Best Toys for One Year Olds

Crawling Tunnel; Crawling through this tunnel never gets old. It’s lightweight, folds away easily, and is such a great way to encourage movement. Plus, there’s something about disappearing and popping out that makes one-year-olds laugh every single time.

Sit-to-Stand Walker; A total classic. It gives your little one the confidence to take those wobbly steps, and the front panel has lights, sounds, and buttons to keep them entertained even when they’re just sitting.

Pop-a-Balls Bulldozer: This one’s pure fun. They push it, balls pop, music plays—it’s got that cause-and-effect magic toddlers love. Also great for getting them to move around when they’re still finding their feet.

Laugh & Learn Vacuum: This might be the only vacuum you want your toddler obsessed with. It lights up, makes sounds, and lets them “clean” right alongside you. So cute and great for pretend play too.

Climb & Crawl Set: If you’ve got a climber, this is a must. Soft foam shapes they can stack, slide, or tumble over—and you can rearrange them a million ways. Indoor energy-burner for sure.

Push and Ride Racer: This is one of those “grow with them” toys. They can push it when learning to walk, then hop on and ride later. Super sturdy, low to the ground, and great for indoor zoomies.

First Balance Bike: Such a good first ride-on. No pedals—just scooting with their feet to build balance and confidence. Lightweight enough for them to carry (or for you to toss in the trunk for park days).

4-in-1 Activity Walker: A walker, activity center, and ride-on all in one. We love it because it adapts to their stage—early standers, walkers, and even little racers once they’re steady. Stylish and smart.

Walk-A-Long Puppy: This wooden pull toy is sweet, simple, and gets so much love. They pull it around, stop to give it hugs, and it’s great for encouraging those early steps with a little buddy in tow.

My First Slide: Indoors or outside, this is toddler gold. It’s low enough for them to climb and slide safely, but still gives that thrill. Add a soft mat or use it with balls underneath for extra fun.

Sports Activity Centre: If you want a mini playground setup, this one’s a win. Comes with a mini slide, ball toss, and basketball hoop. It’s great for practicing coordination and just letting them burn off all that toddler energy.

Fidget Popper Caterpillar & Ladybug: These little poppers are so satisfying. Perfect size for little hands, and they help build finger strength while giving them something fun to focus on. Ours live in the diaper bag for on-the-go entertainment.

LED Busy Board: So many buttons, switches, and lights to explore! This one keeps little hands busy and minds curious. Great for independent play while working those finger muscles and coordination.

Rainbow Stacking Rings: A classic with a pretty rainbow twist. Easy to grip, not too high-stakes if they knock it over, and perfect for practicing stacking, size sorting, and color naming.

Farm Activity Cube: One of those toys that does a little bit of everything. Doors to open, knobs to twist, beads to slide—plenty of opportunities to work those fine motor skills while keeping them entertained for longer than 3 minutes (a win!).

Cutting Fruit Set: Velcro + wooden knife = slicing heaven for toddlers. It’s such a fun way to work on hand control, and it doubles as pretend play too. Ours gets used in every “kitchen” game.

Bubble Gun: They’ll need a bit of help at first, but pressing that button to watch bubbles fly? Magical. It’s a great way to practice hand strength (and distract them during tough moments outside).

Pounding Bench: So much toddler joy from banging things with a little hammer. It helps with hand-eye coordination and gets some of that wild energy out too. Plus, the pegs pop back up—so no resetting needed.

Stacking Cups: Basic? Yes. Boring? Never. These get used for stacking, scooping, water play, hiding small toys… It’s endless. Great for fine motor play and building early problem-solving.

Fishing Game: Comes with a little magnetic rod and soft fishies—perfect for beginning coordination practice. It’s gentle enough for one-year-olds but still fun once they get the hang of it.

Pop Fidget: A spinner and a popper. One of those fidget toys that buys you five precious minutes of quiet time while they focus on making the pop sounds and watching it whirl.

Jumbo Nuts and Bolts: These are chunky, bright, and super satisfying to twist. Great for hand strength and fine motor coordination. We keep ours in a small basket on the shelf—they’re always being rediscovered.

