Parents! Check out these cool new toys that every baby or toddler will love.
Match & Learn Cookies:
$24.99; 2+
Amazon.com
Little pastry chefs can pretend to make and bake 26 yummy-looking letter cookies. Press each colorful cookie into the tray to hear letter names, letter sounds, colors and flavors. Listen closely to hear which cookie to bake based on the name of the letter, the sound it makes, the frosting color or its flavor. Find the letter A with red frosting. It’s an apple cookie. Match the correct cookie to the letter-shaped cookie tray cutouts to bake the perfect batch. Celebrate success by pressing the light-up oven button and sing along to a baking song.
Slide-to-Read ABC Flash Cards
$17.99; 3+
LeapFrog.com
Preschoolers can touch the card to explore a letter sound, words that begin with that letter and a silly animal sentence. Slide your finger across the sentences from left to right, fast or slow, to follow along while hearing it read aloud. Hunt for the pictures or words on the card that the tablet asks for and touch the words and pictures to find them. Add music to the mix and touch the A-Z flash cards to add a variety of sound effects to five different melodies. Sing along to two letter songs by pressing the light-up star button. Slide the cards in the back to securely store them, then grab the handle to take it on the go.
Storytime With Sunny
$59.99; 3+
VTechKids.com
Sunny invites participation in 300+ activities with four disks and more than five hours of fairy tales, classic songs, guessing games, a poem creator, silly jokes, tongue twisters, daily routines and much more. Her animated face and movements add emotion and expression to jokes, stories and songs, inviting kids to respond as she asks them what they think. Sunny teaches healthy habits, encouraging good manners, brushing teeth and mindfulness exercises.
Rainbow Learning Lights Mixer
$29.99; 2+
LeapFrog.com
Create your own recipes or follow the instructions on the two double-sided recipe cards. Add counting and colors to the mix. Press the chef’s hat to listen to the mixer’s instructions. Use the red spoon to add flour or add two pieces of butter to the mixing bowl. Little bakers can make more than 40 pretend recipes for cookies, cupcakes, pies and more.
DC Comics The Batman Jack in The Box
$27.50; 6 months+
Kidspreferred.com
A classic, retro toy that has amused babies for decades. An interactive toy for infants with familiar music and a pop-up friend will bring a smile to the baby and parents. This Jack in the Box by Kids Preferred, is surprising, not scary, & plays "Pop Goes the Weasel". This classic toy features The Batman in his signature Bat Suit and is sure to become a permanent part of any child's collection.
Tranquil Turtle
$54.99; All ages
Target.com
A calming night light that projects ocean waves onto the ceiling and plays soothing sounds. Its soft glow and plush material make it a comforting companion for babies and young children at bedtime. The adjustable light and volume allow parents to customize the setting to suit their child. The auto shut-off timer helps create a consistent bedtime routine.
Duplo LEGO Dream Playground
$49.99; 2+
Lego.com
Inspires endless imaginative role play and encourages physical and mental development. Kids climb the rocket, spin on the whale tail merry-go-round then whoosh down the toy slide to play on the swing or get a friend to join them on the seesaw. While exploring all the modern play equipment, preschoolers will learn letters and numbers, hone their motor skills and develop self-expression with this STEM toy.
Bricklettes
$54.99; Bricklettes.com
Each block is a large size, stackable up to 2 feet tall with no deceptively small blocks included. Lightweight and safe for noise-free tumbling, each block can hold up to 150 lbs., featuring a matte, non-slip texture. The neutral colors and realistic patterns reduce overstimulation, and the original white brick pattern is perfectly gender-neutral for the whole family.
My Baking Oven with Magic Cookies
$49.99; 4+
Hape.com
Little bakers can delight with this adorable bakery set, complete with color-changing cookies. The beautifully painted confection set is a great way to introduce little ones to cooking and baking, and comes with one large baking oven, one tray and six deliciously decorated cookies. Simply arrange the cookies on the cookie tray, pop into the oven and watch as the magic purple “baking” light turns the cookies to a richer dark color! Once the timer goes off, the cookies are ready to serve up to the hungriest of guests. The light comes on when the door is opened and timer starts when the door is closed with a “ding” when done.
Hatchimals Alive Hatch-Nursery Playset
$34.99; 3+
Amazon.com
With four water hatch eggs, four accessories and built-in playset you can hatch, play and display them all. Activate the multi hatch by adding water to the cloud, pour it down the rainbow and watch your new Hatchimals magically hatch in the cloud pool. Once you hatch them all, feed them a snack in the kitchen, enjoy playtime upstairs and then put them to sleep in their crib complete with soft blanket.
