There’s a reason parents mark their young ones’ age by months and not years. At 12 months, they’re wobbling around, close to their first steps, and can probably say “mama” and “dada.” By 23 months they are a pint-size running, talking, (probably biting) agent of chaos on two legs. If you’re buying a gift for a 1 year old, you should consider the fact that they are literally learning something new every. single. day. — and constantly changing. Toys for 1-year-olds should nurture this growth and aid each new discovery along the way.
Below is a list of 30 of the best toys for the 1 year old in your life! These toys encourage toddlers to explore the world around them and dig into their natural curiosity.
DANIEL TIGER 3-IN-1 RIDE-ON TOY
This scooter features cheerful phrases and sounds from the PBS Kids' series Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood, as well as its theme song. With three ways to play — ride, walk, or scoot — this special-edition ride-on grows with little ones, from beginners to advanced walkers.
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COCOMELON INFLATABLE PLAYPEN
This inflatable playpen features mesh fabric around the walls for parental supervision and a soft, inflatable floor for comfortable play. Parents will love that setup, takedown, and storage is quick and convenient.
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CRY BABIES NEWBORN
This newborn doll cries real tears and will calm down when kids give it a pacifier. Available in two styles, each comes with a bracelet that kids can wear so that the doll will recognize and interact with them.
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OLD SCHOOL MY FIRST PINBALL ACTIVITY TABLE
This space-themed pinball set has fun features like a coin slot, a ball launcher, and obstacles. It also has interactive elements, including a light-up UFO, asteroids, black holes, and planets. Kids can activate more than 100 sounds and phrases while they play.
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FISHER-PRICE LAUGH & LEARN MIX & LEARN DJ TABLE
This interactive, educational activity table features a piano with three ways to play, plus 12 fine motor activities and three Smart Stages learning levels to keep babies engaged as they grow.
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HUGS AND GIGGLES
This 13-inch, soft-bodied doll is available in three skin tones and comes dressed in a floral outfit, a headband, and a bib. Place the doll's pointer finger or thumb in its mouth and it will stay put.
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MY FRIEND MEEKAH
Kids can join Meekah from Blippi on interactive adventures with this 16-inch plush doll, which makes more than 17 different sounds and says “Thanks for being my friend” when kids squeeze her tummy.
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PINKFONG BABY SHARK SENSORY FUN FRIENDS
Babies can develop sensory skills with this two-pack set that includes a Click & Wiggle Baby Shark and Pop & Squish Fish — each with cute details and fun fidget features.
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PLAYMOBIL 1.2.3 & DISNEY: MICKEY’S & MINNIE’S CLOUD HOME
This explorative playset features iconic Disney characters and stimulates creative thinking. Includes lots of puzzles and plug-in features that help with developing fine motor skills. Kids can use their imaginations to role-play, combine parts, and more.
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RACE CAR RIDE-ON
Young racers can roll around the house on this kid-powered, wooden ride-on. The car features a soft seat and a handle for safety. It is designed for indoor use, and there is no assembly required.
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STAPELSTEIN RAINBOW SET
This set features six Original play elements in rainbow hues, accompanied by a confetti-inspired Balance Board. Kids can balance, stack, swirl, spin, and more. Each element is 100% recyclable and crafted using a climate-neutralized production process.
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WOODEN WORK & PLAY DESKTOP ACTIVITY BOARD
This tiny, wooden version of a laptop and desk features a variety of interactive elements that babies and toddlers can use to develop fine motor skills while pretending to work from home like their parents. It has no detachable pieces and features a handle for on-the-go play.
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BUILD-A-BUDDY JOHN DEERE GREEN DUMP TRUCK
This 13-piece construction toy includes a screwdriver and a ratchet that kids can use to take apart the truck and put it back together again, which encourages problem-solving skills. Made of chunky parts, it's easy for little hands to assemble.
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RAINBOW TEA FOR TWO
This peppy, light-up teapot introduces toddlers to colors and numbers and plays pouring sound effects and music for the perfect tea party. Tots can lift the peek-a-boo lid to change tea flavors and smile into the mirror. The set also comes with two tea cups, plates, and six cakes with removable fruit toppings. Little ones…
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SESAME STREET ‘ROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD
Kids can roll their favorite Sesame Street friends down the twisty, curvy chutes of this multi-level playset, place the three balls at the top, then push the yellow button to release them one by one. With each press of the button, Elmo will say silly phrases or sing "Here We Go Loopty-Loo." Surprises pop up…
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KIDS FOR CULTURE ABC AFFIRMATION BOARD BOOK
The ABC Affirmation Board Book pairs each letter of the alphabet with an empowering affirmation for kids. For instance, “M is for Mind. I can do anything I set my mind to.”