Carrot Harvest Box: Toddlers love pulling the carrots out of this box. It’s basically a sorting and matching game disguised as a garden. So simple, so fun, and really good for building those grasp-and-release skills.

Around the Farm: Each button makes an animal sound, and the book walks through all the classic farm animals. It’s such a good one for building vocabulary and encouraging your toddler to start naming animals and copying their sounds.

Pound-a-Ball and Car Ramp Track: This one’s full of excitement—pound the ball and watch it race down! Perfect for teaching action words like “go!” “again!” “down!”—you’ll hear them squealing those after just a few turns.

Little People See ‘n Say: Total throwback, but still such a gem. They spin, press, and hear the name and sound of the animal—great for early speech, listening, and repetition.

Unicorn Ball Popper: Push the unicorn’s belly and out shoots the ball—it’s silly and surprising in the best way. It’s also great for prompting little exclamations like “pop!” “whoa!” and “go!”

Rollables Wooden Ocean Slide: The balls roll down so smoothly and slowly, which keeps toddlers watching—and talking. Great for modeling simple words like “roll,” “wave,” “fish,” or even “again!”

Bear Feeding Toy: Your toddler gets to “feed” the bear and talk about what’s going in—spoon, banana, juice. It’s a sweet one for encouraging pretend feeding and functional speech like “more,” “yum,” or “all done.”

Sound it Out Cards: These are perfect for building expressive language. They’re bright, simple flashcards with clear images that make it easier for toddlers to connect words with pictures.

Mighty Echo Microphone: No batteries, no noise—just the joy of hearing their own voice echoed back. It’s hilarious and amazing for encouraging sound play, babbling, and confidence with vocalizing.

Little People Hot Wheels Spiral: The cars zoom down and toddlers narrate the whole thing—“go car!” “fast!” “again!” This kind of play naturally encourages lots of spontaneous speech and action words.

Rainbow Spinning Stacker: They love spinning the rings and knocking them down. Great for naming colors, using size words like “big” and “small,” and repeating those fun action verbs.

Mr. Potato Head:Such a fun one for body part vocabulary. You can talk through every piece—eyes, ears, nose, mouth—and toddlers love pulling them out and sticking them back in (in some truly hilarious combinations).

Cleaning Play Set: This set is always a win. The broom, mop, and duster are perfectly toddler-sized—and yes, they will follow you around the house pretending to clean. It’s adorable and kind of helpful (at least in spirit 😅).

Farmer’s Market Play Food: These baskets are amazing for pretend shopping, sorting, or “cooking.” Each one is color-coded and filled with play food. Great for vocabulary building and pretend play.

Coffee Maker: If your toddler sees you with coffee every morning, this is their moment. Comes with pretend coffee pods and a mug—mine loves saying, “coffee ready!” and bringing it to everyone in the room.

Bake & Decorate Cupcakes: These are so fun to “ice” and decorate. The tops stick on with Velcro, and the pretend play possibilities are endless—tea parties, birthdays, café play… we do them all!

Peg People: Simple but full of possibilities. These wooden peg dolls fit right into small hands and work perfectly with dollhouses, baskets, or just open-ended storytelling. I love how calming they are for solo play.

Twin Dolls: These soft-bodied dolls are perfect for hugs, pretend naps, and being gently carried around all day. They’re not too big, not too small—just right for toddler arms and hearts.

Birthday Party Cake: Toddlers love singing happy birthday—so why not celebrate every day? This wooden set has candles and slices, and it’s been part of our play kitchen since day one.

Buddy Stroller: So lightweight, so easy to push. Even beginner walkers manage well with it, and it fits most dolls or plushies. It’s also the cutest thing when they take their “baby” for a walk around the house.

Telephone: Total nostalgic vibes! The rotary dial, the pull-along cord, and the little face make this one such a classic. It’s a hit for toddlers who love pretending to call mama, dada, or their favorite stuffed animal.

Little People Playset: These chunky little characters are perfect for early pretend. They’re easy to grip and come with fun buildings like farms, houses, or buses. Great for storytelling, sound effects, and open-ended play.

Shape Sorter Truck: A shape sorter and a truck? Yes, please. Toddlers love putting the shapes in, dumping them out, and doing it all over again. It’s great for matching, coordination, and cause-and-effect learning.

