Best First Birthday Gifts: Toys and More for 1-Year-Olds

Toys make perfect first birthday gifts for budding toddlers! But which ones? We've got you covered.

If you're looking for some fabulous first birthday gifts for a special child in your life, check out our ultimate gift guide for 1-year-olds.

A child's first birthday is a big milestone, and often comes with plastic gifts that delight kids for all of 5 minutes, and then clutter the house up before becoming landfill. To avoid that fate, we've rounded up the most amazing first birthday gift ideas that will delight any 1-year-old—and their parents!—for a very long time.

Naturally, toys make some of the best first birthday gifts. The best toys for 1-year-olds foster sensory exploration and help develop fine and gross motor skills. Open-ended toys that can be played with in different ways as kids grow, such as building blocks, are the #1 gift among the parents at Mommy Poppins.

But of course, you don't have to stick with toys. On our list of the most beloved first birthday gifts we've included books, clothing, furniture, and other unique suggestions that delight kids and parents.

Check out our Guide to Kids' Birthday Parties for more fun ways to celebrate, including tips for planning an at-home birthday party and great birthday cake ideas. And if you're looking for gifts for kids older than a year old, the Mommy Poppins Gift Guide for Birthdays and Holidays is literally your one-stop shop!

Historic Hudson Valley Expands Tour Offerings for Summer Visitors

There are even more opportunities to explore the Hudson Valley history this summer at Phillipsburg Manor and beyond. Photo courtesy of Historic Hudson Valley

If your summer travels take you to the Hudson Valley, make note: The Historic Hudson Valley is extending tour hours for its collection of properties that allow locals and tourists alike to get a glimpse into the region's past. Whether you decide to visit the grand Kykuit estate of the Rockefellers, dive into local lore at Sleepy Hollow, explore the working farm at Phillipsburg Manor, or take in the glorious stained glass masterpieces at Union Church of Pocantico Hills, there's no time like the present.

Read on for details on how to visit these historic properties, and find more fun things to do on our list of the best things to do in the Hudson Valley with kids.

Rockefeller Studios Brings The Eric Carle Story Show to NYC; Readers Get First Access to Tickets

The Eric Carle Story brings a new batch of beloved children's books to the stage in NYC. Photo courtesy of Rockefeller Productions

Kid-lit lovers take note: The Eric Carle Story Show is coming to NYC next month, and Mommy Poppins has the exclusive details on how to nab tickets to this latest page-to-stage adaptation that's a perfect first theatergoing experience for tots to preschoolers. The puppet-powered performance is produced by Jonathan Rockefeller, the creative force behind the very popular and colorful adaptation of Carle's most famous story: The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show.

The Eric Carle Story Show debuts Sunday, August 13, and is sure to be a hot ticket for the toddler set. Be sure to bookmark our Guide to Children's Theater for more stories like this.

Family-Friendly Breweries in New Jersey Where Kids are Welcome

Lone Eagle Brewery has a covered outdoor space. Photo from Olivia Zengal

Family-friendly breweries in New Jersey are great places to visit if you love trying different beers, or if you can't find a babysitter but still want an afternoon out. 

My first suggestion for maximum fun would be to aim for a brewery with outdoor seating (bonus if it is fenced!) or one that has a large indoor area like a warehouse. Kids are loud, and they seem louder indoors. We like to go to breweries that have entertainment for the kids, like a chalkboard, corn hole, a large outdoor connect four, or, if indoors, something like board games.

Many breweries allow you to bring food in, so you can bring your own drinks and snacks or come armed with takeout–although the ones that serve food don't generally allow you to bring food in. Finally, make sure your kids are having fun in a responsible manner, especially since in many breweries people are walking around with glasses in their hands.

Check out our stories on Family-Friendly Beer Gardens in New Jersey or Family-Friendly Vineyards and Wineries in New Jersey if wine is more your jam. And our Family-Friendly New Jersey Restaurant Guide has lots more ideas for dining out with the whole family in New Jersey. 

18 Cool Hotel Pools in and Around NYC for Family Vacations

Kids will flip for the expansive pool at Mohonk Mountain House, while parents relish its relaxing, spa-like surroundings.

Hotel pools can elevate any family vacation, particularly when they are full of standout features, like a stunning view or thrilling water slide. As you plan your summer travels, curb the are-we-there-yet chants with the promise of a dip in one of these ultra-cool hotel pools.

We’ve rounded up 18 family-friendly hotels in New York state with fun hotel pools ready to welcome visitors. Whether you’re planning an urban vacation, a trip to Long Island's East End, or a weekend of Hudson Valley explorations, we’ve got a pick for you.

100 Things To Do in Westchester and the Hudson Valley Before Kids Grow Up

Tour the Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze, an annual rite of fall. Courtesy Historic Hudson Valley

Check out these iconic things to do in Westchester and the Hudson Valley with kids—including attractions, events, activities, museums, and more—that everyone growing up in the area really must experience!

Westchester and the Hudson Valley offer a slew of family-friendly activities that add to its allure as a great place to raise kids or a day trip destination for nearby families. While some of these are well-known, iconic events, like the Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze, or seasonal staples, like Rye Playland, the region also boasts many lesser-known attractions. Whether you’ve recently moved to the area or have been living here for years, we’ve got a long list of the best things to do in the region with kids.

This list of 100 things to do in Westchester and Hudson Valley with kids before they grow up includes annual festivals, opulent mansion tours, holiday extravaganzas, essential delicacies, seasonal destinations, and more. We’ve done our homework, so you don’t have to! Some are seasonal, some are year-round—and all are worth trying!

Once you've checked these off, expand your horizons with our list of 100 Things To Do in New York State.

100 Things To Do in Connecticut Before Kids Grow Up

Our ultimate family bucket list has all the things to do in Connecticut before kids grow up. Photo courtesy of Lake Compounce

With so many fun things to do in Connecticut, local kids are really lucky! And Moms and Dads will be pleased to find lots of kid-friendly museums, cultural centers, orchards, beaches, trains and lots of history. We've created a list of 100 things to do in Connecticut with kids before they grow up. Even if you do just one thing a month, you have years of ideas to work with! We hope this list inspires you to experience why Connecticut is a great place to raise kids.

And don't forget to check out our guides: museums, indoor play, daytrips, and more on our homepage. Enjoy, and have fun creating wonderful memories for you and your children!

100 Things To Do on Long Island Before Kids Grow Up

Learn to surf at Montauk's SurfLuca or another surf school. Photo courtesy of the school.

Check out these iconic things to do in Long Island with kids—including attractions, events, activities, museums, and more—that everyone growing up in the area really must experience!

We are fortunate in so many ways to live on Long Island. In what other region of the country can you pack your kids up for a morning train ride to Manhattan, then whisk them off later to one of the Hamptons’ most enviable beaches?

From Nassau County to Suffolk County and all the way to the East End, Long Island has creative play spaces, wonderful children's museums, farmstands ripe with flavor, great parks and playgrounds, over-the-top seasonal celebrations, and even amusement and water park fun. And that’s just the beginning.

With four seasons' worth of fun in our backyard, how do you pick 100 activities every family on Long Island must experience? Well, it’s not scientific. We have no algorithms to determine them for us. Instead, we rely on you, our Mommy Poppins Long Island enthusiasts, as well as our parent-strong team of local writers, to keep us informed. So let's not belabor this introduction; here is our childhood bucket list for Long Island kids.

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