Let me let you in on a little secret: It’s hard to pick toys for children you don’t hang out with every day.
Don’t worry – you aren’t alone. Most adults have trouble picking out great toys for children. It’s even harder if you are buying for an infant – girl or boy.
He can’t tell you what he wants, and they are growing so fast what might be fun today might be outgrown in a week or two.
We’ve written this gift guide to help you out. Inside, we have high-quality, solid toys your little guy will love. All have a high “replay” value – meaning they will be used for many months or even years of play. We’ve also included a guide to selecting age-appropriate toys in case you want to go to the store and shop on your own.
The Quick Rundown: Our Top toys for 1 year old boys
Designed by experts and backed by researchers at Seattle Children’s Hospital to help 1 year olds learn by doing what they do best - play & explore their world!
It's amazing how quickly this toy will become your infant's favorite friend!
An outstanding choice for toddlers that love vehicles - and what toddler doesn't?
This walker will help your child develop from a crawler to a walker - while entertaining along the way!
Flora the Bunny and your boy will soon be inseparable!
For boys 1 to 2 Years of age
Pros:
- Can buy as a one-off gift, or get a subscription to keep the learning experience going month after month.
- Each month provides helpful tips for parents to promote healthy childhood development in their 1 year old
- Subscription ensures learning continues throughout the year – after some Christmas toys have long been forgotten on the shelf.
- Easy to pause or stop a subscription.
Cons:
- You need to have some time to spend doing the activities with your 1 year old boy. They aren’t hands-off in nature.
- The crates are somewhat expensive, but very reasonable when bought with a coupon or on sale. Check back if it’s not on sale today.
The Panda Crate is a unique gift for your 1 year old boy. It’s a toy subscription that changes month-to-month. The focus for children at this age is on learning activities along with play that’s just for fun. All of it is backed by research from a team at Seattle’s Children’s Hospital.
Each crate contains activities for children at separate developmental stages. There are prebuilt toys, projects to work on with your little boy, and a board book for you and your kid to read together. It’s a great gift for a 1 year old because the subscription means they will be getting new and interesting toys to play with throughout the year.
For boys 1 to 2 Years of age
Pros:
- Will keep young children entertained for hours on end. It’s fun.
- boys love to grab, smack and chew on the many arms. This is great for building their hand-eye coordination.
- It is soft, durable, and washable. Your 1 year old should outgrow this toy well before the toy begins to age.
Cons:
- Some children become so attached to it, you’ll have trouble on your hands if you lose it.
- Not much value for most children over one to two years old.
This is hands-down the favorite affordable toys for 1 year old boy by the staff at Fractus Learning. Hanging from the handle of you car seat, the Whoozit quickly becomes a member of your family. In my family we named ours ‘Mr. Hands’ – other staffers had different names for this cute toy.
It’s a wonderful toy for hand-eye coordination – infants love to grab and move the soft, smiling character to hear the rattle sound it makes. It’s also chew-able, and strong enough to take sibling punishment from multiple children over the years. We kept our same toy for all three of our kids.
If you don’t know whether your little boy has this gift already or not – go ahead and buy it. It’s a thoughtful gift, and no one really minds have an extra around. boys become attached to the smiling face, and it can be an minor crisis issue if you misplace this toy for any amount of time.
For boys 1 to 5 Years of age
Pros:
- Great for social play for your 1 year old boy
- Different cars and trucks leads to great replay value
- Large size makes it easy for toddlers to assemble on their own
- Combine with other DUPLO sets for more fun!
- Includes cards and instructions
Cons:
- Sometimes hard to find in stock
- Older preschoolers will want more of a challenge than this set provides.
LEGOs have been a staple under the Christmas tree for years – and this DUPLO My First Cars and Trucks lives up to the LEGO reputation for fun and quality. All young boys enjoy creating exciting toy cars and trucks they can “drive” themselves. It’s a great toy that parents can play with as well – and since there are multiple combinations to make different vehicles, your toys for 1 year old boy will not get bored with this toy.
Since these building toys can be extended by adding other sets to play with, it will grow with your little boy as he goes from being a 1 year old to a preschooler. The easy portability means you’ll often be packing these DUPLO toys up and bringing them to your child’s friends house. Luckily it’s easy and simple to do!
It’s a great gift for 1 year old. You might want to look around at other DUPLO sets as well – price can often vary widely.
For boys 1 to 3 Years of age
Pros:
- Provides sturdy support as your 1 year old begins to learn to walk.
- Colorful construction and entertaining lights and sounds make it a great toy on it’s own.
