Awesome DIY 1st Birthday Baby Gift -Why Didn’t I Think of It Before?

I simply love those Shapes Puzzle Baby Boards. My daughter loves them even more. They make a great 1st birthday baby gift (or even 2nd) – you’ll never be wrong choosing one as a present. But just wait to see how even more incredible it could be!

** This following post contains some affiliate links. Despite that, the written in here is honest and based on my own opinion or/and experience, research and wish to share my findings with you! 

About The Importance of The Shape Puzzles

The play is one of the essential activities in the children’s lives. As important as eating and sleeping. You’ll never leave your baby hungry, right? You’ll always be worried if your baby spent some hours less sleeping, right? Therefore, playing is a must that should never be skipped. Not a single day.

Sometimes play is easy and fun. Sometimes play is hard for the sweetheart trying to do something right. Like learning colors and matching shapes.

The classic wooden puzzle helps for this early learning skills. It usually has between 5 and 10 different shaped blocks to teach shape recognition (circle, triangle, square, rectangle, diamond, cross, star, oval, pentagon). This type of play is essential for the tactile skills of the 12+ months old little (still) babies. Moreover, it encourages memory, hand-eye, fine motor, and creative expression skills.

Best Shape Puzzles

Every mom has a preferable brand of specific plays (puzzles, books, pushing toys, etc.).

From all kinds and brands of puzzles and boards, I love all of Melissa and Doug’s products with no exceptions. It looks likes this company really thinks about children’s needs when designing their games and plays. Everything is in vibrant colors that catch the curious little eyes. The pieces are chunky and easy-to-hold and manipulate with the small hands.

I also like the simplicity and educational value. The point is clear – learning colors and shapes.

The best part (for the parents) is the exceptional quality – safety for babies and durable for the money paid (you know, I prefer to spend a little more, but more time-and-teething-and-crashing sustainable).

A bonus – the wooden puzzle entertaining enough for the kid to play alone for about 30 minutes. Alone! Meaning that mommy or daddy have about 30 minutes to do something besides taking care and making fun of the little one. 🙂

Not that I want to sound as making an advertisement to M&D toys. It’s just my favorite brand that also gives credits to Montessori early learning methods based on everyday life.

However, any other brand puzzle shape board will do the same role for this awesome 1st birthday baby gift that I am going to share with you now.

Making The Shape Puzzle Even More Challenging

How about making the shape board puzzle even more challenging and entertaining for the little ones? And make this great 1st birthday baby gift or just reuse the old one (if the toddler already conquered all the shapes and colors ) as a fun way to learn family members as well.

When I saw this idea, I was like “Why didn’t I think of that before!”.

I felt envy for the creative DIY gift idea and inspired to reuse my daughter’s boards into something new and engaging. A puzzle picture frame!

Ingenious!

Sounds complicated, but actually is very simple to do-it-yourself.

Why I Love This DIY 1st Birthday Baby Gift

There a few reasons why I fell in love with this idea – immediately:

• it’s simple (and as I said, I love simplicity);
• it is super personalized;
• and my favorite – it’s thoughtful;
• it involves printed pictures;

p.s. for those who don’t know me – I stick to paper photos, and I always print dozens of them. There’s no other feeling like turning the pages of the photo album and remembering the best moments caught on camera. Even when you’re not with your most glamorous look. Or just displaying the best photos on the wall in a gorgeous way

• it gives a chance to reuse a puzzle that your kid isn’t very interested in anymore;
• it’s not expensive, but valuable (and this always makes sense, right? )

After all, the idea is quite similar to the Hide and Seek Activity Boards like this one from (my favorite) Melissa & Doug

So, How To?

Easy! Very Easy!

First, you’ll need a puzzle board (like this Mellisa & Doug puzzle).

And photos. Count the number of pieces (knobs of the puzzle) and pick the pictures so that they fit into the shapes. The images should be recognizable when cut and glued into the holes, right?

Optional you can set a theme for the photos – like immediate family, baby’s playmates, pets, different emotions, names, etc.

Print the photos. Any cell phones will do just fine – the shape holes are not large.

Of course, if you choose the Melissa & Doug Large Shapes Jumbo Puzzle with extra-large knobs, it will be easier for you. Otherwise, it would be exhaustingly tricky the next step with cutting.

For the cutting, you’ll need small scissors and a pencil. Just trace the puzzle piece directly on the photo and then cut along your trace line. Once you’ve cut all the images, set them in the spaces and make sure you are happy with the final layout.

Glue the cut photos directly to the puzzle spaces. Be sure that the glue isn’t too much. It should dry out before attempting to insert the puzzle piece into space.

As a final touch, I recommend applying polish so the pictures won’t be burnt out after many hours of touching the images and playing with the photo frame puzzle board.

Wrap it beautifully and there you go!

By the way, do you know that you can make fantastic gift-wrapping with things from around the house?

If you are still thinking about it, I’ll tell you that…

this 1st birthday baby gift is attractive and will be appreciated from the deepest. It will cost you no more than $ 25 (with the birthday wrapping!). And the baby will go crazy giggling trying to guess who’s under the circle piece.

Another Important Reason To Love This Kind of Child Activities

. Parents need to know that the American Academy of Pediatrics discourages media (television viewing, video games, etc.) for babies under age 2, in part because it takes away time that babies spend interacting with adults. The toys should be the tools to enhance child and adult interaction. Even if you choose a video, software, baby channel, interactive dolls and other playing and singing toys, then prefer those which don’t “talk” directly to the child. Because the parent or caregiver must generate the interaction, to comment and explain everything about what’s happening on the screen. End.

Final Thoughts

Although a little envy, I am happy that I found his 1st birthday baby gift idea. It also makes a wonderful baby shower gift! Jodie from Love Them Madly inspired this post. So Thank You! I love you madly too, Jodie!

Anyway, if you somehow prefer non-toy gifts, here’s a bunch of gift ideas that are handy and come in use for at least a couple of years. Don’t you believe me? Come and check this list of useful baby gifts as recommended by experienced moms!

Your Turn

Do you like this idea for a first baby birthday gift? Would you try it? I would love to hear or see the gift you’ve created! Make sure to comment!

And don’t forget to pin this for later. You never know when this baby gift idea will happen to come in use 🙂

Follow my Baby Gift Ideas Pinterest board.