25 Best Toys for 1-Year-Old Boys
Updated 12 March 2020
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Author
Danny is the father of a very active 2-year-old and has made plenty of mistakes buying toys over the last couple years so hopes his site can help others avoid the same fate.
One year is a huge milestone for babies. They have transformed from a newborn into an independent little person with so many skills under their belt. Even if they have not yet started walking, they are getting ready to go. They love to get involved, using their hands to eat and maneuver objects. So what toy can you get to help them have fun and keep developing?
We know there are thousands of toys for one-year-old boys to choose from, which is why we have selected 25 of the best out there. We used authentic parent reviews and recommendations to curate our list, always making sure to watch out for review manipulation.
1The Very Hungry Caterpillar
Delivering hours of laughter and fun for kids and adults alike, The Very Hungry Caterpillar is a great board book that can be read during the day, before nap time, and even as a bedtime story. The story of the caterpillar itself is funny and presented in poem form, making it a fun way to read. The illustrations are engaging and fun to look at.
What we love
- The cut-out details are very clever
- Very durable and fun to hold
What We Don't Like That Much
- Smaller than the original
2Peek-a Who? (Lift the Flap Books, Interactive Books for Kids, Interactive Read Aloud Books)
Boys at one year old and younger are looking for books that are super simple to understand. The top book in this category is Peek-A Who? This board book has great big images and a simple narrative that one-year-olds just love. I don't want to ruin the ending but spoiler alert - it' not "Who" you think :)
What we love
- One year olds love it
- Doesn't cost too much
What We Don't Like That Much
- Coating on the book could be better
3Prince Lionheart Wheely Bug, Bee, Small
The allpresent Wheelybug Ride On Toy offers a fun and interactive experience for little boys that are just learning to walk and use their legs. It’s constructed with a durable, wooden base to ensure stability. There is foam on top of the wood construction that can help to keep your little boy more comfortable while he’s playing on the animal toy.
What we love
- Made to look like an adorable bee
- Easy for children to ride
What We Don't Like That Much
- The foam could be thicker
4Halilit HL608 Toddler Tambourine, Assorted Color
To invoke musical learning and rhythm development, this Halilit Baby Tambourine is a convenient way for children to learn how to hit the instrument to make certain sounds and rhythms. The handle features an easy-to-grip material and the tambourine is designed to last a long time.
What we love
- Designed safe to prevent choking hazards
- Very beautiful and inviting
What We Don't Like That Much
- Could use volume controls
5Galt Pop Up Toy
This wooden popup toy for children offers laughs as its colorful figurines pop-up and down on springs. The toy specifically features four wooden figures that are sitting inside of the main wooden base. Each of the figures represents a different color and they can wiggle and hop when your little boy hits the top of them. Because of that, your baby boy can learn how to use his hands and develop fine motor skills.
What we love
- Made with high-quality wood
- Delivers eye coordination skills
What We Don't Like That Much
- Doesn’t keep kids occupied for long
6Hape Pound & Tap Bench with Slide Out Xylophone - Award Winning Durable Wooden Musical Pounding Toy for Toddlers, Multifunctional and Bright Colours, Yellow
Delivering a great way for your little boy to learn musical sounds, this pound and tap musical bench comes with a mallet and three balls that fall down on the keys when they are tapped. After they fall down through the holes that they’re resting in, they strike the keys that are beneath them, creating musical sounds.
What we love
- Made with a colorful design
- The balls are made from a durable material
What We Don't Like That Much
- The balls are difficult to move when tapped
7Fisher-Price Musical Lion Walker [Amazon Exclusive]
![B00BNQEVWS-Fisher-Price Musical Lion Walker [Amazon Exclusive]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51+CCjhgDyL._SL500_.jpg)
The Musical Lion Walker from Fisher-Price is a beneficial and convenient way for your little boy to learn how to walk. There is a sturdy handle on the front side of the walker that is easy to grip onto, giving your little boy the support and stability that they need while they’re leaning on the toy and walking. And even if he falls, you don’t have to worry about them getting upset because there’s a play panel on the front.