- Very easy assembly will get your boy up and playing in no time.
- Wheels add traction on almost any indooor surface – including wood floors and carpets.
Cons:
- Does every toy have to have lights and sounds :)
- The phone is small enough that it’s VERY easy to lose. Keep an eye on it.
Build those motor skills and have fun at the same time! Your 1 year old boy can find he balance and get up and walking while using this toy. It’s not just a walker, but also a stand-alone toy when you remove the play panel from the wheels. There are bright colors, a wide variety of animals and shapes and other distractions for your 1 year old to have a blast! There’s even a phone – no rotary dial on this model like you might remember from your childhood though.
Once your 1 year old boy is mobile, this walker really shines. It’s easy to push and provides nice support as he begins the journey to walking. There are two settings on the wheels so if it’s moving too fast or slow for their age, make the necessary adjustments. Do remember the batteries to power all the lights and sounds – unless you need a break of course!
For boys 1 to 3 Years of age
Pros:
- This plush toy is SOFT….REALLY soft! Your 1 year old will love holding it.
- The animation will keep your young child entertained for a long time.
- It’s a great gift your boy will remember as he grows up.
Cons:
- There isn’t a lot of variety in the song (there’s only one) – but children at this age don’t seem to mind.
- It’s only surface washable due to the electronics.
Every child LOVES a stuffed animal, and the Baby GUND Flora The Bunny is the top toys for 1 year old boys for a reason. To begin with, it’s really soft. Your young one will absolutely love to hug and snuggle with Flora because of the way it feels.
Since it’s made by GUND, there’s 120 years of tradition and craftsmanship at work that you can see in this toy. They know how to make safe toys for infants – and the Flora The Bunny toy doesn’t disappoint.
Once you flip the switch, Flora comes to life. There are two modes your infant boy will come to adore. The first is a game of interactive “Peek-A-Boo”. No child this age can resist peek-a-boo, and Flora is very good at playing it. If her other foot is pressed, the bunny will sing a cute rendition of “Do Your Ears Hang Low.” She’ll also move her ears – your kid will love it.
In fact, the only real downside to this toy is you’ll eventually know all the words by heart because most children don’t tire of repeating the play and song, over and over. Luckily, it’s not TOO loud.
For boys 1 to 2 Years of age
Pros:
- Very young boys will love the colors, and love the teething capabilities more as they age.
- It excites many senses – sight, sound and touch.
- Enough chewing variety that it’ll become the go-to teething toy for your boy.
Cons:
- Some infants prefer a harder surface when teething
Once your little boy is over 3 months old, these rattling teethers will become a staple in the toy rotation. boy’ll be able to shake it to make sound while exploring the many different textures in this toy. There’s soft cloth on the outside, and the bright colors will keep your 1 year old’s attention. The noise will enthrall your newborn as well.
The First Years Baby Rattle is the perfect size for an infant’s small hands. Eventually you’ll want to get a hard-plastic teething ring as well, since different pains require different surfaces. But since this toy is soft and lightweight, it’s a great rattle for day-to-day use. There’s not much chance of your 1 year old hurting themselves with this toy.
For boys 1 to 3 Years of age
Pros:
- Molded-design means no assembly time – and makes it really easy to clean.
- Built for toddlers – so safety is a primary concern
- Doesn’t make a ton of noise + a lot of fun for your little boy? What’s not to love!
- Made in the USA.
Cons:
- While rated for 50 lbs, your child will likely outgrow it before that.
- Does a rocking horse really need an Alexa skill enabled?
This classic toy is brought into the 21st century! The Little Tykes Rocking Horse is given a modern look but still retains it’s spectacularly simple design. The entire horse is made in one color, with soft edges to prevent injuries from inevitable falls and spills. It looks really cool too!
It’s made of a high-quality, hardy plastic that should mean your boy will outgrow this rocking horse before it begins to show signs of age. The rocking angle isn’t as steep as a toy for older kids – and that’s the way you want it for your 1 year old.
You can take this toy outside or play with inside – it’s made for both. The simple construction means it’s easy to clean, which is why it’s one of the best toys for 1 year old boy.
For boys 1 to 6 Years of age
Pros:
- Self-propelled nature of toy both builds up muscle development and helps to burn off energy in your 1 year old.
- While relatively easy to use, there is some skill needed to spin fast. This helps to keep the replay value high.
- In simplest terms: Most boys think it’s really fun to spin.
Cons:
- Really only appropriate for boys who can move about on their own – so you’ll need to judge if your child is ready.
