It’s official, my baby is turning ONE at the start of March. I’m not too sure where this first year went, but I cannot believe how quickly it flew by. As we gear up for her first birthday, there is a lot on the horizon for our family; not only will she be on the move and taking less naps, but for the time being we are moving and downsizing our home. For us, this means we don’t need (and physically cannot store) a never-ending supply of toys. However, if I’m being honest, I think most parents would agree that we’re sick of the endless supply of toys. I am a firm believer that children experience life best when they are able to experience new things, engage in creative/ imaginative play, and are not being constantly stimulated by loud, light-up toys. With that being said, these are the top things on my daughter’s wishlist for her first birthday. 

Kids Bicycle Trailer (and helmet, of course!)

Part of our motivation to downsize is the location of our new home, in a beautiful park set on the lake. I can’t even begin to explain how excited we are for the weather to get warmer and to get out of the house. Even more exciting, we can finally ride bikes on the path around the lake! Of course, we want to take our baby with us so she can get some fresh air and see her parents being active. 

On-the-go Eating Necessities

Picnics at the park? Yes, please. While any of these would be great options for a nice little stroll at the park, lately it feels like we’re always on the go. Visiting family, doctor’s appointments, grocery store trips, the list goes on. On-the-go necessities for snacking simply never crossed my mind when creating my baby registry. Even if it did, I don’t think I would’ve received these items anyway as they’re more “toddler” items as opposed to “new baby”, no matter how essential they are.

At-Home Helper

Toddlers are always interested in what you’re doing. If your baby is anything like mine, she is glued to my hip and I don’t see that changing anytime soon (nor do I want it to). While the crying when I leave a room gets a tad exhausting, I’m glad that she always wants to be with me. As someone who loves to cook and bake, I welcome her help. Sure it may take twice as long, but isn’t teaching her and letting her be involved the whole point of being a parent? A safe step-up stool is definitely a necessity for us, as well as some toddler-safe cooking utensils  (and a cute little apron, of course!). 

Summer Essentials

I had to include all of these because they are certainly our top essential items for this summer. Up first, Solar Buddies. I have yet to try these, but the concept could not be any more convenient. Grab your favorite sunscreen and turn it into a roll-on model. No more forcing your kids to stay put while you try to reapply sunscreen onto their wet skin. Next on the list is a gift my daughter has already received and we are so excited to use, an on-the-go camping chair WITH a tray. Last summer, I watched my nephew stain an absurd amount of towels at the pool while my sister-in-law balanced 3 different trays of food on a single lounger and I can confirm, it did not look fun. As a family that loves to camp and travel, this one was a no brainer for all the times we just simply don’t have access to a high chair. Finally, a safety essential, a life jacket. Please, do your research on all flotation devices to keep your child as safe as possible. The lifejacket pictures is US Coast Guard approved.

Sensory Play

As a family that is downsizing, but really values hands-on play these are two items we are really excited about. The first has endless possibilities as a play mat/pit that you can fill with balls, sand, flour, and more. It is easy to clean and, as a family with limited space, can easily be put away. I am also obsessed with this table and if it ends up not being purchased, I will be buying it myself. This table is multi-functioning and can double as a normal, flat-top kids table that they can play and eat at. As a family in a small home, anything that has multiple uses is a WIN for us.

Anything in a Larger Size

One of the best pieces of advice I received while I was pregnant, and that I still stand by, is do NOT register for too many clothes and especially don’t register for clothes in larger sizes. Babies grow at all different rates and come in all shapes and sizes. My friend has twins that were born just 5 days after my daughter that are short and chunky (we love those rolls!) while my daughter is long and lean; seriously, she has like 3 inches on each of them, but weighs less. Her pant size right now is simply weird because while she could currently wear pants that are 18 month or 24 month, she’ll drop down to 12 month and 18 month in the summer because pants won’t matter. All this to simply say, you don’t know how your baby will grow, so planning for seasons that far out is simply impossible. However, once you get to these ages, you simply have no clothes and have no choice but to shop. Now is the perfect time to ask for some clothes, diapers, shoes, etc. that are those larger sizes that you love.