VTech Bluey Bluey's Keytar
$24.99, 3+
VTechKids.com
Use your imagination to make music using the keyboard or play along with 10 built-in melodies including the Bluey theme song. Make more than piano sounds, too. Transform the keyboard notes to sound like a guitar, Chattermax, Bluey's sister Bingo and more by choosing from 10 instruments and sound effects. You can also hear from Bluey by pressing the button with her picture on it.
Explore the Outdoors! Travel Camper
$59.99; 3+
www.Lakeshorelearning.com
This smooth-rolling travel camper provides a fun-filled journey inside & out! Simply open the roof to explore the exciting spaces inside—from a built-in dinette and kitchen to a comfy overhead bunk & restroom. Then flip down the awning, “fire up” the foldout grill & arrange the chairs around the firepit. It’s the perfect way to keep playtime on a roll.
Toothpick Sleigh
$25; 1+
GUND.com
Toothpick is ready to get in the festive spirit. This 15” bear sports a colorful green, white and red sweater embroidered with smiling snowmen and snowflakes. His slender body, playfully floppy limbs and sweet expression make him perfect to take and cuddle wherever you go.
Magna Tiles Downhill Duo
$69.99, 3+
Target.com
The first fully magnetic racing adventure that’s designed for little hands and big imaginations. Looking for a new way to inspire their creativity, build their motor skills, and support their STEAM learning? Buckle up and imagine the possibilities with new Ramps, Roads, Dashers and Figures.
Disney Junior Minnie Mouse Pet Vet Backpack
$29.99; 3+
Amazon.com
Minnie Mouse fans will love taking care of plush pup Cream Puff with this 8-piece set featuring an 11-inch interactive Cream Puff stuffed animal and a glittery fashion backpack full of pretend play veterinarian tools. Press Cream Puff’s paw to activate lights, puppy sounds, and Minnie Mouse phrases. Her nose lights up when she needs help to feel better.
Tree House Play World
$54.99; 2+
BababooAndFriends.com
https://us.bababooandfriends.com/collections/all-toys/products/spielwelt-baumhaus-adventures-with-bababoo-and-friends
Encourages sensory development, touch, problem solving, fine motor skills, and more. Plus, the innovative PlayTales concept ignites storytelling with fun activities, providing additional learning values such as imaginative play, verbal communication, and socialization between kids and caretakers.
Paw Patrol Aqua Pups Marshall Transforming Dolphin Vehicle
$17.99; 3+
Amazon.com
Suited in his red aqua pups wetsuit and helmet, Marshall is ready for supercharged rescues in the pretend sea. Simply place Marshall in the vehicle cockpit and slide the canopy shut, to engage the wings and dorsal fin, transforming his vehicle into rescue mode. When there’s trouble, load the projectile into the launcher and press the button to launch.
Alphabet Cones
$29.99; 3+
LakeshoreLearning.com
Select a scoop featuring a lowercase letter, then easily snap it onto the cone with the corresponding uppercase letter. It’s a super-sweet way for kids to master letter recognition, matching and sequencing…build fine motor skills…and more.
Sesame Street Elmo’s Learning Letters
$24.99; 2+
Target.com
Press the Elmo button to play Sesame Street phrases that teach kids the alphabet and plays the “Alphabet Song.” Discover 26 removable letters that reveal Sesame Street friends, and then use the letters to practice spelling words while developing fine motor skills. When playtime is over, store the letters back in the bus.
Whale Wilma Babablock
$38.49; 1+
BababooAndFriends.com
https://us.bababooandfriends.com/collections/our-toys/products/babablocks-holzbausteine-wal-wilma
Contains numerous geometric shapes so children can build a wide variety of creative structures. One block has grooved edges which make it more challenging for children to assemble the building blocks. The 26 blocks and a little whale figure add a lively character to the building set. The various shapes, colors and design possibilities stimulate creativity, spark the imagination, and develop motor skills and coordination.
1.2.3 AQUA Water Seesaw with Boat
$24.99; 18 months+
Playobil.us
PLAYMOBIL webshop and Amazon
After an exciting ride on the boat, float over to the island and attach the boat using the mooring ring. Use the boat as a cup and pour water onto the seesaw's red dot, weighing down that side and sending the figure sliding down. The island has a hangout spot where friends can stand while waiting for their turn on the slide.
Cocomelon Learning JJ Doll
$25.99; 18 months+
Amazon.com Amazon
This interactive doll allows children to engage in their own early learning adventures with JJ. Featuring four interactive buttons and over 50 different learning phrases and songs, children will love playing with JJ as he teaches them their ABC’s, 123’s, and colors. Great for developing fine motor skills, encouraging reading and talking, cognitive learning, social emotional skills and creativity through imaginative play.