Hide & Squeak Eggs: These little eggs are such a toddler hit. Each one has a shape-matching base and a squeaky top—and somehow they never get bored of cracking them open and squeaking like crazy.

Shape Sorter: This one is a classic for a reason. Bright colors, chunky shapes, and an easy-open lid for endless repeat play. It’s one of those toys that quietly teaches problem-solving while they’re just having fun.

Ring Stacker: The soft, textured rings are super inviting for little hands. It’s a perfect first stacker—great for size sorting, color recognition, and building coordination without feeling too tricky.

Learn to Dress Bunny: Zippers, buttons, ties—this soft bunny is like a mini life skills teacher in stuffed animal form. They’ll need help at first, but it’s such a sweet way to practice dressing skills through play.

Rocket Ball Air Stacker: This one’s a bit different—you stack the layers and then turn on the fan to make the ball float! It’s surprising, fun, and perfect for experimenting with what happens when you build it higher or change the order.

Busy Board: Classic and so useful. Zippers, buckles, laces—this board gives them tons to do with their hands, which builds focus and coordination. It’s also a travel bag essential for quiet, independent play.

London Twister Cube: A beautifully made toy that’s part maze, part track. Move the wooden buses and taxis around, twist them through the loops, and problem-solve your way around the city.

Hide & Seek Treehouse: Lift the flaps, find the animals, and match them to their homes. It’s a cute way to work on memory, matching, and storytelling—all while keeping things hands-on.

Matching Rainbow Balls & Cups: This Montessori-style set is so simple but so effective. Toddlers match the colored balls to the cups, scoop them, pour them, sort them—great for independent thinking and early categorizing skills.

Peekaboo Animal Puzzle: This one’s a favorite for early puzzlers. You lift the pieces to see what’s underneath—and the surprise element keeps them coming back. It’s perfect for building that “what happens next?” thinking.

Safari Chunky Puzzle: These thick, sturdy pieces are just right for little hands. You can use them as stand-alone animals for pretend play, or match them to the board. We name each one as we go: “Elephant goes here!”

Nursery Rhymes Sound Puzzle: Lift the piece, and it plays the rhyme. It’s a lovely way to introduce rhythm, music, and memory. And yes, you’ll have “Twinkle Twinkle” stuck in your head all day.

Vehicles Peg Puzzle: Great for practicing that little pincer grasp. Each vehicle has a small peg, and toddlers love naming the cars, trucks, and plane as they fit them in.

Jumbo Knob Shapes Puzzle: If your little one is just starting out with puzzles, this is perfect. Huge knobs make it super easy to grab, and the basic shapes are great for early matching.

Pets Sound Puzzle: Toddlers love this one for the meows, barks, and squeaks. The sounds trigger when you lift the piece—and it’s a fun way to connect animals, sounds, and actions.

Farm Animals Puzzle: Extra big knobs and simple shapes make this perfect for one-year-olds still developing control. Plus, we love the farm theme—“What does the cow say?” gets played on repeat.

4-in-a-Box Animals Puzzle: These are such a fun little progression—four puzzles in one set, and they get slightly harder. Start with 4 pieces, then try 6 and 9. It’s perfect for growing skills slowly.

Fruits, Cars & Vegetables Puzzles: Bright, colorful wooden puzzles that are great for learning categories. My toddler loves sorting the fruits vs cars—and they’re solid enough to handle a few dramatic throws too.

Peekaboo Pets with Mirror Puzzle: This one’s so fun because there’s a mirror hidden underneath! Every time they lift a pet, they see themselves. Cue lots of grins and “hi baby!” moments—plus shape matching too.

Pet Buddies: This soft plush set is so sweet. You get a kitten, puppy, and bunny—each with their own little accessories. Perfect for gentle pretend play, feeding, brushing, and snuggling.

Little People Farm Playset: This is such a solid first farm toy. Big buttons, chunky animals, and classic sounds that toddlers love pressing over and over. Great for naming animals and making all the moos, baas, and quacks.

Peekaboo Farm: Think hide-and-seek meets animal sounds. The animals pop in and out of their little barns and it’s so fun for encouraging language, matching, and early pretend play.

