First birthday present

Books!

Shirley Hughes books, the Gruffalo etc, The Hungry Caterpillar or any other Eric Carle books.

Might have to get my sister to have a look to see what he already has next time she is there! I agree, books are great, I just don't want to duplicate anything.

How about a "book token" and a box (tub) of Haribos? Good and bad in one fell swoop. He is a great nephew after all so there is some leeway!!

No , don't do a Book Token ......... my GC had loads of them from my sister that were never cashed ! , better a big colourful book , or one of those boxes of tiny books

Haribos at 12 mths seems a very bad idea to me. A few choc buttons as a treat maybe but Haribos are hard and chewy with a choking risk.
I think it would be good if it was something he can keep apart from books (good idea). What about a money box.

My suggestion = an apple tree. All 3 of my DGC were given them as a gift when they were 1 and able to 'help' with the planting. Now so proud of their tree and sharing its apples.

Special dish to eat out of or children's cutlery?

I bought 4yr old DGS1 his pantomime ticket as his Christmas present. It was difficult to know what to get.

As for the toddler DGS2 I have no idea. He has enough toys to play with and anyway and he always wants to play with whatever his big brother happens to be playing with.

I would stick some money in a savings account set up by his parents unless there is something he really needs. Speak to his parents.
Then a wrapped box he can enjoy tearing the paper off and playing at putting the bricks in the box and then pouring them out again.

I'm with you Nellie - a savings account (which solves all present dilemmas for years to come) and a wrapped up empty box. The first is practical and much longer lasting than anything else and the second is original !!

Thanks for the ideas ladies. I love the idea of an empty box but I can't see that going down too well with the rest of the family

I still have a little while so will continue to look around. It's so difficult to come up with something unique these days - young parents all have so many friends and extended family buying for them, plus they buy whenever they see things, it doesn't leave a lot for the rest of us to get.

You can't go wrong with Lego Duplo. Even at a year old, the colours will appeal to the child and it's not quite as painful under foot as the small stuff. Even if other people bring a similar gift, it can all form the basis of a collection.

How about a nicely bound copy of Walter de la Mare's Poems for Children? Children like the sound of poetry even before they understand what it's all about and poems are with you for ever.

Haribos are not for one year olds more for older children (if allowed) so would steer clear of those.

As it is winter now how about a warm one suit? Padded of course so nice and snug.

My son has a one year old and they are very fussy about what he eats. Play safe and don't go there.

Toys are ok if they are educational like fitting shapes in to holes. Make sure whatever you get will not choke little ones. This little boy likes colourful cardboard books or you can also get bath toys which are nice. Something with textures or sounds is perfect too.

We got photo shoot vouchers for our children from my aunt, which included a framed 8x10 print.

Some ideas from Amazon for you:

www.amazon.co.uk/Vaenait-Toddler-Sleep-Blanket-Sleepsack/dp/B00N1LTKJW/ref=sr_1_2?s=clothing&ie=UTF8&qid=1478606016&sr=1-2&keywords=babies+snowsuit

Toys:

www.amazon.co.uk/d/Educational-Toys/WINWINTOM-10Pcs-Animal-Finger-Puppet-Plush/B01M0XK98E/ref=sr_1_6?s=kids&ie=UTF8&qid=1478604787&sr=1-6&keywords=best+toys+for+1+year+olds

www.amazon.co.uk/Education-Intelligence-Development-Picture-Cognize/dp/B01MPWER9M/ref=sr_1_74?s=kids&ie=UTF8&qid=1478605102&sr=1-74&keywords=best+toys+for+1+year+olds

www.amazon.co.uk/Education-Fortan-Cartoon-Smile-Developmental/dp/B01M5DFR6C/ref=sr_1_76?s=kids&ie=UTF8&qid=1478605142&sr=1-76&keywords=best+toys+for+1+year+olds

www.amazon.co.uk/Picture-Cognize-Books-Yistu-Animals-x/dp/B01MDT4T7E/ref=sr_1_155?s=kids&ie=UTF8&qid=1478605324&sr=1-155&keywords=best+toys+for+1+year+olds

www.amazon.co.uk/HuntGold-Non-Toxic-Discovery-Educational-Stacking/dp/B00IRSTP6C/ref=sr_1_162?s=kids&ie=UTF8&qid=1478605364&sr=1-162&keywords=best+toys+for+1+year+olds

www.amazon.co.uk/d/Baby-Toddler-Toys/Education-Xylophone-Musical-Development-Penguin-Blue/B01ELB7WJK/ref=sr_1_208?s=kids&ie=UTF8&qid=1478605477&sr=1-208&keywords=best+toys+for+1+year+olds

www.amazon.co.uk/Education-Fortan-Toddler-Wheels-Educational/dp/B01G8URCBA/ref=sr_1_219?s=kids&ie=UTF8&qid=1478605559&sr=1-219&keywords=best+toys+for+1+year+olds

A book is lovely and a first edition of something can be an investment. Wish I had hung on to the Harry Potters we had.

A drum is ideal if you don't care very much for the parents or a trumpet............

We got our DGD a family membership in the local wildlife park. She goes free till age 2, but it takes care of her parents for a year.

Books are always a good idea even if they are "too old" for now, if they are classics they are lovely to keep, children's verse sounds a good idea. Difficult I know, love the idea of a drum.....

Books, or perhaps a Premium Bond.
You can "rent" fruit trees for a season, get called to see the blossom and then harvest the tree's worth of fruit...

I recently read something about this,the parents asked for a time capsule,relatives were asked to put a letter and photos about themselves and wishes for the child,this capsule was opened on their 18 birthday,the young person was delighted when they read the letters especially as some of the relatives had died

For such a young child, pretty much anything musical, or something visually fascinating (like a snow globe). I used to get my granddaughters nursery rhyme books with buttons they could push to choose which one, or play a tune.

How about some little push along cars they could go in the empty box.

Why not a voucher to a local soft play (enough for a couple of visits) Good for him & mum (or if nearby maybe you could take him