Best toys for 1 year olds for 2024 tried and tested by parents
We've tried and tested toys for boys and girls aged 12 to 24 months to bring you the best choices for development-boosting play and fun
Your 1 year old is probably making huge strides in their physical and mental development, so you're going to need a good box of toys to suit their changing needs.
As they become curious and more expressive, you'll find that they can start to find things, pick things up and put them back again. They also will start to recognised patterns and shapes, and maybe even some colours or numbers.
Related: MadeForMums Toy Awards 2024: Winners revealed!
Toys that pop up, have things to empty and fill, or pile up and push over, are great choices. Look for ones with clear, bright colours and shapes that your child can start to identify.
Moving toys that can be pushed or pulled along are always a hit, but remember they'll need to be sturdy to cope with enthusiastic handling.
Lastly, as your child moves further into toddlerhood, they'll start to find enjoyment in pretend play, particularly when it's focused around household tasks that grown-ups do.
So, with all that in mind, here's our recommendations for the top toys for 1 year olds.
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Best toys for 1 year olds at a glance
Best educational toys for 1 year olds
- Great for early sorting skills: My 1st Years Peter Rabbit Sorter House, £33
- Great for vehicle-based play: Fisher-Price Little People Light-Up Learning Garage, £44.99
- Great for early number recognition: Linkimals Cool Beats Penguin, £29.94
- Great for fine finger skills: Poppy the Count & Stack Flower Pot, £12.50
- Great for early music skills: Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Mix & Learn DJ Table, £54.99
- Great for interactive sensory play: Clementoni Soft Clemmy Touch, Discover and Play Sensory Table, £34.99
Best wooden toys for 1 year olds
- Great for early language skills: John Lewis Wooden Alphabet Abacus, £20
- Great multi-skills playset: Melissa & Doug Shape Sorting Grocery Cart, £58.69
- Great for matching and sorting skills: My 1st Years Wooden Animals Ark, £45
- Great for independent play: Janod Wooden Turtle Pull-Along Toy, £14.88
Best developmental toys for 1 year olds
- Great for strength and co-ordination: Toomies Pull Along Peppa, £22.99
- Great luxury walker: Little Bird Told Me Dexter Dog Push Along, £109.95
Best ride-on toys for 1 year olds
- Great for indoor and outdoor ride-on fun: Scuttlebug, £22
- Great for longevity: Little Bird Told Me Rocking Donkey - Norbert, £149.95
- Great for combining balance bike and scooter: Kinderkraft Halley, £49
- Great indoor ride-on toy: Wheelybug Ride-On Ladybird (Small), £69.95
Best soft toys for 1 year olds
- Great for bringing characters to life: In the Night Garden Talking Soft Toys from Golden Bear, £18
- Great for cuddles: CoComelon Bedtime Cody Musical Plush Doll, £20
- Great for social skills: Baby Annabell Little Sweet Princess Doll, £32
Jump to:
- Best educational toys for 1 year olds
- Best wooden toys for 1 year olds
- Best developmental toys for 1 year olds
- Best ride-on toys for 1 year olds
- Best soft toys for 1 year olds
What are the best toys for 1 year olds?
Take a look at our list of the 19 best toys for 1 year olds.
Best educational toys for 1 year olds
1. My 1st Years Peter Rabbit Sorter House, £33
– Great for early sorting skills
Available at: My 1st Years, Not on the High Street and Next
Age suitability: 12 months+ | Best for age: 18 months+ | Size: L22.8 x W20.6 x H21.6cm | Batteries: None | Awards: Editor's Choice, MadeForMums Toy Awards 2023
This charming shape sorter looks just like a little house, complete with Peter and Flopsy Rabbit on either side. The wooden shapes are a great size for a 1 year old's hands to grab, and finding the correct holes helps children develop hand-eye co-ordination, problem-solving and matching skills.
My little boy absolutely loves taking things apart and putting them back together again so he had loads of fun doing this! I definitely think it is a toy he loves because he often carries it over to me if he wants to play. Carrying it round in general is also something he loves to do!
