So you are the good friend or family member of a person whose child is celebrating their first birthday. You want a gift that’s out of the “box” because God knows that kid has a living room full of stuffed animals and a closet that would put any fashion diva or hotel heiress to shame. Here are some gift ideas for the little diva that she’ll feel good about gifting with and the parents will really enjoy receiving.

Bedroom accessories

I know it was my case that my girls were ready to get out of their cribs and into their “big girl” beds shortly after their first birthday. I suggest contributing to the decor with something practical and not too fancy like a Princess sheet set or a lamp (princess themed of course). Always a hit is a custom tapestry, remember it doesn’t have to be anything huge and removable decals can be the best. Be sure to check with parents on this topic so that color and item selection is appropriate.

Books

You may have mixed feelings about this, but I found my kids loved it when I read to them. I enjoyed when I took one of his books off the shelf and someone had written “from the Smiths, happy first birthday.” It made me feel warm and fuzzy inside. Board books are ideal for this age because she can handle them herself without less risk of page breakage. My one-year-olds also liked interactive books where they could flip the flaps or pull the tabs to reveal “surprises.” Some books that I enjoyed reading to my girls include: Gently pat them goodnight moon runaway bunny I’ll love you forever tickle my toes and where the wild things are.

Toy storage

Stick with a toy shelf or toy bins. I like these better than the toy box that has been filled with things on top and no one knows what is really at the bottom. I bought a shelf with containers not long ago from Toys-R-Us for under $ 50. You can also look online for the containers in pastel or primary colors that match the room’s décor.

Seasonal items

Now I know this may sound strange, but I like to buy a raincoat, umbrella, and / or rain boots for summer birthdays. Keep in mind that you want to buy a size larger than what they currently have and hopefully you will get more than one rainy season. Western Chief makes a full line of themed rainwear that is affordable and well made (I got mine from Amazon.com).

Remember to buy items for the next season. For a winter / spring birthday I suggest a bathing suit, a bath diaper pack, a swim vest or float ring, and sunscreen. Personally, I have mixed feelings about swimwear. More conservative one-pieces offer completely more coverage from the sun, but I like the little bikinis because they are cute and easy to change from swim diapers. I recommend that you put on a cover-up if you go the bikini route.

For my fall birthdays, I like to check with parents and see if they need boots or hats and gloves (I live in Michigan; we never have enough gloves). Use mittens instead of gloves for any child under the age of three, and hats for a one-year-old should be tied or Velcro® under the chin if you ever want to keep them on. My personal preference in hats is the brightest or crazy color pattern that is easier for my son to spot. One of my sons has a hippo hat, another has a highlighter yellow furry hat, and the last one has a pink and purple zebra print.

Personalized photo gift

One of my friends made a scrapbook for my daughter in her first year. Unbeknownst to me, she used some of her own photos from the outings we did together and then added a bunch of my own Facebook photos. I was so deeply moved. My niece also received a photo collage photo frame from her freshman year which was a huge success. There are several photo printing sites online and you can print and pick up most paper collages and posters at large drug store chains with photo services, either same day or next day.

Place settings

I know, it sounds silly, but my kids loved having their own plate, cup, and bowl. He always seemed to be losing the matching silverware. Make it more special by getting the child’s favorite character or color. If you really want this to be a parent favorite; Find one that is not only dishwasher safe but microwave safe as well. Before you spend hours searching for the perfect set, let me share with you that almost every kid’s favorite character set will come in melamine, which is not microwave safe. If you’re searching as microwave-safe and BPA-free keywords, there may be more as the movement for safer materials continues. One of the best I’ve found so far is Philips AVENT BPA-free toddler plates.

That’s all folks, at least for now. Hopefully you find something for the little princess that is of much use and also a big smile from mom and dad!