Her first birthday is a day the whole family will remember. Most 1-year-old girls are pulling up, cruising or taking their first steps, babbling, waving and carrying their favorite things everywhere they go. The best baby girl first birthday gift ideas celebrate all of it: a soft friend to love, a lovey or rattle to hold, board books to read together, and a sweet outfit to grow into.
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Every gift in this guide is from Estella, a family-owned New York brand making baby gifts since 2003. Our toys are hand-knit one at a time by artisans in Peru with a soft organic cotton exterior, and our clothing is organic cotton. We’ve earned 1,800+ five-star reviews from 55,000+ families, been featured in Vogue, and you’ll never find us on Amazon.
Shop the full first birthday gifts collection, or start with our top picks for her below.
In this guide:
- Our top 5 picks
- What 1-year-old girls love
- The best birthday gifts for a baby girl
- Loveys and rattles
- Books to read together
- Outfits and gift sets
- Frequently asked questions
Our Top 5 Picks
- Best overall: Pierre the Paris Dog ($72), a chic French pup she’ll carry everywhere.
- Best under $30: the Giraffe Baby Rattle ($28), soft, sweet and easy to hold.
- Best keepsake: the Grandma & Grandpa Teddy Bear ($32), a gift from the grandparents to treasure.
- Best for snuggling: the Octopus Lovey ($62), in turquoise or pink.
- Best gift set: the I Love Paris Baby Gift Set ($115), Pierre the Dog with a heart lovey.
What 1-Year-Old Girls Love
A best friend. Around the first birthday, many babies pick one soft friend to hug, carry and bring everywhere.
Something to hold. Rattles and loveys are easy for small hands to grab, shake and squeeze.
Pointing and naming. Board books with bold pictures are perfect for pointing, first words and reading together.
Unwrapping. At one, the box is half the fun, so a gift with a few pieces to discover goes a long way.
What Is the Best Birthday Gift for a Baby Girl?
A soft, hand-knit friend she can love for years. These are the companions gift-givers choose most often for a little girl’s first birthday.
Pierre the Paris Dog
A chic French pup with a red beret and a “Je T’aime” sweater, sent with love from Paris to her new best friend.
Organic knit doll, Pierre Dog: My 16mth old grandson LOVES Pierre! The toy is very well made, beautiful colors and great size.
I Love Paris Baby Gift Set
Pierre the Paris Dog with a heart lovey, two pieces of Parisian charm in one sweet gift. Choose blue or red.
Je t’aime chien: My niece loved it! So cute!
Charlotte the Pig
All charm, with a bright pink snout and a playful spirit, in a huggable size for little arms.
Bruno the Donkey
A sweet hand-knit donkey, soft, friendly and ready for every adventure.
Donkey Stuffed Animal: So cute and soft! My 6 month old daughter loves it!
Grandma & Grandpa Teddy Bear
Hand-knit grandma and grandpa bears, the perfect first birthday gift from the grandparents and a keepsake to treasure.
Toy bear: The bear is cute and small enough for baby hands to grasp.
Loveys and Rattles
Octopus Lovey Security Blanket
A friendly octopus face on a 14-inch square of organic cotton, in turquoise or pink.
Adorable: My 9 month old loves the sweet, silly face and bright colors on this well made security blanket!
NYC Taxi Lovey Security Blanket
A soft little taxi lovey for the baby girl with a New York heart.
Great gift for a friend who loves NYC: Beautifully made! Made a great gift for a friend whose favorite city is NYC.
Safari Baby Rattle Set
A hand-knit lion, elephant, giraffe and monkey: four friends to shake, hold and line up, with no sizes to guess.
Baby Shower MVP Gift Right Here: Everyone wanted the link.
Giraffe Baby Rattle
A long-necked hand-knit giraffe that’s easy for little hands to hold, and a sweet add-on to any gift.
Adorable: Great! Perfectly made and cute as can be ❤️
Toni the Elephant Rattle
A gentle hand-knit elephant with a little heart embroidered on one leg.
Charming Baby Toy! The toy is beautifully made and has a little heart embroidered on one leg.
Books to Read Together
Hello, World: New York Board Book
A vibrant graphic board book that introduces baby to the colors of New York.
Adorable: My granddaughter loved it and so did we.
New York Is, Baby Board Book
A stylish, rhyming board book celebrating New York’s culture, landmarks and energy, made for reading aloud.
My First Book of New York
Taxis, bridges, pretzels and pigeons: a tour of the city’s greatest hits for its littlest readers.
Outfits and Gift Sets
Baby Loves NYC Striped Baby Romper
A striped organic cotton romper with a red heart and an NYC apple, in sizes up to 18–24 months.
Girl Power Baby Gift Set
A Girl Power knit romper, an Elect Women bear, a rainbow headband and a book about women who changed the world. Choose 12–18 months.
Big Apple Baby Gift Set
A long-sleeve NYC romper with hand-knit Big Apple and taxi rattles. Choose 12–18 or 18–24 months for a first birthday.
A Joy to Give: This was genuinely fun to give. The design feels intentional, sweet, and full of New York charm.
Cool Cats Baby Gift Set
The Nathaniel Russell Cool Cats bodysuit with a matching hand-knit cat rattle, for the tiniest trendsetter. Choose 12–18 months.
Cuddle Me Baby Gift Set
A puppy-print long romper, an embroidered dog bib and a hand-knit dog rattle, in sizes up to 18–24 months.
What Size to Give a 1-Year-Old Girl
Most 1-year-olds wear 12–18 months. Size up to 18–24 months if you’d like the outfit to last through the year. Shopping for a big sister too? Our Dog Print Toddler Tee & Leggings Set is organic cotton playwear in 2Y–6Y. Plush toys, loveys, rattles and books need no size at all.
Ready to Give
Add a free gift message in your cart, and every order includes a gift receipt with no prices. Gift boxing is $8, complimentary on orders over $175. Orders ship within 1–2 business days, with free shipping on U.S. orders over $75.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do you get a baby girl for her first birthday?
A soft friend to love, a lovey or rattle to hold, a board book to read together, and an outfit in 12–18 or 18–24 months. A gift set with a few pieces to unwrap makes the moment even more fun.
Are soft toys good for a 1-year-old?
Yes. One-year-olds love a friend to hug and carry. Our knit toys have an organic cotton exterior, hand-knit by artisans in Peru, with a soft polyester fill. Each product page lists its materials. As with any toy, supervise playtime.
What size clothes does a 1-year-old girl wear?
Usually 12–18 months. Size up to 18–24 months for a longer fit.
Can I send a gift directly to the family?
Yes. Ship to any U.S. address and add a free gift message; the gift receipt never shows prices.
Can I buy Estella on Amazon?
No. Estella is sold only at estella-nyc.com and at select museum and boutique partners.
Find the Best Baby Girl First Birthday Gift Ideas at Estella
Every gift is made with love. See all of our first birthday gifts, our stuffed animals and our hand-knit baby rattles.
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