At around1 year of age, kids start leaving the baby stage and entering thetoddler stage. As they develop physically, emotionally, and developmentally, a whole new world of age-appropriate toys opens for them as well. The best toys for 1-year-olds providesensory enrichment, help develop motor skills, and encourage language learning.
You'll want to make sure that the toys you choose arefun and developmentally appropriate. Children this age are intrigued bycolors, sounds, and textures. But they also like to put things in their mouths, so choose toys that are safe and easy to keep clean.
Tofind the best toys for 1-year-olds, wesurveyed 875 parents and caregiversand asked about their kids' favorite toys, what skills they help them develop, and how durable and easy to use they are. In addition, weinterviewed a pediatrician and a toy industry expertto gain further insights into toy safety and the latest trends. We narrowed our list down by selecting toys that aresafe, durable, easy to use, educational, and age-appropriate.
A physician double board-certified in neonatology and pediatrics on ourReview Board本文还综述了医学的准确性d integrity surrounding the safety, ease of use, and developmental appropriateness of toys for 1-year-olds.
Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn 4-In-1 Farm-to-Market Tractor Ride-On
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Amazon
Why We Recommend It
Once toddlers can walk on their own, a whole new world of mobility opens up withride-ons, pull and push toys, and more. This4-in-1 Farm-to-Table Tractor Ride-On by Fisher-Pricemaximizes all these newly learned abilities.
This learning toy features atractor ride-on, amarket wagonthat attaches to it or can be pulled with a handle, andremovable shape-sorter fruits and veggies(and a credit card!). The tractorplays over 75 songsto help kids learn their ABCs, numbers, shapes, and more. We love that this toy has a"smart stages" switch that enables you to pick the right level of learningfor your kiddo, with simpler songs and concepts for the younger toddlers and more elaborate phrases as they learn and grow. If you're buying it as a gift, keep in mind that this toy requires 3 AA batteries (not included).
Hape Pound & Tap Bench with Slide Out Xylophone
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Amazon
Why We Recommend It
This award-winning musical toy has been praised for itscolorful, wooden designand its ability to teach kids about cause and effect. Rather than push a button,kids make their own musicwith a wooden hammer and balls, which little hands can place into the corresponding holes.
This toy is made of high-quality wood with child-safe paint and rounded edges, making iteasy to cleanfor little hands and mouths. The parents we surveyed love how this toykeeps their toddlers engaged and entertained for hoursand how they are able to find more creative ways to play. One of our editors also owns this xylophone, and she says this is theonly toy her son plays with every day. Sometimes he taps the xylophone, but his favorite part is pushing the balls through the slots and putting them back in.
Price at time of publication: $33
Manhattan Toy Little Rocket Finds Home Soft Activity Crinkle Book
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Amazon
Why We Recommend It
By the time their first birthday rolls around, babies are usually starting to show more interest in exploring books on their own. With loads ofsensory experiences, thissoft crinkle bookgives them more than enough material to be amazed at. There arecolorful illustrations, a variety ofdifferent textures(like a fluffy cloud), noises like asqueaker and rattle toy, andflaps and pocketsfor them to check out.
We appreciate the teether corner and the fact that this iswashable, and also love that it’s easy to pack up when heading out. And unlike other books for babies and toddlers, this one actually has a story you can read together as you explore the different textures.
Price at time of publication: $27
Fisher-Price Baby's First Blocks
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Amazon
Why We Recommend It
Thisclassic toyis an ultra-affordable optionthat is sure to please little ones. The set includes10 colorful blocksthat fit into identical slots in aconvenient carry case. The blocks promote a host of important skills, including matching, sorting, and problem-solving.
Price at time of publication: $11
Battat Wooden Activity Cube
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Amazon
Why We Recommend It
With five different play surfaces and a variety of activities, theBattat Wooden Activity Cubewill surely keep 1-year-olds occupied and engaged. The solid cube features awire bead maze, spinning blocks, sliding knobs, little doors to open and shut, and rolling wood blockswith cheerful farm animals. The cube is also mindfully designed withcurved corners to help prevent bumps and bruises.
The activities on the solid wood cube offer learning opportunities for matching, exploring cause and effect, and practicing hand-eye coordination. Vibrant colors, adorable pictures of animals, and a variety of activities will keep toddlers entertained for quite some time.
