The coolest first birthday gifts: Toys and keepsakes for 1-year-olds

Order these age-appropriate play kits for toddlers filled with items selected by experts on baby development. As educational as they are fun-- and so gorgeously and smartly curated. (Also shown at top.)

Make those zillion first-birthday photos even more special with one of these handmade party hats or crowns. There are loads of colors to choose from, and you can find clever designs like mermaid tails or go fancy with glitter and confetti. Hey, they only turn one once!

Also shown at top, these one-piece pjs are made from eco-fabrics that are soft, durable, and ready to be passed down to the next one-year-old in line.

Count on them getting duplicates of the classics, and instead opt for a subscription to three new board books each month. Or choose your own board books from the newer selections at Amazon or Bookshop.org.

Need a place to keep that growing library? This is such a cool gift for a 1-year-old because it not only keeps their room tidy, but shows how much we value books.

If you want a single toy for a first birthday gift, remember that one-year-olds are curious and more dexterous, ready for more complex toys than rattles and clutch balls. We love how far Fisher-Price has come from primary colors to this lovely serene design that makes an affordable and thoughtful gift for a first birthday.

The ultimate developmental toy, allowing toddlers to put the different sized rings in order. . .or not. (Toddlers like options.) Beautifully made in California of birch wood, the personalization makes this a special gift.

($5-16, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Target, Bookshop.org) Even they're too young to learn the words, they can get a head start knowing their Bowie from their  with this series of board books about rap, pop, country, and rock with Lindsay Sagar's adorable illustrations.

We've long loved Ida Pearle's exquisite custom name prints which are based on her original cut paper artwork. Choose from any of the 26 designs from her Alphabet card series then add a child's name -- she can even customize the skin tone and hair color.

Skip Hop's adorable guitar toy turns the beloved toast-topper into a music toy for babies, with strumming riffs, fun tunes, and light-up buttons.

What's better than a cool-looking walker for baby? How about one that can easily be changed into a gentle rocker and a sturdy ride-on toy as your child grows! Comes in eight cool colors too.

Start them on art early! This is the perfect sensory craft activity for a one-year-old birthday gift, and the price is terrific. Paper is included -- clean-up is not. But since the paints are washable it won't be a nightmare either.

Make bath time more fun with this cute fishing set. It's one of the best gifts for 1-year-olds that you can find under $10, and no real fish hooks to worry about!

If you really want to encourage their love of music, this fun-to-play electric keyboard created by Baby Einstein and Hape. The wooden surface makes it easy to clean should maestro play with sticky fingers.

We love Tegu's beautifully made, magnetic block sets, and now they've added this colorful tram set--with peg people--rated for 1 year and up. It's the perfect size for little hands to take apart, push around, and rearrange, to help toddlers learn about both balance and magnetism as they play.

Want to get a cool first birthday a gift that the baby can literally grow into? This pint-sized Vespa-style motorbike is like a balance bike but with Italian flair. It's perfect fort wo and up -- which means they'll have something to look forward to.

They're still so little, but trust us--college will be here soon! It's the perfect time to make those important donations to college before they start expecting toys. Gift of College offers 529 gift cards or compare your own best options.