5 Essential Items for a 1-Year-Old That I Should Have Added to My Baby Registry

When I first started building the baby registry for my daughter, I had no idea what to add to the list. As a first-time mom, it was hard for me to think beyond sleeping, nursing, diapers, and just basic survival in the early days. The idea of my daughter eating solid foods, playing, and walking seemed like a world away. Now, as she approaches her first birthday, I feel like I am adding to my Amazon cart just about every day with new essentials as she grows and changes so rapidly. 

If you want to get a head-start, I recommend adding these five products to your baby registry now so that you head into life with a newly minted 1-year-old prepared and ready to go!

Once a child is just starting to get a handle on sitting up, the deep curve of the Bumbo Floor Seat will help support their little body. I used the Bumbo in the months when she wasn’t quite ready for a high chair yet, but just started sampling solid foods. The firm foam is supportive enough to hold a baby in place, but soft enough to be comfortable. It is also an indestructible material that can be tossed around and easily taken anywhere. We use this for seating to take along with us while visiting the grandparents’ house, and even bring it with us to restaurants. 

There was a time when I noticed my daughter was ready to burn off some energy during the day, but she wasn’t ready to crawl or walk just yet. For this stage, the Around We Go Activity Center is a dream. Truth be told, I saw an Instagram Reel where a set of twins were spinning around on these activity centers with such glee that I searched for it on Amazon and bought it the same night. My daughter loves that she can scoot herself along the perimeter and explore the different sounds and textures. I like that she is safely contained and entertained while I make dinner!

I am a diehard fan of the Stokke products. It all started with the stroller and now I’m never looking back. While their products are on the pricier side, the quality and versatility means that the items last longer and can be modified as the child grows. I have found the investment to be well worth it in the long run. The Tripp Trapp is an ingenious high chair featuring thoughtful Scandinavian design that is incredibly adaptable through various stages. I love that it is easy to clean and looks chic and stylish next to our dining table. I am a huge advocate of the importance of family mealtime, and I feel this chair is an essential tool in comfortably bringing all of us together to eat, talk, laugh, and bond for years to come. 

This purchase came as a tip from my sister, who has three girls, 6, 4, and 2. It is a creative play toy that a wide range of ages enjoy. It can be built as a kid-sized couch for watching a movie, arranged into a nook for cozy reading time, or turned into an indestructible fort. My daughter is younger than her cousins and she loves it for soft rolling and tummy time. I like using the wedges to keep her safely contained (but still in arms’ reach) while I get a workout in. 

Because we live near trails and a forest preserve, I wanted to find something other than a stroller to take out on walks as my daughter grows, and this wagon is the perfect solution. She can sit up and enjoy the scenery and there are plenty of pockets to pack a little snack or lunch if we want to have a family picnic. I also love it for trips to the farmers market, because it can fit my daughter as well as all my purchases. If our family continues to grow, it even has space for two kids!