Toddler Testers and Toy Experts Named These the Best Toys and Gifts for 1-Year-Olds

Toddlers can watch this soft plush play songs during tummy time, then when they get older they can crawl or chase after it on foot. The duck waddles, flaps its wings, and makes sounds when the heart is pressed. When we brought kids to the Good Housekeeping Institute to test toys in-person, this was a hit, even with the older ones, and many parents liked the music! Ages 0+; three AA batteries included

This busy board has a unique way of always staying fresh for kids: It's made up of different magnetic tiles that can be swapped in and out. Each tile has its own play feature, like gears, buttons, or textures. It comes with six tiles, but extra tiles with different play features can be purchased separately. And now, there's also PlayTab Go, which lets kids bring two tiles with them and comes with a ring to attach to a car seat or stroller. Ages 1+

When they're just starting to get into imaginative play, toddlers love Little People figures because they're just the right size for little hands. This one comes with two figures and a bus that plays music when it rolls; the doors also open and the stop sign folds out. Ages 1+; two AA batteries included

It's like the classic stacking rings everyone knows and loves, but with a sensory twist: These rings are squishy, and they have sensory elements inside like beads, tinsel, foam balls, or bells. "Their tacky surface allows them to be stacked easily," one parent of a 10-month-old told the Good Housekeeping Institute. "My son returns to this again and again." Ages 6 months+

Lay it down, stand it up, separate the panels, or connect them all together—there's so much versatility built into this toy. Each tester reported their child had a different favorite panel or function, be it the pretend phone, the piano keys, or the buttons. "I love that it has so many different configurations and could essentially be considered four toys in one," one parent said. Ages 3 months+; three AA batteries required

On each page of this Good Housekeeping Kids' Book Award-winning board book, there's a textured design element that kids can trace with their fingers while breathing, which makes it good for toddlers who need help with regulation (i.e., all toddlers). "The craftsmanship of the book, from the visuals to the textures to the writing, actually made my toddler calm down!" one tester said.

This toy offers 360 degrees of play: First kids can push around the workbench like a walker, then they can come around to the front and use the pretend tools, the clock with spinning hands, the working vise, and more. "We played 'repair' for dozens of minutes at a time," one dad said. "She's even gotten some skill with the wrench." Ages 1+

Beep, beep! While little ones work on their leg muscle strength, adults can still push them around on this previous Toy Award Winner. Then, as they become more confident walkers, they can propel themselves. There are also lots of little features that spin, click, and otherwise make noise to keep them interested. Ages 1+; three AA batteries required

This is a push toy, a walker, a role-playing item, and a shape-sorter all in one! Early walkers love pushing around the grocery cart, just like their parents do. (It even comes with a little coffee cup to make it more realistic!) Then, food pieces on geometric shapes fit through the holes in the sides of the cart, acting as a shape-sorter. The same pieces also fit into puzzles that store in the cart. And, after "checkout," they can play with the pretend food just like in a kitchen set. Ages 1+

Six boxes of different sizes, six animal friends, yet so many ways to play. Kids can stack the different sized boxes vertically and match each animal to its preferred house. Or they can arrange them horizontally to make a village for imaginary play. When that's done, they can use the animals as finger puppets, practice counting the boxes and animals, use the boxes to make other structures—and knock them down again. Ages 1+

You get two classics for the price of one in this bundle, and they both offer a brain tune-up. First, kids are challenged with stacking the colored rings by size on a curved base, which adds to the difficulty. Then, after they're done playing with the shape blocks, they have to find the correct holes to return them to the bucket. Ages 6 months+

These carrots aren't just cute—plucking them out of their holes works on that all-important pincer grasp. Then, it becomes a matching game to get the right carrots into the right-size holes again. The carrots also come in a few different colors, so they can work on color recognition. Ages 1+

Kids can bop the colorful balls with the hammer, then watch as they drop down and roll down the ramp. The bopping helps them work on hand-eye coordination, and watching the balls race downwards is good for eye-tracking. Ages 1+

