# What does a one year old boy want for his birthday and Christmas? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 20, 2014, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-a-one-year-old-boy-want-for-his-birthday-and-christmas/699045 "2014-09-20T20:54:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2014, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-a-one-year-old-boy-want-for-his-birthday-and-christmas/699045/1 "2014-09-20T20:54:31Z")
I’m going to be visiting my 1 year old nephew in November. His birthday falls close to Christmas. I understand he’s got plenty of clothes. What toys or other useful presents can I buy him? It seems like all the toys I see are recommended for 2 and up. ---
**Author:** ![JerrySTL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e274bd/32.png) [@JerrySTL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JerrySTL)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2014, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-a-one-year-old-boy-want-for-his-birthday-and-christmas/699045/2 "2014-09-20T21:08:07Z")
At that age, you buy them a toy and they’ll play with the box. Something that makes sounds when you bang on it and has bright blinking lights might work. As far as the 2 and up, the parents probably think the kid is some kind of genius and want something 5 and up. If nothing else, the kid will be two in about a year. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2014, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-a-one-year-old-boy-want-for-his-birthday-and-christmas/699045/3 "2014-09-20T21:09:58Z")
I recently visited some friends right after their kids 1st birthday. The living room had so many toys in it, you couldn’t see anything else. The kid sat on the floor playing with an empty 2-liter plastic coke bottle. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2014, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-a-one-year-old-boy-want-for-his-birthday-and-christmas/699045/4 "2014-09-20T21:11:33Z")
Books with lots of pictures in them. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2014, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-a-one-year-old-boy-want-for-his-birthday-and-christmas/699045/5 "2014-09-20T21:22:48Z")
Two toys my son liked then were a [surprise box](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/714--uxj-WL._SL1500_.jpg), and a [ball popper](http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/img-thing?.out=jpg&size=l&tid=1330318). Also, little boys love pushing cars around. Get one the right size for a one-year-old’s hand. It won’t say “1 year” on it; it will say “Up to 3.” This means that it doesn’t have any small, detachable parts a toddler can break off and choke on. Puzzles that consist of four or five shapes that fit into a board usually work at that age as well. You could just ask his parents. Or maybe you can even take him to a toy store and see what grabs his attention. Thomas trains makes some stuff for really little kids now, and I’m sure his parents are wondering what they can sink $2,000 into over the next seven years. Get him addicted to Thomas now! ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2014, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-a-one-year-old-boy-want-for-his-birthday-and-christmas/699045/6 "2014-09-20T21:24:57Z")
> [@Giles](#): > > Books with lots of pictures in them. When my son was in the 1-year-old class in preschool, [this was the class favorite on the book shelf](http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/baby-faces-margaret-miller/1103362943?cm_mmc=googlepla-_-book_under5-_-q000000633-_-9781416978879&ean=9781416978879&isbn=9781416978879&kpid=9781416978879&r=1). ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2014, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-a-one-year-old-boy-want-for-his-birthday-and-christmas/699045/7 "2014-09-20T21:28:51Z")
A Babies R Us gift card. Chances are the kid has more toys than he can reasonably use and at this age “more” isn’t really better, but Mom and Dad would LOVE some extra flexibility when it comes to daily items. Either that or a savings bond for the college fund. (Sven, mother of a one year old.) ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2014, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-a-one-year-old-boy-want-for-his-birthday-and-christmas/699045/8 "2014-09-20T21:29:16Z")
You could get him a toy chest for all the stuff others are giving him. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2014, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-a-one-year-old-boy-want-for-his-birthday-and-christmas/699045/9 "2014-09-20T21:36:30Z")
Nothing. I’m not joking, really (sort of), but at that age what he wants for his birthday is nothing. He doesn’t know it’s Christmas or his birthday. It’s all going to be a weird event for him. So whatever you get will mean little to him…but something to his parents. So any little colorful thing he can bang around will do fine. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2014, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-a-one-year-old-boy-want-for-his-birthday-and-christmas/699045/10 "2014-09-20T21:40:34Z")
Their mother’s teat? As **Jonathan Chance** says, they really have no concept of gifts. It’s all pageantry. ---