Take Along Barn: A compact, carry-friendly farm with chunky animals and fences. We love it for travel or playdates—easy to pack, but full of open-ended play options once you open it up.

Magnetic Animals Train Set: Animals and a train? Yes, please. The animals link up like train cars and roll along—great for storytelling and cause-and-effect play. Also a sneaky way to work those fine motor skills.

Forest Friends: A woodland twist on animal play—raccoons, owls, deer, and more. We pair these with blocks or sensory bins and let the storytelling begin. They’re chunky and durable—perfect for tiny hands.

Take Along Farm Playmat: This one’s part puzzle, part playmat, part storage. Unzip it to reveal a full farm scene, play with the animals, then zip it all back up again. So handy and fun for floor play.

Jumbo Safari Animals: These are big, bold, and nearly indestructible. Great for outdoor or messy play too—we’ve washed ours in the tub, brought them to the sandpit, and even lined them up in the kitchen.

Baby Farm Animals:These are so detailed and realistic—they’re small but sturdy and great for older one-year-olds who love tiny toys. We use them for naming, matching, and pretend feeding. They’re also perfect for growing into.

Toddler Cars: These are colorful, chunky, and just the right size for tiny hands. They come in a set with all sorts of vehicles—police car, fire truck, taxi—and no batteries needed. Just pure toddler-powered fun.

Dump Truck: This one’s a favorite at our house—and it's built to last. Made from recycled plastic, super sturdy, and perfect for indoor or outdoor play. Ours has hauled everything from blocks to snacks to sand.

Magnetic Train Cars: Wooden, simple, and so satisfying to link together. The magnets are strong enough for toddlers to manage, and you can build a little train crew in no time.

School Bus: This chunky wooden bus comes with little peg people, and it’s perfect for pretend play. “All aboard!” is heard on repeat around here—and they love popping the passengers in and out.

Cars Set: A whole fleet of vehicles ready to roll. The designs are fun and bright, and they’re built tough for toddler play. Great for keeping in a basket they can dig through and discover something new each time.

Little People Vehicles: Each vehicle comes with a character and fun sound features, but what makes them a win is how easy they are to push and play with—even for wobbly walkers still mastering control.

Nesting and Sorting Garages and Cars: This is a favorite for play and learning. Stack the garages, match the cars by color, drive them through the “car wash”—so many ways to play.

Little People Hot Wheels: The fun of Hot Wheels, made toddler-friendly. These chunky cars zoom fast, but they’re easier to grip and hold. Ours are always racing down the hallway or hiding under the couch.

Car Ramp: This is a true crowd-pleaser. You send the little cars down the ramps and they flip and roll all the way to the bottom—over and over. Great for cause-and-effect learning and lots of giggles.

John Deere Ride-on Tractor: If you’ve got the space (indoor or out), this is so fun. They can sit and scoot around like a little farmer. Bonus: there’s a working horn, which they love and you’ll maybe regret.

Classic Xylophone: This one’s been around forever, and for good reason. Toddlers love dragging it around by the string and banging out “songs” with the little mallet. Great for hand-eye coordination and rhythm practice (and for getting those tiny arms moving!).

Kidibeats Drum Set: Lights, sounds, and three little drum pads to tap—this set brings the energy. It plays pre-programmed beats or lets your toddler freestyle. Ours turns into a one-kid marching band every time.

Magic Touch Piano: Wooden top, magic touch keys—no buttons, no pressure, just lovely little notes. It’s a great intro to piano play, and the included music cards help with early matching and following patterns.

Drum Set: Comes with two drumsticks and loads of fun extras like a shaker and tambourine tucked inside. The case holds it all together, which makes this set surprisingly easy to store (and clean up).

Fox Xylophone:A super cute option with clear, sweet notes. The mallet is attached (yes!), so you’re not constantly searching under the couch. A fun toy that encourages simple cause-and-effect learning.

Farmstand DJ Set: This one’s just cool. It’s got a turntable-style spinner, buttons, and a little DJ vibe that makes toddlers feel like pros. Great for pressing, twisting, and dancing around to silly sounds.

Piano Xylophone Drum: If you’re low on space but want variety, this one has all the basics in one toy. Pound, tap, press—whatever your toddler’s into, this has it covered.