Price at time of publication: $60
Melissa & Doug Safari Jumbo Knob Puzzle
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Amazon
Why We Recommend It
Tots 1 year old and up can practiceproblem-solving andhand-eye coordination与阿ne of these adorable wooden puzzles. Each piece is cut from a thick piece of wood and has alarge knobon top that’s just theright size for little handsto grasp to help them guide the piece into its place. There are a variety of theme options, too, likefarm animals,colorful shapes, andpets.
Price at time of publication: $15
Fisher-Price Laugh and Learn Around the Town Learning Table
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Walmart
Why We Recommend It
Little ones get tostand up while they playwith this table that is broken intofour play zonesincluding a zoo, puppy house, market, and farm. Each section has different activities that let kids push buttons, flip switches, spin toys, and more. The table has lights and sounds, includes a toy phone for interactive play, and hasthree stages to meet your child’s developmental needs. Kids between 6 months and 3 years old are the perfect age to enjoy this table.
Price at time of publication: $41
Fisher-Price Brilliant Basics Stack & Roll Cups
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Amazon
Why We Recommend It
Children between 6 months and 4 years old can play with this toy that can be堆放,nested, or turned into a ball. It has10 colorful pieces of varying sizes, plus a little yellow ball, that all work together to createfun towers and other configurations. In addition to all the fun, this toy will also help kids work on color identification, counting, spatial awareness,problem-solving, and strengthening fine motor skills.
Price at time of publication: $11
Tomy Toomies Hide & Squeak Eggs
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Amazon
Why We Recommend It
Unlike a typical carton of eggs, children are encouraged to crack all of the eggs inside thisTOMY Hide & Squeak set. Each egg has aremovable top with a colorful facethat matches the chick on the inside. When your kiddo presses down on the chick,it squeaks, which helps developsensory and fine motor skills.
Price at time of publication: $16
LeapFrog Learning Friends 100 Words Book
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Amazon
Why We Recommend It
This book is full of little activities to strengthen fine motor skills and sound bites thatteach science, letters, and numbers. All of the sound features can be played in eitherEnglish or Spanishmode to further develop vocabulary and language skills. Kiddos will love all the buttons, lights, sounds, andinteractive pagesthat teach them100 wordswhile having fun.
Price at time of publication: $20
B. Toys One Two Squeeze Baby Blocks
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Amazon
Why We Recommend It
Tots between6 months and 3 years oldcan stack, sort, squeeze, toss, and even chew these blocks, which are made from a soft molding foam. The set comes with10 blocksin various colors that each have different images on all six sides including numbers, animals, and shapes. When they’re not being played with, the blocks stack nicely into a littleplastic carrying case for storing.
Price at time of publication: $14
Leapfrog Spin and Sing Alphabet Zoo
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Amazon
Why We Recommend It
This toy is more functional than it looks. Even though it's small, the buttons on the base let little ones choose one ofthree modes of play: letters, animals, or music. When your child interacts by spinning the wheel or pushing any number of colorful buttons, they’ll bebuilding their vocabulary and improving motor skills.
Price at time of publication: $22
Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Light-Up Learning Vacuum
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Amazon
Why We Recommend It
Did you know that kids learn a lot of skills simply from mimicking their parents? Foster good habits and an inclination tohelp around the housewith this fun light-up vacuum. Your kiddo can push the vacuum around just like their parents and caregivers might, but this versionplays learning songs and phrases as they pushto help expand their vocabulary, too.
Price at time of publication: $25
Baby Einstein Magic Touch Piano Wooden Musical Toy
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Amazon
Why We Recommend It
Little Mozarts in the making will have a ton of fun with this piano that hascolor-coded keysandthree sheets of music that will guide them in playing melodies. The coolest part? The piano keys are all laid across a flat piece of wood, so they’re “magic.” This toy is best for budding musicians between 6 months and 3 years old.
Price at time of publication: $35
Little Tikes Rocking Horse
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Walmart
Why We Recommend It
This rocking horse is a great way for 1-year-olds to burn some of that extra energy. It’s designed for kids between 1 and 3 years old and under 50 pounds. Its tallest point stands just over 17 inches from the ground, it’s made fromstrong, durable plastic, and can be played withindoors or outdoors.