What we love
- The lion sings and plays musical sounds while walking
- Very stable
What We Don't Like That Much
- Could have a few toys on the front
8WolVolk Educational Kids Toddler Baby Toy Musical Activity Cube Play Center with Lights, Lots of Functions and Skills for Learning and Development
The WolVol Musical Activity Cube Play Center is specifically recommended for people that want to help their children develop fine motor and language skills. This play center features 15 different types of activities. The toy is a smaller constructed cube that can make it easier to travel. Given that, it’s a great toy for the car.
What we love
- Improves hand and eye coordination
- Has a built-in microphone letting kids create their own sounds
What We Don't Like That Much
- The cube could be bigger
9Melissa & Doug Match and Roll Shape Sorter - Classic Wooden Toy
This sorter from the guys at Melissa & Dough is great for getting little boys to learn shapes and develop fine motor skills. This specific toy comes with various different shapes which require your child to place them in the corresponding spots. After the correct shapes are all placed together, the toy is complete and ready for another play!
What we love
- Helps to teach cause and effect
- Very giftable
What We Don't Like That Much
- The shapes have to be placed at an angle
10VTech Drop and Go Dump Truck, Yellow
The Dump truck from VTech features many different realistic effects, like moving windows, light-up parts, and boulders that makes sounds as you drop them into the back of the truck. This toy truck is a great way for your little boy to pick up the trash or just other toys into the back of his truck. Lastly, this toy dump truck even comes with many educational benefits like learning numbers, sounds, and colors.
What we love
- Comes with eight fun learning activities
- The loudspeaker plays fun phrases
What We Don't Like That Much
- Could be a bit bigger for older kids
11VTech Sit-to-Stand Learning Walker (Frustration Free Packaging), Lavender (Amazon Exclusive)
This 2-in-1 Learning Walker offers a fun and easy way for babies and toddlers to learn how to walk. The sturdy construction of the walker is a great way for kids to feel more comfortable walking because they can confidently lean on the handlebar and grip it tightly. The front panel of the walker has various types of toys they can play with.
What we love
- Features over 70 songs and sound effects
- Delivers hours of fun to kids of various ages
What We Don't Like That Much
- Volume doesn’t go up or down
12Skip Hop Baby Bath Toy, Zoo Stack & Pour Buckets
Consisting of five total buckets, these toys feature different characters on their surfaces to help kids have fun while they’re in the water. Some have different holes on the bottom to help encourage your child to play with the water. You can utilize them to make bath time more fun and for the bathing itself.
What we love
- Feature easy-grip handles
- Buckets are bigger than expected
What We Don't Like That Much
- Two of the buckets have the same hole pattern
13LeapFrog Count and Crawl Number Kitty
Perfectly designed for learning numbers, this LeapFrog Count and Crawl Kitty Toy has keys on its back that your child can press to hear numbers one through 20. The cat itself looks fun and colorful enough to play with on its own but the keys on the back and the sounds, music, and phrases that come from them make it all the better to play with.
What we love
- Helps kids develop fine and gross motor skills
- Kids can make their own music with the toy
What We Don't Like That Much
- Only has a high and low volume setting
14B. toys – Drumroll Please – 7 Musical Instruments Toy Drum Kit for Kids 18 months + (7-Pcs)
This Toy Drum Kit from B. Toys contains various musical instruments that your child can learn to play. The large drum can act as a storage unit for all of the other smaller musical instruments. Furthermore, each of the smaller instruments has a different animal on it, making it even more fun to play with. The Toy Drum Kit is educational and can help your child to understand how music is made.
What we love
- The kit can be stored easily
- Each instrument is constructed with BPA-free materials
What We Don't Like That Much
- A strap for the drum could be handy
15BEST LEARNING Mushroom Garden - Interactive Educational Light-Up Toddler Toys for 1 to 3 Years Old Infants & Toddlers - Colors, Numbers, Games & Music for Kids
As one of the best learning and memory games on the market, the Mushroom Garden Toy is a perfect way for kids of all ages to learn how to interact with colors. To play, your little boy has to follow the light-up mushrooms and interact with the order in which they lit up. He can learn how to engage with his memory skills while having fun.
What we love
- Mushrooms are all different colors
- The toy is designed to keep kids interested
What We Don't Like That Much
- Can be complicated for smaller children
16Lewo Large Wooden Blocks Construction Building Toys Set Stacking Bricks Board Games 32 Pieces
If you’re looking for a nice building block set, then this one comes highly recommended. It comes with 32 blocks that have blank faces to encourage kids to paint and color on them. Given that each of the 32 individual blocks has a smooth and naked surface, your child can explore their imagination by drawing and coloring before building whatever they want.
