My son RJ turned one year old a couple of months ago, so this list of the best toys for one-year-olds is inspired by the many new toys that have been brought into his play space. I’ve been slowly introducing birthday gifts to his environment and rotating them weekly to keep him engaged (and to give my brain a break from some of the songs). 

Fortunately, my friends and family have pretty good taste so he has plenty of toys to keep his rapidly developing baby brain active. It’s also helped shape my opinions of baby toys, the good and the bad, and what I should be buying for the kids in my life in the future. 

If you’re looking for a toy gift for a 1-year-old in your life, here are some of our top recommendations. 

My Favorite Toys and Gift Ideas for 1-Year-Olds

(Some of these are affiliate links, so I may receive a commission if you click and make a purchase. A mom’s gotta eat.)

Spinning and Stacking Toy for Babies and Toddlers

Everyone in my house loves this spinning wheel toy, including RJ – but he definitely had a few moments with it. The motor skills involving getting the stick in the stand, and then getting the wheels on the stick were a source of serious frustration until he figured out the basic mechanics. The frustration of that learning experience has paid off, however, because now he can’t get enough and the spinning will keep him entertained long enough for me to write a blog post (he’s actually playing with it right now). It’s educational, it’s fun, and it doesn’t play any ungodly music or require batteries. 

Zany Zoo Activity Cube

We received the Zany Zoo wooden activity cube as a hand-me-down from a friend and it’s the perfect toy for our living room. It doesn’t take up too much space, it doesn’t make noise or look cheap and gaudy, and it’s conveniently sized for playing whether he’s sitting or standing.

Volkswagen Pull Back Poppin’ Bus

This popper VW bus is one of our go-to evening toys when we’re trying to burn some energy before bedtime. He gets a kick out of the pull-back feature that propels the bus forward, so we all sit in the hallway and propel the bus back and forth while he chases after it. Plus, it’s super cute and can really take a beating.

VTech Sit-to-Stand Alphabet Train

Nothing on this list has kept him as entertained and occupied for as long as the VTech alphabet train. Warning: the songs will haunt your dreams, but it’s worth the level of entertainment it provides for little ones. When we brought this one out, it was like I no longer existed to him: train was his new mommy. I like it because he can use the handles to practice walking, he can take a ride on the detachable seat in the back, and his motor skills get a workout with the alphabet blocks as he’s learned to drop them in the train and watch them come out the back. Highly recommended if you can handle the weird giggles and songs. 

Indestructibles Chew-Proof, Tear-Proof Books

We’ve been going through a phase where I’ve had to keep the board books out of his reach because if he gets ahold of one, within 5 seconds he will have a wad of cardboard in his mouth. I used his birthday cash to buy more of these indestructibles books, which are made of tyvek so they are chew, tear, and water-resistant. We probably have a dozen of them at this point – he enjoys chewing on the pages and the high-contrast pictures, so they’re great books for babies that still put everything in their mouth.

Stackable Cups and Nesting Toys

There’s something about simple stackable cups that babies and toddlers absolutely love. My son gets really focused on stacking and has started to love bath time, so these stacking boats are a hit when there’s water around. The nice thing about toys like this is they have so many uses – they’re a great addition to sensory bins or water table activities to practice pouring and scooping. 

Nugget Play Couch

We got a Nugget play couch for Christmas and I’m obsessed with this thing. We just set up a play area in a section of our bungalow for RJ, and the Nugget fits perfectly in the space. 

RJ loves bouncing around on it and hiding under it when I build him a little fort, and I love that there’s a spot for me to lounge in the play area. It’s surprisingly comfortable for adults and the triangle cushions provide enough back support so you can chill and hang out with the kids at their level. Actually, it goes well with a book I have called Horizontal Parenting: How to Entertain Your Kid While Lying Down. 

Rainbow Sensory Shape Sorter

This sensory shape puzzle is another popular item in our house. I will even give this credit with helping RJ take his first steps because we’d put one in each hand as he stood up, which helped him find his balance and feel confident enough to take a step. Each one has a different feature like a mirror, bell, kaleidoscope, or beads, and they’re also a good toy for stacking. 

Wooden Push and Pull Learning Walker

These walking push toys are helpful for babies who are just taking their first steps, and the wooden ones are SO much nicer than the plastic versions of this type of toy. We like this one because it doesn’t take batteries and is sturdy enough to support a wobbly baby as they push it.