As a child grows from the infant stage into their first year it can be difficult to decide which toys are age-appropriate. You are also probably ready to move on to something a little more exciting than Sophie the Giraffe yourself. Whether you are looking for a first birthday gift or just looking to add something new to the playroom, we have gathered the best toys for 1 year olds below!
The Best Toys for 1 Year Olds
Finding the Best Toys for 1 Year Old Babies
The best toys for a 1 year old mix developmental milestones with sensory activities. This means they will not only keep your baby’s attention but also help them grow. Due to this, we have sorted them into categories to help highlight the benefits of each toy beyond being a fun, age-appropriate item.
Jump to the category you’re looking for:
- Grow with Me Toys
- Floor and Ride-On Toys
- Toys That Encourage Learning and Imagination
- Toys That Aid in Development
Grow With Me Toys: The toys can be used when sitting, standing, and crawling or walking. These toys grow along with your child, giving you long term use.
Floor and Ride-On Toys: These are perfect for this age group because the child can learn how to play independently from their seat on the floor and then can explore even more as they learn to crawl, stand, and walk.
Toys That Encourage Learning and Imagination: These will help your little one reach their next milestone through the use of lights, colors, sounds, and music.
Toys That Aid in Development: While these are also toys that involve learning, they are specifically focused on helping your child fine-tune their motor skills. For this age group, most of these toys are floor centered and involve stacking and teaching colors and shapes.
Best Grow with Me Toys for 1 Year Olds
VTech Sit to Stand Learning Walker
5 stars on Amazon with Over 60,000 Reviews!
Before your little one can walk, they can play with the early learning center while sitting. It has 5 piano keys that play music and encourage creativity. Once they start standing, they can push this around as a walker. The wheels even work on carpeted floors!
Skip Hope Follow-Me Bee Crawl Toy
The Follow-Me Bee is made for children over 5 months old and is a great option if you are looking for a toy that will motivate your baby to crawl. This toy can be played with in 3 different stages for pre-crawlers, crawlers, and advanced crawlers.
VTech Pull and Sing Puppy
The Pull and Sing Puppy is a fun interactive dog with buttons, lights, and songs for your little one to discover. It also has the ability to roll along the floor, making it great for toddlers sitting, crawling, and walking.
Best Floor and Ride-On Toys for a 1 Year Old
Wooden Race Track Car Ramp
This is a great interactive toy for floor play. The cars are big enough that they are safe for a 1 year old, which sets them apart from many other racing track toys. Plus, it has such a simple design that your toddler can navigate using it on their own.
Trikes from Posh Baby and Kids
Posh Baby and Kids is one of my favorite shops for high-quality, eco-friendly baby gear. They have two amazing trikes that every parent with a 1-year-old should definitely check out! The Bentley 6-in-1 Trike and the Rito Trike can both be transformed from a stroller to a trike as your little one grows.
The Bentley 6-in-1 Trike is luxurious, but what really sets it apart is the fact it can be used from the time your child is 6 months old through 5 years old. I have been using the Bentley 6-in-1 Trike on my daily walks with my family and I am so impressed by the quality and safety features. I also love how easy it is to transition the trike between the different stages so both my 1-year-old and 5-year-old can use it.
The Rito Trike is also amazing and much more budget-friendly. As opposed to 6 different stages, it only has 3 but it still will last your little for many years! I also love that the Rito is so easy to pack up and take along with you on the go.
Geometric Sorting Shapes
These Geometric Sorting Shapes are a great simple floor toy. The five different shapes are all wooden and painted in rainbow colors. They are perfectly sized for little hands to grasp. Plus, the pegboard holder is great for teaching sorting, hand-eye coordination, as well as colors, shapes, and counting.
Looking for other Montessori-style toy ideas? Check out our top picks!
Radio Flyer 4-in-1 Stroll N’ Trike
This toy starts out as a stroller that you can push your toddler around in. Then it converts into a steering trike, learn-to-ride trike, and full tricycle.
??Maysuke Baby Balance Bike
The Baby Balance Bike is a pedal-less bike designed for toddlers. The ride is powered by their feet! The larger wheels and handle make steering easy. It is a great beginner bike to help children learn the basics while having a blast.
My little guy was gifted this bike by our friends for his birthday and he absolutely loves it! I have been so surprised by how often he uses it.
Best Toys for a 1 Year Old that Encourage Learning and Imagination
Musical Learning Workbench
The Musical Learning Workbench allows young children to start working with their own tools and learning how to fix things just like adults. This workbench is complete with tools and the workstation, which makes tool noises, has lights, and teaches shapes with the bench pieces.
VTech Musical Rhymes Book
Picture books are great but this interactive Musical Rhymes Book allows children to enjoy music while reading. This book is easy for little fingers to turn, has buttons for playing music, and has two modes, music and learning.
Top Bright Activity Cube
Many young children’s learning toys fit as many opportunities for activity into one toy, and the Activity Cube is no exception. This wooden box features five sides of activity from the top with bead sliders to each side with its own interactive element. The top portion is removable to store all the pieces inside.
LeapFrog Music Table
For a stationary learning toy the LeapFrog Music Table is a great choice. This low table has a tabletop full of lights, buttons, and colors for teaching all the basics. The table can play upwards of 70 songs and has the option to play in both English and Spanish. This is a great learning station for those beginning to stand and walk.
Best Toys for a 1 Year Old that Aid in Development
Lovevery Play Kits
We suggest every parent looks into signing up for a Lovevery Play Kit subscription. Lovevery toys are designed by experts and are meant to support learning within the developmental stage your baby is in.
They even provide tips and ways to play giving you new ideas for interaction with your quickly growing and changing 1 year old!
Mega Bloks First Builders
A classic building toy, a set of Mega Bloks helps children learn colors, shapes, and the basics of building. These blocks are a great option for small hands to help them develop motor skills and keep the pieces safe for independent or solo play.
Wooden Xylophone
This Wooden Xylophone offers a unique twist on the classic toy. A series of large wooden balls are hit with a mallet on the top to make the xylophone play notes below. Children can learn how to make sounds, work on hand-eye coordination, and the balls roll away which gets them moving.
Stacking Cups
A simple yet fun and age-appropriate toy is these Stacking Cups. Available in a range of colors these stackable cups are a great on-the-go toy to help children with hand-eye coordination, basic puzzle skills, and colors. This toy is great on its own or with other toys for more fun.
Have Questions or Suggestions about our Top Toys for 1 Year Olds? Leave us a message in the comments!
Frequently Asked Questions
Which toy is best for 1 year old?
We suggest every parent looks into signing up for a Lovevery Play Kit subscription. Lovevery toys are designed by experts and are meant to support learning within the developmental stage your baby is in.
What do 1 year olds play with?
The best toys for a 1 year old mix meeting developmental milestones with sensory activities. This means they will not only keep your baby’s attention but also help them grow.
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