60 Best Toys for Toddlers for All Ages, According to Parents 2024
Toddlers are famous for their strong opinions (the âterrible twosâ is a phrase for a reason), but the best toys for toddlers will keep those balls of energy entertained and developing, and (hopefully) help keep tantrums at bay. The market for gifts for little ones is vast and can be daunting if you donât know whatâs worth your money. Should you go for a soft and cuddly toy thatâll soothe them to sleep during a regression, or an interactive toy thatâll boost cognitive development while strengthening those little muscles?
According to Kerri Adams and Christina Eromenok, child and family therapists specializing in play therapy at Love Play Grow, say educational toys and those that spark imaginative play are excellent choices. âToys are tools for children and can have significant impact on emotional and physical growth and child development,â explains Adams. Whether youâre looking for gift ideas for someone elseâs child or your own, âtoys are also a great opportunity for parents and children to connect together and build a positive, loving relationship,â says Eromenok. Our expert sources and parent network (including myself, a newly minted toddler mom) came together to provide the list below of all the toddler toys worth shopping, for one-, two- and three-year-olds.
Best toys for toddlers by ageBest toys for 1-year-oldsBest toys for 2-year-oldsBest toys for 3-year-oldsOur favorite toys for toddlers, at a glanceBest for Open-Ended Play: Moluk Mini Bilibos Baby Toy, $20Best Wooden Toy: Melissa & Doug Deluxe Pounding Bench, $15Best Outdoor Toy: Little Tikes Cozy Coupe 30th Anniversary Car, $54Best Teething Toy: Smily Mia Penguin Silicone Teething Toy, $9Best Soothing Toy: Baby Einstein Sea Dreams Soother Musical Crib Toy & Sound Machine, $32Best Bath Toy: B. Toys Water-Play Bath Toy Set, $23Best Sorting Toy: Toomies Hide & Squeak Easter Eggs, $22Best Scooter Toy: Skip Hop Zoo Ride-On Unicorn Toy Scooter, $65Best Toy for Budding Walkers: Speedy Monkey Multi-Activity Push Toy, $87Best Musical Toy: VTech KidiBeats Drum Set, $16Best Toys for 1-Year-Olds
When looking for age-appropriate toys for the newest toddlers on the block, Adams says the best ones are simple: âSome might not even look like traditional toys.â Mandy and Mel Craig, the experts behind the Toy Testing Sisters, recommend the spinners below, but there are some items, such as the set of scarves on our list, that are everyday things tots can use for endless rounds of stimulating play. Says one of the sisters, âWe never pack for an outing without my daughterâs Smily Mia penguin (IMHO itâs much better than Sophie the giraffe, but Iâm not here to start a war), and she has âbakedâ countless muffins in her kitchen set, so these (plus the rest of this list) are real-parent approved.â Whether a child is working on learning object permanence, fine motor skills, or crafting their first meal out of play food in their very own kitchen, the toys below will bring joy to any young toddler.
Fat Brain Toys Whirly Squigz 3 Silicone Spinners
Fisher-Price Rock-a-Stack
The Original Toy Company Pop-Up Fire Truck
Smily Mia Penguin Silicone Teething Toy
Winique Wooden Shape-Sorter Toy
Geyoga Fabric Play Scarves (Set of 9)
Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Mix & Learn DJ Table
Step2 Best Chefâs Kids Kitchen
Jellycat âThe Very Brave Lionâ Board Book
Montessori Toy Wooden Shape Peg Puzzle
Best Toys for 2-Year-Olds
During this time of pushing boundaries, Adams and Eromenok tell us, toys create an essential place for active toddlers to feel some control over their environment. Says Eromenok, âThen they donât seek out control as much in ways that can create power struggles.â Let them be the boss of their own garage or workbench with the toys below. The pounding bench is a top pick of our parent crew as a way to get some energy out as well. And if they become overwhelmed, one of the soothing toys, like the Sea Dreams Soother or the snuggly walrus, will calm them down for nap time.
