Do you prefer wooden toys for your one-year-old? You made the right choice. From birth to two years of age, your child will experience a remarkable physical and mental development rate. Wooden toys are simple enough to inspire imaginative play without the lights and batteries of their plastic counterparts. They are chemical-free, eco-friendly, and non-toxic, and durable enough to be passed on to siblings. Choose among the best wooden toys for 1 year old in this buyer’s guide.
Comparison Chart
IMAGE | PRODUCT | DETAILS | PRICE |
---|---|---|---|
OUR TOP PICK | Manhattan Toy Tree Top Adventure Activity Center | Manhattan Toy Tree Top Adventure Activity Center is one of the best wooden toys for 1-year old that is packed with motor skill activities. Your child won’t even know they’re practicing fine and gross motor skills as they investigate all of these tree-themed activity center features. | |
RUNNER UP | Hape Walk-A-Long Puppy Wooden Pull Toy | Walk-A-Long Puppy Wooden Pull Toy by Hape is made to grow with your child and almost as loving as a real pup. This wooden pull toy gives toddlers a new best buddy and develops essential motor skills as well. | |
ALSO GREAT | Melissa & Doug Shape Sorting Cube | Melissa & Doug Shape Sorting Cube includes 12 wooden pieces of different shapes and bright colors. It is beneficial at learning colors and shape recognition. It provides toddlers with a hands-on learning experience and works great at developing motor skills and hand-eye coordination. | |
EverEarth Toddler Workbench with Tools | EverEarth Toddler Workbench with Tools is one of the best wooden toys for a 1-year-old designed for safe pretend play. It is smoothly-finished and stained with non-toxic, BPH-free, water-based paint making it safe for toddlers. | ||
PlanToys Wooden Dancing Alligator Push and Pull Toy | PlanToys Wooden Dancing Alligator Push and Pull Toy is one of the best wooden toys for a 1-year-old known to be every toddler’s favorite. This eco-friendly toy makes a gentle click-clack sound when pulled that will excite your little one. | ||
Fat Brain Toys Take-Along Shape Sorter Baby Toys | Fat Brain Toys Take-Along Shape Sorter Baby Toys are timeless, educational toys for toddlers. It is made of high-quality materials and designed for a safe and fun play. | ||
GEMEM Stacking Rings Toy Wooden Rainbow Stacker | GEMEM Stacking Rings Toy Wooden Rainbow Stacker is a classic wood stacking toy that includes seven smooth rings and a solid wood base. It works great to help toddlers identify colors and differentiate sizes. |
Detailed Reviews of the 7 Best Wooden Toys for 1-Year-Olds
Manhattan Toy Tree Top Adventure Activity Center
Manhattan Toy Tree Top Adventure Activity Center is one of the best wooden toys for 1-year old that is packed with motor skill activities. Your child won’t even know they’re practicing fine and gross motor skills as they investigate all of these tree-themed activity center features.
Product Highlights
This toy is packed with classic toddler activities such as gliders, flexible flaps, spinning dials, bead runs, and shape recognition. It will make toddlers happy while learning. It is a colorful toy with highly detailed graphics.
The Good
This high-quality wooden activity toy measures 22.5″ tall and 18″ wide. It has a water-based, non-toxic finish, and is a suitable toy for ages one year and up. It makes a perfect gift idea for toddlers.
The Bad
Users complain that the screws of the toys do not line up well. Some parents complain that the toy is much lightweight than expected. They also said that it is not sturdy and won’t be safe for children who tend to pull themselves up using the toy.
PROs
- Packed with motor skill activities
- Colorful toy with highly-detailed graphics
- Water-based, non-toxic finish
- Perfect gift idea for toddlers
- Facilitates learning
CONs
- Screws do not line up well
- Much lightweight than expected
- It is not sturdy
Walk-A-Long Puppy Wooden Pull Toy by Hape
Walk-A-Long Puppy Wooden Pull Toy by Hape is made to grow with your child and almost as loving as a real pup. This wooden pull toy gives toddlers a new best buddy and develops essential motor skills as well.
Product Highlights
Your toddler will make this toy sit, stand, roll, and take it for walks. It promotes dexterity, hand-eye coordination, manipulation, and encourages active play, spinning your little one’s imagination and creativity. It is made from child-safe, non-toxic materials with quality wood craftsmanship.
The Good
This toy is durable is always ready for the journey alongside your trotting toddler. It has rubber-rimmed wheels that are meant to protect floor surfaces as well. It is a multi-functional toy and a perfect walk-a-long-puppy as it is ready to be pulled anytime.
The Bad
Users complain that the toy’s head always falls over, which makes it not so user-friendly. Others also said that the toy’s colors wear off over time. Some parents consider this toy expensive.
PROs
- It is durable
- Made from child-safe materials
- Promotes dexterity, hand-eye coordination, and manipulation
- Encourages active play and interaction
- Quality wood craftsmanship
- Rubber-rimmed wheels
CONs
- Colors wear off over time
- Toy’s head constantly falls over
- It may be expensive
Melissa & Doug Shape Sorting Cube
Melissa & Doug Shape Sorting Cube includes 12 wooden pieces of different shapes and bright colors. It is beneficial at learning colors and shape recognition. It provides toddlers with a hands-on learning experience and works great at developing motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
Product Highlights
Melissa & Doug Shape Sorting Cube includes 12 wooden pieces of different shapes and bright colors. It is beneficial at learning colors and shape recognition. It provides toddlers with a hands-on learning experience and works great at developing motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
The Good
This toy is suitable for ages 24 months and up. It has easy-to-grip pieces that are gentle and safe for the use of little hands. This toy features sturdy wood construction that is made to last. It provides kids an appealing option for screen-free fun, and it works great at fostering early brain development.
