This Year’s Hottest Toys for Babies and Toddlers

During the earliest stages of play, toys that encourage your baby’s development are a priority. Toys for this age group should “support sensory exploration and development of early motor skills. At this stage, babies are beginning to gain control over their hands, strengthen their muscles, and respond to various sounds and colors,” explains Maddie Michalik, trends specialist at The Toy Association.

Some of the most popular toys for this age group are the ones that can be used through different stages of development. Namely, the Fisher-Price Kick and Play Piano Gym can be used for tummy time, to encourage rolling over and played with while sitting up and beyond (my daughter still plays with the piano)—plus the music is playlist-worthy.

Between 7 and 12 months, your baby is likely starting to become more mobile, whether crawling, sitting independently or starting to cruise and take steps, so “toys that get their body moving or have mechanisms to bang, insert, push, squeeze, doors to open and shut, pieces to fill and spill help strengthen motor skills,” Corrine Eggleston, Play Lab Expert at Fisher-Price says.

Additionally, Michalik says, “Shape sorters, stacking toys, and simple puzzles encourage fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and problem-solving abilities and, toys that introduce cause-and-effect concepts, like pop-up toys and interactive musical toys, help babies develop cognitive understanding by connecting actions with outcomes.”

“Language is super important for this age set,” Marissa Silva, editor-in-chief at The Toy Insider, tells us, and you’ll see a boost in your toddler’s vocabulary between 1 and 2 years old. Along with language, “gross motor skills are also super important; kids can move and engage with the world around them way more at this age,” Silva says. Michalik says toys that encourage these new skills, such as playsets and dolls, which help kids mimic everyday activities and building blocks or large puzzles “encourage problem-solving skills and spatial awareness.”

To encourage their language development, “picture books, musical toys, and interactive learning toys with buttons that prompt words or sounds support toddlers in learning new words.” Classic toys like Magna Tiles and Fisher-Price Little People sets are playroom staples that encourage imagination and gross motor skills. Newer toys like Little Tikes Story Dream Machine bring picture books to life while introducing toddlers to new words, and Staplestein stepping stones encourage creativity and young toddlers’ developing motor skills.

When your child hits peak toddlerhood, between 2 and 3 years old, you’ll likely see a draw to “character-based toys and items that build on their expanding interests and skills,” Michalik says. Whether these characters are based on television series like Bluey or Ms. Rachel or storybook characters like Winnie the Pooh or Llama Llama, they’ll develop an obvious favorite. Toddlers are also paying close attention to what the adults around them are doing, Eggleston says, so “toys that allow them to pretend—figures, simple dolls, role-play items are fun for them.”

Trend-wise, there has been a shift, according to Silva, to more low-tech, classic wooden toys. Toddler toys are also taking on a brighter, more playful palate (versus the muted trend from a couple of years ago). “Parents are embracing brighter colors, recognizing that they’re not only fun but also stimulating for babies and toddlers, who respond well to high-contrast and colorful items,” Michalik says.