Best toys for 2 year olds 2025, tried and tested by parents and children
Our pick of the best toys suited for boys and girls aged 2 years, which we've tested to ensure they delight, entertain and boost key toddler development skills
What are the best toys for 2 year olds? Well, first things first, they've got to be "indestructible," after all they don't call it the terrible two's for nothing!
According to Helen Brown, author of Parenting for Dummies: "Your 2 year old is full of energy and curiosity." At this time, your toddler will also start to "pretend more during play, using familiar objects and situations to copy the grown-ups in their lives," says Helen.
She also recommends: "Toys that offer opportunities to explore and repeat, ride-on toys get a big thumbs-up, as do anything that lights up or beeps when you press its buttons. Simple puzzles and construction toys can also come into the mix, now that your child's hand-eye co-ordination is improving."
Above all, though, it's got to be fun: "There's no point a toy having amazing development-boosting potential if it's simply not much fun to play with."
So, to help you decide what to buy your 2 year old we've gone out and reviewed over 20 of the best products, below you'll find products for every occasion and honest feedback from our child testers.
Best toys for 2 year olds at a glance
Best educational toys for 2 year olds
- Leapfrog My 1st Phonics: Spin & Learn, £20
- Early Learning Centre Wooden Stacking Train,
£29.99£17.50 - Musical Hop Out Mizzie Music Box, £24.99
Best outdoor toys and ride-ons for 2 year olds
- Little Tikes CozyCoupe Ride-On, £70
- Kidvelo Rookie 12 Balance Bike, £110
- Micro 4in1 Mini 2 Grow Scooter, £120
- Xootz Big Bumper Car Electric Ride-On, £99
- Marvel Spiderman 6v Light-Up Web Slinger Mini Quad, £80
Best interactive toys for 2 year olds
- Fisher-Price DJ Bouncin' Beats, £34.99
- VTech 3-in1 Sports Centre,
£49.99£37.99
Best travel toys for 2 year olds
- LEGO DUPLO Number Train, £17.99
- Little Fox Quiet Book, £44.95-£49.95
Best role-play toys for 2 year olds
- Toomies Bath Barista,
£23.99£19.99 - LeapFrog Count-along Basket & Scanner,
£39.99£25.99 - LeapFrog Scoop and Learn Ice Cream Cart,
£59.99£39.99
Best soft toys for 2 year olds
- CoComelon Boo Boo JJ from Bandai, £34.99
- iFrodoll Personalised Deep Skin Tone Plush Doll Nevaeh, £16.99
- Stitch FX Disney Puppet, £79.99
What are the best toys for 2 year olds?
Jump to:
- Best educational toys for 2 year olds
- Best outdoor toys and ride-ons for 2 year olds
- Best interactive toys for 2 year olds
- Best travel toys for 2 year olds
- Best role-play toys for 2 year olds
- Best soft toys for 2 year olds
Best educational toys for 2 year olds
1. LeapFrog My 1st Phonics: Spin & Learn, £19.99
Available at: Argos and Amazon
Age suitability: 18 months+ | Best for age: 2+ | Batteries: 3 x AA batteries (included)
This toy has 5 double-sided flip pages featuring colourful images and over 100 words chosen specifically to help toddlers learn language and sounds. Kids can press the 10 light up buttons to explore each picture, learning the word, and highlighted letter sound or they can press the big red button in the middle to see the lights swirl around.
She smiled and giggled when playing with this toy and particularly liked hitting the big red middle button and all the colourful flashing lights. Both of my children (5 and 2) have enjoyed playing with it, in ways to suit their own levels of development. They both loved the sounds and flashing lights.
2. Early Learning Centre Wooden Stacking Train, £35.99
Available at: Marks and Spencer
Age suitability: 12 months+ | Best for age: 2+ | Size: L45cm x W10cm x H16cm | Batteries: None
The little wooden engine pulls 2 wagons, all made from FSC-certified wood, that you build from a set of wheels, a flatbed with a stacking pole and 15 stacking blocks – 6 of which have numbers on one side and letters on the other. It’s sturdy, bright and well designed. With all the colours, numbers and letters, it offers lots of stacking and learning opportunities on top of simple push-along train play.
“She plays with it a least once a day, building the bricks into a tower or pushing it around and going, ‘Choo choo!’ She laughs and giggles the whole time.”
3. Mizzie The Kangaroo Hop Out Music Box, £24.99
Available at: Amazon and Not On The High Street
Age suitability: 18 months+ | Best for age: 2+ | Size: L13cm x W13cm x H14cm | Batteries: None
A retro-style, battery-free jack-in-the-box toy: you wind the lever and, to the tune of Pop Goes the Weasel, out of the tin pops soft and furry Mizzie the kangaroo. It’s a great toy to teach cause and effect, while guaranteeing plenty of giggles too.
