Gift Ideas for Girls Who Are 12 Months Old

• When considering a gift for a 12-month-old girl, think color, sound and texture. ULTRA.F/Photodisc/Getty Images

  At 12 months old, girls are crawling or even walking. Girls who are 12 months old are into exploring their world, and they want to reach out, touch and taste everything. Everything is exciting at this stage of life, and there are numerous gift ideas for girls who are 12 months old to help them continue their explorations.

Sight, Sound, Move

• Girls who are 12 months old will move toward brightly colored objects, lights and sounds as long as the sounds aren't too loud or screeching. Gifts for girls this age include colorful balls large enough to push and kick and small enough for the girls to pick up with both hands. Smaller balls work, too, as long as the balls are fairly soft, washable and too large for her to stick in her mouth.

  Toy phones with a receiver that can be picked up and with sounds--such as when punching buttons or responding to her commands--are a good gift choice. At this stage, 12-month-old girls enjoy the activities of toys that have several functions, such as a mirror, things to whirl, things to move back and forth and even things to push. Look for toys that engage with color, sound and movement.

Hug Toy

• Girls who are 12 months old like soft hugable toys, especially animals. You can make a unique gingerbread-style doll for a 12-month-old girl using material that doesn't unravel easily. On a piece of paper, draw an outline of a gingerbread figure until you are satisfied with the size and shape of your creation. Cut out the pattern. Buy enough material to make two copies of the pattern with two extra inches on each side. Cut out 2 copies of the pattern. Sew the figure together, leaving at least a 3-in. area on the body open. Double sew the seams because you do not want her to tug apart the toy. Stuff the figure through the 3-in. hole you left. Stitch closed. Use permanent markers to create the face, hair and even clothes if you wish. Buttons and other items can be chewed or swallowed by 12-month-old girls, so avoid adding items such as these. You can also buy hugable stuffed toys for a 12-month-old girl. Just make sure it is safe and recommended for this age.

Clothes and Shoes

• By the time a girl is 12 months old, she has probably outgrown all of those clothes she was given during the first few months of her life. Receiving blankets have become too small for her. Give her new clothes, new cuddly blankets and her first pair of shoes. She is probably trying to pick up food to eat, so colorful, large bibs are an appreciated gift. Use fabric paint to make these gifts even more special by adding her name, birth date or another personalized message.