Pop-up Farm:Technically a toy, but loaded with musical fun. Each animal pops up and plays a little sound or tune. Great for teaching cause-and-effect, fine motor skills, and encouraging them to mimic sounds or sing along.

Cows on the Bus: A hilarious twist on the classic “Wheels on the Bus” song. The animals ride the bus—and the sounds will have your toddler howling with laughter. Great for singing, silly noises, and repeat reads.

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?: A rhythm that rolls off the tongue and keeps toddlers hooked. Perfect for building early vocabulary and memory—this one becomes a favorite very quickly.

Don’t Tickle the Cow: Soft touchy-feely spots + animal sounds = total toddler gold. Every time they press the page and hear the sound, you get giggles. It’s interactive, sensory, and super fun.

Llama Llama Time to Play: Short, sweet rhymes with those classic Llama Llama vibes. Easy to follow, bright illustrations, and a nice little storyline about playtime with friends.

That’s Not My Puppy: The touch-and-feel series that’s made for one-year-olds. Each page has a texture to explore, and the repetitive “That’s not my…” phrasing makes it easy for little ones to follow along and join in.

Pajama Time: A bedtime favorite that’s fun and bouncy. The rhymes are catchy, the illustrations are adorable, and it makes getting into pajamas feel like a party (which is sometimes half the battle).

Poke-a-Dot Wheels on the Bus – Wild Safari: It’s like popping bubble wrap, but inside a book. The dots make a clicky sound when you press them, and kids love poking them while singing along to the song.

Never Touch a Shark: The textures in this book are so funky and fun—squishy, rubbery, bumpy! Plus, it’s full of silly rhymes that are fun to read aloud. Great for sensory exploration and giggles.

What Sound Do You Make? Look & See: Flip the flaps and make the sounds! It’s a fun little book that encourages your toddler to copy animal noises—great for early speech and interaction.

Noisy Things That Go: Buttons to press and real vehicle sounds make this a huge hit with vehicle-loving toddlers. Bonus: it’s perfect for car trips or solo “reading” time when they want to press and listen again and again.

See Touch Feel: A beautiful sensory book with bright, simple pictures and raised textures. It’s great for little hands exploring and learning to name what they see—faces, shapes, animals, and more.

Dear Zoo: A classic lift-the-flap with just the right amount of surprise. They’ll love guessing what’s behind each flap and shouting “no!” when the animal’s too big, too scary, or too jumpy. Still one of the best baby books out there.

Learning Tower: If your toddler wants to “help” in the kitchen every day, this tower is a game changer. It brings them to counter height safely, folds away when not in use, and makes cooking (and snack prep) a shared moment instead of a wrestling match.

Rotating Bookshelf: A dream if you’re low on space but have a lot of books. It spins easily, holds way more than you think, and makes it fun for your toddler to “choose a story” all by themselves. It’s cute and functional.

Tonies Box: Honestly, this little audio box is magic. Your toddler taps a character to hear songs or stories—and it works without screens. Great for independent play, calming routines, and quiet time that actually happens.

Toddler Chair: A cozy little chair that makes them feel like a big kid. Ours gets used for reading, snack breaks, or just lounging with a blanket. It's sturdy, wipeable, and super cute in any room.

Ride-On Car: If your toddler loves being outdoors, this is so worth it. It’s easy to push, has storage under the hood, and makes daily walks way more fun. Bonus: you can use it instead of a stroller for short trips.

Figgy Play Couch: Yes, it’s an investment—but wow, it gets used for everything. Climbing, jumping, fort building, movie nights, quiet time. It grows with them, looks good in the living room, and turns any day into an indoor playground.

Play Kitchen: A full pretend kitchen that toddlers never get bored of. It’s sturdy, has lots of storage, and becomes the heart of so much daily play—cooking, cleaning, organizing… and endless “dinner” served to you.

Sensory Table: must if you’re into sensory play. It has two big bins, lids to cover everything up, and holds water, rice, beans—whatever you’re in the mood for. It’s well-built and totally toddler-proof.

Table & Chairs Set:Sleek, minimal, and the perfect toddler size. Great for crafts, snack time, puzzles, or pretend tea parties. It’s one of those pieces that blends into your home and gets daily use without screaming “kid furniture.”