- Not every kid likes to get dizzy. Most parents don’t like to clean up after children that don’t like to get dizzy. :)
The Playskool Sit ‘n Spin is a fun toy geared towards boys developed enough to sit up on their own. Children control their speed through their own arm power, which both allows them to control the speed and burn off tons of energy at the same time. This is especially helpful when kids are cooped up inside during winter months without many outlets for pent-up ::gender::-power. While it’s simple, it is extremely fun. It’s definitely one of the best toys for 1 year old boy.
This isn’t a new toy – I played with and loved one of these as a child myself. They last for many years, and kids will play with them from the pre-2 age all the way up to 6-7 years old.
Pros:
- This is one of the best toys for 1 year old boys to develop fine motor skills.
- It’s a great enabler for imaginative play which is important at this age.
- Multiple modes mean high replay value.
Cons:
- Not the most durable toy around. It’s meant to be kept on the floor, and can break if dropped from a table or high chair.
- Steering wheel too small for older kids.
Honk!Honk! The VTech Turn and Learn Driver will keep your little boy immersed in an imaginary driving world of fun!
This toy isn’t just about the driving. Sure, they can pretend to drive, but there is more as well. boy’ll pretend to drive using the steering wheel, causing the adorable dog character to move back and forth on the toy. There are five buttons that enable over 60 different songs and words about animals and driving. Even the turn signal gets in on the act – pull on it and your child will get a light and sound display.
The wheel and handles are all sized right for little kid hands. Your 1 year old will sit on the floor for hours playing with this toy – and you’ll have fun watching! If you grow tired of one set of noises – switch it to another of the settings to get some variety.
For boys 1 to 3 Years of age
Pros:
- Double sports focus will keep your 1 year old boy entertained for longer.
- Provides an age-appropriate level of challenge so it’s a fun experience for your child.
- Great early introduction to some organized sports.
- Won’t break the bank – great gift for well under $50.
Cons:
- While there are 50 rotating phrases used by this toy, it won’t feel like that many to you as the parent.
- It’s not a toy that will grow with your boy toddler.
This multisport setup will satisfy even the most demanding junior jock. Containing both a basketball hoop and a soccer net, your 1 year old child will enjoy hours of play while building up their motor skills and coordination.
Most boys love the bright lights and sounds of the scoreboard. There’s a ton of praise being given through the electronic speakers as well. It’s easy to pretend play about shooting the winning goal in front of a huge crowd with the electronic encouragement this toy provides.
Pros:
- Toys provides the durability and stability of wood construction
- Every cube face has a new activity to play with – like 5 toys in one.
- Colorful toy will keep your 1 year old entertained for hours at a time!
- Expect this toys for 1 year old boy to be one handed down to future children in your family.
Cons:
- It’s a pretty sizable cube; you’ll need some space to store this toy in your playroom.
- Some of the toys on the sides aren’t for the youngest children – they won’t know what to do with them.
You’ve probably seen similar cubes at dentist and doctor offices in the past – but this cube is yours! This farm-themed wooden activity cube is not only 5 different toys in one; it’s also a great toy for your boy to pull themselves up as they learn to stand and walk. It’s very solidly made – it’s a heavy toy since it’s made of wood. Most 1 year old kids will have fun developing their motor skills as they open doors, move beads up and around poles and interact with a multitude of other activities built-in to this cube.
Some of the sides are meant for slightly older children – you may have to get involved and show your younger child how to use them depending on their age. They will grow into the activities over time. Little hands will get a great workout grasping and moving pieces all around the cube.
Pros:
- Easy to assemble – it comes shipped in 3 pieces so not complicated.
- boys learn to balance themselves in a relatively safe manner.
- As long as it’s used on level ground, these will allow for exploration at safe but fun speeds.
- Balance bikes are great at building strength and muscle control in 1 year old kids. Great fun!
Cons:
- When you first introduce the toy, it may take a little while for a child to figure out what exactly to do with it. Don’t sweat it – most take less than a day to get going.
- You’ll need to keep an eye on your 1 year old boy when he is playing with this toy.
The YGJT Baby Balance Bike is a great way to get your baby boy up and moving fast. Unlike many tricycle or regular bikes, balance bikes don’t have pedals. Instead, children use their feet to push around “Flintstones-style”. This is much easier, and helps to quickly develop balance skills in pre-toddlers.
This model is designed for those under twenty-four months of age. That means it puts child safety first and foremost. To begin, this toy has four wheels rather than the normal two on other balance bikes. Your boy won’t have to actually balance the bike – he’ll just need to concentrate on their own balance. In addition the steering is limited to only 135 degrees – meaning it’s much harder to tip than a normal balance bike.
