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What Is a Good Gift for a 1-Year-Old in Australia? 2026 Ideas

Cashback Expert, ShopBack8 October 2026

Good gifts for a 1-year-old in Australia: push-along and stacking toys, board books, DUPLO from 18 months, bath and outdoor play, plus how to buy at Big W, Target and Myer for less.

Published: 8 October 2026 · Last updated: 8 October 2026 · Author: Hejia Zhang, Editor in Chief, ShopBack

A good gift for a 1-year-old in Australia is a simple toy they can push, stack, post or look at with you: a push-along walker, stacking cups, a shape sorter, chunky board books, bath toys or a soft ball. These match how children play at 12 months and stay in use through the second year. LEGO says its DUPLO bricks suit toddlers from 18 months, so save those for a few months. Big W, Target and Myer all sell these ranges online and in store.

Before you buy online, start on ShopBack. ShopBack Australia is a free app and website that gives you cash back when you shop at partner stores such as Target and Myer. Start on ShopBack, then shop at the store as usual. You can sign up free here.

What is a good gift for a 1-year-old in Australia?

The best gifts for a 1-year-old are open-ended toys that build the skills they are working on right now: standing, walking, grasping and copying you. At this age children love cause and effect (push it, it moves), filling and emptying, and looking at faces and pictures. That is why the same handful of toy types turns up in almost every first birthday list.

Gift type	Why it works at 12 months	Good to know
Push-along walker or wagon	Supports early steps and gives a sturdy handle to pull up on	Check it has a wide base and grippy wheels for hard floors
Stacking cups or rings	Teaches size, order and hand control, and doubles as a bath toy	Cheap, long lasting, easy to wrap
Shape sorter or posting box	Filling and emptying is a favourite game at this age	Pick large chunky shapes
Board books	Thick pages survive chewing, and reading together builds language	Touch and feel and lift the flap books are popular
Bath toys	Pouring, floating and squirting make bath time easier	Choose ones that can be opened or dried to avoid mould
Soft ball or activity cube	Rolling and chasing encourages crawling and walking	Fabric or rubber balls are easiest for small hands
Ride-on or rocker	A low ride-on is a toy that grows with them into age 2	Check the age label, as many start from 12 months
LEGO DUPLO	Large bricks for building and knocking down	LEGO marks most DUPLO sets 1½+, so it may wait a few months

If you are stuck, a board book plus one small toy is a gift almost every parent is happy to receive.

Gift ideas Australia 2026: what to buy at each budget

For a 1-year-old, the price of a gift matters far less than whether it fits the stage they are at. Use these bands as a guide to what each budget usually buys at Australian department and discount stores. They are not prices; shelf prices change week to week.

Under $20: a board book, stacking cups, a bath toy set or a soft ball.
$20 to $50: a shape sorter, a set of three or four board books, a musical activity toy or a small DUPLO set for later. LEGO lists the DUPLO Number Train at $29.99 on its Australian shop at the time of writing.
$50 to $100: a push-along walker, a wooden activity cube, a toddler ride-on or a larger DUPLO box. The LEGO Australia shop lists the DUPLO Brick Box at $49.99 at the time of writing.
$100 and over: a rocker, a play kitchen for the year ahead, a group gift from several family members, or a keepsake from Myer such as a photo frame or first shoes.

Group gifts work well for first birthdays. Three relatives putting in $40 each can buy one larger toy the family actually wants instead of three smaller toys that double up.

Gift ideas: best deals in Australia for 2026

The best way to pay less for a first birthday gift is to compare the same item at two or three stores, use the store's own member programme, and buy ahead if the birthday is weeks away. Each of the three big stores has its own official perks.

Myer. MYER one is Myer's free member programme. According to the MYER one terms, once you reach 1,000 points they convert to a $10 MYER one Reward (unless you choose Points Banking or a partner reward). MYER one has tiers based on what you spend in a membership year (1 April to 31 March): Member from $0 to $749.99, Silver from $750 and Gold from $2,500, with Platinum by invitation. The terms list free standard and big and bulky delivery within metropolitan Australia as a tier benefit, and complimentary in-store gift wrapping on store purchases.

