When a baby reaches the one-year milestone, a lot of important changes happen, both physically and cognitively. The best toys for a one-year-old – whether it’s a puzzle, book or tool – can do wonders for a child’s development over the next year.
Use the first birthday as an excuse to shower new toddlers with the best toys for a one-year-old you can find!
20. Fat Brain Toys Tobbles Neo
The body isn’t the only part of babies’ growth that is about to go through huge changes; the brain also improves at a surprising rate after the first year.
Now that the baby’s eyes are becoming more adept at focusing, they will begin to inspect the world around and try and make sense of it. One of the best toys for a one-year-old child is a colorful stacking toy to help them understand shapes.
The six dual-colored spheres of this stacking set is an absolute delight. Not only will it help your kid develop their cognitive skills and eye-hand coordination, but it will also teach them about colors and balance.
One additional detail we love: this toy is so aesthetically pleasing that we don’t mind seeing this stacked in our living room.
19. Simple First Words: Let’s Talk (Board Book)
Toddlers aren’t about to start sounding out Moby Dick, but books can be used as toys to help babies build their vocabulary and understanding of the world around them.
They won’t read along, but they will play with the pictures — particularly if the book has a tactile element and sound, like this one. By pressing the buttons of this board book, kids will learn simple words while enjoying themselves.
18. Big Mo’s Toys Pretend Play Dishes Playset
As babies develop, feeding time gets more complicated.
Colorful plastic plates, bowls, spoons, dull forks, and other accessories are toys toddlers can use to keep up with their new diets. Toddlers will happily imitate Mommy and Daddy at the table when they upgrade from breast milk or formula to solid food.
These toys help the child transition to adult utensils down the road.
17. Radio Flyer Classic Walker Wagon
Between 12 months and 20 months, a child progresses from crawling to running. Unfortunately, ambition can outstrip balancing abilities, which makes walking a dangerous task.
Help the kid out by gifting a push toy. These come in a variety of types, but anything with four sturdy wheels and a short handlebar makes this an ideal gift. It can also double as toy storage.
The toy that fulfills these conditions is the Radio Flyer Classic Walker Wagon. It has a resist push feature that helps beginners build confidence and balance. You can also remove the wooden stake sides if your toddler is tired of walking and want to sit on the toy.
16. Puzzle Colorful Farm Artwork
Some of the best toys for a one-year-old are those that allow the kid to play with their hands.
This easy-to-grasp jumbo knob puzzle will help your kid enhance their visual perception skills and hand-eye coordination. They will be trying on and again to match the shapes of the puzzle with the pieces and learn about life at the same time.
The board offers an extra learning opportunity. Review with them the different elements present on the board, and teach them the sound each one of the animals makes! Fun times guaranteed.
15. VTech Sit-to-Stand Learning Walker
The best toys for a one-year-old are those that offer many features at once.
We are in love with this interactive learning baby walker and the many games it has. The learning center has a five-key piano that plays music, three shape sorters, three light-up buttons, and two colorful spinners.
If you’re worried about space, rest assured: the play panel is removable. If you are concerned about mobility, the wheels of the walker work on carpeted and hard floors.
Your kid will never find himself or herself bored again!
14. Mini Band Musical Instruments
Do you have a kid who shakes their hips at every song and becomes alert every time a phone starts ringing? You might have a musically-inclined child!
Wake their musical senses up with this brilliant set. They will have two tambourines, two wooden shaking belles, two egg shakers, two maracas, and two castanets, in addition to a whistle and a pair of touching bells.
Rock on!
13. Pacific Plan Tents Multi Color Tunnel
Younger (and even older) kids love to play explorer and hide in the most unlikely places in the house. If they decide to do it in a colorful tunnel far from any harm, we would be relieved.
This Pacific Play Tent has a polyester taffeta fabric with interior padding around the hardened spring steel wire structure for extra safety.
Don’t be afraid of taking this tunnel out for a spin in your yard. You can easily clean it with a damp cloth and mild soap after an outdoor afternoon play time or a birthday party with many kids running around and through it.
You can fold it up into a carrying case when you’re done with it, so it doesn’t take any space.
12. Radio Flyer Busy Buggy
If your kids would rather roll than walk, this little gem is for them. Your kids will be going on exciting rides full of adventures and sensory experiences because of the 17 interactive features.
They can use a key, honk the horn, hide a small object in a hidden compartment under the seat, and see what’s behind them with small mirrors on the side (road safety is no joke!).
An ABC cube game, in addition to moving gears and sliding beads, are available if they decide to stop mid-way for quick play time.
