28 Best Toys for 18-Month-Old Tots, According to Parents
As a mother of two, I know that nothing feels as good as watching your child unwrap a gift they love. But it’s hard to predict which toys are appropriate for 18-month-olds, let alone interesting enough to grab their attention now that they are “developmentally equipped to be an active adventurer within their environment,” as Ashley Scully, MS, OTR/L, a pediatric occupational therapist and director of Northern New Jersey Therapy Services at Tiny Transformations tells us.
Toddlers in this age range are mastering new skills every day, from running to talking and even playing make-believe. So what should you buy to support your budding explorer? We asked experts as well as parents in The Bump community to let us know what works best for them.
To streamline your decision-making process, we aim to do the bulk of the research so you don’t have to spend hours scrolling through online retailers. Here’s how we put together this roundup of toys for your 18-month-old:
- We interviewed a pediatric occupational therapist and a board-certified behavior analyst and asked them for guidance on how to select developmentally appropriate toys for 8-month-old infants.
- We followed the safety recommendations of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for this age group.
- In 2024 we conducted a survey of parents within The Bump community asking about their favorite toys for 18-month-olds.
- To understand how these toys have worked for various little ones, we conducted exhaustive market research, scouring external forums and message boards and reading user reviews to find out what parents nationwide looked for in the best toys for 18-month-olds.
Editorial integrity is at the heart of everything we publish. Read about how The Bump develops and reviews all articles, including product reviews.
School play set for building social skills
- Characters are the perfect size for little fingers
- Music makes the vehicle interactive
- No volume switch or mute button
“As soon as she was able to notice where the older kids were going, my daughter was interested in school,” says Daniel C., dad of one and associate director of e-commerce content for The Bump. “One time she actually took out a backpack and started loading it up with random books from our bookshelf, eager to get a jump on school activities.” This jumbo singing school bus invites children to role-play social scenarios that will set them up to navigate a real school bus down the road. As Taryn, a mom of two tells us, “it makes school seem exciting.”
The Sit With Me School Bus lights up, plays songs, and shares kind phrases. This was a big hit with Taryn, who said, “I like the kindness aspect of this toy.” It comes with two figures—a driver and a passenger—which can enter through the open roof or functional door. Whether your little one prefers to create elaborate pretend scenarios for the little people or simply sings along to the songs, this toy attracts kids like a moth to a flame.
Age range: 1+ years | Batteries required? Y
Our community says:
My daughter likes dancing to the songs. She pushes the button over and over again until it plays the music. – Taryn, mom of two and The Bump survey respondent
Soft farm set to inspire curiosity
- Barn carrier doubles as a storage bag
- Lightweight and portable
- It can be easy for pieces to go missing
What kind of animals live on a farm, and what does each animal sound like? Your little one will wonder no more with this curiosity-inspiring plush barn. The toy comes equipped with four adorable animals—a pig, chicken, cow, and duck, all just the perfect size for little hands to handle. In response to a gentle squeeze, the animals make realistic sounds. “Our daughter has loved this toy because it helped her learn animal noises,” says Jessica, a mom of one, adding that it kept her daughter busy for up to 15-minute play sessions (that’s a lot for a toddler!). “[She] loves being able to take the animals in and out of the portable barn,” Jessica said. “She likes to mimic the sounds the animals make.”
Age range: 6+ months | Batteries required? N
Our community says:
It’s safe and easy for [my daughter] to play with. – Jessica, mom of one and The Bump survey respondent
Building blocks for spatial awareness
- Perfect size pieces for little hands
- Versatility and durability is unmatched
- Aesthetic rainbow colors
- You’ll be finding pieces under your couch for the rest of your life
Whether your child is putting the blocks in this 65-piece set together, or picking them up and popping them into their Brick Box (storage, yay!), they’ll be practicing spatial awareness and honing their fine motor skills. But that’s not all: Because the blocks come in a variety of colors and shapes—there’s a car with moving wheels, a roof, a window, flowers, bread, Duplo people, and several numbered bricks—this set helps with object, color and number identification, plus counting, sorting and of course, creativity.
