The 46 Best Toys For 1-Year-Olds, From Building Blocks To Ride-On Toys

You might know Ms. Rachel as this generation’s Elmo or Barney for the baby and toddler crowd. This touch-activated doll, inspired by the popular educator who encourages language development in a non-annoying way, actually sold out when it was first released. Thankfully still in stock, this plush lets your toddler enjoy the YouTube star’s songs without the screen time. 

A dozen board books in bright primary colors give your baby’s library an immediate boost. “I own another version of this Eric Carle board book set and frequently gift it to friends and family,” says co-author Rose Gordon Sala. Each chunky book fits in a baby’s palm and covers a single subject in a few short pages with just a word per page, helping little ones learn animal names, colors and more.

This is one of our favorite gifts for toddlers, particularly new walkers. It gives them their very own carry-all for favorite trinkets and toys, as well as an early taste of autonomy as they pull and fill it with whatever they choose. It doesn’t hurt that this toy is made in the U.S. of recycled plastic, BPA- and phthalate-free—and it’s dishwasher safe if you want to go that route (although a quick wipe down works). “It was first recommended to me by the founder of the Busy Toddler, a parenting site that offers lots of activity ideas for kids this age,” says Sala. “I’ve since gifted it to many little ones whose parents always seem appreciative.”

Tots place these friendly, round characters into the chute at the top of the tower and watch them tumble down the ramps. Everything is sized for little kids’ hands, and the shark, crab and octopus are actually soft and squishable. They make a little chime noise on the way down, and the tower is crafted with Forest Stewardship Council-certified wood, meaning it’s eco-friendly. You can buy additional packs of the Rollables if yours go missing or you need more to keep the good times rolling.

One of the most exciting moments in a 1-year-old’s life is when their language starts to explode. Exactly when this happens can vary, but it’s hard to miss when it does. This toy helps build their language exploration with flashcards that tots drop into the box once they’re done with it. The cards feature basic words that many parents work on teaching their toddlers: colors, shapes, numbers, farm animals and foods. 

Mega Bloks is one of the few building block toys designed for ages 1 and up. The blocks are a 1-year-old-friendly large size and have easy interlocking action. We love this 50-piece set because it incorporates wheels, which your tot might enjoy racing back and forth. It also introduces letters with the alphabet theme and plays music, engaging another sense.

From the time they could grasp things, co-author Alicia Betz’s twin boys were drawn to toy cars and vehicles. This set, which consists of three wooden magnetic cars, is just right for little hands to grasp. They can pull all three cars like a train or play with each car individually. It also includes wooden coins they can drop into the largest car. Because these cars are magnetic and 1-year-olds still like to put a lot of things in their mouths, just be sure to inspect the cars to make sure everything is firmly attached before giving them to your toddler. 

These wooden eggs deliver sweet sounds all of your little one’s own making as they shake these instruments to their own beat. They can shake ’em or bang them together to create whatever noise they prefer. Egg shakers are ubiquitous at baby music class, so why not add this five-pack to your child’s personal stock? They’re sturdy, smooth and made in Germany for little hands.

Jellycat stuffed animals are beloved for their ultra softness and variety of adorable plush toys. Your little one can enjoy snuggling in close with this black-and-white puppy; we would expect this bashful pup to factor into all sorts of make-believe games to come, as well. “After my oldest son turned 1, a Jellycat stuffed animal became a must-have for his bedtime,” says Margaret Badore, Forbes Vetted’s baby and kids gear editor. 

Swap the pieces out in this modular busy board from Fat Brain Toys, so they’ll never be bored. The wooden base serves as the perfect play station while each tile offers something fun for a 1-year-old to touch and explore, including buttons, gears and plenty of colors. You can customize your own PlayTab by picking which tiles to fill it with, or select the smaller and travel-friendly PlayTab Go.

