Choosing the perfect first holiday gifts for a 1-year-old is a joyful experience for family and friends. This milestone year is marked by rapid development, from first steps to first words, making thoughtful toy selection especially meaningful. As a seasoned mom of three and a deputy editor at Forbes Vetted specializing in kids and baby gear, I’ve encountered countless toys – some truly exceptional, others less so. This curated list of the best toys for 1-year-olds is designed to help you find an enchanting and beneficial gift for that special little one in your life, just in time for the holidays. From the highly popular Ms. Rachel Speak & Sing Doll to the creatively engaging Melissa & Doug Rollables Ocean Slide Play Set, we offer a variety of options to suit every budding personality.
The most effective toys for 1-year-olds are not only entertaining but also safe and designed to stimulate toddlers’ burgeoning skills.
Before making a purchase, it’s crucial to understand the developmental stage of a 1-year-old. Dr. Lauren Anne Tarnok, a developmental behavioral pediatrician at Children’s Specialized Hospital in New Jersey and a mother of two, explains, “Around the age of one, most children begin walking and exploring their surroundings more actively. They are also refining their fine motor skills, becoming more adept with their hands and starting to manipulate smaller objects.” Dr. Tarnok also highlights the “language explosion” that occurs at this age, along with an increased curiosity in new sensory experiences and toys. Bearing these developmental milestones in mind, we present our expert recommendations for the best toys for 1-year-olds this holiday season.
Top Toy Picks for 1-Year-Olds: Detailed Reviews
This guide features a diverse selection of toys, categorized to help you find the perfect match for a 1-year-old’s interests and developmental needs.
Dolls & Plush Toys: Comfort and Connection
Ms. Rachel Speak & Sing Plush Doll – Inspired by a YouTube Favorite
For today’s toddlers, Ms. Rachel is akin to the Elmo or Barney of past generations. This plush, touch-activated doll, inspired by the beloved educator known for her engaging and effective language development techniques, was an instant hit and quickly sold out upon its initial release. Fortunately, it’s now back in stock, allowing your toddler to have their favorite YouTube personality by their side. This doll speaks and sings familiar phrases and songs, providing comfort and stimulating language development through interactive play.
Squishmallows Hugmee 6-Inch JJ From Cocomelon Plush – Cuddly Character from a Beloved Show
Featuring JJ, a character from the popular children’s program Cocomelon, this 6-inch Squishmallows Hugmee plush toy is incredibly soft and perfect for snuggling. Designed with open arms and a friendly smile, it’s an ideal companion for hugs during travel, story time, or playtime, providing emotional comfort and a sense of security.
Jellycat Bashful Puppy (Medium) – An Ultra-Soft First Friend
Jellycat stuffed animals are renowned for their exceptional softness and wide variety of realistic and whimsical animal designs. The Bashful Puppy, with its black and white fur, is an especially cuddly option that can become a cherished companion. As Margaret Badore, kids and gear editor at Forbes Vetted, notes, “After my son turned 1, a Jellycat stuffed animal became a must-have for his bedtime,” highlighting the enduring appeal and comfort these plush toys provide.
Corolle Bébé Calin Unicorn – A Sweet and Charming First Doll
Corolle dolls, with their charming French design, are a delightful choice for a first doll. The Bébé Calin Unicorn doll features a soft body, lifelike details such as blinking eyes and curled hands, and an adorable purple onesie. These dolls are perfect for nurturing play, encouraging toddlers to engage in imaginative scenarios like rocking, feeding, and caring for their baby doll, fostering empathy and social skills.
Gund Baby Oh So Snuggly Elephant – An Extra Huggable Pal
Gund is celebrated for creating some of the best stuffed animals for children, and their Oh So Snuggly line is designed for ultimate cuddliness. The Oh So Snuggly Elephant, a 12.5-inch plush pal, is under-stuffed for extra huggability, making it perfect for comforting cuddles and imaginative play. This line offers a variety of animal friends, including bunnies, hippos, and puppies, allowing you to choose the perfect snuggle buddy.
Books: Early Literacy and Sensory Exploration
Eric Carle Animals My First Library 12-Book Set – A Colorful Introduction to Reading
This 12-book set of board books, featuring Eric Carle’s iconic illustrations in bright primary colors, is an excellent way to kickstart a baby’s library. Each chunky book is perfectly sized for little hands and focuses on a single subject with simple, one-word-per-page labels. This set helps young children learn animal names, colors, and more, making it a valuable educational and engaging gift.
