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Best Christmas gifts for one-year-olds 2025: books, games, toys and more
Drawing on nearly half a decade at Which?, Natalie helps readers cut through the noise with practical guidance on trending products, pest control, cleaning advice, and money-saving tips during the sales.
There’s nothing quite like Christmas with a little one. If you’re shopping for a one-year-old this year, our festive gift guide is here to help you find something truly special.
With help from the parents, godparents and aunties of Which?, we reveal the gifts that were an absolute hit with the little ones in their lives to help spark your imagination while you're shopping around during the festive season.
From interactive toys to charming books, our hand-picked selection of the best gifts for one-year-olds will help keep them entertained while fostering their early growth and skills.
Looking for more of the best Christmas gifts for kids? See our guides to the best Christmas gifts for two-year-olds and best Christmas gifts for three-year-olds
Shape sorter toys
John Lewis Wooden Shape Puzzle
Shape sorter toys help babies to develop fine motor skills and hand-eye co-ordination, as well as teaching them about colours, shapes and patterns. This pretty pastel one from John Lewis is small enough to stow under a buggy or in a nappy bag.
We like: Easy to store
Watch out for: No travel case included
Simple yet effective, this shape sorter encourages little ones to match colourful shapes in their holes. John Lewis says it helps to support 'dexterity, hand-eye co-ordination, and shape and colour recognition'.
It's also made from wood certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), so you know you'll be making a more sustainable choice by picking this one. Additionally, it comes with a one-year manufacturer's warranty.
Available from John Lewis (£10).
Expecting a new arrival soon? See the baby products the parents at Which? couldn't live without
Peter Rabbit Wooden Shape Sorter
My 1st Years make lovely wooden toys, with soothing colours and cute designs. This one has been a hit with both parents and children, and the additional personalisation makes it even better!
We like: Personalisation option
Watch out for: Take care not to lose the blocks
This shape sorter, adorned with images of Peter Rabbit and his friends, is made to look like a house with a removable baby-blue roof to retrieve the blocks. For little fans of the Peter Rabbit books, it'd make a great gift.
As well as the standard circle, square and triangular blocks, you have blocks with illustrations to fit into their own holes, including a carrot, bunny and watering can. You can also opt to personalise this gift by including a name printed on the front.
Available from My 1st Years (£33)
Support your growing family: our expert advice can help you make the right choices, from improving your home to planning your finances
Fisher-Price Wood Baby Toy Stack & Sort Animals
This vertical shape sorter features a lion, koala and crocodile for little ones to stack up. In my experience, kids find it really funny mixing up the bodies and heads!
We like: Affordable
Watch out for: Make sure not to lose any parts
This Fisher-Price stacking block set that lets little ones sort and build three cute animals. It includes a stacking base and nine blocks, designed to encourage imaginative play while supporting fine motor and problem-solving skills.
It's made from FSC-certified wood and the manufacturer says it's decorated with non-toxic, water-based paints.
Stacking toys and building blocks
Little Dutch Wooden Stacking Train
I bought this for my daughter and as a gift on countless occasions. I love that it comes in a range of colours. It's a timeless toy, great for building motor skills and can be enjoyed way beyond the age of one.
We like: Multiple colours and themes available
Watch out for: Comes in 17 parts – take care not to lose any pieces
Comprised of three carriage sections that slide together, the stackable blocks on this train mean you can build it as instructed, or little ones can get creative by moving the pieces around.
It's around 45cm long from tip to tail, with 12 wheels and a rope string at the front so it can be pulled around.
Available from Scandibørn (£25.95).
Mega Bloks Big Building Bag
An intro to Lego, Mega Bloks are brilliant for little hands to help them develop their gross motor skills by building blocks and shapes.
We like: Designed for younger children to easily grab and put together, portable bag included, affordable
Watch out for: 60 pieces in a set, so may take time to clear up after play
Whether your little one enjoys creating houses, cars and creatures, or seeing how tall a tower they can build before knocking it down, a bag of blocks is an inexpensive way to hone their creativity.