The Hape Rainbow Rhythm Pixel Piano allows 1-year-olds to explore music in a visual way. At this age, they can enjoy experimenting with the sounds and learning about cause and effect as they see what happens when they push a button. As they get older, toddlers and preschoolers can use the lights to help them learn how to play five different songs. For any musical family, this toy is a must. 

One of our favorite baby walkers, this push cart from Melissa & Doug comes with enough accessories to keep things interesting for active toddlers. The wooden toy includes puzzle boards, a play coffee cup with a lid and more. “I especially like that the wagon can carry things to and from your tot’s play areas,” says Sala. A favorite of Betz and her kids, too, this cart is still going strong three years later. 

This best-selling Fisher-Price Little People farm from Mattel comes with five figures and plenty of barnyard fun. There are more than 45 songs and sounds available with the press of a button and other interactive play options like watching the chicks hatch and turning on the barn light. It’s such a popular playset that it frequently sells out. The chunky Little People figures are just right for 1- to 2-year-olds, and if farm animal antics aren’t their passion, there are plenty of other Little People sets from which to choose like this princess castle or this school bus.

They can tip it up or down or shake this Hape Beaded Raindrops toy around to elicit gentle rain sounds. The wooden toy is colorful and incorporates both sound and the movement of the beads to encourage kids to pick it up and explore the low-key, non-battery–operated musical toy.

From bath time to pretend play in the family room, this Peter Pan-inspired boat is sure to encourage imaginative play. The set includes a variety of play figures, a dinghy and a floating boat. In addition to fun pretend play, it also supports many motor skills as toddlers pour water, squeeze the included spray bulb and manipulate the figures. 

Read about and then pet all the sweet baby animals in this set of four board books: On the Farm, Baby Animals, At the Zoo and Perfect Pets. Your little one will explore colors and their sense of touch, as well as start learning the names of animals with this interactive book. This style of mini board book is small enough for toddlers to hold on their own.

If you have a particularly active and already or nearly walking 1-year-old, an outdoor playhouse might be the perfect gift for them. “My kids had a similar spacious playhouse they used for years, from about age 18 months to age 5,” says Sala. “I particularly like that this Step2 one has plenty of openings, allowing you to see the kids inside of it, plus there are multiple play areas, from the sink to the storage shelves inside.” It’s also our team’s top-rated playhouse. Most playhouses, like this one, are rated for ages 2 years and up, so make sure to supervise them while they play in it, but that generally goes without saying for a child this age. 

This multipurpose toy draws in kids with its sweet cupcake design. Use it as play food if you like, but it’s also part shape sorter, part puzzle, part sensory toy. Kids as young as 1 year can take the cupcake top off and piece it back together with the correct bottom. It’s also easy to grasp with little hands. In addition to shapes, it introduces color sorting.

This brand makes a fantastic baby doll with a soft body and little details like blinking eyes and curled hands. The Corolle Bébé Calin Unicorn doll is extra sweet in her purple onesie, but you can choose from among several different dolls. “I have an embarrassingly large collection of these sweet French-designed dolls at my home with two daughters,” says Sala. “These babies were rocked, fed play food, carried in the tricycle and just about everywhere at my house.”

This mini wooden musical llama has many options for making music. It’s just 12 inches tall, but includes plenty for young tots to do, from a five-bar xylophone and removable maraca tail to spinning dials and color-recognition shapes. Plus, it looks a lot prettier in the playroom than your standard activity table. 

This recommendation is part gift for the baby, part gift for the parents. It can be used solo as a smooth-riding tricycle with the removal of a few pieces, or as a stroller. The Doona Liki Trike is especially fantastic when your tot hits that sweet spot of wanting to walk, but they aren’t able to come along as fast as you’d like them to—or at all, really. Set them in this seat, and they can happily ride now that they have a steering wheel rather than a bumper bar to grip. We also love that you can lock the wheels and the steering wheel to keep your little one from taking over the trike when you’re pushing. 

Learn more about the Doona Liki Trike in our full review.