Bright Baby Touch And Feel Boxed Set Of Animal Board Books – Interactive Sensory Learning
The Bright Baby Touch and Feel Boxed Set includes four interactive board books: On the Farm, Baby Animals, At the Zoo, and Perfect Pets. These books encourage sensory exploration by allowing children to touch and feel different textures while learning about baby animals and colors. The mini board book format is ideal for toddlers to hold and explore independently, making learning a tactile and engaging experience.
Toes, Ears & Nose! A Lift-the-Flap Book – Fun and Interactive Body Part Recognition
Toes, Ears & Nose! is a simple and engaging lift-the-flap board book designed to help 1-year-olds learn about body parts. The interactive lift-the-flap element adds an element of surprise and fun to each page, encouraging engagement and making learning body parts an enjoyable activity for both parents and children.
Who: Peek-A-Flap Board Book – Surprise and Discovery on Every Page
This lift-the-flap board book, Who?, uses cutouts and flaps on each page to reveal a new surprise, ranging from friendly animals to playful jokes. This interactive format keeps toddlers engaged and entertained, making it an ideal first book that encourages curiosity and interaction during reading time.
Little Feminist Board Book Set – Inspiring Stories of Trailblazing Women
The Little Feminist Board Book Set from Mudpuppy is designed to inspire big dreams from a young age. This four-book series highlights groundbreaking women in various fields – pioneers, artists, leaders, and activists. Featuring figures like Rosa Parks, Maya Angelou, Cleopatra, and Amelia Earhart, these books provide an early introduction to influential women and their contributions to the world.
Building & Construction Toys: Motor Skills and Spatial Reasoning
Mega Bloks First Builders ABC Musical Train – Large Blocks for Little Hands
Mega Bloks are designed with 1-year-olds in mind, featuring large, easy-to-handle blocks with simple interlocking mechanisms. The 50-piece ABC Musical Train set includes wheels for added fun, allowing toddlers to build and race their creations. The alphabet theme and musical element add educational value, engaging multiple senses while developing fine motor skills and early letter recognition.
Le Toy Van Building Blocks And Bag (60 Pieces) – Classic Wooden Blocks, Plastic-Free Fun
A set of colorful wooden blocks is a quintessential toddler toy, and this 60-piece set from Le Toy Van is crafted from 100% rubber wood with smooth edges and a water-based paint finish. The set comes with its own storage bag, making cleanup easy. These blocks encourage creativity, spatial reasoning, and fine motor skills as children explore endless building possibilities.
Manhattan Toy Stacker Rocket – Magnetic Creativity in a Small Package
The Manhattan Toy Stacker Rocket allows toddlers to get creative with rocket design using colorful, magnetic wooden pieces that easily stick together. This 7-piece set, standing at 6 inches tall, is perfect for small hands to manipulate. It promotes creativity, fine motor skills, and spatial reasoning in a fun and engaging way, finished with a safe water-based paint.
Foamnasium x PBK Blocksy Heathered Basketweave Kids Couch – A Play Couch for Years of Fun
Play couches like the Foamnasium x PBK Blocksy are ideal for fostering pretend play and active play. While seemingly advanced for a 1-year-old, it’s an excellent age to introduce the concept of fort-building. This modular set can be rearranged to create tents and slides, encouraging imaginative play and gross motor skill development that will be enjoyed for years to come. This non-vinyl option is available in performance fabrics and is Greenguard Gold–certified for low chemical emissions.
Shape Sorters & Puzzle Toys: Cognitive Development and Problem Solving
Learning Resources Smart Snacks Shape Sorting Cupcakes – Sweetly Designed Shape Sorter
The Learning Resources Smart Snacks Shape Sorting Cupcakes toy cleverly combines play food with a shape sorter. Designed like colorful cupcakes, this toy serves as a shape sorter, puzzle, and sensory toy. Toddlers can remove the cupcake tops and match them back to the correct bottoms, learning about shapes and colors while developing fine motor skills and problem-solving abilities.
Janod Geometric Shapes Wooden Sorting Box – Friendly Faces and Classic Shapes
This wooden shape sorter from Janod features friendly faces painted on each block and the box itself, making it inviting for babies. It includes circles, triangles, and squares, providing an early introduction to spatial reasoning, problem-solving, and 3D shapes. The high-quality design from French brand Janod ensures durability and aesthetic appeal.
