Birthday Xmas gift for a 1yr old

Lillian - posted on 11/25/2009

My son's birthday is the 22nd of Dec. For his 1st b-day I gave him two gifts that he would enjoy. At that age they really don't understand what is going on. So we tried to make it a fun time with family and friends.

Elizabeth - posted on 11/25/2009

Please keep it seperate from Christmas. My birthday is 12/26 and I cannot tell you how horrible it is to hear, "it's your birthday and Christmas combined" or get part of a gift for one and the other part for the other. It just doesn't make a person feel like they should. At 1 yr old, she won't know the difference, but just to get into a habit of seperating them is a good thing. Make birthday bigger than Christmas, after all, Christmas isn't about the presents.

Nancy - posted on 11/25/2009

My youngest will be 23 on Dec. 26. I never spent a lot at Christmas for any of my kids, but the one thing i always did was for each one's birthday I spend the same. And for my youngest, who used to feel it was kind of cool to have her birthday near Christmas, I ALWAYS, ALWAYS kept it separate. She startted to feel that it wasn't so cool when she realized that it was only one time of year that she could really get things she needed as a gift, but sometimes we did buy her a little something in July or in the summer. Nothing ever has to be extravagant and she was just as happy with a little something than if it had been much more.

Lisa - posted on 11/24/2009

I think I will take her to Build A Bear Workshop. She loves doing that and it can be a mom and daughter day out.....

Janet - posted on 11/24/2009

My son will be 16 on the 20th of Dec. and I have always kept the days seperate. Cake and parties for the birthday(think birthday in July(instead of Christmas in July) for a pool party when older. Family gatherings for Christmas and all members of my family have never given a combined gift. Good luck.

Tanya - posted on 11/24/2009

My 1 year old loves her singing tea pot it's pink and sold at wal-mart for around $14 it comes with the tea pot that teaches songs, numbers, shapes and sharing (it's pink with a cute face on it) it also has 2 tea cups and a plate that is a shape sorter and 3 desserts (circle, square, triangle that fit in the plate shape sorter) Also my daughter loves to look at books any hard page books with lots of bright pictures would be great for her (they have tons of them at the dollar stores here - great deal and educational!) My daughter also got some pillow books from my mom last year she found them on QVC I keep them in her crib and she love to look at them in the mornings before calling me to get her gives me a few extra mins of sleep :) This year I got my 1 year old a penquin push down toy (you know those tall infatable punch/push things for older kids well it's like that execpt it is small for babies and it had rattle balls inside and it pushes down and pops up my little girl likes funny things so I think she'll like it.. I think it plays music too not too sure? I got it at wal-mart for around $16 i think) Oh and we have a frog puppet that ribbit's songs when you close his mouth she loves to play with that ( I know they sell dogs and other animals around chirstmas time that do the samething with christmas songs $7-$10). Kids this age like finger paints too (cover table with newspaper!!!!) I hope this helps a little bit :)

Carla - posted on 11/24/2009

Don't worry, enjoy, she is only 1, take pictures for her to see and have when she is older. Enjoy the Holiday, create traditions, I always make Christmas cookies with my kids, we make a mess, I swear every time the kitchen is covered with flour and food coloring that I am not doing this next year, and I always do, lol. Merry Christmas and happy New Year!

Karis - posted on 11/24/2009

I can relate to your experience, my son's birthday is December 23rd. I agree with many of the posts, at any birthday, any time of year-take the focus off of the gift. Jesus is the reason for the Christmas season, and your daughter is the reason for celebrating her birthday. Every Christmas eve, our boys get a new pair of pajamas that they get to wear that evening, and a new family book that we will read together that night. Books & puzzles have always been a big focus in our home. Birthdays are celebrated as a big in-home themed party with his friends one year (starting with their third birthday), or as a special family outing (starting with their second birthday), such as a special museum, theme park (many have discounts over the holidays), feature movie (we went to see Polar Express in 3-D the winter it was introduced into the theatre). I'm sure you get the idea. Their first birthday was celebrated in our home with family and 'close' friends and neighbors. Their was a mini cake just for the birthday boy, we set him in his high chair in bib and diapers and put the cake on the tray, sang happy birthday and let him have at it. It was his first cake, he loved it, and we found royal blue deposits in his diaper for days after! Take lots of pictures & make it about the experience, the tradition. Our boys are now 13 and almost 15 and they still look forward to their birthday experiences and love reminiscing about their past birthdays. Very seldom are they still talking about 'the gift' years later. By the way, Congratulations to you and your baby!

MarieJose - posted on 11/23/2009

For a 1 year old I would pick a very colorful toy that makes noise. At that age that 's what will call their attention and they will play with that for a long time.