Time to roll!
11. LeapFrog Musical Rainbow Tea Party
Cups up and cakes out, it’s tea time.
This 10-piece musical tea party is promising good times for learning new words and having a blast. It teaches 50+ phrases and sounds and 7 tea-time learning songs. Not only will your kid make Mr. Teddy Bear the best tea it has ever tasted, but they will also learn about colors and matching, counting, manners, and greetings.
The teapot lights up in six colors and can be opened to reveal a shiny mirror.
10. Little Tikes Rocking Horse Blue
A classic with a twist.
Many kids across generations have been playing with rocking horses, and it’s time your kid does too. The seat of this Little Tikes rocking horse is designed to keep kids from falling forward or back. It has easy-grip handles to keep your kid in place.
You can have it in the corner of your living room or your garden, and you don’t need much strength to push it around. You won’t need to worry about small parts scattered around your house either because this is one of the best toys for a one-year-old that come in a single piece.
9. Green Toys Shape Sorter
Stimulate your child’s cognitive skills with this circular shape sorter.
One thing that makes this Green Toys Shape Sorter stand out from the rest is its eco-friendly component. Made with food-safe and 100% recycled plastic, the toy is light enough for little hands to grab without any difficulty.
They have no sharp edges or small parts, so this toy is ideal for kids who are prone to play time incidents.
8. VTech Pull and Sing Puppy
Is your kid already starting to shout “PUPPY!” at every four-legged animal they see out there? In this case, this cute Pull and Sing Puppy toy might make their day.
This interactive puppy will follow the child around thanks to the cord attached to it. This cord can also activate music and sounds. The toy introduces numbers, colors, and parts of the body as well with its buttons and 60+ songs and sounds.
They will start asking for a puppy in a few years, might as well start practicing taking care of one from now on.
7. VTech Smart Shots Sports Center
It’s a goal! We found the perfect toy for the sporty kid!
This two-in-one toy has a basketball hoop and a soccer net, in addition to an animated LED scoreboard.
As they throw the ball and hit the mark, they will see an encouraging animation, sound, and phrases to build their confidence. But that’s not all. You can notice some shapes, numbers, and 50+ songs you can play by pushing the buttons.
This is an excellent game to develop motor skills while having fun.
6. First 100 Words (Board Book)
We all look forward to the first “Mama” or “Dada” words when we have a toddler. Once that magical moment happens, parents can’t wait until their little one can express themselves in full sentences.
Help your kid expand their vocabulary early on by providing them with this jam-packed board book. It will keep your kid engaged with 100 color photographs of 100 simple first words that will help them formulate their thoughts more accurately in their daily life.
The cover is softly padded for the comfort of little hands.
5. Manhattan Toy Stack and Pull 24-Piece Wooden Blocks Train
Choo-choo, it’s the most fun train block around the block!
The bright colors and shapes are the first things to attract our attention. Your kid will have a blast assembling these 24 stackable pieces in the funniest ways possible. The three cute character heads are a nice detail. This wooden train can be rolled thanks to its wheels and cord.
The toy is finished with water-based, non-toxic stains and paint.
4. Jellycat Odell Octopus Stuffed Animal
For the kid who likes to hug, cuddle, and sleep with a plushy, we present you with the Jellycat Odell Octopus.
Its twisty legs are so cute that you will want to keep it in your room instead of your toddler’s nursery!
3. Manhattan Toy Skwish Color Burst Rattle and Teether Grasping Activity Toy
This complicated-looking toy is, in fact, one of the best toys for a one-year-old.
It is a teether and rattle toy that can flatten and get back to its original shape thanks to the elastic ties that hold it together. The beads on the sticks—made of sustainable wood— make a playful sound for your kid to enjoy.
Your toddler will busy themselves with rattling, grasping, squishing, and munching on this toy. It has a non-toxic, water-based finish.
2. Baby Einstein Magic Touch Piano Wooden Musical Toy
It’s time to groove with this piano touch game.
Your kid will compose his or her first sonata with a few touches only. They can let their imagination run wild and make music or follow the music sheets on the board.
Don’t worry about the noise. You can turn the music to “low” and “high” on command. We’re sure your kid won’t be the only one exploring their musical side!
1. First Builders Big Building Bag
Some classics never die, and this is one of them.
With 80 classic-colored building blocks that are perfect for little hands to grab. Kids will build the tallest towers they can and make up whole worlds with their imagination. This toy is perfect to harvest their creativity!
Get toy recommendations for older kids by reading our next article.