This eco-friendly truck hauls its race car buddy wherever your kid wants them to go. Race them side by side or use the flatbed truck to carry other objects. It’s a special first truck, designed in the U.S. with 100% recycled plastic milk containers and without any BPA, PVC, phthalates or external coatings. You can even throw this truck into the dishwasher.

If you have a little climber, why not gift them something safer to climb than your furniture? This dual-sided wooden climbing triangle is designed for kids ages 1 to 6 (or up to 132 pounds) and is full of climbing options that lets them explore those fledgling gross motor skills. A removable third piece is a flippable ramp that turns over to reveal a slide sure to thrill those little daredevils. We love that the whole thing folds down flat so you can store it out of sight as needed. It’s made with sustainably sourced birch plywood and New Zealand pine.

The four wheels, low seat and lack of pedals make this an ideal learn-to-ride balance bike for those extra-active 1-year-olds who are already motoring around solo. Hape is a beloved children’s toy brand, so the construction of this bike is solid. We appreciate the non-marking rubber wheels and the little backstopper on the seat. It weighs about 5 pounds, so it isn’t hard for little ones to maneuver it.

A colorful set of wooden blocks just might be the quintessential toddler toy. This 60-piece block set is made of 100% rubber wood and comes with its own storage bag. Kids are drawn to the bright colors and the limitless building opportunities. The edges of these chunky blocks are smooth and the surface is painted with a water-based paint.

While a 1-year-old might seem young for this toy, it’s actually a great age to introduce them to the concept of a fort. You or an older sibling can demonstrate the basics by moving this modular set around to create tents and slides, and they’ll take it from there for years to come. This non-vinyl option from Foamnasium and Pottery Barn Kids is available in three performance fabrics that help it blend into your decor. It’s also Greenguard Gold–certified for fewer VOCs in your home.

This wooden shape sorter is made for babies as it greets them with friendly faces painted onto each block and the box. It includes two circles, two triangles and two squares, offering an early introduction to spatial reasoning, problem solving and 3D shapes. Coming from the French brand Janod, the quality and design are impeccable.

This ball is extra easy for little ones to pick up, throw and sometimes chew on. It’s rated for use from birth up, and all those holes make it a cinch for little ones to grasp. Just before their first birthday, your little one might start trying to throw it, too, making the Oball a classic active toy for these busy tots. “All three of my sons are charmed by these balls,” says Badore. 

Embrace the mess—a bit—with this finger painting kit and stations from Crayola that offers everything they need to get started on their masterpiece. It includes the painting station, three tubes of paint and 10 sheets of paper. Kids “paint” on the cover of this station while the paper and paint are secured beneath it. Wash it all clean. Betz, who used this set with her twins, can confirm that it contains the mess well. 

“These interactive, musical books were always a big hit with my toddlers,” says Sala. “This age loves to touch, feel and explore their reading material, and the Ditty Bird series encourages it.” There’s a button on each page that plays a song that corresponds to the story. The Learning Songs book plays a variety of educational tunes, including counting songs and the ABCs.

Let them flex those motor skills by grasping and placing the balls into the Fat Brain Toys RollAgain Tower over and over again. Tots need to stand up to reach the top of it and track those balls carefully with their eyes. Expect plenty of giggling, too, as the balls whirl and swirl their way down this tower.

“A dear friend of mine gifted this book to my kids when they turned 1, and it has been such a joy to keep up with it every year,” says Betz. “It’s like a baby book, only it captures a snapshot of your child each year until they turn 18. The book asks thoughtful questions about your child and has a pocket to put keepsakes from each year. Once they get old enough to talk, it also includes an interview each year. This is such a sentimental gift that I love getting out every year.”

One-year-olds often love ride-on toys just before they hit the balance bike stage. This tractor version amps up the pretend play with its farm theme. Your child may not be able to pedal it right away, but they can push with their feet while they learn. The wagon on the back is a nice bonus to make them feel like a real farmer. It’s rated for ages 18 months and up.

