At 1, a boy wants toys for standing up, pushing, pulling and emptying: a pull-along sheep, a fire engine that rolls at his height, a wooden rocking animal, a set of soft balls and cubes, a touch-and-feel picture book. The gifts that work answer a simple gesture and survive being chewed, thrown and picked up again.

What a 1-year-old loves

Between 12 and 24 months everything changes: he stands, then walks, and the world becomes a field for experiments. He opens, closes, empties, fills, stacks two cubes and knocks them down with delight. He starts naming what he sees, points, asks for the same book ten times. He loves sounds he triggers himself, objects that roll and can be followed, and soft toys he squeezes to fall asleep. Toys must have no small parts, be washable, and be heavy enough not to fly away.

Our gift ideas

To walk and push

The pull-along sheep follows his first steps, and the Maileg pull-along car does the same in miniature. The Pukylino is a first four-wheeled ride-on, stable, for legs that are starting to push. See our baby toys.

To rock and climb

The Hop rabbit rocker and the Diplododo dinosaur rocker are wooden toys that serve from 1 to 4, then stay in the bedroom. The grandparents' gift par excellence.

To grab, chew and shake

The Sophie la girafe balls and cubes set is soft, light and dishwasher safe. The Tummy Time balls roll slowly, the Lullaby friends mouse rattle fits a small hand, and the clownfish water bubble holds the gaze for a long time.

To roll

The Little Fire Truck and the wind-up planes set are his first vehicles, with no part that comes off. See our cars, boats and planes.

To look and listen

My big touch-and-feel animal book and the Père Castor giant picture book are read with a finger. The Vehicles cloth book crinkles and gets chewed, the panda music box goes with bedtime. All our books and our music section.

To cuddle

Bartholomew the bear in his sailor outfit is a bedtime companion for years, the Méloé rabbit is made in Brittany, and the penguin or ostrich hand puppets get the parents talking. All our soft toys.

What budget?

Under 20 euros: the wind-up planes, the fire truck, the rattles, the mini Bunny rabbit or the dinosaur night light. Between 20 and 50 euros: the picture books, the lion cape, the Maileg pull-along car, the puppets and the medium soft toys. Above 50 euros: the pull-along sheep, the Pukylino, Bartholomew the bear or a wooden rocker, for a first birthday that leaves a mark.

Frequently asked questions

Which toys to avoid at 1?

Anything with parts under 3 centimetres, long cords or accessible batteries. Check the age mark on the box: "not suitable for under 3" means the toy will wait. Every toy on this page is suitable from 12 months or earlier.

Soft toy or activity toy?

Both, but not at the same time of day. The activity toy fills floor-play time, the soft toy goes with sleep. At 1, a child often picks a lifelong comforter: giving a soft, washable plush is taking that chance with him.

Can the gift be wrapped?

Yes, gift wrapping is free: tick the box on the product page before adding to cart. Delivery to a pick-up point is free from 80 euros in mainland France, and you can collect your order in our shop at 211 boulevard Saint-Germain, Paris.

See also

• Gifts for a 1-year-old girl
• Newborn gifts, 0 to 12 months
• Gifts for a 2-year-old boy
• All toys for ages 1 to 2
• All our gift ideas by age

Advice from the team at L'Oiseau de Paradis, a toy shop in Paris since 1932.