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BATTAT EDUCATION EGGXPRESS YOURSELF! MATCH & LEARN EGGS
These eggs make great tools for developing fine motor skills and learning about emotions and feelings 39-Piece Set: Match, learn, reflect, and express with matching eggs, Expression Cards, a Mirror Card, and a toy bus! Read the illustrated story and follow the educational play ideas in the playbook! When playtime’s over, there’s storage under the…
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SKETCH PALS FOREST FRIENDS
Choose from three clippable doodle buddies: Felix the Fox, Morris the Moose, or Izzy the Owl. Each features a tethered stylus and clips to backpacks or car seats for screen-free entertainment on the go.
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MEGA BLOKS MUSICAL FARM BAND
The new MEGA Bloks Musical Farm Band from Fisher-Price features buildable farm animals and has plenty of sensory features to support engaging building play as toddlers ages 1 and up interact with the blocks and make music. The 45-piece set builds seven animals and an egg, each with their own musical features.
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COCOMELON TINY TUNES MUSIC MELON
This musical toy for toddlers includes six magnetic musical activators that each play a different song when kids place them on the platform. Toddlers can sing along to their favorite CoComelon songs using the included wired microphone. When playtime is over, it doubles as a night light and has a timer to play built-in lullabies…
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DISNEY HOOYAY HUG AND PLAY MICKEY & MINNIE
These plush Disney characters (sold separately) have interactive features and multitextured materials. Kids can press the touch points to hear Mickey or Minnie’s voice leading them through lessons about numbers, the alphabet, spelling, and body parts.
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SESAME STREET POTTY TIME ELMO
This 12-inch Elmo helps teach kids healthy habits with giggles and phrases like, “Elmo’s ready for the potty”; “Hurry, please”; “Don’t forget to flush”; and “Now Elmo can wash his hands!” Kids can give Elmo his sippy cup when he asks for a drink and then help him get to the potty. If Elmo doesn’t…
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ADORA POTTY TRAINING PLUSH SET — TWINKLE STAR
This four-piece set includes a plush potty seat and three plush toys with embroidered faces: a swirly-eyed poop, a laughing pee, and a smiling toilet paper. It's compatible with most dolls up to 16 inches (sold separately).
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GUND WOODLAND FRIENDS PLAYSET
This five-piece playset comes with four sensory-stimulating plush toys, each designed with special features to keep babies engaged. The fox and squirrel both feature squeaker sounds, the snail features a crinkle texture, and the acorn rattles — all to help encourage exploration and develop dexterity and coordination.
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BARBIE PLAY AND CARE PET SPA BY LITTLE PEOPLE
This Barbie-themed Fisher-Price Little People pet care playset features two floors of toddler-friendly imaginative play. Little ones can slide the groomer’s stand for music and sounds, and watch the wash tub bounce as the chair spins. It comes with a Barbie Little People figure, plus Blissa the cat and Honey the dog figures.
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LEGO DUPLO ORGANIC GARDEN
Young builders can learn about nature, creatures, and how plants grow in the garden with this 43-piece stacking toy set. It comes with tomato, carrot, and watermelon toys; tree, flower, and wildlife pieces; and weather bricks. When playtime is over, kids can store everything in the LEGO Duplo brick box.
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COLOR WONDER FOLDALOPES
Bluey and Gabby’s Dollhouse themes join Crayola’s Color Wonder Foldalope collection. Kids can color in scenes inspired by their favorite shows while staying mess-free with the specially formulated markers and paper. Each envelope holds all of the 18 pages and five markers for creativity on the go.
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HAPPY STROLLING
This colorful toy stroller is sized for stuffed animals or baby dolls, and even comes with a cuddly plush bunny! The stroller features an easy-to-grip handle, a seat belt, and four smooth wheels for scratch-free floors.
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FEELINGS FAMILY HAND PUPPETS
Each of the five puppets expresses an emotion through its unique facial expression, body position, and design. As kids explore the puppets through dramatic play, roleplay, and guided discussions, they will develop the skills to understand five core emotions: happy, angry, surprised, sad, and scared.
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For more top toy picks for kids of all ages, check out The Toy Insider’s annual Holiday Gift Guide, and find the perfect gift using our Perfect Present Wizard!