He kept saying ‘Again! Again!’ He thinks it’s hilarious and couldn’t stop laughing.
Best outdoor toys and ride-ons for 2 year olds
4. Little Tikes Cozy Coupe, £69.99
Available at: Argos
Age suitability: 18 months+ | Best for age: 2 | Size: H41.61cm, W72.72cm, D38.74cm | Batteries: None
The iconic Little Tikes Cozy Coupe now has an update to the tried-and-tested design that has long delighted children. The newer design of the four-wheeled, brightly coloured ride-on car features a friendly face on the front, a parent grab handle on the roof and a removable floor. With the floor inserted, toddlers’ feet are protected while an adult can use the grab handle on top to push the car. Once your child is old enough to propel themselves, parents can remove the floor out and let them enjoy getting about using foot-to-floor power.
The Little Tikes Cozy Coupe also has fun features for more realistic car-themed play, including a working door, clicking ignition switch, beeping horn, and open-and-close petrol cap.
Every morning he rushes to the car door, throws it open, jumps in and slams the door. His favourite part is the horn. Would he play with it again? More like, will he ever stop playing with it?
5. Kidvelo Rookie 12 Balance Bike, £130
Available at: Kidvelo
Age suitability: 18 months+ | Best for age: 2+ | Weight: 2.89kg | Maximum child weight: 30kg | Batteries: None
A balance bike is a great buy for a 2-year-old, allowing them a good couple of years to become a pro at steering and balancing on two wheels before moving on to a ‘proper’ bike with pedals. And we really like this balance bike, with its sturdy frame, 12in wheels and bouncy tyres, because it's very lightweight and super-adjustable.
The saddle height can be fine-tuned between 30cm and 48cm at the pull of a lever and the handlebars can be rotated with an Allen key (included) to alter the reach depending on your child's arm length. There are also angled integrated footrests with non-slip grip riders, a control-improving threadless alloy headseat (a feature more usually seen on adult performance bikes) and – a huge hit with our testers – a little bell. It’s worth knowing that the tyres are air-filled (lovely for smooth riding on any surface, but you'll need a foot pump) and there are no brakes (tricky for a toddler to master but included on some balance bikes).
At first look, I thought that this was pricey for a children’s balance bike, but this quickly changed. Now I think that it is great value for money, as it’s so well made and will last Chester so many years.
6. Micro 4in1 Mini 2 Grow Scooter, £120
Available at: Pram World, Kid Collective and Selfridges
Age suitability: 12 months+ | Best for age: 18 months+ | Batteries: 2 x AA batteries (not included)
This Micro Mini Grow Scooter has a 4 different set-ups to grow with your child's development. First it's a parent steered ride on trike for ages 12 months+, then an independent ride on trike for ages 18 months+, then a Micro toddler scooter for kids over 2, and finally a Mini Micro scooter for ages 3-6. All of these phases have light up handlebars and light up wheels.
My toddler loved being pushed around on it as a fun alternative to his buggy. It was great for short walks, relatively easy to steer and pushed well even on gravel paths. I like the flexibility, robustness and longevity of the scooter.
7. Xootz Big Bumper Car Electric Ride-On, £99.99
Age suitability: 18 months+ | Best for age: 5+ | Size: H69cm x W48.7cm x D93cm | Batteries: 1 x 12V (included) plus 3 x AAA (not included)
Bring fairground fun to your living room with the Xootz Big Bumper Car, an electric ride-on designed in the shape of a bumper car. This ride-on can be used in the house or garden, but don’t worry, parents – there is a rubberised bumper to protect your furniture. The ride-on has room for 2 passengers and can be controlled with a steering wheel or a parental remote control.
While this isn’t the smallest of toys, you don’t need a huge area, with the mum of our child tester being surprised at how little space was needed (it can do a full 360° spin on the spot). You will need to charge it first — charging time is up to 8 hours — and the running time is around 45 minutes. It also has flashing lights, plays music and comes with stickers for customisation.
“This is AMAZING! I love it because you can chase people around. I love it because it lights up and drives like a real car because it goes super fast!”
8. Marvel Spider-Man 6v Light-Up Web Slinger Mini Quad, £80
Age suitability: 2+ | Best for age: 2.5 | Size: H46.5cm x W65cm x D39.5cm | Batteries: 1 x 6V battery required (included)
Sling web discs with the Marvel Spider-Man 6v Light-Up Web Slinger Mini Quad, a child-sized quad bike decorated with colourful character graphics. Featuring Spider-Man characters, web-shaped mouldings and glowing headlight eyes, this Mini Quad is activated using a foot-operated pedal control with both forward and reverse gears. It can be driven around your house or garden at a max speed of 2.5mph. While you’ll need to charge it before use, once the battery is full there is an estimated playtime of 60 minutes.
