Top 5 Baby & Toddler Toy List by Age
- leah680
- 8 hours ago
- 12 min read
As a pediatric physical therapist and a mom of three, I know firsthand the challenges that can come when looking for the perfect gifts for little ones. Parents are bombarded with lengthy lists and guides to filter through to help them try to find the best toys for their children. So I've decided to skip all the fluff and get right down to business and create my own list of top 5 toys for ages 0-5. These toys are ones that my kids always come back to, year after year, and it's my go-to list when purchasing gifts for anyone who has a child in these age ranges.
In this blog post, I'm excited to share short, curated list of the TOP 5 gift ideas that I've personally found to be engaging, educational, and beneficial for the physical and cognitive development of babies and toddlers. From toys that encourage gross motor skills to those that stimulate imagination and creativity, I've carefully selected items that will delight both children and parents alike and are basically guaranteed to be a hit.
Come along as we explore a variety of gift options that cater to the unique needs and interests of our little ones during this crucial stage of growth and exploration. Whether you're shopping for your own child, a niece or nephew, or a friend's baby shower, these gift ideas are sure to inspire hours of play and learning for the special little ones in your life.
Disclosure: I only recommend products I would use myself and all opinions expressed here are our own. This post may contain affiliate links which means that, at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission. Thank you for your support!
In this blog:
0-3 month old gift ideas
Toki mats are the softest playmats EVER! They come in lots of adorable different patterns, a variety of sizes and also come in cotton or vegan leather cover options. The cotton covers are machine washable while the vegan leather covers wipe clean with ease. We have the mega size, vegan leather mat in the pattern "blooms" at our house and we use it EVERY. DAY. You can use my referral link (above) to get 15% off!
A play gym (we actually have both of these)!
Lovevery Play Gym all of my kids have played with this play gym and it's beautiful. You can easily take down and store the "gym" when needed and just use the mat only. The mat has different sections for play with textures and tags which help keep baby entertained. It comes with several hanging toys and contrast cards. I can't recommend this enough! The Fisher Price Kick and Play Piano Mat is a GOAT (greatest of all time) baby toy. I rotated between this and the lovevery play gym A LOT during the first few months with all of my kids. Parents beware... the songs are incredibly catchy and you WILL get them stuck in your head lol you have been warned.
We keep this guy in the carseat and it always keeps my girls entertained. We also have the dragonfly I'll link here, and he is loved but not nearly as much as the octopus. His legs are irresistible for touching and sometimes tasting lol.
This book is BEAUTIFUL and perfect for floor time and tummy time as it is an accordian style book that is easily propped up for baby to look at. All of the pictures are hand painted and the set comes with 3 books that grow with your baby's developing vision.
Baby Einstein Tummy Time Mirror My girls loved looking at not only themselves in this mirror but also the adorable little caterpillar guy! He always got big smiles from them! This mirror is soft and foldable, but sturdy when propped open. It also comes with contrast cards.
4-7 month gift ideas
Teething toys
We love these two. Sophie the giraffe - Don't ask me WHY this toy is such a big hit, I can't explain it lol. But I can tell you that all of my babies have loved Sophie the giraffe! She's perfect for teething, squishing and playing with! Innobaby Fruit teethers - These are easy to hold for younger babies and the two sides are great for providing oral input and teething relief.
These are such a great toy for babies but also for young toddlers, so I love that these are a toy you can buy for some longevity. They are soft and easy to manipulate for little hands. You simply pull them back and they will roll forward... and they can surprisingly go pretty far! I love these for encouraging movement on the floor in babies around 6 months old.
Spin-a-letter This toy was always a HOT commodity at the clinic. Babies (and toddlers) love this toy! It's great to encourage reaching to spin the wheel. The size of it is also perfect for sitting practice. It is a little taller, it's great to place between the baby's legs and sit because they can use the toy as a cue to stay upright.
This is a fun fidget toy that keeps baby engaged. It's interesting to look at and it makes a gentle sound when it's moved. My son loved to play with this worm! It kept him entertained for a long time on the floor.
Spill + Stuff Taco This little taco is so cute! The "filling" is great for baby to practice pulling stuff OUT and then eventually will be fun to put back in. The pieces of fabric look textured which adds extra fun.
8-11 month old gift ideas
These stacking & nesting cups are fun to play with IN and OUT of the bathtub. Your baby will love to explore placing them inside of each other, stacking them, and also knocking them down! They each have a variety of little holes at the bottom that make for a fun time filling them with water and watching it drip out in the bathtub! These are one of our faves.
This is a great way to work on cause and effect with your baby! It also works on fine motor skills by manipulating the switches and also closing the doors once they open. I got this for my 8 month old son for Christmas this year!
