Gift Ideas for the Baby’s First Birthday

Sooo, my little one has turned a year old! And as I observed from some of my friends, they’re wondering what kind of gifts to give to a baby who has just turned a year old. And so without further ado, here are some gift ideas that would hopefully help you in this oh-so-important task (because come on! It’s their first birthday you guys!).

1. Traditional costume – this maybe because of my intercultural family (I’m a Filipino Malaysian and my spouse is Singaporean Malaysian), but I definitely appreciated the traditional costume that my brother in law gave for our little one. It makes for a good photo-taking attire, and gives you that sense of pride and groundedness to see your child have that sort of connectedness to their original roots, even if it’s just through their attire (and even if they ruin it in like 5 minutes with their saliva, food crumbs or whatnot).

2. Baby food (Food pouches/baby biscuits/cereal) – For my baby, this is definitely something that he was drawn to during the gift opening since it’s familiar to him and he knows exactly what to do with it (i.e.stuff it in their mouth). And for all human beings, food is most of the time the way to their hearts, whether you’re a baby or not 😂. It’s a practical gift as well that all babies need. Just double-check with the parents on their favorite food/snack, whether the baby has a preference for something else, or has an allergy to certain foods.

3. Lactation cookies for mums – in case your momma friend still intends to breastfeed your baby, this is definitely something that will make the baby happier in the long run. More milk means a happier baby right? So if you have a certain talent in the kitchen, whip up some of these goodies and help your momma friend boost her milk supply.

4. Shoes – This gift idea is on a case-to-case basis as each baby has its own developmental timeline, seeing as not all babies can really walk by this age. But seeing as I’m banking on the idea that they’ll eventually be walking, I thought that I might as well add this to the list. Bonus tip: Choose lightweight, easy-to-slip-on shoes (or at least those that won’t fall off easily), and those that have anti-slip features. There are also available shoes/socks that are easier to wear and more comfortable for the baby.

5. Personalized indestructible storybook – I love all kinds of books for my little one, but if you need a recommendation on the kind of books that would help develop their love for reading, check out my blog post about it here. Another suggestion is if you’re a really close friend of the baby’s parents, create a storybook based on true-to-life photos of the baby, their parents, and even the parent’s family. Even with just these photos, it’ll help the baby develop a sense of recognition about their extended family.

And that’s a wrap! Just a disclaimer though, that these ideas are all based on my own personal opinion, and you’re free to take what you can get from these ideas. At the end of the day, you can simply ask the parent what it is they need for their little one. Or ask permission for the things you intend to buy them.

Also, if I may just add, do support small and local businesses if you can. Try searching for good second-hand stuff from thrift stores, Facebook marketplace, or Carousell. Baby paraphernalia is almost everywhere and sometimes, they’re not even used that often. Help make sustainable choices even when buying gifts.

That being said, at the end of the day, don’t stress yourself too much with the material stuff. Sometimes, the good and solid kind of friendship between you and the baby’s parents is more important than all this stuff. And sometimes, what a baby needs is just your love, attention, care, and respect. Give them these and you’ll be golden. Happy birthday to all the precious little ones 💛.