Inside: Looking for a clutter-free Christmas gift for a toddler can feel SUPER daunting these days. Cut through the plastic trendy chaos with this list of 29 clutter-free Christmas gifts for 1-year-olds, carefully curated by a mom of 5.
I have five kids, and by now, I know that one-year-old’s don’t need a lot to be happy in life.
They honestly don’t even need a gift at all!
But when you’re heading to a family gathering to exchange Christmas gifts, it can feel strange – and even rude – not to bring a gift.
Or if you’re planning your first or second Christmas with your only child, not giving a gift is probably not an option for you. It’s tradition!
So if you want to give a gift that will last for years and bypass all the clutter and cheap plastic junk out there, choose something from this list.
Every single gift is one I would buy all over again if I had another 1-year-old.
And I’m a minimalist mom that’s pretty picky when it comes to gifts for my littles (especially before they’re aware enough to even ask for anything).
Clutter-Free Christmas Gift Ideas for 1-Year-Olds
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As a homeschooling, work-from-home mom with five kids, I have to be picky. We only have so much space, and I certainly don’t want to spend all my spare time cleaning up.
Or tripping over all the not cleaned up stuff. Have you ever stepped on a LEGO? OUCH.
Despite despising most gift-giving occasions, I still managed to come up with a list of over 25 gifts I wouldn’t mind a 1-year-old of mine receiving.
There’s quite a few options, and I did my best to stick to useful and long-lasting, clutter-free gift ideas.
I hope this list of ideas helps you find the perfect clutter-free gift for the 1-year-old in your life!
Only caveat: if you’re buying a child not your own: if the parent has specifically asked for no gifts, I would honor that. Still want to bring a gift, anyway? Stick to the experience or consumable gift options.
You Might Also Like: 10 Easy Ways to Toddler Proof Your Christmas Decorations (So You Can All Enjoy the Season!)
1. Children’s Museum Membership
If the primary caregiver is a stay-at-home parent, a children’s museum membership can be a true life-saver, especially if they live in an area with long, cold winters.
Yes, many exhibits are geared toward older children, but there are usually at least one or two sections dedicated to toddlers.
It’s a great way to pass the time as they grow from age one to two!
2. Zoo or Aquarium Membership
Zoos and aquariums are super fun experiences for both kids and adults. Giving a gift that both the parents and the 1-year-old will appreciate is always appreciated.
To make it fun for the 1-year-old, print out a picture of animals, put it in a box with the membership and wrap it up.
Again, the unwrapping is the best part for this age.
3. 529 Plan or Contribution
At this age, the child could really care less about how many or what gifts they get or don’t get.
Therefore, this birthday or Christmas is the perfect time to either open a 529 plan in their name OR make a gift contribution to an existing 529 plan.
It turns out anyone – friend or relative – can open a 529 plan for a child and make contributions. It’s never too early to start saving up for future education!
If they don’t end up using the money for college, by a certain age, it can be rolled over into a Roth IRA.
4. Large Cardboard Box With Markers
Parents joke (kind of?) that they give their kids so many gifts for Christmas, and they end up playing with the cardboard boxes that held the gifts.
Especially for a 1-year-old, just give them a big ol’ cardboard box with washable Crayola markers! Yes, really.
After they unwrap it, plop them inside the box and let them doodle away.
An hour of contained, quiet self-play is the best gift ever for the child AND the parent.
5. Favorite Snack
Does the 1-year-old in your life have a favorite snack? Here are some ideas…
- Once Upon a Farm Pouches
- Smoothie Melts
- Cheerios – Honey Nut or Plain
- Puffs (If They’re Still Into Them)
As long as you wrap it up and they get to unwrap it, they’ll love it! Give one snack or many.
6. Favorite Treat
Make sure to clear this with the parent first, especially if you know the family is avoiding sugar as long as possible (I salute them!).
For this age, you could give freeze-dried fruit, cookies or muffins.
