FREE SHIPPING & RETURNS ON ALL TUSHBABIES

Track Order

Home
Tushbaby Blog
Best Toddler Toys by Age

Now reading: Best Toddler Toys by Age

Next

Best Toddler Toys by Age

Written by Katy Arnold on April 11, 2025.

If you're knee-deep in the world of toddler toys, welcome—you’re in the right place. We’re talking about the stuff that makes little eyes light up and gives you a few blissful minutes of me-time. From toddler bath toys that turn tub time into playtime to toddler toy cars built for speed and distraction, we’re breaking it all down by age and stage. Let’s explore the best toddler toys that match your kid’s development—and make playtime a little more fun for everyone.

Toys for 1-Year-Olds

At one year old, they’re officially on the move—and into everything. The best toys for 1-year-olds tap into that curiosity and support those wobbly new skills.

Soft, Interactive and Sensory Toys

Soft, interactive, and sensory toys for 1-year-olds are the real heavy hitters of the toy box. Think textures to squish, buttons to press, and sounds that won’t drive you up the wall. At this age, it’s all about cause and effect—push this, hear that, repeat 47 times.

Toys like activity cubes, light-up musical instruments, fabric books with crinkly pages, and stackable silicone blocks all help build fine motor skills—and keep curious hands busy.

Best Toddler Learning Toys for 1 Year Old

The best toddler learning toys for 1-year-olds blend engagement with early education, helping kids explore new concepts through hands-on play. Shape sorters, nesting cups, and chunky puzzles introduce ideas like size, order, problem-solving, and even patience—without feeling like a lesson. These staple toddler learning toys build coordination and focus, one satisfying snap or stack at a time.

Best Toys for 2 to 3 Year Olds

By age two, toddlers are talking more, climbing higher, and testing limits like it’s their job. The best toys for 2-year-olds and 3-year-olds help channel that energy and growing independence into play that builds skills and sparks creativity.

Toddler Bath Toys

Toddler bath toys turn splash time into playtime—and sometimes make the tub the highlight of the day. From floating animals and squirt toys to suction-cup spinners and water wheels, the best toddler bath toys keep little hands busy while you handle the soap and shampoo. They’re also an efficient distraction when the post-dinner meltdown hits and only bubbles will do.

Teethers for Toddlers

Teething comes with the territory—but that doesn’t make it any easier. When your toddler’s gums are sore and the crankiness sets in, having the right teether on hand makes all the difference for both of you.

The Teether by Tushbaby is made for tiny hands and tender gums, with 100% non-toxic silicone that’s soft, safe, and satisfying to chew. It’s easy to grip, dishwasher-safe, and built to hold up through every chomp, drop, and inevitable dramatic floor toss. Each one features a letter for a personal touch with your baby’s initial—and sneaks in a little early letter learning while you’re at it.

Educational Toys for 2 to3 Year Olds

Educational toys for 2-year-olds and 3-year-olds aren’t about tests and flashcards—they’re about curiosity, creativity, and discovery. Building blocks, color sorting games, matching cards, and pretend play sets all teach early concepts like numbers, language, and problem-solving in ways that actually hold their attention. Let’s be honest: if it’s not fun, it’s not happening.

Best Toys For 3 to 6 Year Olds

By ages 3 to 6, their imaginations are running wild—and so is their energy. The best toys for 3-year-olds tap into that creativity, help build new skills, and keep busy hands (and minds) engaged.

Toddler Outdoor Toys

Toddler outdoor toys come in clutch when the walls start closing in and the couch becomes a trampoline. From ride-on cars to bubble machines, chalk sets to mini slides, these toys turn your backyard, driveway, or local park into an energy-burning playground. The best part is they keep your little one moving, exploring, and happily distracted—so you can finally sit down for more than 30 seconds.

Toddler Learning Toys

The best toddler learning toys support their growing independence, helping them think, try, and figure things out on their own (or at least give it a solid attempt). Toddler educational toys build problem-solving skills, fine motor coordination, and even early language or counting—all while your kid thinks they’re just stacking, sorting, or squishing. Think shape sorters, memory tiles, pop-and-lock building toys, and interactive books with flaps and textures.

For the little ones who love to play grown-up, the Toy Tushbaby Doll Carrier is a pint-sized version of the real deal—made for toddlers to tote their stuffies, dolls, and tiny treasures just like you carried them. With the same built-in storage and familiar features as the Tushbaby Hip Carrier, it’s perfect for encouraging empathy, responsibility, and pretend play.

How to Choose the Best Toys for Toddlers

Choosing the best toddler toys isn’t about flashy features—it’s about what actually keeps up with your kid’s age, stage, and ever-shifting attention span. The top picks are age-appropriate, safe (read: no choking hazards), and designed to support key developmental milestones like walking, talking, or stacking 14 blocks just to knock them down.

Look for toys that encourage movement, creativity, and problem-solving—bonus points if they’re easy to clean and don’t require a degree in engineering to assemble. Ultimately, toddler toys should bring more joy to their day and a little relief to yours. If you’re wondering how to balance structure with silliness, free play is where it’s at—learn more about the benefits and how to foster it at home.

FAQs

What Toys Increase Toddler Intelligence?

When it comes to boosting brainpower, toddler learning toys don’t need to look like miniature classrooms. The smartest picks are the ones that spark curiosity, like puzzles that challenge problem-solving, stacking toys that teach cause and effect, and pretend play sets that build language and social skills. These toys help toddlers flex their growing brains in ways that feel fun, not forced.

What Type of Play Is Best for Toddlers?

The best type of play for toddlers is the kind that meets them where they are—curious, busy, and always on the move. Open-ended play with toddler toys like blocks, pretend food, or animal figurines lets them lead the way while building creativity, confidence, and coordination. Whether they’re stacking, stirring, or staging a full-blown tea party, the magic’s in the doing—not the instructions.

Great toddler toys do more than keep little hands busy—they fuel development, spark creativity, and give you a few blessed minutes of quiet. Whether it’s learning, splashing, building, or pretending, the best toddler toys strike that sweet spot between play and purpose.

Great toys keep them entertained. Great gear keeps you going. From your baby to your essentials, Tushbaby products are designed to carry what matters most—and help you do it all in style.