Tender Leaf Toys Touch Sensory Tray – Animal-Themed Sensory Puzzle
The Tender Leaf Toys Touch Sensory Tray features adorable wooden animals, each with different tactile patches underneath, designed to stimulate a toddler’s senses. This chic shape sorter tray encourages animal and color recognition and helps strengthen fine motor skills as children grow. Even if they can’t perfectly sort the shapes initially, the sensory and animal recognition aspects provide valuable early learning experiences.
Musical Toys: Auditory Development and Rhythm
Haba Musical Eggs (Set Of 5) – Perfectly Sized Egg Shakers
These wooden Haba Musical Eggs produce gentle acoustic sounds as children shake them, allowing them to create their own music. Perfectly sized for little hands, these egg shakers can be shaken or banged together to explore different sounds. Commonly used in baby music classes, this five-pack is a great addition to a child’s musical toy collection, promoting auditory development and a sense of rhythm.
Manhattan Toy Musical Llama Wooden Instrument – A Multi-Sensory Musical Center
The mini Manhattan Toy Musical Llama is packed with musical features, including a five-bar xylophone, a removable maraca tail, spinning dials, and color-recognition shapes. Standing at just 12 inches tall, it offers a variety of activities for young children to explore music, colors, and shapes, making it a more visually appealing and engaging alternative to standard activity tables.
Baby Einstein Discovering Music Activity Table Toy – A Symphony of Instruments in One Table
The Baby Einstein Discovering Music Activity Table features a variety of musical instruments – piano, drums, guitar, and French horn – in a colorful and engaging format. This table also incorporates numbers and colors, adding educational value beyond music. While battery-operated and potentially noisy, it captivates toddlers with its musical variety and interactive elements, as noted by Margaret Badore, who found it to be a long-lasting source of entertainment for her son.
Petit Collage Wooden 5-In-1 Elephant Music Toy – Sustainable and Versatile Music Maker
The Petit Collage Wooden 5-In-1 Elephant Music Toy is a sustainable and versatile musical instrument for toddlers. This wooden elephant includes a pop-out drum piece, a xylophone, and a cymbal, along with additional music-making elements built into its design. Made from FSC-certified wood and printed with water-based inks, it’s an eco-conscious choice that encourages musical creativity and exploration.
Hape Beaded Raindrops – Gentle Rain Sounds for Sensory Play
The Hape Beaded Raindrops toy creates gentle rain sounds when tipped, shaken, or turned, offering a calming auditory sensory experience. This colorful wooden toy encourages children to explore sound and movement in a low-key, non-battery-operated way, making it a soothing and engaging musical option.
Baby Einstein Notes And Keys Magic Touch Wooden Keyboard – Oversized Keys for Little Musicians
The Baby Einstein Notes And Keys Magic Touch Wooden Keyboard features oversized, colorful keys that light up as children play, making it visually stimulating and easy for little fingers to use. It offers a range of sounds, from piano to xylophone to drum, with over 150 melodies and sound effects. While it requires batteries, this splurge-worthy piano provides a rich musical experience for young children.
Ditty Bird Learning Songs – Interactive Musical Books for Early Education
Ditty Bird Learning Songs books are interactive and musical, engaging toddlers through touch, feel, and sound. Each page has a button that plays a song related to the story, and the Learning Songs book features a variety of educational tunes, including counting songs and the ABCs. These books make reading an interactive and multi-sensory experience, perfect for developing early literacy and auditory skills.
Active Play Toys: Gross Motor Skills and Coordination
Green Toys Wagon – A Classic Wagon, Eco-Friendly and Durable
The Green Toys Wagon is a favorite gift for toddlers, especially those new to walking. This wagon allows them to carry their favorite toys and trinkets, providing a sense of autonomy as they pull it around and fill it with their chosen items. Made in the USA from recycled plastic, BPA and phthalate-free, and dishwasher safe, it’s an eco-friendly and safe choice for active play.
Melissa & Doug Rollables Wooden Ocean Slide Toy – Rolling Fun to Encourage Standing
The Melissa & Doug Rollables Wooden Ocean Slide Toy encourages standing and gross motor skills as toddlers place round ocean characters into the top chute and watch them roll down. Sized for little hands, the set includes soft, squishable shark, crab, and octopus characters that chime as they roll. Made from FSC-certified wood, it’s an eco-friendly and engaging toy that teaches cause and effect.