I do think this toy is worth the money. Due to the stability of it and speed it can be used from a very young age up to around 6 years old. A big appeal to all Spider-Man fans and the shooting disc is a great bonus
Best interactive toys for 2 year olds
9. Fisher-Price DJ Bouncin’ Beats, £35
Available at: Amazon and Argos
Age suitability: 9 months+ | Best for age: 18 months+ | Size: L17cm x W30cm x H33cm | Batteries: 4 x AA (included)
A musical learning toy with an interactive, hopping twist, this fun plastic rabbit bounces around when your child presses the buttons between its ears. Ears flashing and face glowing, it plays more than 75 songs, sounds and phrases at 3 levels, aimed at different stages of development and including letters, colours, numbers and opposites.
His face lit up and he was screaming in delight. Once he got used to the vigorous hopping, he found it enormously fun to play and his older sisters have enjoyed using the recording feature with him.
10. VTech 3-in-1 Sports Centre, £49.99
Available from: Very and Amazon
Age suitability: 12 months+ | Best for age: 2+ | Size: L58cm x W44cm x H66cm| Batteries: 3 x AA (included)
This little interactive sports centre lets you shoot a basket, net a goal or throw to hit a target (that’s round the back behind the scoreboard). It comes with a pint-sized football, a pint-sized basketball and small throwing ball. The electronic scoreboard counts the shots that score and plays encouraging phrases. It also features buttons to press that trigger songs and encourage learning about shapes and colours.
This toy is amazing, it’s well worth the money and will last for quite some time. Lucas goes running to it every morning. He caught on pretty fast to how to play and was so pleased with himself when he scored.
Best travel toys for 2 year olds
11. LEGO DUPLO Number Train, £18
Available at: LEGO, Argos and Amazon
Age suitability: 18 months+ | Best for age: 18 months+ | Size: L37cm x W6cm x H10cm | Batteries: None
This buildable, wheeled locomotive has 3 carriages, with numbered bricks to load on board. It’s colourful, easy to build and push along, and introduces numbers and counting in a fun way. It also comes with 2 child figures and a very cute cat. It was a real hit with our toddler testers, especially Sam, 2. It’s nice and light too, and would be a good toy to stash in a carry bag when you’re travelling.
12. Little Fox Quiet Book, £44.95-£49.95
Available at: Little Camie
Age suitability: 18 months + | Best for age: 18 months| Size: 15cm x 15cm | Batteries: None
The Montessori-inspired Little Fox Quiet Book is a fabric book with sensory play activities on each page. There are interactive scenes with human and animal characters as well as fabric features like moving pieces, buttons, zips, Velcro, and elastic for little hands to engage with. Activities include feeding animal characters with fabric food, threading a mouse though a piece of cheese and playing with a friendly fox’s tail.
The book is 100% handmade and all the components are hand-sewn, which is reflected in the high price for an activity book. Despite this delicate touch, the book is designed to be sturdy, durable, and reusable. It is useful for travelling as it contains multiple activities in one small fabric book.
After playing with it, it is an investment worth making; whether that be to hand down to family or buying for a special birthday or occasion. We took it on a recent car journey; it was brilliant as it is compact and lightweight, perfect for little hands to carry and play with.
Best role-play toys for 2 year olds
13. Toomies Bath Barista, £23.99
Available at: Amazon and Argos
Age suitability: 18 months+ | Best for age: 18 months+ | Size: H23.3cm x W23.5cm x D10.2cm | Batteries: None
The Bath Barista is a pretend coffee machine designed to be played with in water. The toy allows children to mimic adults making coffee by placing a cup under the filter, twisting a handle and serving a drink into one of the 3 plastic cups (included). Want to add foam to your drink? Create frothy foam bubbles by pumping a plunger. For adding a finishing touch, a sprinkle shaker is included with the Bath Barista. Suction pads also allow it to be easily attached to wall tiles, bath sides or any smooth surface.
The Bath Barista is an absolute bargain considering the endless hours of fun it provides. The Bath Barista is now a part of our daily bath routine, bathtime has never been this fun and easy.