Toddlers love playing with all the cute wooden animals on this chic shape sorter tray. Each one has different tactile patches underneath to stimulate their senses. While they may not be able to fit the animals in their proper places just yet, it’s great for encouraging color and animal recognition and strengthening fine motor skills as they grow.

“This was my summer baby’s first birthday gift from her grandparents, and it was a huge hit with all of the kids, including her much older siblings,” says Sala. “They loved all the little cups and toys that came with it, as well as creating a waterfall by pouring water through the top tier. It has held up well over several years—and is the favorite water table of several other editors here, too. We do give it a scrub with a sponge and some dish soap from time to time, as we store it outdoors year-round.” Betz has this water table in her backyard, too, and it’s a hit year after year. 

Point out and name your 1-year-old’s body parts as you read this simple lift-the-flap board book, and they might just start to say it with you: toes! nose! my ears! Little kids often delight in the surprise element on every page with lift-the-flap books. For even more ideas, check out our list of best baby books. The flaps in this book are somewhat easy to rip, so if the toddler you’re shopping for really loves to grab at books and flaps, consider one with thicker flaps, like Peek-A-Flap Who. 

One-year-olds really enjoy testing their new motor skills with building blocks, but they’re also still prone to stumbling and falling on their blocks, which can be painful. You won’t have to worry about sharp corners, falling blocks or even dodging bricks that are thrown across the room with this interactive foam option. In addition to building with them, toddlers can climb on them and use them as the basis for a play scene. The blocks feature roads along with various scenes: a fire station, a hospital, a school and a house. 

Let them get creative with their spaceship design by building this wooden rocket ship in a new way each time. The colorful, magnetic pieces stick together, so they can’t go wrong. It’s seven pieces and just 6 inches high, making it easy for little hands to manipulate. It’s finished with a water-based paint.

Is your newly minted tot obsessed with putting things in or taking things out of containers? All of ours were. This soft birdhouse (with zero sharp edges) comes with four feathered friends they can find over and over again. Little ones can enhance those fine motor skills while they play.

Now that they’re toddlers, most 1-year-olds are developing a lot of trunk strength, and they like to test thier newfound motor skills with large toys like this elephant rocker. A twist on the traditional rocking horse, the plush material is comfortable for kids. You can also personalize it, making it a really sweet first birthday gift. When Betz’s kids were 1, they spent so much time testing the limits of their rocking toys. 

This lift-the-flap-style board book lets your child peek under each cutout to discover a new surprise, from a friendly animal to a little joke. It’s an ideal first book that’s fun for both parents and kids to read. “I like this book because the flaps are thick and chunky, making them more difficult to rip,” says Betz.

With its open top and chunky figures, this Little People toy plane is sure to star in many toddler play sessions. “My kids all adored an earlier version of this plane and filled it with all their favorite action figures before rolling it or flying it around the room,” says Sala. This updated version comes in Barbie colors, has a light-up nose, and plays sounds, music and says a few phrases.

Gund makes some of the best stuffed animals for kids and toddlers around. Its Oh So Snuggly line offers kids an under-stuffed pal that is more than huggable. Choose from among several animal friends, including this 12.5-inch elephant, a bunny, a hippo, a puppy and more.

No longer confined to a smaller infant tub, 1-year-olds enjoy splashing and exploring in the bath. They can use these silicone bath toys to scoop and pour water. Small holes let water flow out like a rain shower. You’ll need to hand wash them, but they unscrew, making it easy to wash and completely dry them so you can prevent mold growth, a common concern when it comes to bath toys. 

They can play the piano, drums, guitar or French horn with this colorful, musically inclined activity table. There are also numbers and colors to check out here, and although it might seem a bit boisterous (yes, batteries are required), kids can’t help but be drawn to it. “When my son was a 1-year-old, this toy was my go-to on rainy weekends,” says Badore. “It definitely held his attention longer than a lot of his other toys at that age.”