What Are the Best Toys for 18-Month-Olds? Here’s What Experts Recommend

When toddlers reach 18 months old, they start to learn more about their surroundings and engage in more independent play (and you get to take a break). They are expanding their vocabulary, copying their adult’s every move, and playing with toys in a simple way, so the best toys for 18-month-olds encourage their growth and support those new interests.

In order to curate a list of the best toys for 18-month-olds, we surveyed 875 caregivers from our research panel. We asked parents about the toys their children love, why they love them, and if they interact with them in a unique or interesting way. We also spoke with two pediatricians and a child development expert, and reviewed guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on toy safety, what toys benefit children, and developmental milestones for 18-month-olds. The toys we list here are all age-appropriate and encourage toddlers to develop and refine important life skills through play.

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Our Favorite Toys for 18-Month-Olds 

Learning Toys for 18-Month-Olds

It’s no surprise that kids’ brains are growing like crazy at 18 months. One of the ways you can help nourish that cognitive development is by opting for toys with educational features. We recommend toys like this interactive book that helps language development or an adjustable activity table that grows with your little one.

Pretend Play Toys for 18-Month-Olds

Foster creativity and bolster your child’s understanding of social situations by encouraging plenty of pretend play. For the mini-me who wants to do everything you do, consider a toddler-sized watering can so they can “help out” when you’re gardening. Little ones who have a flair for the dramatic can enjoy making up scenarios with a multi-functional Little People playhouse set.

Building Toys for 18-Month-Olds

Playing with building blocks is one of my family’s favorite early STEM activities for a number of reasons. We love how useful building materials are for teaching fundamentals in design and engineering, helping kids refine their fine motor skills, and increasing spatial reasoning. My niece and nephew especially love Lego Duplo building kits. Or, for a toy that adds an extra layer of sensory play, consider the textural wonder that is Jelly Blox.

Ride-On Toys for 18-Month-Olds

While there’s still plenty of time before your toddler is behind the wheel for real, a ride-on toy is a lot of fun until then. The benefits of these toys vary based on the model. We recommend a push and pedal ride-on for strengthening leg muscles and incorporating a little more exercise into your family’s routine. And if you’re looking for a great indoor/outdoor option, you can’t go wrong with a classic rocking horse that can also help toddlers improve their balance.

Best Puzzles and Games for 18-Month-Olds

While 18 months might seem young for a brain teaser, there are plenty of age-appropriate puzzles and games with surprising benefits. These toys create more opportunities for kids to practice their finger skills, learn about cause and effect, and enjoy some sensory play. Even more impressively, children who regularly play with puzzles tend to have better spatial awareness and spatial reasoning skills than children who don’t. 

Stuffed Animals and Dolls for 18-Month-Olds

Yes, plushies are cute and cuddly, but they can also be beneficial for little ones. A lovable stuffed animal or doll can actually be useful when teaching your child to sleep alone. For toddlers who still have trouble sleeping by themselves, these comfort objects can help ease nighttime anxiety, leading to more shut-eye for you and your kiddo. For maximum coziness, we recommend something soothing like a plush lamb or the softest, most huggable baby doll.

Sports and Outdoor Toys for 18-Month-Olds

Encourage an active lifestyle from an early age with toys that get your toddler moving and burning off excess energy, like a balance bike or a miniature T-ball set. In addition to tuckering your little one out before naptime, these toys also help develop gross motor skills and inspire a love of outdoor play. Either way, these gifts knock it out of the park.

Water Toys for 18-Month-Olds

Of course little ones love playing in water, but did you know there are actually benefits to aquatic play? An age-appropriate water table can be a great opportunity for sensory play. Or you can opt for some cute bath toys to make washing up more fun, like mold-free bath squirts.

Our Review Process

To learn more about the toys toddlers truly love playing with, we surveyed 875 parents to find out all about their kiddos’ favorite toys, how they engage with them, and what milestones the toys helped them reach. We also tested many of these toys at home with our toddlers, prioritizing safe and easy-to-use toys that help little ones gain independent playing skills. Finally, we spoke to the following experts to make sure our picks were a good fit for 18-month-olds:

• Dyan Hes, MD, a pediatrician and medical director of Gramercy Pediatrics in New York City
• Elizabeth Zack, PhD, a child development expert and outreach and education specialist at the University of Washington
• Whitney Casares, MD, MPH, FAAP, a private practice pediatrician, mother of two, and author of The Working Mom Blueprint: Winning at Parenting Without Losing Yourself.

Factors to Consider

• Safety: When shopping for toys, consider how they will be used and what amount of supervision a toddler will need to play safely. Toys that require high-powered magnets or button batteries and toys with small parts that could be a choking hazard should all be avoided.
• Milestones: Knowing developmental milestones helps you evaluate whether your child is on the right track and ready for certain toys. When they reach 18 months, toddlers enter a period of rapid development and reach milestones like speaking several single words, pulling toys while walking, and pretend play, so keep these leaps and bounds in mind when choosing toys.
• Physicality: It is important to buy toys that encourage children to move and use their bodies while playing. Blocks and stacking toys, balls of different shapes and sizes, or a wagon to fill and pull can help promote body confidence in toddlers and strengthen their motor skills.

Who We Are

Sarah Bradley is a health and parenting writer for Parents from Connecticut, where she lives with her husband and three sons. As a homeschooling mom who works part-time, she understands the value of shopping for parenting products that are not only safe and age-appropriate but also make family life easier (and more fun!).

Christine Luff is a writer for Parents who covers fitness, health, parenting, and other topics. She’s also mom to a 13-year-old daughter and 11-year-old son, who have always enjoyed a wide range of active and educational toys.

Additional reporting by: 

Katrina Cossey is a writer for Parents, an enthusiastic shopper, and a devoted mom. She spent several years in broadcast journalism but found her true passion in writing about the best products for families, pregnant people, and kids of all ages. She’s researched thousands of baby products, toys, gifts, and more and personally tested many of them. In her spare time, you’ll likely find her in the beautiful outdoors of Oklahoma with her husband and 4-year-old son.