What we love
- Made with a durable and natural wood material
- Prevents splinters with the rounded surfaces and edges
What We Don't Like That Much
- Blocks are on the smaller side
17Friction Powered Cars, Push and Go Toy Trucks Construction Vehicles Toys Set for 1-3 Year Old Baby Toddlers- Dump Truck, Cement Mixer, Bulldozer, Tractor, Early Educational Cartoon ( Set of 4)
Designed to encourage kids to explore their imaginations and practice cooperative play, this truck playset comes with two vehicles that your kid can play with either alone or with someone else. Each of the two individual trucks included comes with specific features. One of the trucks has a shovel in the front, while the other has a trailer in the back. Your little boy can use the trucks to carry smaller accessories in each of the attachments.
What we love
- The set makes an excellent gift
- Compatible with other types of toy trucks
What We Don't Like That Much
- Could be bigger for older children
18LEGO DUPLO My First Emotions 10861 Building Blocks (28 Piece)
Containing 28 blocks and presenting various bright colors, these LEGO DUPLO blocks are a great way for children to build characters and work with their imagination. Not only are there a variety of different shapes and colors to play with in this block set, but as many as four different people can be created with it. Because of that, your child can more easily learn how to puzzle together certain images, further developing his fine motor skills.
What we love
- Blocks easily snap together
- Feature educational benefits by learning animals, colors, and shapes
What We Don't Like That Much
- Having more blocks would be great
19YGJT Baby Balance Bikes Rides Toys for 1 Year Old Boys Girls, Anti-Drop Indoor Baby Walker 10-24 Month Baby's First Bike Birthday Gift, Blue
This baby bicycle is a great outdoors or indoors present. The seat is comfortable for kids of all ages, and the sturdy handles and wheels help to give your little boy the balance and coordination that they need in order to start walking. It helps kids learn how to walk. It doesn’t have pedals or other hard-to-use functions, so your kid can learn how to use their leg muscles more easily.
What we love
- Very durable
- Limited turning degree to prevent kids from falling
What We Don't Like That Much
- It could be easier to assemble
20Stacking Cups Baby Bath Toy for Infants, Toddlers, and Kids, Small Rainbow Color Stack-Up Cups with Under The Sea Animal Shapes and Drain Holes, Stackable Nesting Cups for Water Games with Rubber Duck
Great for either playing outside in the kiddie pool or for bath time, these stacking cups are a phenomenal way for kids of all ages to have fun while learning shapes and colors. The cups themselves are all in different sizes, since smaller ones can fit inside the bigger ones. Each of the cups also has a different sea animal on it, making them more fun to use.
What we love
- Comes with eight cups of different colors
- Great for travel
What We Don't Like That Much
- The smaller cups can be too small for bigger hands
21Kidzlane Floor Piano Mat for Kids and Toddlers | Giant 6 ft. Piano Mat, 24 Keys, 10 Song Cards, Built in Songs, Record & Playback, 8 Instrument Sounds | Musical Gift Toy for Boys & Girls Ages 3+
This walk-on musical carpet is a great way to encourage your little boy to move his legs and get strong. The specific design of this mat is beneficial for children that are just learning how to use their legs. The mat is made out of a comfortable and soft nylon covering that is easy on your kid’s feet. It can easily be rolled up and stored.
What we love
- Environmentally friendly
- Mat produces up to seven different musical songs
What We Don't Like That Much
- Doesn’t come with the batteries needed to turn it on
22I'm Wooden Music Box Mechanism - Rock n Roll Dancing Bug on Flower Playing Minuet No.3 for Kids (Ladybug)
Available as a music box that plays several songs, this toy comes with two ladybugs that sit on top of it. The ladybugs themselves are easily removable since they are connected to the leaves with magnets. Your child can easily take off the ladybugs and play with them separately. This is especially convenient because the music box can play music in the background while they play with the ladybug figures.
What we love
- Encourages kids to relax and focus on the music
- Doubles as a toy and a source of fun music
What We Don't Like That Much
- Doesn’t give you the option to change the volume
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