Heather - posted on 11/23/2009

My daughter was also born on the 22nd of December so I understand the whole birthday and Christmas dilemma. This may not work for you yet; my daughter will be 11 this year but in the past we have focused not so much on gifts but experiences. Family dinner, a trip to the Hands on Childrens Museum or the zoo. This is a great time to start thinking about traditions that will become a part of your life. It sounds like she already has the best gift ever; a mom that loves her very much!

Debra - posted on 11/12/2009

I'm glad to hear you don't want to "over buy" because that's the first thing I would tell you and have told my own daughter. Children at that age don't even realize what's going on and won't remember past today.

Give them one gift, have a nice cake, maybe invite some friends over for the birthday and take lots of wonderful pictures. You buy for this child all year round ! I give the same advice if your invited to a birthday for a young child. In my circle of friends we will usually get a toy for the child and actually get the gift for mom. Is the family really stretched for money? It would be more helpful to buy diapers or baby food etc.

In this economy we need to start thinking outside the box, be more practical. Most of us don't have enough money to spend on our own family so make the most of what you have.

As for Christmas make it a fun time for her. Again, she's too young to remember what gifts she got. Take pics around the tree, sing carols, do whatever your traditions are make memories to share with her as she grows. Leave the crazy gift frenzy for when she gets older and she will grow up not actually expecting a truck load of presents but looking forward to the fun times.

Kate - posted on 11/12/2009

My oldest daughter (she is turning 3) has her birthday Jan 25th!! I had the same dilema. What we decided to was have more for her to open at christmas than her birthday. We have all of the family together when a baby turns one. So there were alot of gifts for her birthday. (she got a lot of christmas presents too, from family, but we spent christmas morning just mommy daddy and baby) I think she got one or two smaller gifts from us for her b-day. Maybe a book or rattle and an outfit. For christmas we knew she would be too little to go crazy plus we were on a budget. So on christmas eve she opened up a "baby's first christmas" pj's. Then on Christmas morning she got her "large" present it was a sesory table since she was standing. It lit up and sang the alphabet and number song. She really liked it, in fact it has never been in storage. She also got a baby einstein video and cd. She was so happy and boy did she love that table. I think that spending your money on one big thing like the table and a couple smaller items (rattles or music) is an awsome way to go. We stayed under budget and had an awesome Christmas and birthday. Good luck. Let us know what you decide to do!

Ursula - posted on 11/11/2009

I know as I have gotten my grandaughter these toys.. I try to focus on the age recommendation and get eye and hand cordination. They love toys that make noises and bright and colorful. They have so many out there.. I know another good thing at that age.. depending on if child is walking.. The push around toys help with walking.. I pretty much stick to the education toys myself.. like V-tech or Leap Frog.. Those are my favorites to give.. Good luck!

Susan - posted on 11/11/2009

When the kids were 18 months & younger, we would go through Wal-Mart, Target or Toys R Us & just let them kinda try things out & play to see what grabbed their attention & held it the longest. When you're on a budget, you want to get the most bang for your buck & be sure it's something they're going to play with past the first day. So I'd do a 'trial run' to see what peaks her interest. Kids less than two have a short memory & won't remember that you've lalready let them play with it & then Santa Claus brought it! EBay is also another great option for getting good used toys shipped right to your door for less than retail. But if it's a new item still in the stores, it will probably be cheaper to go retail. As far as the type of gift for a one year old - something that they can pull themselves up to or stand up & play with - a walking toy, a musical keyboard (I think it was a Fisher Price Singing Star Piano that had legs that could be changed for sitting or standing), or anything that has pieces that can be put in & taken out (repeatedly) & things that open & close - like a toy mailbox or kitchen - my kids both loved opening the doors, putting things in, closing the doors & then opening them & taking them back out - over & over again! A soft, light weight cloth doll for her to carry around as she's learning to walk would make a great friend too. Hope this helps.

Joyce - posted on 11/11/2009

I like Sherry's response. Their first birthday is special for the family. I would say keep the focus on enjoying the day with her. I am a mother of three and grandmother to 7 with the possibility of adding my son's girlfriend's 4 to the list! One grand daughter has a birthday on the 27th of Dec. and now she has to share it with a little sister so her birthday kinda gets overshadodwed by everything else.

Sherry - posted on 11/11/2009

I know how you feel...my daughter's birthday is on the 21st. For her first birthday I gave her something that she needed (new outfit, socks, shoes..etc). For christmas I gave her one of the new toys that had all different color lights and attached moving parts...it don't remember the name of it as it was some time ago and she out grew it. As she got older I then would get her one thing that she really, really wanted something that the rest of the family would not get her. As christmas in our house is more about family and faith, it has always been our tradition that we all give the children one book (coloring, talking, peek-a-boo, pop-ups, etc...) and then we adults all exchange some type of clothing (new package of socks, bra's, undershirts, t-shirts, gloves, hats, etc...). I hope this helps. ~ Sherry