Price at time of publication: $33
Manhattan Toy Winkel Rattle & Sensory Teether Toy
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Amazon
Why We Recommend It
Children up to 2 years old can clutch and teeth on theWinkle Rattleall they want. It'scolorful and lightweight, so it's fun to fiddle with and throw around. This rattle toy is big enough to keep little ones entertained, but small enough toeasily tuck into a diaper bag or under the stroller. The teething tubes are made ofBPA-free plastic, perfect for tiny hands and teeth.
Price at time of publication: $14
VTech Pull and Sing Puppy
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Amazon
Why We Recommend It
If your family isn’t quite ready for a real puppy, this fun pull toy is a great alternative. This dog’s got plenty of tricks: Hewalks, sings, and even teaches numbers, colors, and body partsthrough more than60 songs, melodies, sounds, and phrases.
Price at time of publication: $23
First 100 Words: A Padded Board Book
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Amazon
Why We Recommend It
At 1 year of age,your child's vocabularyis likely on the verge of exploding. This comprehensive book, complete with100 words essential to child’s daily life, provides a gentle nudge in the right direction. The board-book style makes the book easy for tiny hands to maneuver, andbright, bold illustrations keep kids engaged.
Price at time of publication: $6
FoxPrint Rocket Ship Space Themed Pretend Play Tent
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Amazon
Why We Recommend It
It's never too early to encourage the joy of imagination. This rocket ship play tent is out of this world and perfectfor kids from 12 months to 7 years old. The tent easily fits in most corners or can be folded flat in no time. Kids will enjoy having a play space all their own and when they get older, thetent can be a cozy reading nook.
Price at time of publication: $35
Fisher-Price Settle & Sleep Projection Soother
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Amazon
Why We Recommend It
If your child has trouble falling, or staying, asleep, then this might be a solution. TheSettle & Sleep Soothereasily attaches to a crib, but can also be placed on a tabletop for older kids. It features30分钟的音乐和声音过渡到white noise. There's also a projection of images on the ceiling or wall for asoothing light showthat will lull them to bed before you know it.
Price at time of publication: $57
BabyPuzzle Personalized Name Puzzle With Pegs
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Amazon
Why We Recommend It
For a unique gift that both littles and parents will love, try apersonalized name puzzle. This artful toy is crafted with high-quality material to give it a super sophisticated vibe, but it’s functional, too. It’ll provide hours of fun that help children buildproblem-solving skills and fine motor function, and—eventually—teach them how to spell their name.
Price at time of publication: $35 for 1-2 letters no pegs, with engraving message
Little Tikes First Slide
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Amazon
Why We Recommend It
When your tot is still a little too small for the playground, thisbeginner-level slide是一个很好的选择。它适合both indoor and outdoor use, so you can enjoy active play no matter what the weather is like. Parents love that itfolds flat for portabilityand convenient storage.
Price at time of publication: $40
Manhattan Toy Tree Top Adventure Activity Center
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Amazon
Why We Recommend It
There’s no shortage of fun to be had with this award-winning wooden toy. Thefreestanding activity table, which features dozens of珠运行和促进gr滑翔机asping skills, is just the right size—small enough for the younger set to sit and play, but large enough for toddlers to tinker while standing.
Price at time of publication: $88
Radio Flyer 4-in-1 Stroll 'N Trike
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Amazon
Why We Recommend It
This ride-on toy is perfect for growing youngsters hitting new milestones all the time. It hasfour different ways to ride: Use it as an infant trike, a steering trike with help from adults, a learn-to-ride trike, or a classic trike suitable for more independent riders. Though this toy is on the pricier side, it’s a worthy investment—it’ssuitable for children as young as 1 year and as old as 5 years.
Price at time of publication: $80
Mega Bloks 80-Piece Big Building Bag
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Amazon
Why We Recommend It
This set of80 large-scale blocksprovides the perfect introduction tobuilding blocks. The colorful pieceseasily click together, so kids can harness the power of their imagination and create any number of things—from towers, to castles, to cars, and more.
Price at time of publication: $25
脂肪大脑玩具SpinAgain Kids Stacking Toy
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Amazon
Why We Recommend It
This toy puts a twist on the classic stacking toy. This set of six brightly colored, graduateddiscs spin down a corkscrew pole, encouraging hand-eye coordination, dexterity, and the concept of cause and effect.
