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The Best Sesame Street Toys for Babies and Toddlers

Elmo, Cookie Monster, Oscar the Grouch and more—the gang’s all here!
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profile picture of Christine Carpenter
Updated April 25, 2023
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Image: Kohl's
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Every family has its own house rules for how much screen time their little ones are allowed, but there’s one thing we can all agree on: Sesame Street programming is in a class of its own. Joan Ganz Cooney and Lloyd Morrisett unveiled an institution in 1969, and since then, Sesame Street’s profound impact on children’s education and social-emotional intelligence has never waned. Beyond fostering key cognitive skills in toddlers and preschoolers (colors, shapes, letters, numbers and more), the show teaches kids how to be kind and compassionate to others. No show has ever confronted racism, moral injustices and the beauty of familial differences like Sesame Street, and done so in such a delicate and kid-friendly way. Through watching the characters relate to one another on screen in positive ways, they learn how to apply the relationship dynamics and perspective-taking to their own circumstances.

These days, the iconic characters and benevolent muppets not only continue to delight millions of US households through its programming each week, but they also have starring roles in nearly every baby and toddler’s toy repertoire. Whether it’s Elmo who can stop your kiddo’s crying on a dime or Abby who can wave her wand and make them feel special and brave, you can bet on a Sesame Street toy to be their go-to pick when it comes time for comfort and play.

Below, we’ve found the best Sesame Street toys to shop right now. From an easy-grasp rattle sporting Elmo’s smiling face to a set of portable stacking cups (or cans, according to Oscar) with an OG green grump on standby, these Sesame Street toys can help your puppet-loving pal develop fine motor skills, deal with all the feels and find their passions.

Where Can I Buy Sesame Street Toys?

These five trusted retailers always have a Grover-whelming amount of Sesame Street toys on offer.

  • Amazon: Wondering if Amazon has Sesame Street toys is like asking if Elmo wants to be tickled—the answer is definitely yes! And what we love even more is how easily it is to find said toys. From the “Toys & Games” department, you can filter even further by stuffed animals & plush toys, building toys and learning & education toys.
  • Maisonette: While there isn’t a wide range of options to choose from here, the CreateOn Magna-Tile x Sesame Street collaboration sets at Maisonette are so much fun. Stock up on the Cookie Monster’s Shapes Set or DIY (Doodle It Yourself) Elmo coloring tiles and let your STEAM-minded mini get building.
  • Walmart: Does your babe have a character they just can’t get enough of? Good! Because that’ll help you navigate the hundreds of Sesame Street toys available to shop here. Not only can you filter by product category (stuffed animals and plush toys, play vehicles, action figures, etc.), you can zero in on Big Bird, Cookie Monster, Elmo, Grover, Oscar the Grouch and more to make sure your Sesame Street devotee is happy as can be.
  • Target: If you get lost in the aisles of Target on the regular, then you’ll probably start your search for Sesame Street toys here too. And you won’t be disappointed, because the site has a huge selection of toys tied to the children’s franchise. From baby learning toys to mini Sesame Street toy figures (even some exclusive sets), there’s something for every fledgling fan.
  • Barnes & Noble: You’ll find hundreds of Sesame Street books at places like Bookshop.org, but for books and toys, it’s best to hit up Barnes & Noble. From picture books and plush bundles to Tonies guaranteed to get all your wee one’s wiggles out, content and playthings celebrating their favorite character are what’s on tap at this top bookseller.

Best Sesame Street Toys

Who else can remember the 1996 craze that was Tickle Me Elmo? Iterations of the wildly popular toy are actually still available today; that said, even if your Sesame Street-obsessed sweetheart isn’t in love with Elmo toys, don’t fret—our list covers the whole cuddly cast!

Best Sesame Street toy for babies

Bright Starts Sesame Street Jingle and Shake Elmo BPA-free Easy Grasp Baby Rattle
Image: Walmart

This Elmo toy rattle from Bright Starts is about to become your little mover and shaker’s new BFF. With flexible Oball construction, a ton of finger holes to grab and colorful handle beads to touch, squeeze and twist, the Sesame Street sensory toy will hold baby’s attention and help them flex their fine motor functions. Plus, the BPA-free material is safe for babies 3 months and up to put their mouths on (because you know that’s already going to happen). Parents, Elmo thinks tummy time is going to be a lot more fun!

Age recommendation: 3 to 12 months

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Best Sesame Street toy for toddlers

Sesame Street Coloring With Elmo Doodle Tile Set
Image: Maisonette

Does your little one have a color they love? Red like Elmo? Yellow like Big Bird? This hands-on Magna-Tiles Sesame Street toy for toddlers—complete with one Elmo and puppy face hexagon tile, 10 three-inch square tiles teeming with famous muppet and animal friends and six equilateral triangle tiles in every color of the rainbow—lets them build, stack, spread out, stick together and color in their favorite characters, all while they practice verbal and creative thinking skills and hone their hand-eye coordination. The easy wipe-clean and color-again design, plus four ultra-clean washable pens from Crayola, means this set will keep your toddler busy for hours.

Age recommendation: 3+ years

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Best Sesame Street toy figurines

Sesame Street Neighborhood Friends Deluxe Figures
Image: Target
Buying Options
Target|$20.99

The gang’s all here in this premium 10-pack of poseable Sesame Street toy figurines. Like baby dolls, figurines offer kiddos a blank slate to inspire some of the most imaginative, open-ended play sessions. With no set of rules to stifle their fantasies, they can act out scenes from some of their go-to episodes or create exciting new storylines for Bert, Ernie, Abby, Rosita, Grover and Gabrielle. Parents, siblings, family members and friends can get in on the fun too, which helps encourage that all-important social and cooperative play.