Stacking toys are a toddler staple, but these are unique in that they're egg-shaped and differently weighted. That means, in addition to simple stacking, these can also spin, balance, wobble, tilt, nest, and roll, giving kids more ways to play. Ages 6 months+

A shape-sorter that introduces the idea of object permanence, toddlers can put the wooden shapes into the box by finding the correct slots, then slide the door open to find them and bring them out again. It's part of Fisher-Price's new Montessori line of toys, which was awarded the AMS Seal of Excellence by the American Montessori Society. Ages 1+

This play set combines the fun of a dollhouse with the excitement of a marble run—all in a toddler-sized package. The two included Weebles figures can roll down the chutes and slides and sit in the chairs and swings. Plus, there are more than 30 sounds they can activate. (The best is when the Weeble slides from the top to the middle floor and "lands" in the toilet!) Ages 1+; three AA batteries included

Why settle for one baby doll when you can have six? This one comes with a half-dozen soft baby dolls with different outfits and skin tones, but the whole crew is all smiles. The outfits are removable, so toddlers can mix and match while practicing their fine motor skills when dressing and undressing their dolls. Ages 1+

These magnetic cars link to each other and are also big so little hands can push them around easily. Each one does a little something different, like having parts that spin, rattle, or fold open for more play. Ages 1+

Good Housekeeping Institute parent testers said their kids loved assembling the burger pieces and watching them spin down the pole. But when they get tired of stacking, kids can pop out the shapes in the center of the ingredients and use them as a puzzle, or take the onion, cheese, lettuce, and tomato and play ring toss. Ages 1+

Kids who love to pretend to nurture and care for dolls will go for this 11-inch, powder-scented baby doll. Looking cute in a pineapple-themed outfit—though there are other versions with other outfits available—the doll has a soft body and can suck on its thumb or on its bottle. Ages 1+

Good Housekeeping Institute testers found these plush toys just right for snuggling. "The Plumpkin is wonderfully soft and plush, making it the absolute perfect size for hugging," one parent said. "It has officially been baby-approved, too—my 9-month-old loves it so much she keeps laying her head right down on it." Ages 0+

Get ready to help them get their energy out! Start a sporty toddler off with soccer and basketball with one toy. The set lights up and makes sounds while also keeping track of the baskets and goal on a light-up scoreboard. Ages 1+; three AA batteries required

This one impressed the experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute because of how easy it is to adjust the height of the ladder (and the difficulty of the climb). They also liked how you can fold it to store it away when it's not in use. Ages 6 months+

This toy is intended to grow with a child: It starts off as a lie-flat item to use during tummy time, turns into a walker for kids taking their first steps, and then converts to either a grocery cart or stroller for older kids getting into pretend play. Good Housekeeping Institute parent testers liked how siblings could interact with the toy in different ways. Ages 6 months+; three AA batteries required

These textured balls, which come in a pack of four in different colors, are covered in little nubs that allow for tactile development. As your toddler grows, they can grab, squish, and chase after them. Ages 6 months+

They might not appreciate fashion at this age, but their parents will and this adorable pair looks straight out of the '80s. The Retro Suede sneaker has a wide toe box to provide enough space for their little toes, and the no-tie laces mean they can take their shoes off solo. Sizes 4–4Y

When kids push this turtle around, they get rewarded with parts that spin, rock, or chime. In addition, it comes with five soft balls and plenty of places where they can be stashed or placed, including in the handle of the walker, which encourages standing up. Ages 6 months+

While the Toniebox and its assorted figures have been a hit with preschoolers, these new "My First" Tonies are for the toddlers: They're bigger for easy grasping, and they come in a soft, squeezable silicone. The travel set comes with an airplane, boat, and train, and each one comes with about four songs and real vehicle noises. There's also a farm set and a jungle set, or you can get some of the My First Tonies, like the horse, individually. Ages 1+

