What the hell do I buy for a one-year old?

A one day spa treatment for the kid's mom.

 

Starbucks gift card.

 

Buy the parents a gift card to Olive Garden, Applebees or someplace like that and offer to babysit. The kid doesn't likely need anything. The parents, on the other hand, would probably love a night out.

 

In all seriousness, Idaho's take is right on. My niece is close to 5 months and when she was born I went the Savings Bond route. I will likely do the same until she's in high school, in addition to other little gifts that are age appropriate...

 

Books.

Lots of good board books, cloth books, books of nursery rhymes and fairy tales suitable for that age group.

 

Ear plugs for teething.

For the parents.

 

When my nephew turned 1, they both got board books from me, and I offered to babysit (while in town) for a night so their parents could go out. I assume I'll do the same for the third one in 10 months.

A savings bond isn't a bad idea either. I was given a bunch of those over the years and it made a decent dent in my freshman year tuition.

 

Bag-o-glass

 

Right now a 10-year bond is yielding 4.745%, and you guys are saying they aren't a bad idea?? The Vanguard 500 has returned 54 percent since April 9, 1997.

Edit: I didn't adjust for inflation. It's 24.3% after inflation of 6%/year.

 

We're journalists. The amount we have to invest isn't worth the hassle of broker, et al.

 

Parents always like it when you buy their little kids toy drums or any toy that makes lots of noise