2. Fisher-Price Little People Light-Up Learning Garage, £44.99
– Great for vehicle-based play
Available at: John Lewis, Very, Argos and Amazon
Age suitability: 1+ | Best for age: 1+ | Size: L25.4cm x W82.5cm x H40 cm | Batteries: 3 x AA (included) | Awards: Silver, Best Playset Under £70 – MadeForMums Toy Awards 2023
Beep beep! Toddlers can fill up, tune up and wash their car before racing along to the next adventure with the Fisher-Price Little People Light-Up Learning Garage. This interactive car garage playset also has lights, songs, and sounds to keep your 1 year old engaged. There’s a lot of child-activated detail – lights flash as kids send their car through the wash after which, you can send them racing down the ramp. Cars can also be filled up or charged at the station, and mini mechanics can ‘fix’ them with the wrench pieces.
He loved dancing to the music and repeating the letters, numbers, and colours. He also loved the car and putting the characters in and out of it.
3. Linkimals Cool Beats Penguin, £44.99
– Great for early number recognition
Available at: Amazon, John Lewis and The Entertainer
Age suitability: 9 months+ | Best for age: 12 months+ | Size: L14cm x W27cm x H25cm | Batteries: 4 x AA (included)
There's a lot of fun to be had with an interactive penguin who lights up and bobs and flaps his flippers along to the music that plays when you press the green button on his foot. The red button on his other foot plays phrases about numbers, shapes, the alphabet and opposites. And, if you have another Linkimals animal (like the Musical Moose and Play Together Panda), you can 'link' them up so they sing and 'chat' together. It's such a versatile toy that it was picked out by retailer The Entertainer as a must-have for Christmas 2023.
I actually didn't think this toy would be such a hit, but it's such fun! It has loads of songs, both silly and educational – and my 3-year-old is really enjoying it too.
4. Poppy the Count & Stack Flower Pot, £15
– Great for fine finger skills
Available at: Amazon and Learning Resources
Age suitability: 18 months+ | Best for age: 18 months+ | Size: L13cm x W13cm x H22cm | Batteries: None
This good-value flower pot is small but stuffed full of play potential. The 6 little numbered flowers each come in 2 pieces – petals and leaf – that can be fitted together, pulled apart and swapped round before popping them into the holes in the 'earth' in the pot. Plus the pot has a little handle that's just the right size for a 1 year old's hands.
From the moment he saw the handle he was hooked. He loves to collect things and carry them around. He immediately began to explore the flowers and put them back in the flower pot.
5. Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Mix & Learn DJ Table, £54.99
– Great for early music skills
Available at: John Lewis
Age suitability: 6-36 months | Best for age: 6-36 months | Size: L51cm x W13.5cm x H33cm | Batteries required: 3 x AA (included) | Awards: Bronze, Best Educational/Learning Toy Over £40 – MadeForMums Toy Awards 2023
This plastic DJ table with more than 100 songs, sounds and learning phrases went down very well with our testers. The table comes with 8 piano keys, a light-up disc to spin and a light-up number pad, so your child can start to feel like a real DJ. It also has 3 piano modes and 3 smart stages designed to teach your child colours, shapes, numbers and the alphabet. It also caught the eye of retailer John Lewis, which named it as a top toy for Christmas 2023.
There are plenty of different settings and options to play with and the ability to add legs adds longevity if purchased for a younger child. The different music modes add variety and stop the experience from becoming too repetitive.
6. Clementoni Soft Clemmy Touch, Discover and Play Sensory Table, £34.99
– Great for interactive sensory play
Available at: Amazon
Age suitability: 10 months+ | Best for age: 12 months+ |Size: L40cm x W40cm x H40cm | Batteries: None
Almost all the little activity features on this toddler table are made of soft and squidgy silicone, lending a whole new sensory (and extra-safe) dimension to posting shapes through holes, winding cogs, bashing things with a hammer and catapulting blocks in the air. We especially like the soft flip-over blue flap with the bit you can pop in and out, like bubble wrap (pictured above, in the corner with the blue leg). The table legs are removable and, once the fun is over, all the soft blocks these can neatly stored inside the little blue house.
Chloe really loves this. She plays with it first thing in the morning every day and she keeps coming back for it throughout the day. It's also sturdy, very well made with lovely smooth lines. The design is very original – I've not seen anything like this before.