Age recommendation: 2+ years and up

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Best Sesame Street bath toy

Glo Pals x Sesame Street Julia Water-Activated Bath Toy
Image: Amazon
Buying Options
Amazon|$15

Rubber duckies are cute, but we’ll do you one better with Glo Pals’ Sesame Street bath toys, which bring water-activated light-up toys to your toddler’s tub. This particular set spotlights 4-year-old Julia, the show’s first puppet with autism, who’s ready to splash and play in her own unique way. Simply pop one of the colorful cubes into the compartment on Julia’s back and add her to the tub (head first, face down to make sure all the air bubbles escape and she lights up as intended), along with the rest of the orange and yellow cubes. Want to brighten bath time up a whole lot more? Check out the whole crew of Sesame Street Glo Pals, including Abby, Big Bird, Cookie Monster, Elmo and, of course, Julia!

Age recommendation: 3+ years

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Best Sesame Street plush toy

GUND Teach me Cookie Monster
Image: Walmart

Are you on the hunt for a stuffie to bring all your Sesame Street-adoring sidekick’s dreams to life? Well, everything you want and need (including a gently washable surface!) is baked into this googly-eyed plush pastry chef. From his on-point chef’s hat to his button-boasting apron, Cookie’s outfit invites your child to practice basic dressing skills and pretend they’re a pastry sous chef alongside one of the greats. We love all the tactile details too: a cord for toddlers to tie and untie, a zipper, a snap button and a removable chocolate chip cookie to make sure the monster is well-fed. Just don’t blame us if your kiddo’s first word ends up being “cookie!”

Age recommendation: 1+ years

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Best educational Sesame Street toy

Just Play Sesame Street Learn With Elmo Phone
Image: Kohl's

With this Elmo toy phone, featuring 12 easy-press buttons for your smooth talker to dial up their Sesame Street buddies (from Gonger and Oscar to Tamir and Rosita), your kiddo will be engaged and entertained for a good long while. Like the show that inspired it, the phone plays songs and repeats learning phrases to level-up their counting and rhyming skills and help them recognize numbers, colors and shapes. When it arrives, take advantage of the phone’s “Try-Me” mode, which lets you trial the features and land on a comfortable and safe volume for your little.

Age recommendation: 2+ years

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Best musical Sesame Street toy

Sesame Street Dino Stomp Elmo
Image: Walmart

Have a cutie who adores dinosaurs almost as much as they do Elmo? Then this is the Sesame Street toy you need to add to your cart. All your creative creature needs to do is press Elmo’s hand to jumpstart the music and get the furry red guy grooving. His arms move, his body sways and he stomps his feet. As “If You’re Happy and You Know It” plays, your dance squad will feel inclined to shake it like Elmo. Fun times and exercise? What more can you ask for in a musical toy? Soft, huggable fabrics, maybe? Done. He’s dressed in a velvety plush dinosaur costume and stuffed with 100 percent recycled fill.

Age recommendation: 18 months to 4 years

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Best Sesame Street craft toy

One of the things we love most about Sesame Street is how the show handles adversity and helps little ones develop healthy coping habits—and off screen, that’s what this Sesame Street craft toy can encourage. The storybook lets Cookie Monster, Abby and Elmo introduce toddlers to the idea of “calming jars.” Once you’ve gotten through the tales aimed to tame your toddler’s tantrums, you can help them put together their own personalized self-calming jar. The kit comes with an instructional pamphlet, plus all the supplies needed for tricked-out sensory jars—the plastic bottles, stickers, foil stars and hearts, glycerin, glitter, water dye and more. Your little one will love personalizing their own.

Age recommendation: 3 to 5 years

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Best Sesame Street ride-on toy

Sesame Street Elmo Activity Plane Ride-On
Image: Target
Buying Options
Target|$39.99

We love ride-on toys for kiddos on the move, so you know we couldn’t pass up an Elmo toy ride-on. With your child as a passenger, this primary-colored plane—piloted by Elmo—is ready for take-off. The propeller whips around and at the push of a button, your curious commuter can trigger noises that sound just like an airplane would when it lifts off and lands on the runway. The interactive lights, music and recognizable taglines can really set the stage for memorable imaginative play sessions. Once your toddler tires of flying in the sky, you can fold it up for easy storage or let their younger brother or sister have a turn (that built-in handle on the seat’s back keeps the rider safe and allows the toy to pull double-duty as a push walker for littles still “earning their wings”).

Age recommendation: 12 months to 3 years

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Best portable Sesame Street toy

Sesame Street Oscar the Grouch's Stacking Cans
Image: Barnes & Noble
Buying Options
Barnes & Noble|$10.99

Stacking toys are a huge hit with babies and toddlers, so we couldn’t end this list without a suitable stacker from Sesame Street. This stacking toy, using trash cans from Oscar the Grouch’s beat, lets your little one stack and nest to their heart’s content. Once they’re done, you can help them put the wobbly, weighted grump on top to preside over the entire tower. Not only are the colorful cups fun to play with at home, but they’re also super portable. Just nest them and their folded-arm leader and load them up into a tote or travel bag. This writer has even used them as a baby bath toy while on a Disney vacation with the family!

Age recommendation: 3 to 12 months

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How We Chose the Best Sesame Street Toys

To help streamline your shopping list and highlight the best Sesame Street toys on the market today, we considered a list of criteria when sourcing products, including ease of use, quality and durability, value, cuteness and safety for the tiniest ABC-touting fans. We read user reviews to get the low-down on how other families have enjoyed these toys, and didn’t consider anything with less than an average four-star rating. And, given that we’re parents ourselves, we used our own kiddos’ favorite Sesame Street toys for inspiration.

Interested in learning more about our editorial process? Read about how our team develops and reviews all articles here.

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