What is the most useful gift that your baby received on his/her first birthday?

My son is turning 1 on 4th July and some of my friends have asked me what he would like as a birthday gift. I dont know what to ask for. I dont want to ask for something very expensive at the same time, I want it to be useful. Can anyone help?








Also, I need ideas for a birthday cake.

What is the most useful gift that your baby received on his/her first birthday?
Ask for board books. My daughter got a ton of toys for her first birthday, but she only really still plays with the books she's got.





A little toddler sized chair would be great also. You don't need to get a table, you can just pull it up to your coffee table for play or they can just sit in it and flip trough books or play with toys.





Then there are the great old fashioned toys that they will play with forever-balls, cups, and blocks.
Reply:How about collecting him Mr Men books? People can then buy him one each birthday (you would need to keep a list of what he had and didn't have)? Start a savings account for him? Birthday cake - I would have thought anything covered in bright colours and with chocolate would go down well...
Reply:Savings Bonds or contribution to his 529 plan.





For the cake i suggest getting 2 a small one for him and one for everyone else (learned this after my first). Let the little man go to town on his and get lots of pics
Reply:CA$H !
Reply:For my daughter's 1st b-day (last July), I had a baker make a cake in the shape of a "1", she put little pink flowers and pearls on it, it looked amazing! (They have other designs I'm sure, for a boy), It was not a cheap cake but it was worth it I think.


As far as toys go, just think of what your son likes, does he pay attention to any certain characters (my daughter was obsessed w/ Elmo at that age). Have you stocked up on sippy cups? How about a small infant pool for the backyard, they're super cheap.
Reply:Pray for your baby for The Almighty to protect, guide and give him/her good health and a happy life in this world .
Reply:we opened our son a savings account for college! when people asked what he needed i told them they could go to the bank and deposit money into his account for his college fund! then they just put the deposit slip in his birthday card! it was a huge hit and now he has started saving!
Reply:hi





I think you can give them oil painting from their photo means turn their photo in oil painting it will create nice impression on them.





Capture that special moment.turn it into a masterpiece that will last forever!





i suggest u to look at this site i think it will help u,





A great idea for a personal and unique gift is a handmade painting made from a photo that you send.





Check out this site: http://www.portrait2000.com


They have many samples here http://www.portrait2000.com/samples.htm





The prices are reasonable and the outcome is amazing.
Reply:They love to look at books w/bright colors. My daughter has one by Dr. Suess I believe that has lots of bright colors and it's about feelings. I'll have to see if I can find the name of it and get back to you, but I believe it's called My Many Colored Days. There are also lots of classic books they can get like Goodnight Moon, The Cat in the Hat, Guess How Much I Love You, and Pat the Bunny. You just want to make sure they are hard books w/o paper pages so he can't rip them.





When my daughter turned a year old, 3 1/2 yrs ago, she already had a fav character. She loved Rolie Polie Olie. So we went to the Disney Store or wherever and found thing with the characters from it.





What may be useful in the future are savings bonds. They will mature as he grows and can be used for his continuing education or whatever you choose.
Reply:The most useful gifts my son received for his 1st birthday included savings bonds and gift cards to Babies R Us/Target and clothes stores. I would never offer up suggestions unless someone has asked, and since you have people asking, you should not feel funny to tell them. also, these gifts allow them to spend any amount they feel comfortable with while also giving your son something he actually needs.








As far as the cake, at one year old, my son was still a bit young to have a favorite character, so I did a cake with his picture on it (most cake places can do this), and it was absolutely precious. As far as fillings, I would try to get something that the majority of the people who will be eating it would like. I did ice cream cake, and it went over well, since there are usually not many people who don't like ice cream!
Reply:My son will be two in August but he still loves his toys he recieved on his first birthday:





Parents Be-Bop Band (A drum with musical Instruments inside)





Parents around the block walker (walker with two conparentments of storage (3 different sizes blocks include soft/fabric touch, rubber and wooden about 36 blocks total)





Large plush "Thomas" high back chair





Ride On car (more to push than ride)





Rocking horse





Carboard blocks





Talking/ Musical Phone





Musical and Flip up Books





Large Knob puzzles





ANYTHING Little People





Swing





oh, and Plenty of soft Bath Toys (ones that squirt are fun)





and of course, Clothes are useful presents too...





Best Wishes!