Jacky, a mom of two, praised the way her child played with Duplos in a range of areas, from spatial relations to perseverance, imagination and attention span. While there are plenty of ways to introduce your kid to blocks, this set has everything your little one will need for open-ended fun.
Age range: 18+ months | Batteries required? N
Our community says:
This can be used for years with no age limit. – Jacky, mom of two and The Bump survey respondent
Rocking horse for balance
- Less expensive than decorative alternatives
- Comes in blue and pink
- Durable enough to be used indoors or outdoors
- Takes up a fair amount of space
It’s a good thing toddlers have a low center of gravity: It can be a journey to develop their balance. Enter, this classic, lightweight rocking horse, which comes in at just the right price point compared to wooden, decorative alternatives. Most importantly, it does the trick for training kids how to safely distribute their weight. “[My daughter] is learning balance by getting her leg up and over it,” says Brittney, a mom of one. “She can use it independently to sit on and rock back and forth. Sometimes she just sits on it and uses it like a chair.” Parents say this is a great toy for a rainy day and that it rocks smoothly on carpet, although it’s fine to use outdoors.
Age range: 1+ years | Batteries required? N
Our community says:
I like that [my daughter] can use it independently all by herself. – Brittney, mom of one and The Bump survey respondent
Ride-on toy for gross motor skills
- Wide set front wheels for stability
- Adjustable set grows with child
- Also comes in pony and unicorn
- Light assembly required
Gross motor skills, or the ability to move large muscle groups, can make all the difference in enabling a toddler to explore—and truly enjoy—the world around them. This ride-on giraffe is ergonomically designed with a clear kick path to empower little ones to practice paddling their feet against the floor to propel themselves forward. Importantly, Eleanor, a mom of one, tells us the ride delighted her son: “He loves riding on it,” she said. “He’s learning balance and foot-eye coordination.” Steering is another basic skill riders work on with this giraffe, whose front wheels can be turned by manipulating the sturdy handles below each ear. Another perk? “It’s quiet,” Eleanor reports. And most important of all, “It makes [my son] happy.”
Age range: 1+ years | Batteries required? N
Our community says:
He loves riding it and bringing it around the house. – Eleanor, mom of one and The Bump survey resopndent
Classic music toy for hand-eye coordination
- Attached mallet is impossible to lose
- Eight color keys help teach colors
- Sturdy construction
- String that attaches the stick to the toy is short
Nothing promotes hand-eye coordination like cause-and-effect toys, especially when the pay off involves musical notes. This classic xylophone toy promotes hand-eye coordination—without batteries or tiresome songs. All the music in this toy comes from your child’s own actions. “It helps him experiment with sound,” reports Erin*, a mom of one.
One unique feature of this instrument: It comes with wheels and a handle, so your little one can parade it wherever they wish—and share the music they’ve learned to make. “Showing it to myself or others also helps him build social skills,” Erin* says.
Morgan*, another mom, says her two kids used the instrument to practice gross motor skills as well as expand their musical education, learning to recognize different tones and pitches and actually play beloved tunes. “It makes beautiful sounds,” she said. And both parents said their kids played with this toy for more than 30 minutes per play session. If that’s not a success, we don’t know what is!
Age range: 18+ months | **Batteries required? N
Our community says:
[My son] likes to bring it over to me to play together … it’s nice to be able to bond over it. – Erin*, mom of one and The Bump survey respondent
It’s musical, educational, and fun! – Morgan*, mom of two and The Bump survey respondent
Water table to teach cause and effect
- Large enough for multiple kids to co-play
- Tons of accessories
- Not cheap
- Best used as an outdoor toy
Water itself holds some of the very best lessons for littles experimenting with cause and effect. But this water table full of bells and whistles makes water play so much more fun. The table’s upper-level water basin that “rains” would have been enough to capture a toddler’s attention: “My child loves pouring water in the top to make rain showers,” says Alissa, a mom of two. But the toy also comes with 13 accessories including maze pieces, buckets, squirt toys and of course, a requisite rubber ducky (and frog!). “[My son] enjoys flipping the frog and duck on the side paddle,” says Alissa, whose two kids have each played with this toy for over an hour at a time.