14. LeapFrog Count-along Basket & Scanner, £39.99
Age suitability: 2+ | Best for age: 2+ | Size: L17cm x W24cm x H32cm | Batteries: 2 x AAA (included)
This vibrant shopping basket comes with 8 pieces of play food and an interactive ‘scanner’ that recognises each food item as it’s scanned. It has 3 game modes based on colours, shapes, counting and food groups. The handle on the basket can also be pulled out to turn it into a rollalong trolley basket. It’s solidly made, brightly coloured, with well thought-out games (and a friendly, encouraging voice to guide you through them) – but it’s the scanner that's the absolute star feature. The fact that it recognises each piece of play food captivated all our toddler testers.
Holly enjoys playing shop, so this toy with the scanning device took it to the next level. She keeps wanting to show it to anyone that comes round. I can see great potential for this toy in imaginative play for many years to come.
15. LeapFrog Scoop and Learn Ice Cream Cart, £59.99
Age suitability: 2+ | Best for age: 2+ | Size: L52cm x W22cm x H63cm | Batteries: 3 x AAA (included)
This interactive push-along trolley is stacked with ice cream combos for your toddler to create and serve. It comes with 6 activity cards you can insert into the cart to hear ice-cream orders to make and then ring through the till. It’s a definite toddler hit and the ‘magic ice cream scoop’, which recognises the different colours and flavours on offer, really wowed our little testers. The activity cards are great for reinforcing colours and numbers and we like how the cart “gobbles up” all the left-over ice cream.
Edie plays with this non-stop. It's great for learning her colours as we ask her for a pink/green ice cream and also tell her the flavour. Her favourite part seems to be putting topping on to the ice cream. It is certainly a hit – and I would definitely recommend this toy to friends and family.
Best soft toys for 2 year olds
16. CoComelon Boo Boo JJ, £34.99
Available at: Amazon
Age suitability: 2+ | Best for age: 2+ | Size: L10cm x W12cm x H30cm| Batteries: 3x AAA (included)
You do pay a bit of a premium for Cocomelon-themed toys but this cuddly plush doll definitely does deliver on the toddler-thrill front. He’s nice and big to squeeze and comes with 3 brightly coloured Velcro-backed fabric plasters – which you put on his head, elbow, knee or foot when that area lights up and JJ tells you he’s got a ‘boo boo’. Get your plaster in the right spot and JJ giggles and tells you he’s feeling better. You can also press his tummy and he'll sing the Boo Boo song.
I’ve never seen a doll like this before. It’s very original. And Amelia is very excited about him – and especially about the plasters!
17. iFrodoll Personalised Deep Skin Tone Plush Doll Nevaeh, £16.99
Available at: iFrodoll
Age suitability: From birth | Best for age: 2+ | Size: L9cm x W14cm x H34cm | Batteries: None
One of a range of soft dolls with brown and black skin tones that can be personalised – for free – with your child's name, Nevaeh has a smiley round face, curly, textured hair in a top-bun and wears a (non-removable) dress with a tutu skirt. She’s super soft and just the right weight (128g) and size for a toddler to carry about or wrap arms around and snuggle tight at bedtime. She’s also machine-washable.
This toy really resonates with me as a black parent to two black daughters because representation is so important, and the lack of black dolls on the market can be frustrating. This doll is attractive, appealing and very well-made. I think any child of any ethnicity will be able to see the beauty in Nevaeh.
18. Stitch FX Disney Puppet, £79.99
Available at: The Toy Shop
Age suitability: From birth | Best for age: 2+ | Batteries: 3 x AAA (not included)
This Stitch puppet is full of personality, it makes a range of different noises and even says some of Stitch's best catchphrases while wiggling its ears and opening its eyes.
My daughter has really enjoyed playing with Stitch. She likes making him interact with the family, and found great pleasure in making stitch grumpy by putting his ears down and then biting her brother and her dad. She likes that his personality changes depending on if his ears are up and down. She also likes that he starts snoring when you stop playing with him. She likes that he is cuddly and has taken him to bed as well as out and about.
How to choose and use toys safely
Here's what to look out for when choosing the right toys for your toddler:- Look for the CE mark, which is the manufacturer's claim that 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 (such as plastic eyes on teddy bears that appear 'fastened on' but aren't properly secured) are choking hazards up to the age of 3
- Beware of any items that detach or have sharp edges
- Check toys regularly for things such as loose threads or escaped filling
We've got more top tested and rated toys here...
Authors
Emily is the Digital Content Producer at MadeForMums and creates editorial and video content across the brand. She also edits the weekly editorial newsletter, oversees our reviews process and loves creating our craft articles and videos. She specialises predominantly in car seats and pushchairs, and has yet to meet a buggy she couldn’t fold! With a 1st class degree in History, she always researches topics thoroughly to find the best recommendations for parents.
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