Target. Target is part of OnePass, the membership shared with Kmart, Bunnings and Officeworks. According to OnePass, it costs $4 a month or $40 a year after a 30 day free trial, and lists free delivery with no minimum spend on eligible items, 5x Flybuys points in store and on Click and Collect, and 365 day change of mind returns at Target.

Big W. Big W is an Everyday Rewards partner. According to Everyday Rewards, every time you reach 2,000 points you can choose $10 off a future shop (or convert to Qantas points). Big W also offers Click and Collect from most stores, which avoids a delivery fee on a small gift.

Big stores often run toy sales in the middle of the year and again before Christmas, so if the birthday falls soon after one, buying early during the sale may save more than waiting.

Big W vs Target gift ideas: price comparison for 2026

Big W and Target both sell baby and toddler gifts at everyday prices, so the cheaper store depends on the exact item and the week you buy. Comparing them on structure is more useful than comparing one week's prices.

	Big W	Target
Toy range	Wide branded toy range plus its own lines	Own brand toys and a style-led kids and baby range
Member programme	Everyday Rewards (2,000 points can become $10 off)	OnePass ($40 a year or $4 a month after a 30 day trial)
Pickup	Click and Collect from most stores	Click and Collect, plus 5x Flybuys points with OnePass
Returns	Store returns policy applies	365 day change of mind returns for OnePass members

How to compare fairly: search the same product name or model number at both, add delivery or choose Click and Collect, then subtract any member reward you will actually use. The store that wins on the total is your store for that gift. Then go through ShopBack before you pay, so the order earns cash back at that store.

Big W, Target and Myer gift ideas in Australia: which store suits which gift

Pick the store by the kind of gift you want, not by habit.

Big W suits branded toys and multi-packs, such as well-known toddler activity toys, ride-ons and DUPLO, and families already collecting Everyday Rewards points.
Target suits gift bundles of clothing and soft toys from its baby and kids ranges, and households that already pay for OnePass.
Myer suits keepsake gifts from grandparents and godparents, such as premium soft toys, first shoes and photo frames, and the gift registry service if the parents have set one up. Myer's returns policy also offers gift receipts, and gift receipt returns are refunded on a Myer Returns Card.

Other Australian stores worth checking for toddler gifts include Kmart, Baby Bunting, Toys R Us, David Jones and Amazon Australia.

Safety checks before you buy a toy for a 1-year-old

Toys labelled for children under 3 are designed without small parts, so the age label is the first thing to check. A few quick rules help:

Read the age label. Skip anything marked not suitable for children under 36 months.
Check batteries. Battery compartments should close with a screw. Button batteries are a serious risk for toddlers.
Avoid long cords, strings and loose magnets.
Look for sturdy build. Wooden toys should be smooth with no splinters; plastic toys should not crack when squeezed.
Check recalls. The Product Safety Australia website run by the ACCC lists current recalls.

How ShopBack fits into buying the gift

Start on ShopBack, then shop at the store as usual. ShopBack Australia gives you cash back on eligible online orders at partner stores, including Target and Myer. ShopBack works like an automatic cash discount on your online order: you open the store from ShopBack, check out as normal, and once the order is confirmed the cash goes to your ShopBack account.

Cashback lowers what you actually pay for an order. It comes back as cash, so it works like a discount on the price, not like points or miles.

Illustrative example: you order a $60 push-along walker online. At an illustrative rate of 3%, $1.80 comes back, so the gift effectively costs you $58.20. On a $150 group gift at the same illustrative rate, $4.50 comes back. These numbers are examples only; the live rate and the store's terms are shown on the ShopBack Target page and the ShopBack Myer page.

The steps:

Open ShopBack (app or website) and search for the store.
Check the rate and the terms on the store page, including any exclusions.
Tap through to the store and add the gift to your cart.
Check out in the same session, and keep your order confirmation.

Some stores exclude certain purchases, such as gift cards, from cash back, so read the terms on the ShopBack store page before you buy.

Frequently asked questions

What is a good gift for a 1-year-old in Australia?

A good gift for a 1-year-old in Australia is something they can push, stack, post, bang or look at with you: a push-along walker, stacking cups or rings, a shape sorter, chunky board books, bath toys or a first ball. These suit the way children play at 12 months and stay useful well into the second year. Big W, Target and Myer all stock these ranges online and in store. Start on ShopBack, then shop at the store as usual.

