Any suggestions for a 1 year old gift, Mom does not care for new fangled plastic stuff that beeps and dings, she likes old school old fashioned things.
Books. Books and more books.
Contribution to a 529.
Duplo blocks - the plastic stuff that promotes motor skills and creativity without any annoying sounds. 
Wooden blocks are nice plus contribution to ed/college fund.
Haba brand wooden toys are great! You can find them on Amazon.
Nice ideas. I love wooden blocks!
We generally give books for babies/kids. I like the idea of a contribution to their college fund along with a book.
Books!
Here are some great titles that aren’t the usual Top 40. The ones with ** are great for the younger age group. The others are for older lap children, like maybe for next year!
**Happy Birthday, Moon – https://www.amazon.com/Happy-Birthday-Moon-Moonbear-Frank/dp/0613632931
Joseph had a little overcoat – https://www.amazon.com/Joseph-Little-Overcoat-Caldecott-Medal/dp/0670878553/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1487019947&sr=1-1-fkmr1&keywords=jacob+had+an+overcoat
**The Big Red Barn
https://www.amazon.com/Big-Barn-Margaret-Wise-Brown/dp/0694006246/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8
Click, Clack, Moo, Cows that Type
https://www.amazon.com/Click-Clack-Moo-Jan-01-06-Hardcover/dp/B007SLP88I/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1487020046&sr=1-2&keywords=click+clack+moo
**Three Ninja Pigs
https://www.amazon.com/Three-Ninja-Corey-Rosen-Schwartz/dp/0399255141/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1487020118&sr=1-1&keywords=ninja+pigs
**Freight Train
https://www.amazon.com/Freight-Train-Donald-Crews/dp/068880165X/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1487020139&sr=1-1
**Chicks Run Wild
https://www.amazon.com/Chicks-Bardhan-Quallen-Sudipta-January-Hardcover/dp/B014I84Q1I/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1487020185&sr=1-2&keywords=chicks+run+wild
**Sheep in a Jeep
https://www.amazon.com/Sheep-Jeep-board-book-Nancy/dp/0547338058/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1487020266&sr=1-1&keywords=sheep+in+jeep
**Chicka Chica Boom Boom
https://www.amazon.com/Chicka-Boom-Board-Book/dp/1442450703/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1487020291&sr=1-1&keywords=chicka+chicka+boom+boom
**Go Away Big Green Monster
https://www.amazon.com/Go-Away-Big-Green-Monster/dp/0316236535/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1487020319&sr=1-1&keywords=go+away+big+green+monster+book
**I am a Bunny
https://www.amazon.com/Am-Bunny-Golden-Sturdy-Book/dp/0375827781/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1487020965&sr=1-1&keywords=i+am+a+bunny
any books by Leo Lionni
https://www.amazon.com/Swimmy-Leo-Lionni/dp/0394826205/ref=pd_sim_14_38?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=ZK0M7WGF0PS7TW5WGVMA
Anything by Steig
https://www.amazon.com/Sylvester-Magic-Pebble-William-Steig/dp/1442435607/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1487020520&sr=1-1&keywords=sylvester+and+the+magic+pebble
Anything by Weisner
https://www.amazon.com/Tuesday-David-Wiesner/dp/0395870828/ref=pd_sim_14_28?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=XR3TDYQEHKTTMNJDK2TY
There are so many more works of art like this. So much fun!
Yes, to books. Also, wooden shape sorters and simple puzzles.
My kids loved things like this at that age:
http://www.radioflyer.com/classic-tiny-trike.html
http://www.radioflyer.com/classic-walker-wagon.html
How about a book with a stuffed animal to go with.
Curious George with a Curious George stuffed animal.
Cordoroy with a stuffed Cordoroy.
Peter Rabbit with a stuffed Peter (particularly good if the birthday is near Easter)
A Clifford book with a stuffed Clifford.
You get the idea.
Fun to add new book ideas, this kid already loves to read, he will pick up books and “read” them, making sounds as he turns the pages, a future CCer, no doubt
I had way too many baby books by the time they were one and they really were not ready for anything else book wise. I’d wait til about age 2 when they can really get into story books more.
I second the DUPLO suggestion. My kids got these for first birthdays and literally used them as toys up to age 8-9 and then used them for school projects through the end middle school (one was used to create a replica of the John Hancock building.)
At age one they can be used for stacking (much less frustrating than wooden blocks, but can still be knocked down) and can be built into so many fun things. Can’t recommend highly enough.
Thinking back to that time and I think my favorite gift was a Curious George book collection. (for my dd)
I bought a wooden little kids kitchen for my niece when she turned one in October. My brother said she loves it more than any of her other toys. I just remember all the years my two girls played in their little kitchen.
If the mom drives the tot around much, then Discovery Toys, “Sounds Like Learning” CD with learning card is amazing.
https://www.amazon.com/Sounds-Like-Learning-Discovery-Toys/dp/B00A3XT6GS
I had this when my kids were babes and they learned so much from this. I got their learning cards laminated so they’d stay nice.
(It was a cassette back then, no CD…Used to be called: sounds like fun)
You’d be surprised how much a young one can learn from sing-song learning methods.
And, it was soooo easy to teach my kids to read after this.
[QUOTE=""]
19 Quiet-time tunes loaded with fun learning! Supports emerging language and listening skills! Teaches about opposites, manners, alphabet awareness, counting skills, months of the year, Spanish, and more! Songs soothe while they teach! Lyric sheet included! Includes bonus “hidden letters” chart to promote phonemic awareness! Developed by early childhood educator Barbara Milne! From Birth. Made in the USA.
[/QUOTE]
Our grandson just turned 1 last week. His favorite things are: 1. Books!!!; 2. Sensory balls like the ones shown here
https://www.amazon.com/Edushape-705194-Small-Sensory-Balls/dp/B0052G1A38/ref=pd_lpo_75_tr_t_3?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=TXFSY847S5AFCPFF26KH. He LOVES these and spends hours carrying them, throwing them, etc.; 3. a plastic bin that he spends time climbing into and then back out of. It is just a plastic bin that I bought at Target to put sweaters away in my closet. It is about 10" deep and big enough for him with extra room for a few toys. I can’t tell you how much he loves the idea of climbing in and out of this bin with his sensory balls.
Picture books
Rocking horse
Wooden knob puzzles
Wagon
CDs of songs for little ones
Bath Toys
Toddler Swing that can be hung inside or out
Blocks
Duplo
Wooden shape sorter
Wooden nesting or stacking toy
Easel
Ride on Toy
Push/Walk type toy like doll stroller, lawn mower, shopping cart (with toy food), or similar
Wooden pull toy on string
A small indoor pop up playhouse/tent
Toddler musical instruments
Baby Doll
Small wooden toys like car, bus, plane or small wooden play food
Wooden Wire Maze (has wooden beads on it)
Toddler dish set
Hand puppets
Toddler sized wooden rocking chair (maybe with name on it)
Wooden knob puzzles.
The Fisher Price farm house with the Little People and little animals was a hit for some 1 year olds I know.
Fisher-Price toys in my experience are very well labeled for the ages they suggest.
Sometimes parents think their kid is “advanced”–eh, not so much when it comes to toys.
Stuffed animals can be a hit also.
Wait six months (18 months) and that clackety lawn mower which drives you nuts is great too.
Empty boxes. My kids didn’t care much for the actual presents, but loved all of those big boxes that came with those toys.