A fun way to work on some vestibular input and keep your baby happy! I actually got this swing for my son for Christmas this year as well. I wish I would have had it for my daughters. I think he will love it.
This toy is one that your baby will use even after they start walking independently! It is a push toy that your baby can stand and push to walk for practice, but it's ALSO a wagon. You can put toys etc. in the toy and push it. So in the future it can be a shopping cart, baby stroller, etc. I love that it can be used for a long time!
Stacking rings on the stacker and taking the off is a skill that starts to emerge at this age. I love this Sassy ring stacker because it has a variety of ring shapes and textures, making it a fun toy to play with and explore even when you're not stacking them!
12-18 month gift ideas
Retrospect balance bike or Radio Flyer Ride-on Car
Baby’s first balance bike! Your little one will love riding around on this bike/ride-on toy. It’s a great way to work on bilateral coordination and balance, two skills they will need to develop in order to ride a bike in the future.
The learning tower is BY-FAR the best and most used purchase I have made for my daughter. We use the learning tower EVERYDAY, she absolutely loves it. It gives her a sense of independence and inclusion in the kitchen. I actually have a full post on learning towers you can read HERE to get more information on them and why I love them so much. (you can use code PTPARENT10 for a discount to the guidecraft tower)
Stuffed animals and dolls are great to introduce to your little one to encourage pretend play. This soft doll is a great first baby doll for a 1 year old. It also comes in many different color/gender options for you to choose from.
Melissa & Doug knob puzzles - Fine motor skills, visual spatial awareness, shapes and colors. Simple shape puzzles are great gifts that will grow with your 1 year old throughout their first year.
Play Couch - We absolutely love our play couch! It's perfect for making ramps, forts, rough and tumble play and more. It's an open-ended toy that will grow with your child for years to come. We got a playcouch when my oldest was 1 and she stll plays with it now as a 4 year old (as do my 2 year old and 8 month old lol). We have the figgy play couch and it's been amazing. I have a discount code (LEAHTURK) you can use at checkout.
18-24 month gift ideas
Little People - I love little people for one year olds! They’re perfect for little hands and there are SO MANY options that there is sure to be a little people set that will interest your toddler. Two versatile and favorite sets at my house are the Farm and the House.Â
Play Sink - This was another top purchase that I made during my daughter’s first year. I can attest to great customer service from this company as well, if you have any issues with the sink they will replace it! We also have this sink from target that's affordable and great as well.
Play kitchen - Play kitchens provide a creative outlet for toddlers to engage in imaginative and pretend play. Our daughter loves her play kitchen from Ikea, it’s a minimalist design but has all of the basics your child will need for pretend play. This kitchen from Teamson has a few more cabinets, a fridge and interactive components while still maintaining a relatively minimalist design. Don’t forget to get some Pots & Pans and pretend food to complete the kitchen!
Water Table - This is a MUST HAVE if you are going to be spending time outside this summer with your little. It provides tons of entertainment and minimal set up. You’re toddler will love this, guaranteed.Â
Sensory table - A sensory table is a great way to engage your child in sensory play. We have the Ikea Flisat table and it gets used for sensory play, coloring, play-doh, crafts and so much more. This table from 7daysoplay is foldable for storage if you're short on space! I have been considering upgrading to a larger table now that I have 3 kids and this one from guidecraft looks so fun (use code PTPARENT10 for a discount!).
2 year old gift ideas
Screen free story/music players like the Yoto mini or the Tonies box is a great choice for a 2 year old. We personally have the Yoto player but I know so many people love Tonies as well. If you’re getting a yoto mini, I also highly recommend getting the Adventure jacket and also joining yoto club! Here are some yoto cards we love at 2 years old: Wheels on the Bus - Old McDonald - Caspar babypants - Row Your Boat - Where’s Spot - Daniel Tiger Sleepy Stories - Encanto Songs - Moana Songs - Gruffalo - The Very Hungry Caterpillar
Strider bike and/or 3 wheel scooter - Scooters are great for building coordination and balance in toddlers, and they’re fun! 3 wheeled scooters are more safe and easier for 2 year olds to control. Strider bikes make a great gift for a 2-year-old beacause they're great for introducing skills necessary for riding an actual bicycle such as balance and reciprocal leg movements,. Don't forget a helmet!
Obstacle course set - This obstacle course set is perfect for a toddler. It has balance beams and stepping stones to create a fun obstacle course for your 2 year old. Obstacle courses are great for generalized strengthening and balance, problem solving and following directions.
Play Ice Cream Set - Since I bought this toy for my daughter, she has legitimately played with it every single day… and it’s been 3 months. Safe to say it’s a hit!