Price at time of publication: $30
Boon Building Bath Toys Set
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Amazon
Why We Recommend It
Get those creative juices flowing and those problem-solving skills into tip-top shape with this funbath-time building set. Kids will love figuring out how toconnect the pipes to create a maze of working waterfalls.
Price at time of publication: $17
B. toys by Battat FunKeys Toy
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Amazon
Why We Recommend It
There’s just something about keys—little kids love them. To ensure your set doesn’t go missing, give toddlers their own special set of keys they canchew on, rattle, and carry around. In addition to the eye-catching colors, these baby-safe keys have a realistic design and afunctional remote that emits car soundsand turns on a flashlight.
Price at time of publication: $11
VTech Drop and Go Dump Truck
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Amazon
Why We Recommend It
This colorful dump truck is so much more than just apull-along toy. It’s a great tool for teaching kids basic counting—as they load the truck’shinged bucketwith rocks, the toy counts each one aloud. It also plays a variety ofmelodies and phrases that teach additional vocabulary, including colors and shapes.
Price at time of publication: $21
VTech Smart Shots Sports Center
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Amazon
Why We Recommend It
Toddlers are notorious for their short attention spans, but this activity center gives tots two choices—basketball or soccer—to ensure there’s no shortage of fun. Thelight-up scoreboardprovides positive feedback when kids score and plays fun songs and sounds.
Price at time of publication: $45
How We Selected and Tested the Best Toys for 1-Year-Olds
Parents and caregivers are the foremost experts on toys that 1-year-olds love and actually engage with. To obtain their valuable insights, we surveyed 875 parents and caregivers and asked about their kids' favorite toys, what they like most about them, how long they keep their attention, and their overall value and quality. We also interviewed a pediatrician and a toy industry expert to learn more about the safety of toys for 1-year-olds and the latest toys and games for this age group.
With this expert feedback in mind, we researched hundreds of toys for babies and toddlers and narrowed our list down to 30 picks. The products featured on our list are the best toys for 1-year-olds based on design, ease of use, safety, size, features, age recommendations, and value.
Our Experts
- Natasha Burgert, MD, a pediatrician in South Overland Park, Kansas. She's also a National Spokesperson for the American Academy of Pediatrics and is a regular contributor to multiple national media outlets.
- Kristin Morency Goldman, senior advisor of strategic communications for The Toy Association, an industry organization that represents hundreds of manufacturers and retailers dedicated to championing the benefits of play.
What to Look for in Toys for 1-Year-Olds
- Ease of Use:Make sure your child's toy is easy to use for both you and your child. You want to make sure the toy is lightweight enough for your toddler to carry and lift, and that the features are appropriate and easy for them to use. It's also important that it can be wiped clean and stored away when your child isn't playing with it.
- Educational Value:There’s a lot for 1-year-olds to learn, from basic motor and language skills to letters, colors, sounds, and more. Consider what toys they already have and what skills they’re working on when you start shopping. “I encourage toys that hit all the developmental dimensions, says Dr. Burgert. “Toys like books to read together or explore independently, cause and effect toys that have a light or sound when the child engages, balls to kick and throw, blocks to stack and tumble, dolls and stuffed animals, and tactile toys for texture exploration and fine motor play.”
- Age Appropriateness:Always check the age range of the toys you plan to buy. While you may be excited to teach your little one new things, you want to find a toy that they will be able to understand, enjoy, and fully engage with safely. Always check the labels on the toys you’re considering, particularly the manufacturer’s recommended age. This guideline is there to help you decide whether the toy is safe and stimulating enough (or too stimulating) for your child, says Morency Goldman.
- Safety:Babies love to grab, chew and throw things, so choose toys that are made of safe, non-toxic materials and have soft edges. Additionally, watch out for toys with small parts that can be a choking hazard—generally these toys are labeled 3+, says Morency Goldman.
Why Trust Verywell Family
Ashley Ziegleris a staff and freelance writer who covers lifestyle, home, parenting, and commerce for a variety of platforms. She’s a mom to 1-year-old and 3-year-old daughters and an aunt to 3 nieces and 2 nephews ranging from 5 to 10 years old. In addition to regularly scouring the internet to find the best things for herself, Ashley spends multiple hours a week researching, comparing, and writing about products specifically for kids and families.
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