“They have added other toys like buckets and cups that they use to transfer water.” Alissa has also noticed her kids working on parallel play, depth perception, hand-eye-coordination, and fluid movement and displacement—a great return on a single water station.
Age range: 18+ months | Batteries required? N
Our community says:
The table comes with decent accessories that hold up after a lot of use. – Alissa, mom of two and The Bump survey respondent
Toddler ride-on toy for independent play
- Realistic features set the stage for pretend play
- Removable floorboard protects the feet of toddlers with motor delays
- Rear roof handle makes it easy for parents to push
- Steering wheel doesn’t turn tires
It should come as no surprise to see your little one take off on their own when you present them with a car just like mom’s or dad’s that’s sized just for them. “I think it was good for [my daughter] to pretend she was driving, just like mommy and daddy,” shared Daniel. “She got to imitate grownup behavior, but in a welcoming and kid-friendly package.”
While Daniel struggled a bit with assembly—“it took slightly longer than I expected,” he said—the juice was well worth the squeeze. “My daughter adored this toy. She puttered around the house and through the backyard, and sometimes even sat in place turning the steering wheel back and forth. She was overjoyed when she saw it, and played with it whenever possible,” he reported.
Little kids tend to love this vehicle’s functional steering wheel, door, horn, ignition switch, gas cap, and cup holders. But it’s the wheels—and resulting independence—that truly makes them feel free. “[My daughter] especially liked the turnable key and the dashboard stickers,” said Daniel. “If someone else's child gets half as much enjoyment from the Cozy Coupe as mine did, it'll be money well-spent.”
Age range: 18+ months | Batteries required? N
Our community says:
The plastic is solid, the pieces all come together sturdily. My daughter stopped playing with this when she physically no longer fit inside, and it was still good to pass on to another child. – Daniel, dad of one and associate director of e-commerce for The Bump
Peek-a-boo toy for interaction
- Convenient off switch silences Elmo for nap and bedtimes
- Surface-washable
- Pricey compared to inanimate stuffies
Considering red is one of the first hues discerned by developing eyes, and the fact that Elmo’s high-pitched voice has innate, universal appeal, it’s no wonder why parents recommend this interactive Peek-a-Boo Elmo so highly. With 13 fun phrases, including everyone’s very favorite (“peek-a-boo!”), this loveable monster engages toddlers by lifting his arms up and down to playfully cover his face with a blanket. When it came to the children in our survey, this was a surefire way to cue the giggles. “[My daughter] takes him everywhere,” said Jenn, a mom of one. “She feeds him, puts him to sleep, and reads books to him. She sleeps with him every night. He provides comfort to her.”
Age range: 18+ months | Batteries required? Y
Our community says:
There is nothing we don't like about this toy. – Jenn, mom of one and The Bump survey respondent
Fun push-wagon for walking
- Toddlers can ride or push
- Can be used indoors or outdoors
- Some parents complain of noise and insufficient leg room for toddlers
Most 18-month-olds are either on the move or working super hard to get there. This buggy offers two ways to play: Test those sea legs by putting one foot in front of the other to push the vehicle via handle, or hop in and hold on for a wild ride courtesy of a caretaker’s push. An excellent transitional vehicle for parents who are no longer keen on schlepping a stroller around, this ride-on-toy also offers opportunities for independent play thanks to its chunky handle. “My son pushes the car when he’s not riding it, which is helping him learn to walk,” says Gail, a mom of one. But that’s not all: “He’s learning how to open and close the storage trunk, and he’s learning that by pressing the horn it ‘beeps’ and he says ‘beep’!”
Age range: 18+ months | Batteries required? N
Our community says:
He even pushes the car when not riding it. He goes to it every morning. – Gail, mom of one and The Bump survey respondent
Best train set for fine motor skills
- Endless ways to play
- Designed to be frustration-free
- Great for all ages and durable enough to last through many kids
- Painful when inevitably stepped on
- Expensive
Assembling train tracks is no easy feat for 18-month-olds working on fine motor skills. However, practice does make perfect, as the saying goes. This toy train set features all the fixings of adventure, with 11 wooden tracks, 4 on-boarding ramps, one bridge, one rattle carriage, and one train, all manufactured to be frustration-free for little hands. The reversible magnet connectors bring trains together with a satisfying magnetic snap—a good thing, considering this set is compatible with all other BRIO World trains, and a train-lover’s collection is sure to do just one thing: grow.