How much should I spend on a first birthday gift?

There is no set amount, and a 1-year-old will not notice the price. Guests often spend less than close family, and a set of board books can get more use than a far more expensive toy. Pick the play type first, then set a budget you are comfortable with; the budget bands in this guide show what each range usually buys.

What toys are safe for a 1-year-old?

Toys made and labelled for children under 3 are the safe starting point, because they are designed without small parts a toddler could choke on. Read the age label on the box, avoid anything marked not suitable for children under 36 months, check that battery covers are screwed shut, and skip toys with long cords or loose magnets. The Product Safety Australia website run by the ACCC has current guidance and recalls.

Is LEGO DUPLO suitable for a 1-year-old?

LEGO says DUPLO bricks are made for toddlers aged 18 months and over, so DUPLO is a good gift for a child turning 1 if you are happy for it to come out a few months later. Many DUPLO sets on the LEGO Australia shop are marked 1½+. For a child who has just turned 1, a larger stacking or posting toy is usually the better fit today.

Where can I buy gifts for a 1-year-old in Australia?

Big W, Target and Myer are three of the easiest places to buy gifts for a 1-year-old in Australia, because all three carry baby and toddler toys, books and clothing and sell online as well as in store. Kmart, Baby Bunting, Toys R Us and David Jones also stock toddler ranges. Before you check out online, go through ShopBack so the order earns cash back at the same store.

Which is better for gift ideas, Big W or Target?

Big W and Target suit different gift shoppers. Big W carries a wide branded toy range and links to Everyday Rewards, where 2,000 points turn into $10 off. Target leans toward style-led baby and kids clothing and its own toy lines, and links to OnePass, which lists free delivery with no minimum spend on eligible items and 365 day change of mind returns at Target. Price the same item at both before you buy.

Can I return a gift bought at Myer?

According to Myer's returns policy, most items can be returned for a change of mind refund within 30 days of purchase, or by the end of January for items bought in November or December. Items must be unused with tags or sealed packaging, and clearance items are excluded. Ask for a gift receipt; Myer says gift receipt returns are refunded on a Myer Returns Card.

Is OnePass worth it for buying kids' gifts at Target?

OnePass can be worth it if you buy from Target, Kmart, Bunnings or Officeworks several times a year. According to OnePass, the membership costs $4 a month or $40 a year after a 30 day free trial, and lists free delivery with no minimum spend on eligible items, 5x Flybuys points in store and on Click and Collect, and 365 day change of mind returns at Target. For one gift, the free trial alone may be enough.

What are good non-toy gifts for a 1-year-old?

Good non-toy gifts for a 1-year-old include clothes in the next size up (18 to 24 months), a pair of first walking shoes, a hooded towel, a board book set, a toddler backpack, a keepsake photo frame or a contribution to a savings account. Parents often value next-size clothing most because toddlers outgrow sizes quickly.

How do I pay less for a gift ordered online in Australia?

Compare the same item at two or three stores, use the store's own member perks such as MYER one Rewards, Everyday Rewards at Big W or OnePass at Target, buy during a store sale if the birthday is weeks away, and start on ShopBack before you check out. ShopBack works like an automatic cash discount on your online order, and the cash comes back to you rather than as points.

Key takeaways

The best gifts for a 1-year-old are simple: push-along, stacking, posting, board books, bath toys and balls.
LEGO DUPLO is made for toddlers from 18 months, so it suits a child turning 1 a little later.
Check the age label and avoid small parts, loose batteries, cords and magnets.
Use each store's own programme: MYER one ($10 Reward at 1,000 points), Everyday Rewards at Big W ($10 off at 2,000 points) and OnePass at Target ($40 a year).
Start on ShopBack, then shop at the store as usual: check the ShopBack Target page or the ShopBack Myer page before you check out.

Disclaimer

Membership terms, returns policies, delivery offers and prices change. Figures in this guide are as published by Myer, OnePass, Everyday Rewards and LEGO at the time of writing; check each store and the ShopBack store page for current terms before you buy. This guide is general information only and is not product safety advice.