• Guests at first birthday parties are expected to bring a gift for the child or parents.baby image by Diane Stamatelatos from Fotolia.com
  
  Although the feted child likely won't remember it, many parents choose to throw their son or daughter a first birthday party. Guests invited to the party often include friends and relatives of the parents. If invited, it is customary to bring a gift designed to be enjoyed by the young child or used by the parents in raising him.
  
  

Stuffed Animal

• Stuffed animals are a timeless gift, one enjoyed by children for more than a century. Whether a teddy bear or a fuzzy bunny, stuffed animals are not just toys but companions and spurs for a child's creativity.
  
  

Picture Book

• From "Pat The Bunny" to "Anansi and the Moss-Covered Rock," picture books are a great way to introduce children to the pleasures of art and reading. Pick a title designed for younger children, one that can be read aloud.
  
  

Clothing

• Young children grow out of clothes so quickly that purchasing new threads can take a sizable chunk out of their parents' pocketbooks. Check the children's current size and buy them something they can fit into for the next six months.
  
  

Bath Tub Toys

• Floating toys are often designed as a means of coaxing toddlers into participating in that hated ritual of childhood, the bath. Select a mix for the child, but be sure to include the classics, the rubber ducky and the plastic boat.
  
  

Photo Album

• A child will likely hold no memory of his first birthday but, at an older age, he can enjoy pictures of it. Purchase an album in which his parents can store photographs of the child in his early years.
  
  

Wooden Blocks

• Wooden blocks are a boon to a child's creativity, nurturing incipient interests in architecture, engineering and art. Also, blocks printed with letters of the alphabet can be used by children to spell their first words.
  
  

Rocking Horse

• Rocking horses are safe, fun ways for children to get exercise. You can either opt for a traditional wooden rocking horse or choose a plastic model. The former is generally more elegant, but the latter is usually a bit cheaper.
  
  

Plastic Food

• When using it to play house or simply sticking it in their mouths and gumming it, plastic food holds tremendous appeal for young children. Pick a mix of healthy foods and tasty ones, as a lesson in balancing your diet.
  
  

One Share of Stock

• In honor of the child's first birthday, purchase them one share of stock. Pick a company that's growing, so the child can watch it mature as he does.