It’s really good for helping to develop motor skills and balance in boy, along with hand-eye coordination.
For boys 1 to 3 Years of age
Pros:
- Your child will really like sitting in this for a long time – so you’ll get more outside mobility for yourself.
- Builds creativity and role play skills, along with helping to increase motor skills.
- Pink and purple color is pretty cool – other choices available if pink isn’ your boy’s jam.
Cons:
- Some assembly required. A hammer, pliers and screwdriver make the process much easier.
- Plastic wheels are sturdy, but not as comfy a ride as rubber ones.
A great year-round toy for your young boy! The Push Around Buggy GT is perfect for children that want to pretend they are driving on the open road. You’ll easily be able to steer them in the right direction with the sturdy attached handle. It’s comfortable shape means you’ll have no trouble keeping them moving in the direct YOU want them to go. The handle is easily-removal for transporting this toy in your “real” car.
The car comes equipped with a seat belt built-in to the molded seat. This will keep your 1 year old safely confined within the car. If you end up making a bad “driving” decision, expect to hear your child hit the horn to let you know!
There’s a built-in cupholder to keep a sippy-cup handy, and storage space under the hood for keeping snacks and other supplies.
Pros:
- The family-owned company has been making successful toys for over 100 years.
- Broad wheels at the front provide a stable and safe ride.
- There probably isn’t a kid in the world who won’t be thrilled with the bell and streamers on the handlebar.
- A front bumper protects furniture and walls when bumped into by the novice rider.
Cons:
- If a child stands on the front bumper, which they aren’t supposed to do, the scooter may tip. Keep an eye on your child.
Streamers and a bell on the handlebar make the Radio Flyer Scoot-About a popular ride-on toy for any toddler. From the parents’ perspective, the front bumper that protects the furniture and walls may be the best feature.
From a family-owned business that has been making toys for kids for over 100 years, the Scoot-About No20, with its signature red, is an excellent buy for beginners. The front wheels are set wide apart to ensure stability and a safe ride for toddlers. The back wheels are closer to each other.
The seat adjusts according to the toddler’s height and ensures the ride-on toy will sit comfortably as the child grows. With chrome handlebars, your toddler will quickly learn to steer a ride-on making it so much easier for them when they transition to a tricycle or a balance bike. Ringing the bell may be another incentive to learn to ride the ride-on toy.
For boys 1 to 4 Years of age
Pros:
- A versatile tent structure with 4 tunnels, 2 tepee tents, and 2 square tents.
- Setting it up is easy and is stored in the storage bag included in the package.
Cons:
- Tie-downs could break with aggressive tunnel crawling by older kids.
Toddlers would love playing in the UTEX 8 in 1 Play Tent with the connected tents and tunnels. It’s almost like a little village or a maze. Four tunnels connect two square houses and two tents. Build it in a square or a line or connect only a few pieces.
There are enough openings for ventilation or to climb in or out. The tepee tent has a window and a door, and the square house’s opening is on the roof. Hours of imaginative play and adventurous games will take place inside the tunnels and tents.
No tools needed to set up the structure. The play tent for kids meets ASTM-F963 safety standards and CA 65
For boys 1 to 1 Years of age
Pros:
- Great for the planet – only made out of wood from unproductive rubber trees
- This push-pull toy will keep your small 1 year old boy entertained for many days to come
- Simple is sometimes the best!
Cons:
- Replay value is limited as your child gets older
- You as the adult may get annoyed by the clicking sound over time. Your little boy won’t though.
PlanToys Dancing Alligator enable children to play, learn and become closer to nature while being pulled; the wooden pieces make rhythmic click-clack sounds. It’s absolutely adorable – the croc’s mouth opens and closes while making a clicking noise as your child pushes/pulls this toy around.
It’s sturdy enough that it will handle most falls – though you should be aware that your dog may think it’s a chew toy if you aren’t careful! It’ll become a little clicking buddy for your 1 year old as they drag this toy behind them whereever they go.
For boys 1 to 7 Years of age
Pros:
- German engineering means you should expect a high-quality constructed product.
- Shapes aren’t all cubes, so there’s a push towards creative expression when playing. It’ll develop some beginner engineer skills to stack some of these block toys!
- Your little boy will play with these for years to come. High replay value.
Cons:
- These have some heft, so make sure to supervise play with these toys when used by 2 year olds and infants.
- There are cheaper sets available; we like these because the company has a reputation for quality and isn’t likely using dangerous paints or additives in the toy design.