Fisher-Price 2-In-1 Like A Boss Activity Center – Office-Themed Fun for Sitting and Standing
The Fisher-Price 2-In-1 Like A Boss Activity Center offers a range of sensory toys in an amusing office theme. It features crinkly tissues, teething toys, a mirrored computer screen, and more to keep toddlers entertained. It transitions from a table format for standing toddlers to a floor-based center for younger babies, providing long-lasting engagement.
Melissa & Doug Wooden Shape Sorting Grocery Cart Push Toy – Walker and Play in One
This push cart from Melissa & Doug is a favorite baby walker that comes with accessories to keep active toddlers engaged. The wooden toy includes puzzle boards, a play coffee cup, and more. It doubles as a wagon for carrying toys, encouraging mobility and imaginative play, and helping toddlers explore their environment.
Hape Scoot Around Ride On Wood Bike – Balance Bike for Early Riders
The Hape Scoot Around Ride On Wood Bike is a four-wheeled balance bike ideal for active 1-year-olds ready to start riding. With a low seat and no pedals, it helps toddlers develop balance and coordination. Made by Hape, a trusted toy brand, it features non-marking rubber wheels and a backstopper on the seat, weighing only about 5 pounds for easy maneuverability.
Doona Liki Trike S3 – Stroller and Trike in One, for On-the-Go Fun
The Doona Liki Trike S3 is a versatile gift for both baby and parents, functioning as both a stroller and a tricycle. It’s especially useful for toddlers who are beginning to walk but can’t yet keep pace. It features a steering wheel for the child to grip, lockable wheels and steering, and folds compactly for easy transport, much like the best strollers.
Green Toys Flatbed With Red Race Car – Eco-Friendly Truck and Car Set
The Green Toys Flatbed With Red Race Car is an eco-friendly truck and car set made in the USA from 100% recycled plastic milk containers. Free of BPA, PVC, phthalates, and external coatings, it’s extra baby-friendly and even dishwasher safe. This set encourages imaginative play as toddlers haul the race car and other objects, developing fine and gross motor skills.
Piccalio Climber Pikler Triangle Set – Indoor Climbing Fun for Little Daredevils
For little climbers, the Piccalio Climber Pikler Triangle Set offers a safer alternative to furniture climbing. Designed for ages 1 to 6, this dual-sided wooden climbing triangle has various climbing options to develop gross motor skills. It includes a reversible ramp that turns into a slide, adding extra thrill. Made from sustainably sourced wood and foldable for storage, it’s both fun and practical.
Avenlur Holland Wooden Folding Slide – Indoor Slide for Rainy Day Adventures
The Avenlur Holland Wooden Folding Slide is an attractive indoor slide perfect for rainy days. Sized for children 18 months to 4 years, it features handle grips and a gentle slope for safe sliding. It encourages gross motor development and balance skills, and conveniently folds flat for storage when not in use.
Tomy John Deere Pedal Tractor And Wagon – Pedaling Fun with Farm Pretend Play
The Tomy John Deere Pedal Tractor And Wagon amps up pretend play with a farm theme. While a 1-year-old may not immediately pedal, they can push with their feet to move it around, developing leg strength and coordination. The wagon adds extra play value, making them feel like a real farmer. It’s rated for ages 18 months and up, offering room to grow into pedaling.
Fisher-Price Little People Hot Wheels Racing Loops Tower – Stunt Racetrack for Little Hands
The Fisher-Price Little People Hot Wheels Racing Loops Tower combines the excitement of race cars with toddler-friendly Little People cars. This stunt racetrack set features big loops, a car lift, spiral tracks, and a triple-car launcher, along with pretend play elements like a car wash and gas station. It provides sounds and interactive features, making it engaging for toddlers aged 18 months and up.
Fisher-Price Little People Barbie Dream Plane – Air Travel Adventures for Toddlers
The Fisher-Price Little People Barbie Dream Plane is a toy airplane with an open top and chunky figures, perfect for toddler play sessions. This updated version features Barbie colors, a light-up nose, sounds, music, and phrases. Toddlers can fill it with figures and roll or fly it around, encouraging imaginative play and motor skills.