Best wooden toys for 1 year olds
7. John Lewis Wooden Alphabet Abacus, £20
– Great for early language skills
Available at: John Lewis
Age suitability: 18 months+ | Best for age: 18 months | Size: H30cm x W23cm | Batteries: None
From A for apple to Z for zebra, this John Lewis wooden abacus is perfect for helping your little one become familiar with the basics of letters and numbers. The spinner has 36 cubes threaded in rows, one for each letter of the alphabet followed by the numbers 1 to 10. The spinning function of the cubes is fun for younger babies, and as they grow the toy can be used to aid simple counting and letter recognition. Later it can be used to practise reading words and letters.
8. Melissa & Doug Shape Sorting Grocery Cart, £74.99
– Great multi-skills playset
Age suitability: 12 months+ | Best for age: 18 months+ | Size: L38cm x W27cm x H40cm | Batteries: None
This wooden shopping trolley makes for a nice sturdy walker and has fruit-and-veg-themed shape sorters at the front and sides, as well as a built-in picture spinner. It comes with 12 wooden fruit and veg shapes, 2 puzzle boards to fit them on, and a play coffee cup with lid that can nestle in a cup holder inside the trolley. It's a robust, well thought-through toy, made with high-quality components and good attention to detail. It also comes recommended by Toy of the Year, which picked it out as a must-have toy for Christmas 2023.
There are lots of different features to explore. The wooden food items can be posted through shape-sorting holes and colour sorted, but there's also opportunities for some great imaginative play. Zoe loves creating 'smoothies' with them in the toy cup.
9. My 1st Years Wooden Animal Ark, £45
– Great for matching and sorting skills
Available at: My 1st Years
Age suitability: 12 months+ | Best for age: 12 months+ | Size: L29cm x W15cm x H30cm | Batteries: None
This wooden ark comes in muted, pastel colours with 4 portholes, an opening door that turns into a ramp, a sliding lid, 2 skylights and a rainbow carrying handle. Included, to be sent in two by two are pairs of zebras, elephants, parrots, tortoises, crocodiles, lions, giraffes and monkeys. You can also personalise it with your child's name painted on the roof – as has been done for our child tester Jake (pictured above left). It's beautifully made and we love how the rainbow carry handle has elastic hinges, so there's no chance a toddler could hurt themselves on it if they stumble or fall.
Lilah squealed with excitement when she first saw this. She makes all the noises for the animals and walks them around her play table, up the drawbridge into the boat. She loves taking the lid off for the animals to get in that way, too!
10. Janod Wooden Turtle Pull-Along Toy, £18
– Great for independent play
Available at: Amazon
Age suitability: 12 months+ | Best for age: 18 months+ | Size: L16cm x W6cm x H12cm | Batteries: None
This neutrally coloured wooden turtle has wheels for feet, so it can be pulled along beside or behind a toddling child. Made from eco-friendly wood, it's simple yet beautifully designed. We particularly love that the turtle's shell can be removed, offering more play opportunities and enhancing fine motor skills and that its body sways from side to side as your toddler pulls it along.
The turtle is really easy to pull along, with smooth running wheels, even with its jaunty walking style! Plus it has survived a few throws across the room, so it's sturdily made.
Best developmental toys for 1 year olds
11. Toomies Pull Along Peppa, £22.99
– Great for strength and co-ordination
Available at: Amazon, John Lewis and Very
Age suitability: 18 months+ | Best for age: 18 months+ | Size: L30cm x W16cm x H21cm | Batteries: None | Awards: Silver, MadeForMums Toy Awards 2023
Peppa, George and their favourite dinosaur are all on hand with this lovely pull-along to encourage children to crawl and walk. The three bendy axles allow the characters to wobble from side to side as your child rolls them along the floor. And as the wheels turn, it plays tunes and happy snorting sounds to really engage children as they play.
When we pulled it back and forth he loved hearing the sounds, mainly the giggles and the roars.