You can also get bigger sets of up to 300 blocks, as well as compatible additional toys such as:
- Mega Bloks Build 'n' Learn Table - SQUIRREL_TEXT_50015663
- Mega Bloks Build 'n' Tumble Table - SQUIRREL_TEXT_50015664
- Mega Bloks ABC Learning Train - SQUIRREL_TEXT_50015665
For bigger kids, Lego might be a better suit. For the best Lego deals available now, head to our guide
Books
'Bedtime for You' Book
A little more meaningful than a normal storybook, these personalised ones make a sweet keepsake. You can personalise everything from their name to how their character looks in the book, and little ones love seeing themselves in stories.
We like: Personalised, lots of stories to choose from, colourful illustrations
Watch out for: May take a couple of days to dispatch, slightly pricier than a normal book
The Wonderbly Bedtime for You book puts your little one right in the middle of the story – literally! You can customise the name included on the front and throughout the book, then choose one of 12 illustrated characters that looks most like your child to up the realism.
The book cover is available in dark blue, red, green or yellow, and you can opt to add a dedication to make it a truly special keepsake.
Available from Wonderbly (£29.99).
'We're Going on a Bear Hunt' Sound Book
We loved this version of Michael Rosen's classic 'We're Going on a Bear Hunt', which includes buttons for little fingers to press and hear the swish, swish, swish of the grass and the splash, splash of the river.
Watch out for: Slightly pricier than a normal book
Interactive books add a fun twist to story time, and can help kids to learn new noises and sounds.
You can get 'noisy' versions of many children's books, including classics like 'We're Going on a Bear Hunt', 'The Gruffalo' and 'Dear Zoo'.
LeapFrog Learning Friends 100 Words Book
This is a great book with sound effects to teach little ones their first words - in both English and French. It has pictures to correlate with the words – baby can touch the picture and it gives the sound effect and then speaks the word.
We like: Two languages
Watch out for: Not a story book, slightly pricier than other books
LeapFrog has been making educational books for almost 30 years, and is still a popular choice among many parents for Christmas gifting.
These highly interactive books allow kids to touch almost any part of the page and hear words, sounds or music. In the case of the '100 Words' book, it essentially works as a fun and colourful dictionary, where little ones can hear and practise new words in English or French.
'Ten Little Dinosaurs' Board Book
My son loved these books when he was younger. The rhyming language is great for engaging small children, and there are lots of noises that they can join in with.
We like: Board books tend to be more durable than paper or hardback, affordable
Watch out for: Rest of the series sold separately
'Ten Little Dinosaurs' is a simple rhyming book for young children, complete with colourful illustrations. It's available as a board book, but also paperback, Kindle and as an audiobook.
The 'Ten Little...' series is comprised of several books following different counting stories, featuring everything from elves to pirates.
A cheap and cheerful ebook reader might be a good option for older children - see our reviews before you buy
Crawling, walking and climbing gifts
Vtech Crawl and Learn Ball
Both of my nieces loved this – it makes noises and moves around the room. It encouraged them both to crawl and to spend more time on their tummies (which they didn't really like!)'
We like: Colourful and interactive
Watch out for: Batteries not included
Designed to help encourage babies to crawl, the Vtech Crawl and Learn Ball is a battery-powered toy that spins and rolls around the room with flashing lights to attract babies' attention.
Nuby Educational Wooden Baby Walker
Little ones learning to walk is always exciting, and it usually happens when they're around a year old. An interactive walker keeps them busy, whether they're trotting around the living room or sitting and playing.
We like: Helps encourage walking, toys on the panels, colourful
Watch out for: Pricey
This woodland-themed walker on wheels is designed to help babies to stand and walk, as well as entertaining them with shape sorting puzzles, colourful blocks, a mini xylophone and a mirror.
When little ones start walking and exploring, you might want to double-check your babyproofing arrangements. Check out our babyproofing guide to help you stop potential accidents
Pikler Triangle set
This was a favourite in my daughter's baby group as a first birthday present. We didn't get one, but definitely would have if we'd had the space.
We like: Great for active children who love climbing
Watch out for: Expensive, may be tricky to store
This playset is comprised of individual pieces, including a triangular frame, a semi-circular 'swing' and a double-sided board, each of which can be reassembled in multiple ways.