The wooden, classic feel of this set makes it feel like it could last for many generations: My kids have already chug-a-chug-chugged many miles around my living room with their BRIO train set, and they’re holding up just fine. Despite my kids’ 2.5-year age difference, I find these trains bridge that gap quite nicely for a minimum of 30-minutes of co- or collaborative play every time the tracks come out.
Age range: 18+ months | Batteries required? N
Push toy pretend set for role play
- Many, many ways to play
- Shape, color and object recognition
- Some parents struggled with assembly
In my experience with Melissa & Doug toys, I’ve found they deeply understand their demographic and 9 times out of 10, get their toys just right. Enter, this multi-use shape-sorting grocery cart. Made from durable wood, it can be pushed through an imaginative grocery store with a play coffee cup in the cup holder, no less. Food items pictured on square-, triangle- and circle-shaped pieces can be placed in like-sized spots, puzzle-style or pushed through similarly shaped “basket” holes. With 12 wooden sorting pieces, two puzzle boards, a matching game drum and that cutesy mock coffee cup, so many play scenarios await the recipient of this gift.
Age range: 1+ years | Batteries required? N
Silicone stacking toys for focus
- Freezable to provide extra relief to teethers
- Made from food-grade silicone
- Heart shape and neutral colors are aesthetic
- Costs more than alternative stackers
- No central column like typical stackers
One toy my two-year-old comes back to again and again is her stacker, which somehow holds her attention and keeps her busy for ages at a time. Because I worry that the round pieces are made of who-knows-what, but often end up in her mouth, I’m adding this heart-shaped stacker to her holiday wishlist: It’s made with food-grade non-toxic silicone that resists bacteria and mold, so each of the six hearts effectively doubles as a teether—but free of nasty germs.
Age range: 1+ years | Batteries required? N
Subscription kit for cognitive development
- High-quality construction
- Range of toys provide cognitive stimulation in variety of ways
- Some toys might land better than others
Five age-appropriate toys—and a play guide for parents—make this one-stop play kit an excellent value for cognitive development. There is a wooden vehicle with peg people for hand-eye coordination and make-believe; wooden color blocks for shape and color sorting, balancing and stacking; a trio of crayons specifically designed to be held by little hands; a star drop maze for fun with cause-and-effect and (with the Plus package) a ramp with two cars, both equipped with swirl-studded wheels for an optical illusion to wash down the primary lesson in cause and effect. If this doesn’t get your toddler’s wheels turning, nothing will. Parents rave about the quality and aesthetic of the wooden, battery-free toys.
Age range: 1+ years | Batteries required? N
Best problem-solving toy for 18-month-olds
- Held attention for record-breaking amount of time
- Fun for adults, too
- Great price for the value
- Makes exiting the bath a battle
- Could tempt shorter kids to stand in the bath to reach water inlet
When my kids got this water toy as a gift, they literally raced to the bathtub and stayed there until the water ran cold. The coolest part was that I took no part in setting it up—figuring out how to assemble the 10-piece pipe toy and use attached suction cups to attach to the bath wall was half the fun. The other half was turning the valves to test and see where the water would go. Whether it spurted through the shower pipe to sprinkle an unsuspecting child, spun the water mill, or helped the contained ball float, this toy delighted my kids at every turn—so much so that it crossed my mind to donate the rest of our bath toy collection.
Age range: 18+ months | Batteries required? N
Our community says:
My kids have tried every sort of bath toy and this one easily trumps all. – Liz, mom of two
Bilingual electronic book
Whether your household is bilingual or you’re interested in teaching your kiddo a second language, this electronic learning book is for you. Inside, it features 100 vocabulary words in both English and Spanish. As your child flips the pages, they’ll love the silly sound effects, educational songs and colorful images.