12. Little Bird Told Me Dexter Dog Push Along, £109.95
– Great for walking and riding
Available at: Natural Baby Shower and Samuel Johnston
Age suitability: 12 months+ | Best for age: 12 months+ | Size: L48cm x W26cm x H51cm | Batteries: None
For toddlers who are just about up on their feet, or are very nearly getting there, this furry dog walker is a beautifully designed, stable push-along toy to encourage more steps – if you've the budget.
Theo loves pushing him around the room, squeaking his tail and crinkling his ears.
Best ride-on toys for 1 year olds
13. Scuttlebug, £24.99
– Great for indoor and outdoor ride-on fun
Available at: Argos
Age suitability: 12 months+ | Best for age: 18 months | Size: L60cm x W33cm x H37.5 cm | Batteries: None | Awards: Gold, MadeForMums Toy Awards 2023
With a bright and funky design and appealing face, the Scuttlebug is a 3-wheeled ride-on that kids will love to scoot around on. Designed in the shape of a yellow and black bee, pink and black butterfly or a red and black beetle, it is a foot-to-floor ride-on with front wheel steering. The three wheels give extra stability for toddlers and the steering offers them manoeuvrability. Plus, if your 1 year old wants to ride in the house it's not a problem – the quiet, non-scratch wheels ideal for both indoor and outdoor fun.
For added convenience, the Scuttlebug also has a simple 3-click folding system, meaning it can be folded down to a much smaller size. This makes it easy to take out of the house and store under the pram, for example.
My son is always smiling when playing with the Scuttlebug. It is well worth the money and the cost for longevity is very good. It easily folds to carry it or put it under the buggy once child has had enough – big thumbs up from mum!
14. Little Bird Told Me Norbert the Rocking Donkey, £149.95
– Great for longevity
Available at: Natural Baby Shower and Amazon
Age suitability: 12 months+ | Best for age: 12 months+ | Size: L78cm x W31cm x H 65cm | Batteries: None
Looking for a modern take on a traditional nursery toy? Norbert the Rocking Donkey is a cute and cuddly rocking horse, featuring a super soft coat and a mane made from scrunchy velour. The Rocking Donkey is available in two sizes, suitable from 9 months and from 12 months.
Sebastian has fun rocking back and forth, as well as touching Norbert’s mane and fur. Although he can’t verbally express his option yet, it’s safe to say he likes him! Norbert is well built and I think this toy would ls a few years and still be as good as new.
15. Kinderkraft Halley, £69
– Great for combining balance bike and scooter
Available at: Kindercraft and Amazon
Age suitability: 12 months+ | Best for age: 12 months+ |Size: L77cm x W30cm x H60cm | Batteries: None
Awards: Bronze, MadeForMums Toy Awards
Looking for a balance bike and a 3-wheeled scooter? The Kinderkraft Halley offers both. You can lift the seat to turn the balance bike into a scooter and then, when your child is tired of riding, you can lower it back again, turning it back into a balance bike. Plus, the handlebar can be set at one of 3 levels as your child grows.
The Kinderkraft Halley is available in pink, green and white.
Really well made and feels like it is made from good-quality material
16. Wheelybug Ride-On Ladybird (Small), £69.95
– Great indoor ride-on toy
Available at: Amazon
Age suitability: 12 months+ | Best for age: 12 months+ | Size: L39cm x W23.5cm x H31cm | Weight: 1.8kg | Maximum child weight: 25kg | Batteries: None
This ride-on toy is for whizzing about in all directions: with its 360°-swivel castors, this little ladybird can go forwards, backwards, sideways and round in circles. It has big, easy-to-grip handles and a padded, wipe-clean seat that's low to the ground, making it nice and easy to clambering onto. You can also take it outside but it does need properly level ground (and the seat's not waterproof), so this is really more of an indoor toy and, given its manoeuvrability, you don't need masses of indoor space for your child to be able to enjoy it inside.
Also comes as a Bee, Cow, Tiger and Mouse or, if you buy a plush cover for £18.50, you can change your animal into a Lion, Dog, Unicorn, Hedgehog or Panda. There are Large versions of all models for age 3+.
Amelia likes playing with the antenna springs, for the satisfying noise they make when you move them about and let go. It's great that the wheels move in all directions as she can move about easily. She would had loved this when she was a few months younger – and I know she'll still love it for a good while yet!
