If 1-Year-Olds Could Talk, These Are All the Toys They'd Ask For (2024)

The one-year mark in a child’s life is a big milestone as kids leave the baby stage and officially enter the toddler stage. As they develop physically, emotionally, and developmentally, a whole new world of age-appropriate toys also opens for them. Children this age are intrigued by colors, sounds, and textures. But they also like to put things in their mouths, so choose toys that are safe and easy to keep clean.

The best toys for 1-year-olds provide sensory enrichment, help develop motor skills, and encourage language learning. To find these toys, we surveyed 875 parents and caregivers and asked about their kids' favorite toys, what skills they help them develop, and how durable and easy to use they are. In addition, we interviewed a pediatrician and a toy industry expert to gain further insights into toy safety and the latest trends. A physician double board-certified in neonatology and pediatrics on our Expert Board also reviewed this article for medical accuracy and integrity surrounding the safety, ease of use, and developmental appropriateness of toys for 1-year-olds.

Our Favorites

• Fisher-Price Farm to Market Tractor Ride-on With Pull Wagon
• Hape Pound & Tap Bench
• Manhattan Toy Little Rocket Finds Home Soft Activity Crinkle Book
• Fisher-Price Baby's First Blocks
• Radio Flyer Busy Buggy
• Battat Wooden Activity Cube
• Melissa & Doug Safari Jumbo Knob Puzzle
• Fisher-Price Learning Table
• Fisher-Price Brilliant Basics Stack & Roll Cups
• Tommy Tommies Hide & Squeak Eggs

Fisher-Price Farm to Market Tractor Ride-on With Pull Wagon

Once toddlers start walking independently, a whole new world of mobility opens up withride-ons, pull and push toys, and more. TheFisher-Price Tractor Ride-Onmaximizes all these newly learned abilities. This learning toy features 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 & Tape Bench

This award-winning musical toy has been praised for itscolorful wooden designand 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.

The Hape Pound and Tap Bench is made with high-quality wood with child-safe paint and rounded edges, making iteasy to clean and safefor 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 daily. Sometimes he taps the xylophone, but his favorite part is pushing the balls through the slots and putting them back in.

Manhattan Toy Little Rocket Finds Home Soft Activity Crinkle Book

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.

Fisher-Price Baby's First Blocks

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.

Radio Flyer Ride-On Car

The Radio Flyer Busy Buggy gets kids moving, whether pushing this adorable car around or interacting with one of its many features. One of our writers received a free sample of this Radio Flyer ride-on toy (but in pink), and it was a breeze to put together, requiring only the attachment of the handlebar. The Busy Buggy has 17 interactive features, like clicking dials and folding mirrors, which allow toddlers to enhance their fine motor skills.

We love the storage compartment underneath the seat, where kids can pack their favorite toys (or the TV remote) for the ride. If kids don’t feel like walking, they can sit on the seat and power the car using their feet.

Battat Wooden Activity Cube

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.

Melissa & Doug Safari Jumbo Knob Puzzle

Tots one year and up can practiceproblem-solving, hand-eye coordination, and fine motor skillswith anadorable puzzle like the Melissa & Doug Jumbo Knob Wooden Puzzle. 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.

Fisher-Price Learning Table

Little ones get to stand up while they play with the Fisher-Price Around the Town Learning Table, which is broken into four play zones, including 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.

Fisher-Price Brilliant Basics Stack & Roll Cups

Children between 6 months and 4 years old can play with this toy that can bestacked, nested, or turned into a ball. It has10 colorful pieces of varying sizes, plus a little yellow ball, all working together to createfun towers and other configurations. In addition to all the fun, this stacking toy helps kids work on color identification, counting, spatial awareness,problem-solving, and strengthening fine motor skills.

Tomy Toomies Hide & Squeak Eggs

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.

LeapFrog Learning Friends 100 Words Book

The LeapFrog Learning Friends 100 Words Book contains 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.

B. Toys Squeeze Baby Blocks

Littles between6 months and 3 years oldcan stack, sort, squeeze, toss, and even chew on these soft molding foam blocks. The set comes with 10 blocks in various colors, each with different images on all six sides, including numbers, animals, and shapes. When they’re not being played with, the blocks stack nicely into a little plastic carrying case for storage.

Leapfrog Spin and Sing Alphabet Zoo

The LeapFrog Spin and Sing Alphabet Zoo is surprisingly functional. 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.

Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Vacuum

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.

Baby Einstein Magic Touch Piano

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 Baby Einstein Magic Touch 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.

Little Tikes Rocking Horse

The Little Tikes 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.

Manhattan Toy Winkel Rattle & Sensory Teether Toy

Children up to 2 years old can clutch and teeth on theManhattan Toy Winkel 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.

VTech Pull and Sing Puppy

If your family isn’t quite ready for a real puppy, the VTech Pull and Sing Puppy 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.

First 100 Words

At 1 year of age,your child's vocabulary is likely on the verge of exploding. This comprehensive book, complete with100 words essential to a child’s daily life, provides a gentle nudge in the right direction. The board-book style makes "First 100 Words" easy for tiny hands to maneuver, andbright, bold illustrations keep kids engaged.

FoxPrint Rocket Ship Tent

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 acozy reading nook.

BusyPuzzle Personalized Name Puzzle With Pegs

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 names.

Little Tikes First Slide

When your new toddler is still a little too small for the playground, thisbeginner-level slideis a great alternative for aclimbing toy. The Little Tikes First Slide is suitable forboth 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.

Manhattan Toy Tree Top Adventure Activity Center

There’s no shortage of fun to be had with this award-winning wooden toy. Thefreestanding activity table, which features dozens ofbead runs and gliders that facilitate grasping 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.

Radio Flyer 4-in-1 Stroll 'N Trike

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 adult help, a learn-to-ride trike, or a classic trike suitable for more independent riders. Though the Radio Flyer 4-in-1 Stroll 'N Trike is pricier, it’s a worthy investment because you'll use it for years; it’ssuitable for children as young as 1 year and as old as 5 years.

Mega Bloks 80-Piece Big Building Bag

The Mega Block Big Building Bag is a set of80 large-scale blocksthat provide 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.

Fat Brain Toys SpinAgain Kids Stacking Toy

This toy puts a new 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.

Boon Building Bath Toys Set

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.

B. toys by Battat FunKeys Toy

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.

VTech Drop and Go Dump Truck

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.

VTech Smart Shots Sports Center

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 play fun songs and sounds.

Our Review Process

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.

Our Experts

• Natasha Burgert, MD, is a pediatrician in South Overland Park, Kansas. She's also the American Academy of Pediatrics national spokesperson and 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.

Factors to Consider 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. The toy should be lightweight enough for your toddler to carry and lift, and 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 they can 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.

Your Questions, Answered

How do children benefit from playing with their parents or caregivers?

One of the best ways for little ones to learn is by observing parents and caregivers. Toddlers are like little sponges, soaking in everything they see. When you play with your baby, they learn how to interact and behave by watching and mimicking your actions.

How many toys should a 1-year-old have?

When it comes to toys, the number doesn't matter as long as they help your 1-year-old explore and learn. You do not need too many toys, as long as they engage your toddler's interests and allow them to work on building new skills, especially cognitive, physical, and verbal skills.

When should I buy toys for my baby?

You can buy toys for your baby at any time, although newborns benefit mainly from watching parents and caregivers. Once they reach 2 to 4 months old, they benefit from toys during tummy time. From there, they gradually become more interested in playing and engaging with toys.

Who We Are

Ashley Ziegler is a 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.