Bright Starts Oball – Easy-Grasp Ball for Throwing and Catching
The Bright Starts Oball is designed for easy grasping, throwing, and even chewing. Its many holes make it simple for little hands to grip and manipulate. Around their first birthday, toddlers may start to throw balls, making the Oball a classic active toy for developing motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
Fat Brain Toys RollAgain Tower – Ball Tower for Motor Skill Development
The Fat Brain Toys RollAgain Tower helps toddlers flex their motor skills by grasping and placing balls into the tower, then watching them whirl down. Standing up to reach the top and tracking the balls with their eyes encourages gross motor movement and visual tracking. The swirling ball action is sure to elicit giggles and repeated play.
Creative & Sensory Play Toys: Exploration and Imagination
Crayola My First Fingerpaint Kit – Embrace the Mess of First Art
The Crayola My First Fingerpaint Kit provides everything needed for a toddler’s first art experience. While finger painting can be messy, it’s a fantastic sensory activity that allows children to explore colors and textures while creating their first artwork. This kit makes it easy to introduce art and sensory play, even if a bath is required afterward.
Manhattan Toy Put & Peek Birdhouse – Container Play with Soft Friends
The Manhattan Toy Put & Peek Birdhouse is designed for toddlers who enjoy putting things in and taking them out of containers. This soft birdhouse comes with four plush bird figures for toddlers to place in and remove from the birdhouse. It’s a fun way to explore fine motor skills and container play with a soft and safe toy.
Step2 Rain Showers Splash Pond Water Table – Extra-Large Water Play Fun
The Step2 Rain Showers Splash Pond Water Table is an extra-large water table that provides hours of sensory play for toddlers. It comes with cups and toys, allowing children to create waterfalls and explore water play. Durable and long-lasting, it’s been a hit with multiple age groups, making it a great investment for summer fun and sensory development.
Why Trust Forbes Vetted
Forbes Vetted provides curated gift guides across various interests and age groups, with a strong focus on safety, particularly in the baby and kids gear category. Their recommendations are carefully vetted, considering safety guidelines, potential hazards, and expert opinions to ensure the products are safe and appropriate for children.
How I Chose The Best Toys For 1-Year-Olds
This list is compiled based on extensive research, firsthand experience as a parent and parenting editor, and insights from experts and other parents. The selection process involved:
- Mom-Approved Toys: Choosing toys based on personal experience and research, aligning with recommendations from developmental pediatricians and pediatric occupational therapists.
- Expert Criteria: Selecting items that meet developmental criteria suggested by experts for fostering toddlers’ skills and interests.
- Customer Reviews: Considering customer feedback, both positive and negative, to gauge real-world experiences with the toys.
- Variety and Range: Including toys that appeal to diverse interests, budgets, and skill-building activities, from active and musical toys to educational gifts.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What Gifts Are Appropriate For A 1-Year-Old?
For 1-year-olds, developmentally appropriate and safe toys are key. Always check age recommendations on packaging and avoid toys with small parts that pose a choking hazard. Consider the parents’ preferences – whether they favor minimalist, Montessori-style toys or are open to toys with lights and sounds.
Toy expert and pediatric occupational therapist Keri Wilmot suggests non-toy gift ideas such as:
- Experiences: Passes to zoos, play areas, children’s museums.
- Practical Items: Utensils, sippy cups, quality dinnerware.
- Personalized Gifts: Personalized books.
- Subscription Boxes: Toy subscription boxes like Lovevery or KiwiCo.
- Nursery Enhancements: Night-light projectors and sound machines.
What Toys Keep 1-Year-Olds Entertained?
Dr. Tarnok advises that “simple toys are better” for 1-year-olds, such as blocks, shape sorters, and items to bang together. Open-ended and pretend-play items like dolls, play kitchen sets, sensory balls, and touch-and-feel books are also excellent choices.
Keri Wilmot adds that ride-on toys, small climbers, cause-and-effect toys, dump-and-fill toys, simple puzzles, sensory tissue boxes, ring stackers, vehicles, ramp toys, and kitchen sets are also highly engaging for this age group.
Can 1-Year-Olds Sleep With Plush Toys Or Lovies?
The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests it’s generally safe for healthy babies over one year old to sleep with plush toys or lovies. Keri Wilmot notes that many children benefit from having a comfort object for self-regulation. However, individual development varies, so consulting with a pediatrician is advisable to ensure it’s appropriate for your child.
