The first birthday is a real milestone that calls for presents. But beware, before you know it, you and your one-year-old will be up to the armpits in toys. And then this is only birthday number one... So you better get off to a good start. So what are the best sustainable birthday gifts for a first birthday? Luckily, we're getting help from followers of thegreenlist.nl who shared their gift tips en masse. Using their tips, we compiled a list of sustainable gifts that are fun for the birthday toddler, parents and the planet.
Durable birthday gifts for the first year
A toddler likes everything. One tip that was given is that it can therefore do no harm to let birthday visitors know in advance what you prefer to get and what not. Grandpas and grandmas in particular sometimes need to be managed a bit, they have a habit of arriving with plastic stuff and life-size cuddly toys at a child's birthday and that, of course, is anything but sustainable. As far as I'm concerned, this is a first golden tip before we dive into the cutest sustainable birthday gifts for a first birthday!
Balance bikes, sand toys made of recycled plastic and wax crayons: they pass below as gift ideas for a first birthday.
Give beautiful wooden toys
Very much mentioned as a sustainable gift tip for a toddler: wooden animals. And rightly so, animals are always fun and good for years of playtime fun. The handmade wooden animals from Holtziger and Ostheimer are nice and thick and therefore easy for little ones to hold. The paint is water-based and child-friendly, so no problem if another elephant disappears into the mouth. You buy the animals separately, so you can expand the farm, ark or jungle to your heart's content (read: put them on your wish list for next year).
Also beautiful wood
- Grimm's rainbow is a real eye-catcher in the children's room, but of course it is even more fun to take all the arches apart and play with them.
- Wooden blocks with sound, super cool!
- Wooden button puzzle From Goki.
- A stacking tower is good for hours of entertainment. You have them your in all colours and shapes, like this one from Mushie.
Give responsible and beautiful plastic toys
Toys made of plastic are okay, as long as they are responsible, from recycled materials for example. Green Toys has a huge collection of toys made from 100% recycled milk bottles. From tea sets to submarines to shape sets, for indoors, outdoors and in the bath; you really can do anything with them. The toys from Zsilt is derived from household plastic waste from the Netherlands. This plastic is food-safe and thus extremely suitable for toys. Zsilt makes toys for the beach or sandbox. So with their buckets and shovels, you only have responsible plastic on the beach. If you ask me, this is a super cute sustainable gift tip for a one-year-old!
Balancing, climbing and scrambling
A toddler starts discovering the world and lying or sitting quietly on his lap or in the playpen is no longer an option. A sturdy indoor playground is therefore a good investment. A Wobbel was often tipped. This balance board invites discovery and will last for years. For annuals, it is best to choose the Original (comes without and with felt). For climbers and scramblers are Ette Tette's natural wood indoor climbing frames really fantastic (see photo below). They look beautiful, but are also really good for motor skills and learning and pushing boundaries. You can change the shape of the climbing frame and there is also a slide (sold separately) to match. And finally, the perhaps superfluous tip: always stay with your child when they are playing with Wobbels or climbing frames.
Sustainable birthday gift for a one-year-old: a climbing frame from Ette Tette that they will enjoy for years.
Give a walker or balance bike as a gift to a toddler
Once a toddler takes his first steps, there is no stopping him. A sturdy walker or durable balance bike is then a really nice gift. It was also often tipped. There are many types, sizes, colours and materials. Here are a few beautiful and durable options.
- Walkers are useful for learning to walk, but full of birds or with blocks they are also ideal for playing with.
- A ladybird, a mouse or a tiger, Wheelybug runners last a long time and come in all kinds of varieties.
- You can buy wooden balance bikes directly with two wheels, but you also have variants that you easily change from a tricycle to a two-wheeler when a child is ready. Ideal! Nice solid brands are Kinderfeets, Bandits & Angels and Wishbonebike.
Give a subscription to KIDDOS Toys Club as a gift
Toys, but not a full house. That sounds ideal, right? KIDDOS Toys Club is the Netherlands' first circular toy club. Every two months, you will receive a bag with four toys, all sustainable and adapted to your child's age. Which toys are included is discussed with you in advance, so you can always change something. After two months, the toys are exchanged for - professionally cleaned - new toys. There is already a subscription from €22.95 per month. It seems hugely convenient to me; your child happy with new toys every two months, no extra stuff in the house and a great opportunity to try out things (like the Wobbel). Besides sustainable, I find this gift idea especially original!
Give a subscription to OERRR as a gift
OERRR is Natuurmonumenten's youth programme. And you can't really start that early enough. With OERRR children discover nature in all its forms; from playing in the forest to helping nature and animals. There is a membership from two a month and OERRR offers programmes for all ages. Perhaps your toddler is still a little too small to actively participate, but this is still a great introduction to Dutch nature and nature playgrounds. Also nice for a family with more children: give a family membership (from €7.50 per month).
Give a lesson as a gift
What's not to do with a toddler? Google what there is to do in the neighbourhood and give a class or strip card as a gift. I think this is a really awesome idea, spending some quality time with your child.
Set of washable nappies from Nappys and a wobble with (Grimm) rainbow.
More sustainable birthday gifts for annuals
- A washable swim nappy in a nice colour or a set of washable nappies In a beautiful print.
- Fun feel and flap books or a nice read-aloud book, always good!
- A lot of places have a toy library. With a membership, you can borrow toys for a year. Ideal for discovering all kinds of things.
- Visiting a birthday toddler: give a homemade voucher for an afternoon babysitting and going to the petting zoo or swimming once.
- For the first works of art: wax crayons from Playon Crayon. Beautiful colours and easy to hold due to the spherical shape.
- Second-hand toys are also, of course, a sustainable birthday gift for a first birthday. Thrift shops and Marktplaats are bulging with baby toys. Nice things to look for: Duplo, wooden blocks or animals, walker, kitchenette, tricycle, cash register, doll's house, Grimm's rainbow, wheelybug or climbing frame.
More inspiration for a sustainable children's birthday
Of course, you also want to dress up the first birthday as beautifully and sustainably as possible. So be sure to take a look: Sustainable birthday: here's how to make it a green party In this article, read all about fabric garlands made from recycled materials, zero waste wrapping paper and confetti. That's going to be a sparkling party!
More kid tips from thegreenlist.nl?
- Also see: second-hand gifts for birthday kids: here's how to do it!
- Also see: sustainable gift ideas for a second birthday!
- Also see: This is how to furnish a children's room sustainably and cost-consciously.
- Also see: sustainable children's toothpaste test.
Photo credits: Pixabay, Bandits & Angels, Zsilt, Playon Crayon, PNW Production (Pexels), Nappys, Wobbel, Ette Tette.