The Bad
Users complain that some toy pieces aren’t durable, and its panel slides open too quickly. Others reported that its colors wear off over time.
PROs
- Improves problem-solving skills
- Hands-on learning experience
- Develops motor skills and hand-eye coordination
- Easy-to-grip pieces
- Safe for the use of little hands
- Sturdy wood construction
- Fosters early brain development
CONs
- Some toy pieces aren’t durable
- Colors wear off over time
EverEarth Toddler Workbench with Tools
EverEarth Toddler Workbench with Tools is one of the best wooden toys for a 1-year-old designed for safe pretend play. It is smoothly-finished and stained with non-toxic, BPH-free, water-based paint making it safe for toddlers.
Product Highlights
This toy set includes toy hammer, wrench, flat head screwdriver, toy saw, and working bench vice. It also has wooden nails for hammering, screws, nuts and bolts, boards with holes, and a workbench top with threaded holes for screwing. It is made of durable and high-quality wood material.
The Good
It is designed to be played whichever you want – while sitting, kneeling, or placing it on a tabletop. It is fun to play with and is easily stored. It has a slotted organizer to keep all the tools handy, and it has a storage tray on the bottom. This gender-neutral wooden tool bench is a good toddler activity toy both for girls and boys.
The Bad
Users complain that the toy set is smaller than expected. Some also said that the paint quickly wears off. Some parents reported that the screws pull apart easily that posts a choking hazard to kids.
PROs
- Stimulates imagination
- It is a smoothly-finished product
- Non-toxic and water-based paint
- Made with durable and high-quality wood material
- Has slotted organizer to keep all tools handy
- Activity toy for both girls and boys
CONs
- Smaller than expected
- Paint quickly wears off
- Screws pull apart easily
PlanToys Wooden Dancing Alligator Push and Pull Toy
PlanToys Wooden Dancing Alligator Push and Pull Toy is one of the best wooden toys for a 1-year-old known to be every toddler’s favorite. This eco-friendly toy makes a gentle click-clack sound when pulled that will excite your little one.
Product Highlights
Its pull cord is 24″ long and safely inserted into the dancing alligator. Its size is just right for toddlers and is very convenient and fun to play. It is suitable for children 12 months and older.
The Good
It is sustainably crafted from chemical-free rubberwood trees and assembled using formaldehyde-free glues, organic pigments, water-based dyes, making it safe for babies. It encourages early learning, inspires imagination, and stimulate the senses. Its lovely design is sure to attract and entertain toddlers.
The Bad
Users said its colors tend to wear off over time. Some parents complain that its clacking sound is too loud and noisy.
PROs
- It is eco-friendly toy
- Very convenient and fun to play
- Size is just right for toddlers
- Sustainably crafted from chemical-free rubberwood trees
- Assembled using formaldehyde-free glues, water-based dyes
- Encourages early learning and stimulate the senses
CONs
- Colors tend to wear off over time
- Clacking sound is too loud and noisy
Fat Brain Toys Take-Along Shape Sorter Baby Toys
Fat Brain Toys Take-Along Shape Sorter Baby Toys are timeless, educational toys for toddlers. It is made of high-quality materials and designed for a safe and fun play.
Product Highlights
This toy includes 12 colorful blocks and features a sturdy rope handle for easy transport. Many shapes include triangle, square, octagon, star, pentagon, hexagon, oval, clover, rectangle, trapezoid, diamond, and parallelogram. It helps toddlers learn about shapes and colors.
The Good
This toy is perfect for ages 12 months and up. It is made durable, and its blocks are made extra bigger and gentle for little hands to grab. It strengthens fine motor skills and spatial reasoning.
The Bad
Users complain that some of its parts have rough surfaces. Some parents said that the toy features so many shapes that it may be hard to identify for small toddlers.
PROs
- Timeless educational toys
- Made of high-quality materials
- Sturdy rope handle for easy transport
- Helps toddlers learn about shapes and colors
- Strengthens fine motor skills and spatial reasoning
CONs
- Some parts have rough surfaces
- Features so many shapes
GEMEM Stacking Rings Toy Wooden Rainbow Stacker
GEMEM Stacking Rings Toy Wooden Rainbow Stacker is a classic wood stacking toy that includes seven smooth rings and a solid wood base. It works great to help toddlers identify colors and differentiate sizes.
Product Highlights
It features a wooden ball on the top, round dowel, and smooth edges that are gentle to little hands. It is non-toxic and safe for kids to play. This toy has a rounded base to aid more convenience to children.
The Good
It is made of premium wood and made to last. It is suitable for ages 18 months and up. This educational toy improves children’s creativity, logic, and hand-eye coordination skill. Its multiple bright colors attract every child’s attention.
The Bad
Users complain that the toy is unexpectedly very small. Some parents also said that its paint easily comes off, especially when frequently played.
PROs
- Help toddlers identify colors and differentiate sizes
- Smooth edges; gentle to little hands
- Non-toxic and safe for kids
- The rounded base for more convenience
- Made of premium wood
- Improves logic and hand-eye coordination
CONs
- Unexpectedly very small
- Paint easily comes off when frequently played
Conclusion
Wooden toys last longer compared to their plastic counterparts. They can also look good despite loads of abuse from being banged around, chewed on, and thrown across the room. Choose the best wooden toys for 1-year-old; they are more durable, safer, and very effective at encouraging creative play. They also promote sensory development and give your child a tie to the natural world. Get more tips on baby toys.