You can purchase the pieces as a complete set or individually, and they are designed to nurture creative play. For instance, the set can be used as a climbing frame, or the pieces can be turned on their sides or upside down to be used as bridges, tunnels or even pretend kitchen counters.
Available from Busy Kids (£199).
Fancy dress for one-year-olds
Find second-hand clothes online
Most kids love playing dress-up, and you can get some really great second-hand fancy-dress costumes like Disney princess and superheroes on Vinted
We like: Cheaper than buying full-price, may find products that are out of stock from retailers
Watch out for: Buying second-hand online comes with risks
Roped into playing dress-up doctor or fairy princesses? You can get cheap fancy-dress items online, usually for a fraction of the price. And as these items are pre-loved, you'll be making a more sustainable buying choice as well as saving some pennies.
It's important to remember that online marketplaces aren’t legally responsible for products sold through their platforms, so they aren’t held to the same standards as high street or regular online retailers.
Make sure you're clued up on how to shop safely online before you buy, and check any clothes you purchase are washed thoroughly when they arrive.
Browse pre-loved clothes and baby products on sites like Vinted or eBay
Get great bargains using hassle-free sites. See the best places to shop second-hand online
A play kitchen
Ikea Duktig Play Kitchen
Other kitchens are available, but this was the number one first-birthday gift in my daughter's baby group. In my experience, one-year-olds tend to start emptying cupboards at this age and love this sort of role-play toy.
We like: Adjustable height, detachable sink for cleaning, realistic glowing hob lights
Watch out for: Batteries are not included, toy kitchen utensils sold separately
This wooden play kitchen from Ikea is on the expensive side, but it has adjustable legs to grow as your child does, which means they can use it for years to come.
It comes in a white and birch wood colourway, but you can also get the slightly cheaper Silltrut set, which comes in grey.
Available from Ikea (£85).
When baby is in the actual kitchen, it's important to take steps to prevent accidents – see our advice on baby safety in the kitchen
Playmobil
Playmobil Junior
This is a first-stage Playmobil set with no tiny parts that could be swallowed. It's great for encouraging imaginative play.
We like: Lots of sets available, kids can mix and match and build their collection
Watch out for: Bigger sets can be expensive
Playmobil says its Junior range is 'made for the youngest Playmobil fans'. This classic toy has been specially designed for small hands, and is intended for children aged one to four. It differs from regular Playmobil sets as it has no small parts. The pieces are also made from at least 90% plant-based materials, according to Playmobil.
While there are more standard sets available – including Airport Shuttle Bus and Merry Go-Round – there are also several featuring well-known Disney characters like Moana, Mickey and Minnie Mouse, and Winnie the Pooh.
Some popular options include:
- Playmobil Junior Airport Shuttle Bus - SQUIRREL_TEXT_50021933
- Playmobil Junior Noah's Ark - SQUIRREL_TEXT_50021934
- Playmobil Junior Farm Adventure - SQUIRREL_TEXT_50021935
- Playmobil Junior Rocking Snail - SQUIRREL_TEXT_50021936
Browse all Playmobil Junior sets at Playmobil.
Looking for more toys? Our experts have tested everything from board games to trampolines to find the best
A trike
Q Play Cosy 4-in-1 Trike
This trike is great as it grows with them – you can use it as an alternative to a buggy if your little one is starting to grow restless. It can start to teach them how to use pedals and is a great first step to a balance bike or pedal bike.
We like: Includes safety harness and sun cover, adjustable as child gets older
Watch out for: Make sure baby doesn't go speeding off without you!
Designed for children between ten and 36 months, this tricycle can be adapted into four stages as your child gets bigger. For younger kids, it's completely parent-controlled via the back handle, while older kids can start to use the pedals and eventually pilot the trike all by themselves.
This model is available in black or blue, and you can also purchase an optional rain cover so you can keep adventuring, whatever the weather.
Available from Smyths Toys (£49.99).
If you'd rather a two-wheeler model for your toddler, find out how to buy the best balance bike