Moluk Mini Bilibos Shells
Battat Car & Color Sorting Playset
Baby Einstein Sea Dreams Soother Musical Crib Toy and Sound Machine
Toomies Hide & Squeak Easter Eggs
Melissa & Doug Deluxe Pounding Bench Wooden Toy With Mallet
Bunmo Easter Poppinâ Pipe Pop Tubes (4-Pack)
Play Doh Fun Factory Deluxe Set
Lego 2+ Disney Pixar Lightning McQueen & Materâs Car Wash Fun
Toniebox Audio Player Starter Set With Playtime Puppy
Fisher-Price Baby Chill Vibes Walrus Soother
Best Toys for 3-Year-Olds
Nowâs the time when toddlers enter fully into the world of pretend play and role play, and toys are the way children connect with caregivers and learn coping skills, say Adams and Eromenok. These toys will help toddlers learn real-life skills while spending time in their playroom before taking their new abilities out into the world.
PicassoTiles Magnet Building Tiles (100 Pieces)
Magnetic Color & Number Maze
Melissa & Doug Fill & Roll Grocery Basket Play Set
LeapFrog 2-in-1 LeapTop Touch
Melissa & Doug Work & Play Desktop Activity Board
Baby Einstein and Hape Magic Touch Piano
Useful Gifts for Toddlers
Some of the best gifts for toddlers acknowledge âthis amazing stage of development where a childâs brain grows extremely fast,â says Adams. When looking for useful gifts for this formative stage of life, think of items that are learning resources for mental, emotional, and physical skills. And it doesnât hurt to find some options that make bath time easier on both parents and children. Mandy and Mel are fans of anything that gives toddlers a chance to experience sensory and open-ended play, meaning theyâll work on new skills while also burning off some of that enviable toddler energy.
Lunix LX15 Modular Kids Play Couch
Marlowe & Co Indoor Cotton Sensory Therapy Compression Swing
Glo Pals Water-Activated Light-Up Cubes (12-Pack)
Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Smart Stages Piggy Bank
Fat Brain Toys Pretendables Cleaning Set
Noriter Project Dream Bundle
Skip Hop Zoo Ride-On Unicorn Toy
B. Toys Water Play Bath Toy Set
Crayola Bath Slime Scented Soap (6-Pack)
Best Toys for Active Toddlers
Yes, the best toys for toddlers are those that help them learn and grow during playtime, but sometimes you need a toy thatâll get the wiggles out while doing so. If you have the space, outdoor toys like the car below can be a lifesaver. If you have a small apartment, don’t fret, it can still be transformed into a toddler-appropriate obstacle course with a friendly bouncing animal to ride or a musical toy like a mini drum kit to bang on. Adams and Eromenok assure us that these toys will promote active play, while also leading to less couch (or parent) jumping.
Foldable Climbing Triangle Ladder
Melissa & Doug Kâs Kids Bowling Friends
Melissa & Doug Kâs Kids Bowling Friends
Special Supplies Stepping Stones
Speedy Monkey Multi-Activity Push Toy
Little Tikes Cozy Coupe 30th Anniversary Car
PlanToys Mini Golf Play Set
Fisher-Price Corn Popper Push Toy
Waddle Bouncy Hopper Inflatable Hopping Animal
Best Toddler Toys for Travel
Traveling with a toddler can be an anxiety-inducing experience, so the best toys for travel will keep your tot âengaged, contained, and occupied without their normal routineâ while taking up the least amount of carry-on space, says Eromenok. And if they help your child learn their ABCâs or practice hand-eye coordination while doing so, even better!
Mini Voyager Travel Activity Kit
Fat Brain Toys Dimpl Sensory Toy
Guolely Busy Board Montessori Toy
Kids Erasable Doodle Book Set
Bizyboo The Original Seek & Find Plush
âMy Sticker Dress-Up: Baby Animalsâ by Louise Anglicas
Melissa & Doug Paw Patrol Water Wow! Activity Book
Jellycat Jungly Tails Cloth Book
Inzerwudi Busy Board Cube Montessori Toy
LiKee Silicone Baby Teething Strings