Age rating: 18+ months | Batteries required: Y
3-in-1 ride-on toy
At this age, your little one is probably more active than ever before, making a ride-on toy a great option for 18-month-olds. The versatile design will grow with your child throughout toddlerhood; they can use it as a wagon, a ride-on or even a scooter, depending on their stage. Your tot is also sure to love interactive features such as the headlight and fun sound effects.
Age rating: 12 to 36 months | Batteries required: Y
Musical wooden toy set
Your little one can clack, rattle and clang their way to musical fun with this quartet of bug-themed wood instruments. This developmental toy for 18-month-olds includes a firefly clacker, ladybug rattle, a caterpillar noisemaker and a cymbal bug with leaf-shaped mallets. Your kiddo can use the instruments to advance their cause-and-effect learning while building motor skills and sensory development.
Age rating: 12+ months | Batteries required: N
Board books for toddlers
This amazing box set contains 10 well-researched board books to introduce a wide range of learning topics and everyday objects to little learners. We love the vibrant pictures and variety of subjects available, including ABCs, colors, numbers, fruits and vegetables. It’s a great toy for 18-month-olds who enjoy pointing at pages when looking at books with family members.
Age rating: 12 to 24 months | Batteries required: N
Toddler slide
In the off-season, we like investing in toys for 18-month-olds that can be used both inside and out, like this slide (which reminds us of the ones we all had in our toddlerhood!). It boasts a compact design and is an excellent way to promote coordination, balance and muscle strength.
Age rating: 18 months to 6 years | Batteries required: N
Garden animal stacking toys
Games aren’t just for the older crew! With this adorable garden setup, toddlers can stack the creatures on the tree and try to keep them from falling—an exercise in logical thinking, balance and fine motor skills, making it one of our favorite educational toys for 18-month-olds. The figures are made from solid wood and painted with sweet garden motifs, and everything can be packed into the printed drawstring bag for easy storage.
Age rating: 18+ months | Batteries required: N
Montessori color-sorting set
If your kiddo is a fan of Montessori toys, this next pick will be a surefire winner. The set comes with 25 vibrant fruits and five baskets, encouraging your tot to sort the produce by color. As a result, they’ll expand their vocabulary, while also developing their color recognition and sorting skills.
Age rating: 18+ months | Batteries required: N
Safari animal puzzle
If your child has a thing for fun, quirky animals, they’ll have an absolute blast gathering the family together for a night of puzzles with this set. Turn each of the nine cubes around to find the pieces that make up an image, or mix them up for some wild fun! Each chunky wooden puzzle is generously sized to make it easier for little hands to lift, grasp, examine and replace. Thanks to its compact dimensions, this makes for a great on-the-go toy, and the handy wooden tray can be used as both a base and a place to safely store all of the pieces.
Age rating: 18+ months | Batteries required: N
Musical toy mixing bowl
Ready for a little pretend cooking? With six removable "ingredient" play pieces, two buttons that activate fun songs and sounds and an adorable light-up face, this learning toy for 18-month-olds is deliciously fun! Little ones will get a taste for early academics with songs and phrases that introduce them to the alphabet, colors, numbers and more. Grasping and moving the play pieces in and out of the mixing bowl helps strengthen tots’ dexterity and hand-eye coordination, while pressing the buttons to activate the songs will showcase cause and effect.
Age rating: 6 months to 3 years | Batteries required: Y
Hedgehog sensory toy
This colorful hedgehog helps your little one strengthen their fine motor skills through hands-on play, making it one of our favorite picks for the best toys for 18-month-olds. They’ll learn to grip items by picking up Spike’s colorful quills, and become familiar with coordination by sticking the quills in his back. The pegs will also help your little one master color recognition, sorting and patterning, and when playtime is over, you can load them into Spike’s back for easy storage.
Age rating: 18+ months | Batteries required: N
Montessori wooden stepping stones
This set of six brightly colored wooden steps (with anti-slip pads) are a great way to get toddlers stepping, lunging and jumping. They help boost kids’ balance and coordination, and they’re light enough for little ones to pick up and carry, so full warning—they’ll want to bring these little disks everywhere! Better yet, they’re stackable for easy storage.