Magnetic Tiles - I love the open ended nature of magnetic tiles. They are a perfect gift for 2 year olds and can grow with your child as they expand their building skills.
3 year old gift ideas
Yoto player - if you follow me on instagram, you know that I’m a huge fan of the Yoto player… I have an entire highlight dedicated to it where I discuss why I love it so much. If you don’t already have one for you child, I highly recommend getting a story/song player like the Yoto or Tonies.
Mini Trampoline - Your child will start jumping around 2 years old so by 3 years old you may have a JUMPING BEAN on your hands! You also may be looking to help your child burn off some extra energy and this mini trampoline is perfect for that. Check out "trampoline workouts for kids" on youtube to find some exercise vidoes for your child to follow along. We love PE Bowman trampoline workouts.
Camera - This camera is perfect for toddlers! They can take pictures and record videos all on this digital camera. It’s a fun way to let your toddler explore photography and create memories with pictures.
At 3 years old, your child will be ready to play some simple games and board games! This is great for following directions, taking turns and social skills. Check out our family favorite board games HERE!
Vet Check up play set - This play set is perfect for pretend play. Can double as a regular doctor's play pretend set too! My girls love doing "check ups" on their stuffed animals using this.
4 year old gift ideas
This one has six... WHOOPS!
Nex Playground game system - This is a super fun, ACTIVE gaming system for kids. It's like a Wii or XBox Kinect... but better! It's completely safe for kids to use because its not connected to the internet. We have this and my 4 and 2.5 year old absolutely love to play it. I have a review of it on my youtube shorts and on instagram if you want to see more info on it.
Blu Track racetrack - It's a flexible racetrack that works with most "hotwheels" size cars! you can attach it to any smooth surface with suction cups and creat loops, ramps etc for the cars to launch off of. I love that its flexible and can be coiled for easy storage.
Digital Magnifying Glass - This toy is so cool! My 4 year old loved looking at things outside and inside of our house with this magnifying glass. Because its digital it has the ability to zoom and also take pictures of things you find.
Bicycle - We have Biky bikes for my daughters and love it. It's ultra-light weight which makes it great for younger kids to learn how to ride. My daughter started on a strider bike and then we got the 14 in biky bike for her to transition to pedaling and she was riding her bike without training wheels before her 4th birthday! She is now confidently riding on the 16 in biky and my 2.5 year old is on the 14in with no pedals (almost ready to add pedals on!).
Climbling & Hanging Toys - The Swedish Ladder wall climbing set is such an amazing investment. My girls climb or swing on it daily. Even my 8 month old son enjoys pulling up to stand on the bars lol. I also got this gymnastics bar as a Christmas gift for my 4 year old as she has been trying to do flips on our trampoline handle bar lately haha.
Dress-up clothes - I don't know about you, but my 4 year old is OBSESSED with dress up. She basically wakes up and immediately looks for a princess dress to put on. So dress up clothes are a top gift idea for 4 year olds in my opinion!
5 year old gift ideas
Air toobz - This is a viral toy I've had my eye on for a while. I actually just purchased as a Christmas gift for my 4 year old so I'm curious how she will fair with it. I definitely feel like a 5 year old would enjoy this! Basically, you construct little pathways for a ball to travel through and then place the ball into the machine and it pushes the ball through the path with air and shoot it out the other side!
Legos - A classic building toy that any 5 year old would enjoy. I would suggest starting a collection with a basic set and a building base. You might also consider a theme building set for a first time lego purchase... or even in addition to an already seasoned lego kid's colleciton.
Hot Wheels Tracks - At 5 years old, I feel like their ability to build and construct things enters a more exciting level. Hot wheels are a great way to build and have fun and watch your cars race to the finish. Luckily, there are TONS of integrated hot wheels tracks out there so you can always buy something new for your car lover. Don't forget some cars!
Camp Snap Camera - This camera has "old school vibes" but is easy enough for a child to use. It takes everything we loved about disposable cameras growing up and modernized it to the digital age. You snap pictures as you would with a disposable camera (thorough the viewing portal, there is no screen!) and then upload your pictures to your computer to view and print.
Marble Run - This wooden marble run looks beautiful and easy enough for a 5 year old to build relatively independently. I will be purchasing this one for my girls once they're old enough!
I hope these top 5 gift ideas for ages 0-5 help to inspire you with ideas on what to get for the little one in your life. BUT... If you're looking for even more gift ideas, head to my amazon storefront for even more toys and gifts curated by me for your child. Or you can also checkout my "ultimate gift guide" blog post for more gift ideas for ages 0-3 years.
Happy Shopping!