You could even give a single bakery cupcake with pretty frosting? But only if the parents approve.
7. Balance Bike
Outdoor toys for one-year-olds can be amazing for both you and your toddler’s mental health.
As young as 15-18 months, depending on the toddler, kiddos can start learning how to use a bike.
My advice? Skip the trikes and go right to a balance bike (the seat can be adjusted as they grow).
Because we put three of our kids on these as young as 15-18 months, they were all able to transition straight to a regular bike WITHOUT training wheels.
Where was this when our oldest was a 1-year-old?!
8. Camelbak Water Bottle
We adore kid-sized camelbak water bottles. They have fun designs and are super long-lasting! You just need to replace the mouth-piece every so often.
You could give a water bottle with replacement mouthpieces for later.
9. Blocks
Blocks are one of the best open-ended toys for all ages. For 1-year-old’s, you could give one of the following:
- Alphabet Blocks (with a cart!)
- Wooden Blocks
I’d love to enthusiastically endorse Duplos for this age because they last such a long time, BUT they aren’t the best for kids who love to put everything in their mouths (one of my toddlers tested it once: not good, almost couldn’t get it out).
Also, I intentionally did not include Mega Blocks as kids tend to outgrow them so quickly.
10. Modular Play Couch (A Fort-Builder’s Dream!)
Play couches like THIS one with various that can be rearranged dozens of ways are growing in popularity lately, and I can see the appeal!
Having kids who are constantly taking my couch cushions to use for fort-building (leaving nowhere to sit), I actually added this to our own Christmas list.
The best part? It will grow with them for the next 5-10 years, and that’s always a win.
11. Medium-Sized Bouncy Ball
You know those really cheap, small bouncy balls you see in the grocery store for $1.99? It’s the perfect gift for a 1-year-old!
My kids – the boys, in particular (stereotypical, I know) – would play with a single ball for hours when they were little.
Bounce it. Roll it across the floor. Toss it. So many options.
My youngest two kids STILL beg for these at the grocery store every week, even though we already have one.
Related: Top 12 Minimalist Baby Toys for the First Year and Beyond!
12. Bubbles (OR a Bubble Machine)
What 1-year-old doesn’t love bubbles?! And what parent wouldn’t appreciate NOT having to constantly blow them?
THIS bubble machine looks amazing and well-built. Make sure to include a large container of bubble mix.
Want to give a strictly consumable gift? Just give the bubbles.
13. Tunnel
Colorful indoor tunnels are so much fun for this age group! They can lay inside them, crawl through them and just hide for a while.
They’re also great for small homes and apartments because they’re collapsible and take up very little storage space.
14. Soft Doll
Soft baby dolls make great gifts for 1-year-olds, no matter their gender.
We’ve had a good experience with THIS doll. It’s mostly held up over the past four years.
Only complaint? The magnetic pacifier gets misplaced often, with no replacement option (it’s still MIA at the time of this writing).
15. Non-Toxic Bath Crayons
As long as said 1-year-old is past the chewing on everything phase, non-toxic bath crayons are a great clutter-free gift idea! Almost any consumable gift is, really.
And you KNOW any toddler is going to love being given permission to draw in the bathtub.
16. Mess-Free Coloring Mat
One-year-olds are a little bit too young for water painting books, which are great consumable gifts.
But THESE mess-free coloring mats are a variation that’s perfect for 1-year-olds!
We had one for years. Simply fill up the marker with water and let them color away.
It will keep them busy for a long time! And it lasts for years. My 5-year-old still occasionally plays with hers four years later.
17. Stacking Cups
What I love most about stacking cups is that they are a super versatile toy.
You can stack them, take them in bath, play with them at a water table, fill them with pom poms or beans (when they’re ready for sensory-play activities).
Any toy that can be played with in multiple ways for years counts as a clutter-free toy in my book! THESE cups are gorgeous – toys that are decor-friendly are amazing – and made in Denmark.