Parents' favorite YouTuber is now available in the most adorable soft doll. Just like in the show, this 16-inch doll, which won a Good Housekeeping Toy Award, sings a handful of educational songs and says sweet, encouraging phrases. Ages 6 months+; two AAA batteries included

When it comes time to introduce them to fairy tales, reach for the Once Upon a World collection, which sets classic fairy tales in different places around the globe and gives them all new illustrations: Snow White takes place in Japan, Rapunzel in India, Cinderella in Mexico, and The Princess and the Peain Russia. In addition, outside of the boxed set, there's a version of The Little Mermaidset in the Caribbean, and a Sleeping Beautyset in Africa. Ages 1+

If Peeki's ears look extra large and floppy, there's a reason for that: Press on its paw, and it'll use its ears to play peek-a-boo. Press the other paw, and it'll sing a song without playing the game. Good Housekeeping Institute kid testers loved the ear movements. "[My child] was surprised every time when his ears would cover his eyes during peek-a-boo!" one parent said. "She would laugh every time." Ages 0+; two AA batteries included

Good Housekeeping Institute toy experts were impressed with the way this blends wooden and electronic elements. Square "pixels" light up on the body of the piano, and then kids can press the key of the corresponding color to play a sound. There are other play modes, too, that get them working on color recognition, rhythm, and creativity. Ages 1+; four AA batteries required

Parent testers reported that their kids couldn't get enough of this toy, and loved turning it on themselves. When they did, they were rewarded with flapping wings and up to 10 minutes of music. And though we tested this with toddlers, babies can also use it as a tummy-time toy, since it's suitable to use from birth. Ages 0+; four AA batteries included

Kids can experiment with cause-and-effect with these pipes, which suction cup to the side of the tub. Pour water in the top, and amazing things happen: wheels spin, the water changes direction, or the stream gets divided into littler streams. Ages 1+

After swimming all over the ocean, Baby Shark has to get clean again. These stuffed animals can go in the bath, and also act as washcloths when it comes time to scrub. Ages 0+

Look at this stuff that comes with this toy. Isn't it neat? Kids can put the figures in the shower, which suction cups to the side of the bath, and pour water in the top, watching as the water rains down. It also comes with a flounder and a starfish net to scoop with. In addition, Playmobil also has bath toys featuring Moana, Tinker Bell, and Winnie the Pooh. Ages 1+

On one side of this grow-with-kids table, there's a busy board with lights, sounds, and buttons. When kids get too big for that stage, the table surface flips and becomes a drawing table, or stands upright to be an easel. "This has been a time saver for sure and really lets me do quick chores," one parent tester said. "I feel like it also helps her strength and balance and she still develops her legs." Ages 6 months+; three AA batteries required

They'll be making their own mini masterpieces in no time with these egg-shaped crayons, which are easier for small hands to grasp. They'll get six colors in the pack, which will get them scribbling, coloring, and working on their pre-writing skills. Ages 1+

With these finger paints, they're sure to make something fridge-worthy. The set comes with six different colors, and the company says the paint is water-based, non-toxic, and cosmetics-grade. The pots even look like little beehives, which is cute. Ages 1+

Make their birthday the most fun with this musical set. It comes with five instruments and includes bells, shakers, maracas, and a drum. Parent testers say they loved how it let kids explore cause-and-effect, seeing how the different instruments made sounds in different ways. Ages 12 months+

Some kids just love playing "birthday," and this gift set helps them pretend to celebrate while exploring different textures and sensations. The set comes with five pieces: a wooden box to open and close, plush crinkle paper to "wrap" and "unwrap," a ball with a chime inside, a bear, and a cloth book. When they open the box, there's also a surprise inside—a mirror! Ages 6 months+

This gift set comes with an adorable, oh-so-soft otter stuffie and two board books that tell its story. All of the Slumberkins gift sets are designed around social-emotional learning, and this one focuses on strengthening connections between families and communities. Ages 0+