ISO 1st birthday gift

[bw52]

Looking to spend under $20. Ideas, please? I want the most bang for my buck, meaning the most fun thing I could get for that price. All my ideas cost more than that, so I need help.

[AshUVA]

If you can raise your limit a little, the Leapfrog Learning Table is under $30 (I think) and its a great first birthday present. My friend uses that as her go-to present for first birthdays and that's how DD got her's. She LOVES it and plays with it daily and has not lost interest. Its great for getting them standing.

[candaceb]

The Munchkin Mozart Magic Cube is $18.99 - DS got it when he was 16 months and I wish I had gotten it earlier. He loves it and it has the added bonus of not being annoying!
http://www.amazon.com/Munchkin-3101-Mozart-Magic-Cube/dp/B00004TFLB/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1334682620&sr=8-1

I like to give push toys for first birthday presents. Melissa & Doug has some cute ones in that price range:
http://www.amazon.com/Melissa-Doug-Clapping-Elephant-Push/dp/B003AHG2XE/ref=sr_1_2?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1334682710&sr=1-2

[iaam]

I think 'walkers' are great for that age, something like: http://www.amazon.com/Playskool-Step-Start-Walk-Ride/dp/B00004T2WP/ref=sr_1_cc_3?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1334688291&sr=1-3-catcorr

Or, some of the Fisher-Price Little People toys, such as:
http://www.amazon.com/Fisher-Price-Little-People-Movers-Airplane/dp/B000EUKRY0/ref=pd_sim_t_40

http://www.amazon.com/Fisher-Little-People-Movers-School/dp/B000DH333G/ref=pd_sim_t_1

http://www.amazon.com/Fisher-Price-Little-People-Wheelies-Sounds/dp/B004ORV2D4/ref=pd_sim_t_22

[citymama]

If you can raise your limit a little, the Leapfrog Learning Table is under $30 (I think) and its a great first birthday present. My friend uses that as her go-to present for first birthdays and that's how DD got her's. She LOVES it and plays with it daily and has not lost interest. Its great for getting them standing.

A word of caution: that's only if you know parents will be down with the whole plastic-light-and-sounds thing. I would not have wanted something like that, to be honest.

Our favorite 1 year gifts were the M&D Chunky wooden puzzles, board books, CDs, musical instruments, the Plan Toys alligator pull toy (http://www.amazon.com/Plan-Toys-0510502-Dancing-Alligator/dp/B000I8SMZE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1334688888&sr=8-1), FP shape sorter toy (http://www.amazon.com/Fisher-Price-Brilliant-Basics-Babys-Blocks/dp/B000LSZVKA/ref=sr_1_1?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1334688858&sr=1-1), and this eeboo tower blocks toy (http://www.amazon.com/eeBoo-tot-Tower-Alphabet-Numbers/dp/B000V3SL2K).

My vote for most bang for buck toy would be the Green Toys tea set (http://www.amazon.com/Green-Toys-5512754-Tea-Set/dp/B001543YEY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1334688938&sr=8-1) at just under $20 - gets SO much use here, starting at age 1, but even my 6 yr old loves it!

[happymom]

How about Megablox? DD started playing with them at that age and is still playing with them now.

[mnosky1]

I'm not a fan of toys for one year gifts - we got so many $20ish gifts that I think we had everything out there and I figure my friends get the same. So I try and give something else. I got and loved (so often give the same) a monogrammed beach towel - PBK or lands end. My DD is turning 9 and it still is in use from her 1st bday! Or a monogrammed plate. I also love the "I see me personalized story books - they just had a groupon - they are about $35.

[SnuggleBuggles]

I'm always a fan of board books at that age.

[AnimalBabe]

One year old is a tough age for buying gifts for, since they might not be walking yet but are outgrowing the other younger toys. My son's favorite toy he received for his 1 year birthday, by far, was a Mater ride-on. I think he would have liked any ride-on though, and in fact was never able to push it well himself b/c it has a steering wheel instead of just handle bars. I would recommend a basic ride on like this one: http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3230457. My parents bought our son one like this from Target just a few weeks ago, it was on sale for $20 (it rang up on sale even though it was labeled as $35). It was a firetruck one.

I'm trying to remember what his other favorite toys were at that age. I think he loved this bubble gum machine that you put plastic balls in, but I can't find it on the toys r us website. Also, the plan toys alligator, as others suggested.