18. Green Toys Cars
Trucks like THIS set from Green Toys are the perfect size for 1-year-olds. Plus, they’re made of 100% recycled materials AND produced in the US (if that matters to you).
They can play with them around the house, at the park, or in water or sand.
19. Board Books
Even if the parents aren’t into creating a massive family library, toddlers are very hard on books (signed: the mom of a former book-ripper).
Plus, books are pretty easy to give away or discard when you’re done with them.
Here are a few titles we’ve loved over the years:
- The Very Hungry Caterpillar
- Anything by Sandra Boynton (favorite Boynton books HERE)
- Chicka Chicka Boom Boom
For more ideas, see THIS post with 40 awesome board books for 1-year-olds.
20. Lake or Pool Pass
Does the 1-year-old in your life live close to a pool or lake, but you need to buy a summer family pass of some kind?
This makes a great gift! Sand + water + toddler = awesomeness.
(If they don’t already have a water vest, you could give that with the pass).
21. Toy Phone
Since smart phones have become so normal, every 1-year-old I’ve ever seen has grabbed for their parent’s phone! Why not give them their own toy phone?
Only catch: keep it as simple as you can, which is a challenge today.
THIS relatively simple toy phone from B. toys gets pretty good reviews. Ironically, the biggest complaint is it’s not loud enough (these parents must have only one child, I swear).
22. Hats
This would be a super fun and inexpensive gift for a 1-year-old! Just go to the closest thrift store and get a couple hats.
Start their dress-up collection early with versatile pieces.
23. Play Silks
Speaking of dress-up, play silks are one “toy” that has gotten so much use in our home!
Children use them to cover up toys, have picnics for their stuffed animals, play peek-a-boo, wear them as skirts and so much more.
Bonus Tip: You could even use these to wrap another consumable gift on this list.
24. Bucket & Shovel
A sturdy bucket and shovel will get a TON of use! They can fill them with water, sand, grass, rocks or just about anything else outside.
The cheap plastic ones break way too easily, so try to invest in a durable, quality set like THIS one (also from Green Toys.
It’s made with recycled milk containers, and gets great reviews!
25. Sand and Water Table
These tables are great for outdoor play! Toddlers will play with sand and water for hours.
You could also put a tarp underneath it and put sand in it inside during the winter.
Note to Parents or Grandparents: You can often find these second-hand on Facebook Marketplace or Offer Up. Nothing wrong with a second-hand gift, especially for a 1-year-old!
26. Balance Board
We bought a balance board for our kids a few Christmases ago, and it’s gotten a LOT of use.
For 1-year-old’s, it’s fun to use upside down or on its side. As they get older, they can learn how to use it in the “rocking” position.
27. Push Bike
If they aren’t quite ready for a balance bike, grab a push bike, instead.
THIS one can be transitioned into a version of the strider bike later on.
The parent can get some exercise walking while the 1-year-old is a little more entertained than they would be in a regular stroller.
28. Roll of Drawing Paper with Chunky Crayons
A big ol’ roll of drawing paper could be a great 1-year-old gift.
During long, long winters, we used to lay out a long piece on the floor for them to go crazy with.Make sure to include some non-toxic chunky crayons.
29. Hooded Bath Towel
Transitioning to a bigger kid bath towel is super fun. Ours have lasted well into upper childhood years.
We have LOVED our Pottery Barn hooded bath towels. They’ll be big at first, but they’ll quickly grow into them.
This gift will last for years to come. My 8-year-old still uses his!
Read Next: 17 Newborn Christmas Gift Ideas (Because Gifts Are Fun, Even If They Have No Clue)
What are you getting your 1-year-old for Christmas? Share in the comments!
Owner of Growing Serendipity, June could talk to you all day about homeschooling, parenting, and minimalism, which she does at This Simple Balance. When she’s not homeschooling, decluttering, or blogging, she loves to enjoy perfect silence while sipping a hot cup of coffee and thinking uninterrupted thoughts—which, of course, with five kids, doesn’t happen very often.