Age rating: 18+ months | Batteries required: N
Race car ramp
Ready, set, race! This seemingly simple toy for 8-month-olds actually explores three STEAM topics: Cause and effect, pattern recognition and independent play. As children send the wooden cars barreling down the ramp the wheels spin to reveal colorful optical illusions. How fun is that?
Age rating: 12+ months | Batteries required: N
Wooden wagon push toy
Not sure what to gift the 18-month-old in your life? You can’t go wrong with this wooden push toy. The sturdy design is solid enough for newly minted walkers to lean on as they cruise, nurturing balance and strength development. Plus, the set is complete with 29 colorful, garden-themed blocks to prompt creative play.
Age rating: 18+ months | Batteries required: N
*Note: Some names have been changed due to privacy requests.
“An 18-month-old toddler is developmentally equipped to be an active adventurer within their environment,” says Scully. There are a number of things a child will do successfully at this time, from “walking independently to possibly even backwards for a few steps,” Scully says. “They’re learning to walk up and down stairs, with support from their parents and railings, as needed.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), by 18 months, most toddlers can climb on and off a couch or chair without help. They’re also continuing to hone their fine motor skills: They can use a spoon and scribble with crayons. And for a little one who is advancing their visual motor and perceptual skills, they might be able to “place simple shapes into puzzles and stack two to three blocks or cubes,” Scully adds.
At this age, “they’ll also begin looking at pages in books with others and point to show their parents or brothers and sisters something interesting,” says Jana Sarno, BCBA, a board-certified behavior analyst and chief clinical officer of Hopebridge Autism Therapy Centers. 18-month-olds may engage in simple, dramatic play. For instance, they might pick up a baby doll and pretend to feed them with a bottle, or perhaps turn on a toy vacuum and suck up all the dust and dirt on the floor. It’s in these small but purposeful actions that toddlers start emulating the adults around them and becoming more engaged in their surroundings.
When buying toys for 18-month-olds, look for playthings that:
- Help hone their balance, motor planning and visual-spatial skills. Toys that feature uneven terrain and different types of surfaces to explore—such as climbing blocks, tunnels, stepping stones, indoor slides and beams—are fantastic for building these skills, Scully says.
- Work their fine motor skills. Scully recommends sensory activities like Play-Doh and pop tubes and even pretend cooking tools that call for stirring and rolling to help boost toddlers’ dexterity and ability to use both hands together.
- Teach toddlers about shapes and sizes. Scully says shape sorters, puzzles, stacking toys and building blocks are great for promoting visual perception and visual motor skills.
- Spark their imaginations. Play kitchens, tea sets, pretend cleaning supplies, baby dolls, tool sets and cars are all wonderful ways to encourage dramatic play and enhance toddlers’ social awareness, Scully says.
- Are developmentally appropriate. Pay attention to the age-rating of a toy, to make sure you’re selecting something that’s safe for this age and offers play opportunities that match their skill levels. “If you’re always buying ahead, you may be presenting toys that a child is simply not ready for and therefore they could become frustrated and lose interest,” Scully says.
About the writer:
Elizabeth Narins is a Brooklyn-based mother of two and freelance writer who has previously held staff positions at Cosmo and Women’s Health. Her work has appeared in Scary Mommy, What to Expect, Parents, Health, Babycenter, and more. She’s also the author of More Than Mom, a Substack about parenting, identity, and all the other stuff that keeps new-ish parents up at night.
Plus, more from The Bump:
Ashley Scully, MS, OTR/L, is a pediatric occupational therapist and director of Northern New Jersey Therapy Services at Tiny Transformations. She has more than 14 years of experience in pediatrics, including impatient and outpatient services at NYU Langone Hospital, New York State early intervention and private practice.
Jana Sarno, BCBA, is a board-certified behavior analyst and the chief clinical officer of Hopebridge Autism Therapy Centers. She has worked as the vice president of applied behavior analysis at North Shore Pediatric Therapy and as an infant development program administrator at Coyne & Associates Education Corp.
US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Important Milestones: Your Child By Eighteen Months, June 2023
The Bump September 2024 Survey. Editors conducted a survey of over 400 parents from among The Bump community. We asked about their child’s favorite toy, what they and their child enjoyed about it and what skills it helped their child develop.
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