Toy with Elephant Topper.
Wooden stacking rings make a great gift for any 1-year-old, especially one whose parents teach using the Montessori or Waldorf methods.
I like this wooden stacker because the rings have cute prints and it has elephant topper. It’s really not like other wooden ring stackers out there.
When not in use, parents will love displaying this wooden ring stacker in their toddlers room. It’s beautifully made and gender-neutral, making it a perfect gift for any 1-year-old.
13. Hape Pound & Tap Bench with Slide Out Xylophone.
Another Hape toy on this list. They make great toys! Toddlers can use the hammer to pound on the balls which sends them tinkling over the xylophone. Or toddlers can slide out the xylophone and play music on their own.
This toy promotes dexterity, hand eye coordination, and cause and effect play.
You can have confidence that you’re giving a good gift with this toy because it won a 2018 Cribsie Award for favorite first musical toy.
14. Fat Brain Toys SpinAgain Stacking Toy.
Here’s an interesting twist on stacking rings. The Fat Brain Toys SpinAgain Stacking Toy is made up of 6 graduated discs that spin down a corkscrew. Toddlers can watch the vibrantly colorful disc shapes spin down the pole. Then they can pull the pole from the base and watch as all the discs spin down to the ground.
The spinning is just so gratifying and mesmerizing. It’s no wonder this toy is highly rated. Any toddler would love to receive this gift.
15. Baby Einstein Magic Touch Ukulele Wooden Musical Toy.
What a wonderful way to introduce musical instruments to young toddlers! This ukelele is the perfect size for little arms and hands.
It plays real chord sounds and has two different play modes that enhance the toddler’s music playing. It gives kids confidence when they hear their strumming can produce actual songs.
Kids want to get their hands on this ukelele and it gets stellar reviews. That’s why this makes the list for best gifts for a 1-year-old at under $30.
16. VTech Spin & Learn Color Flashlight.
There’s just something about flashlights that captures the attention of toddlers. My toddlers have this affinity toward flashlights that I can’t even explain. So although this seems like a simple toy, any 1-year-old will find it so entertaining.
In play mode, this toy teaches opposites, colors, letters, and animals. Toddlers can also use it in flashlight mode like a real flashlight.
Perfect for camping in the backyard or in a pillow fort.
17. Hape Walk-A-Long Puppy Wooden Pull Toy.
This walk-a-long puppy looks like a simple pull toy – at least that’s what I thought about it at first. Boy, was I completely wrong! The way this puppy moves is anything but simple. It moves almost like a real puppy and is just as lovable.
Prepare for tons of excitement as your special toddler makes this wooden puppy sit, stand, roll and go for a walk.
This is the perfect gift for the kid whose parents are not in favor of toys that light up and make lots of noise. Toddlers can get endless fun out of this wooden toy without all the bells and whistles of electronic toys.
18. Wooden Animal Puzzles.
Puzzles help with a toddler’s sensory stimulation and brain development. It’s important, however, to provide age-appropriate puzzles that are challenging but not too difficult to complete.
These wooden animal puzzles are a great first puzzle set for a 1-year-old because the pieces are large enough for those small hands and they are easy enough to complete. That’s allows young toddlers to gain confidence in completing tasks. This set of puzzles is a lovely gift for any toddler.
19. Canvas or framed print.
Artwork on canvas or in a frame is a lovely gift for any child. It’s memorable and can last for years to come. You can have a photo or digital image printed on canvas. Or, you have a photo or digital image printed in poster size and find a lovely, inexpensive poster frame for it. If you don’t have a photo or a design to print on canvas or frame, you may like this cute animal alphabet printable that you can download for free. Then you can have it printed on canvas at BuildASign and gift it to your special 1-year-old.
These gifts are all great choices to give to a 1-year-old and still stay within your budget this year. Feel confident gifting one of these memorable, fun, and educational toys to any young toddler. I hope you found the perfect one. If you have any questions or comments, please reach out to me on my contact page. I always love to hear from you.
This post was all about the best gifts for a 1-year-old under $30.