Best soft toys for 1 year olds
17. In the Night Garden Talking Soft Toys from Golden Bear, £17.99
– Great for bringing characters to life
Available at: Argos, Very and Smyths Toys
Age suitability: 0+ | Best for age: 12 months | Size: L11.5cm x W6cm x H32.5cm | Batteries: 2 x AAA (included)
Awards: Silver, Best Toddler Toy – MadeForMums Toy Awards 2023
Bring the magic of In The Night Garden to life with these interactive musical toys based on the characters from the show. When the child presses the toy's hand it plays the theme tune and various character sounds. Each character is dressed in their iconic outfit, including Upsy Daisy’s colourful dress, and Igglepiggle carries his famous blanket (which can handily be replaced if needed). The range includes the three main characters from the show - Igglepiggle, Upsy Daisy and Makka Pakka.
She was excited and intrigued when she first saw them and then spent the first day exploring their features and listening to the different sounds. They were instantly recognisable as the characters from one of Liana's favourite TV shows and she was excited when she saw them.
18. CoComelon Bedtime Cody Musical Plush Doll, £28
– Great for cuddles
Available at: Argos and Amazon
Age suitability: 12 months+ | Best for age: 15 months+ | Size: H32cm x W21cm x D11cm | Batteries: 3 x AAA (included)
This cuddly plush doll, instantly recognisable to any small CoComelon fan as JJ's dinosaur-loving friend Cody, is a nice big size for hugging and carrying about. If you press his tummy, you can hear 8 sound effects, among them Cody's laugh and Cody's roar and clips from some of the TV show's songs, including (of course) Cody’s Special Dinosaur Day song.
My son loves CoComelon and is so delighted to have a Cody doll – and an Afro-Caribbean doll that looks like him. He's obsessed with pushing his tummy to hear the dinosaur songs!
19. Baby Annabell Little Sweet Princess Doll, £41.99
– Great for social skills
Available at: Argos, Zapf Creation and Amazon
Age suitability: 12 months+ | Best for age: 12 months+ | Size: H36cm x W20cm x D19cm | Batteries: 3 x AAA (not included)
New to the long-bestselling Baby Annabell range is this toddler doll. She closes her eyes and makes sleeping noises when you lie her down and, if you give her a kiss, her cheeks will blush and she'll make kissing sounds back at you. She's a really good size and weight for a 1 year old to cuddle – although we reckon the accessories (shoes, tiara and hairbrush) won't really come into their own until your child's a bit older and has developed a little more dexterity.
We really love this dolly. She is adorable and makes the loveliest noises. Immy is besotted with the way she makes kissy noises and she loves touching her cheeks after they have gone red. I'm so impressed with the quality of this doll. She is amazing, well worth the money!
Pics: Product websites/MadeForMums testers
How to choose and use toys safely
It's particularly important with babies to consider safety when choosing toys. Here's what to look out for.- Look for the CE mark, which shows the manufacturer has ensured the toy meets regulatory requirements
- Look for the voluntary British Toy and Hobby Association's Lion Mark (a red lion inside a yellow triangle)
- Buy from retailers that you know and trust
- Ensure the toy is appropriate for your child's age. Small pieces (including things such as plastic eyes on teddy bears that appear 'fastened on', rather than really securely integrated into the toy) are choking hazards for children under 3.
- Beware of any items that detach or have sharp edges
- Check toys regularly for things like loose threads, broken pieces or escaped filling.
About the author
Helen is Deputy Editor of MadeForMums, the author of Parenting for Dummies (Wiley, £17.99) and the Head Tester for our MadeForMums Toy Awards. She has written about parenting for Mumsnet, Pregnancy & Birth, Prima Baby, Boots Parenting Club and She Magazine and she's also been Consumer Editor of Mother & Baby. She has 3 boys and a heavy-duty washing machine.
We've got more top tested and rated toys here...
Authors
Helen is author of the classic advice book Parenting for Dummies and a mum of 3. Before joining MadeForMums, she was Head of Community at Mumsnet and also the Consumer Editor of Mother & Baby.
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