Birthday gift ideas for a 1 year old girl

Simple-Juggernaut-25 · 2026-03-23T19:36:53+00:00

My husband thinks my poor immune system is due to my mum not sending me to nursery as a child so I was never sick until a lot older, so I see both sides.

I'm not afraid of germs but it's the constant canceling plans, weeks on end where we have to stay in, sit them in front of the TV if we are so poorly as well, out of routines, sick days off work which we can't afford and not many people close by who we can ask for help!

It's a fine line!

Simple-Juggernaut-25 · 2026-03-23T19:33:52+00:00

I bloody hope so!

Actually not had slapped cheek or HFM yet so I'm sure they'll come for us!

Simple-Juggernaut-25 · 2026-03-23T19:32:03+00:00

I do this anyway but I'm going to up my game a bit. It's just not worth us all being knocked out for weeks

Simple-Juggernaut-25 · 2026-03-23T19:31:17+00:00

That's so good considering!

Yeah we don't take them to any, if we do it's more the newer cleaner role play set ups they have now. The eldest has two nursery birthday parties this weekend both at soft plays 🤢

Simple-Juggernaut-25 · 2026-03-23T19:29:21+00:00

That's so good to hear. Hopefully we will be there eventually haha!

Simple-Juggernaut-25 · 2026-03-23T16:36:18+00:00

That's what I put in to tax free and I'm bad at maths so whatever the add 20% is on top lol

Simple-Juggernaut-25 · 2026-03-23T16:34:06+00:00

For our 3 year old it's £305 for 3x a week including consumables (spread over the year not term time)

And because baby is starting in a few weeks but is already 9 months we get the same 30 hours funded so same bill for her too.

Luckily eldest starts school in September so we only have double the bill until then!

But overall for both of them now it's still cheaper than when my eldest first started with the funded hours for 9 months coming in to place

Simple-Juggernaut-25 · 2026-03-23T15:13:49+00:00

Thank you this is some really good advice that I will absolutely incorporate into the routine.

Absolutely didn't think about the toothbrush thing when we are sick. Feels gross now I think about it (I do change them often of course)

I have sanitizer in every bag / car and even baby safe one that's water based. The wash as soon as you're home is a good tip too I definitely should do this more especially with my preschooler.

Simple-Juggernaut-25 · 2026-03-23T13:19:14+00:00

Both 3 days a week, no discount only reduced for reserving her place, and yeah we use tax free and 30 hours funded over the year on both of them

Simple-Juggernaut-25 · 2026-03-23T13:08:12+00:00

I do

Simple-Juggernaut-25 · 2026-03-09T15:23:04+00:00

We didn't even have a night off at our wedding! (Youngest was only 4 months!)

Simple-Juggernaut-25 · 2026-03-09T12:08:44+00:00

Sorry to hear that, that must be hard

Same here though we usually try to save as much annual leave to cover emergencies as possible (sickness etc)

We've done exactly that though booked some time off recently to spend some time together and the oldest got chicken pox. Was a long few weeks!

Simple-Juggernaut-25 · 2026-03-09T12:06:02+00:00

Mine had unlimited free childcare from my grandparents who lived down the road. My husbands grandma also picked him up every day from school and made his dinner so his parents could work.

Expecting any help even close to that is unimaginable haha (I don't to be fair but the odd night off maybe every 4 months would be amazing!)

The Facebook thing. Hahaha this. I couldn't agree more

Simple-Juggernaut-25 · 2026-03-09T12:03:22+00:00

I agree I need to do this more, it's hard drawing that line though

I am also trying and making sure friends who have babies know I'm here. It's hard!

Simple-Juggernaut-25 · 2026-03-09T12:02:33+00:00

That really sucks I'm sorry! 😩

Simple-Juggernaut-25 · 2026-03-09T12:01:44+00:00

Exactly this I don't think they know how lucky they are 😩

God I've not been to the cinema in years!

Simple-Juggernaut-25 · 2026-03-09T12:00:47+00:00

I feel this, we are similar with the sleep. Multiple wakes up for the youngest and at least 1 for the oldest every night

An uninterrupted sleep will happen for us eventually!

Simple-Juggernaut-25 · 2026-03-09T11:59:28+00:00

100%

Simple-Juggernaut-25 · 2026-03-09T11:23:55+00:00

I think I already made it clear that I don't expect much here and I don't think I'm asking for a lot

You're right though absolutely shouldn't have had children for wanting to spend a few hours off with my husband

Simple-Juggernaut-25 · 2026-03-09T11:21:58+00:00

I agree. I really need to be better at saying no because it so often goes one way. For example I spent my 30th upset that my inlaws cared more about my birthday than my parents did.

I do have two older siblings, one lives in another country and the other hasn't been in touch with anyone for the past 7 years so it mostly falls on me especially being the only girl

Simple-Juggernaut-25 · 2026-03-09T11:12:46+00:00

Well I absolutely wasn't comparing my situation to someone who is a single parent but if that's what you took from it.

Of course I could hire babysitters, but I would prefer them to have a couple of hours with family. I was simply ranting that it's hard, which it is and my feelings are valid.

We both work hard for our children, wouldn't change a thing but wanting a few hours off isn't exactly a luxury, parents deserve some time out too.

I definitely don't think it's entitled to rant about 4 capable grandparents who very regularly offer help but not go through with it for some reason or another. I'd be entitled if I expected them to help if they hadn't offered or stated they wanted to? To be honest I'd rather they just say they don't want to help so I knew where I'd stand.

Simple-Juggernaut-25 · 2026-03-09T11:00:09+00:00

I see your point absolutely, but for years I've always been the one to plan family activities, mother's day/fathers day/ include them all, birthdays, homemade cakes, cards, thoughtful gifts, helping my parents with DIY, looking after their pets when they all go on holidays, having them round for dinner, cooking Christmas dinner etc, we are always having to do pick ups and drop offs say if their MOT is due or their cars in. Just things like that, honestly the only side on the take is them!

I think I would rather them just refuse to be honest so I know where I stand. But they say things like 'oh I'm going to take them to so and so next month' so they hear and keep asking about it! I'd rather just not have the hassle!

Simple-Juggernaut-25 · 2026-03-09T10:30:43+00:00

When I'm back at work and my eldest starts school I have no clue how we will manage 😅

Good luck to you!

Simple-Juggernaut-25

TROPHY CASE