Explore & More 4-In-1 Grow Along Activity Walker Baby Toy
$60; 6 months+
SkipHop.com. https://www.skiphop.com/skiphop-playtime-and-toys-view-all/V_9J057510.html
Packed with 40-plus play features, songs, sounds, lights and more, this convertible activity walker helps little ones learn and grow with four engaging ways to play: seated, cruising, shopping cart and stroller. Great for encouraging balance, fine motor skills, pretend play and more, it’s a grow-with-baby must-have that delivers tons of learning and fun for years to come.
Silver Lining Cloud Play & Fold Jumper
$140; 4 months+
SkipHop.com. Website: https://www.skiphop.com/skiphop-playtime-and-toys-view-all/V_9M814110.html
Filled with 20-plus developmental activities plus a 360-degree rotating seat so baby can sit, swivel and bounce for maximum exploration. A peekaboo sun rewards baby with colorful lights & fun music, while the clip-on, movable toys encourage development and allow for customized play. When playtime is finished, the baby jumper is easy to fold flat for storage and travel.
Mobo Wobo is a 2 in 1 Rocking Baby Balance Bike
$99.99; 1–3 years
MoboCruisers.com
https://www.mobocruisers.com/products/mobo-wobo-2-in-1-rocking-baby-balance-bike
Helps children reach their 3 milestones: rock, walk, and ride. The rocking teaches your child coordination between hands, arms, legs, and feet. Your child will build strength, balance and confidence. With its innovative base, it can quickly convert back and forth between a rocking toy and riding toy.
Wishbone Cruise Trike 3-in-1
$309.99; 1-4 years
WEB. link to the product listing.
Start with three wheels then convert to a balance bike when you're ready. This is the easy way to learn to ride a bike, no pedals, no stress. Wishbone Cruise is a simply gorgeous balance bike mash-up made from post-consumer recycled plastic and plantation birch.
Squishy Lights Learning Tablet
$16.99; 3 months+
VTechKids.com. Available now at Amazon
This lil' tablet toy teaches first words for animals, colors and shapes along with music and songs. Baby will love the soft, squishable keys that invite little ones to keep pressing to see what happens next, strengthening their little hands while they play. Four piano keys introduce friendly zoo animals and sing-along songs that will keep baby exploring.
Fruit Colors Learning Smoothie
$10.99; 6 months+
VtechKids.com. Amazon,
Learning is delicious with this cute, colorful cup. Swivel the straw to choose from five fruit flavors, and the cup will change color to match—this smoothie is bananas. The straw is also a teething toy for kids to nibble as they listen to fruit-themed sing-along songs and music in reggae, pop, punk rock and country styles. Shake up the toy smoothie cup to hear the bubble beads bounce.
Kiddie Cat Cassette Player
$10.99; 9 – 36 months
VTechKids.com. Amazon,
Bop to the music along with this head-bobbin' kitty to jazz, country and rock-n-roll style melodies and the Alphabet Song. This take-along music toy may remind you of a small, iconic portable tape deck, but this lil' player doesn't need cassettes to play music. The wheels do spin, which babies and toddlers will love to watch. As they press the
Little Tikes Adventure Rocket
$179.99; 3+
LittleTikes.com
So many kids dream of becoming an astronaut, space explorer, astronomer, or rocket scientist when they grow up and now, they don’t have to wait. Children can travel through space, the stars and the planets with this realistic role play rocket ship. There are tons of activities that make exploring the universe fun. Kids can pilot the starship, look through the telescope, fix wires on the exterior maintenance panel or crawl through the escape hatch. And the swivel chair and star viewer screen make it feel like you’re flying through the galaxy, so make a wish and let your dreams soar. With realistic lights & sounds, a control center with a game activity and all the other features, there is so much to do and explore.
Bluey’s Tree Playset
$29.99; 3+
Walmart.com
Kids can climb into Bluey’s world with this imagination-inspiring tree playset that stands an impressive 11 inches tall. The irresistible rope ladder invites Bluey and her friends to climb up the treehouse then slide back down from the other side. At the base of the tree is a seating area, a swing that fits Bluey and other character figures from the popular series, as well as a hammock to relax. Look carefully and find a secret door that opens the top of the tree to reveal a secret fairy hideaway. The playset includes two exclusive figures for fantastical treehouse fun: Flower crown Bluey from the “Rug Island” episode and a whimsical fairy – in a special transparent material that’s based on the “Fairies” episode – plus a table and two chairs for even more creative play.
Updated: December 2023