**Author:** ![Amberlei](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e56c9b/32.png) [@Amberlei](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amberlei)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2014, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-a-one-year-old-boy-want-for-his-birthday-and-christmas/699045/11 "2014-09-20T21:45:06Z")
First birthdays are special, but I figure that one year old’s don’t really have any idea what’s going on and everyone gives toys, so I like to be a bit different. I give a small toy, such as a ball or book, and then a framed print of Van Gogh’s painting, “First Steps.” This way, there’s something for the little one to play with right away, and something that will hopefully become a cherished keepsake commemorating their first birthday. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2014, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-a-one-year-old-boy-want-for-his-birthday-and-christmas/699045/12 "2014-09-20T22:08:48Z")
big plastic rattle. not a ping pong sized thing, a big one. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2014, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-a-one-year-old-boy-want-for-his-birthday-and-christmas/699045/13 "2014-09-20T22:13:27Z")
> [@even\_sven](#): > > A Babies R Us gift card. Chances are the kid has more toys than he can reasonably use and at this age “more” isn’t really better, but Mom and Dad would LOVE some extra flexibility when it comes to daily items. Either that or a savings bond for the college fund. > > (Sven, mother of a one year old.) Or Target or Walmart. Or just “hey, let me watch him for the night and here is a gift certificate for you to go out to dinner.” ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2014, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-a-one-year-old-boy-want-for-his-birthday-and-christmas/699045/14 "2014-09-20T22:39:21Z")
> [@Dangerosa](#): > > Or Target or Walmart. > > Or just “hey, let me watch him for the night and here is a gift certificate for you to go out to dinner.” Having survived the one-year-old phase twice, I can’t tell you what a real gift this would be. Toys are cheap, passive and plentiful. But a day or evening to take a break from being a parent at that point is priceless. ---
**Author:** ![DingoelGringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9d8465/32.png) [@DingoelGringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DingoelGringo)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2014, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-a-one-year-old-boy-want-for-his-birthday-and-christmas/699045/15 "2014-09-20T22:44:02Z")
Kids that young have no concept of Birthday and Christmas, thus no desire for anything beyond eating and being cared for and a dry diaper. Now what the parents might expect from you could be determined by asking what you asked here. ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2014, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-a-one-year-old-boy-want-for-his-birthday-and-christmas/699045/16 "2014-09-20T23:12:59Z")
I’m gonna go out of the box here by giving you a straightforward answer… One year old is prime time for Fisher Price Little People. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2014, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-a-one-year-old-boy-want-for-his-birthday-and-christmas/699045/17 "2014-09-20T23:13:16Z")
> [@cmyk](#): > > Having survived the one-year-old phase twice, I can’t tell you what a real gift this would be. > > Toys are cheap, passive and plentiful. But a day or evening to take a break from being a parent at that point is priceless. And if you aren’t up for watching the tot for a whole evening - put Junior in the carseat, drop Mom and Dad off with some cash at a nearby bar, tell them to have a drink or two and you’ll pick them up in 90 minutes. Make sure you know how to get Junior in and out of the carseat - he’ll have to ride along. They won’t get so drunk that Mom or Dad won’t be able to change a diaper when they get home - and chances are good you can get 90 minutes without having to change it yourself. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2014, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-a-one-year-old-boy-want-for-his-birthday-and-christmas/699045/18 "2014-09-20T23:31:39Z")
an empty box and some crumpled paper, plus a $100 bond he can use for beer money when he turns 21. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2014, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-a-one-year-old-boy-want-for-his-birthday-and-christmas/699045/19 "2014-09-20T23:41:51Z")
If the parents are awesome people, then…a box of Kleenex. Make sure it’s the pop-up kind, so after you get him started, he’ll pull one out and…there’s another there! And so he pulls that one out and…hey! And so he pulls that one out and…WTF?! Hilarious. Educational. Cheap. Finite lifespan with no lingering clutter. Best 12 month present ever. (If his parents wouldn’t appreciate it, then a gift card. Yawn.) ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2014, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-a-one-year-old-boy-want-for-his-birthday-and-christmas/699045/20 "2014-09-20T23:51:46Z")
What WhyNot said. Tell the parents to have a camera ready to capture the kids delight at pulling out the damn things. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-a-one-year-old-boy-want-for-his-birthday-and-christmas/699045.md?page=2)