These wooden block toys will allow your 1 year old boy to express their budding creativity. The HABA Wooden Mod Blocks have some mass to them, which helps in building both coordination and strengthening motor skills. They are best suited to use on a smooth surface.
The colors and patterns on the wood are very vibrant. The shapes are non-traditional so your boy will have to think a bit outside the box when using them to play make believe . You’ll be amazed at the different worlds your child can build from these simple wooden blocks. While the 21 blocks are enough to play with solo, you can expand the set with other blocks so your child can play with friends.
Our Process For Selecting The Best Toys For 1 year old boys
We spend weeks writing all of our toy review and gift guides. We know you rely on our input, and we take that trust seriously. Our writers and editors have spent approximately 23 hours researching and testing the most popular toys for 1 year old boys that you can find on the market in December 2024.
All of this time and resources are spent to bring this toy guide to you – we’ve put in the time to make sure our recommendations are ones you can trust.
We also update these lists daily. That’s because we don’t want to provide you with toys that are no longer in-stock – a gift you can’t buy isn’t worth much to you, no matter how cool it might be. We have reviewed many more toys than we list in this guide – and many of them are good but not quite as great as the ones that made the cut.
As toys move in and out of stock, the list will change. We want this list to help you get the best toys you can for your 1 year old this Holiday season.
How To Choose Age-Appropriate Toys For One Year Old Boys
The song “Shake Rattle and Roll” comes to mind to describe the best toys for your infant son. As a newborn and infant of 6 months to a 1-year old, your child likes to explore with her five senses. If he can suck it, feel it with his fingers, see the contrast in color or if it rattles, you have chosen a great gift for your little guy.
Babies love to look at your face; entertain them with different facial expressions. His face is just as fascinating to him. He’ll stare at himself if you provide him with an unbreakable baby mirror (By the way, your daughter will delight as much in a baby mirror as your son at this young age).
From eight months onward, your baby girl is ready for experimenting with various shapes and sizes.
What Developmental Skills Are Nurtured By Great Toys
While every toy is different, all good toys help to satisfy some developmental needs for your child. These needs vary depending on the physical and mental maturity of your child.
When we created this list of the Best Toys for Infant Boys, we first looked at what skills are the most pressing at the various stages—from a newborn to 12-month old. We then looked for toys that help build those abilities while still being fun.
Here’s a list of skills we think are important for your baby boy. Our toys will help develop and nurture these skills.
Explore Surroundings
During the first few months, he will explore his surroundings with his senses. Before he starts sticking everything into his mouth, he will stare and listen. His eyes and ears are the first senses he develops. Toys with textures, sounds, color contrasts, and that are safe to stick into his mouth will help stimulate the five senses.
Motor Skill Development
Infants develop gross motor skill control during the first couple of years of their life. As a newborn, they have no control over their bodies. Then they learn to lie on their tummies, to crawl and take their first step after 12 months.
Toys that require a child to use their bodies to move and grab objects are the most helpful in developing the gross motor skills and later the finer motor skills.
Hand-Eye Coordination
Babies have no idea where their hands and feet are or how it relates to their body and the environment. Initially they explore with eye movements before they discover their hands and feet and its use. Younger infants need larger toys to help build this skill.
At three-to-four months your little boy will have endless fun swiping at things. Hanging toys of different shapes, sizes, and texture will help develop hand-eye coordination. The effect when he accidentally connects with a toy, a sound, for example, will motivate his to try harder and develop better hand-eye coordination.
When older, he’ll want to grab the toy. His coordination is still developing and lack of control results in banging the toy against his crib, head or anything within reach. Soft toys won’t hurt while he is learning control of his hand movements.
6 Toy Qualities To Consider When Out Shopping For Your Gift
Safety
When toy shopping for your baby boy, safety is one of the most important qualities to consider. Newborns are curious and explore mostly through their mouth. Therefore, the size of the toy is important. Also, make sure the toy doesn’t break up into pieces that he can accidentally swallow.
He may seem weak, but despite his almost non-existent motor control skills he is surprisingly strong. He will pull anything he can onto his head. Make sure the toy is soft or light.
Some toys may be harmless at one developing stage but could become a hazard as the child develops. Crib mobiles, for example, should be kept out of reach of the child. Remove it when the child starts moving and lifting hisself. He can accidentally entangle in the mobile and get hurt badly.
Durability
Infants lack any fine motor control skills, and so they knock over things ALL THE TIME! Any toy you buy will take a beating—dropped or chewed on. Durability becomes important when choosing toys during the banging stage. His hand-eye coordination isn’t fully developed yet, and he can hit himself accidentally with a toy—hopefully, a soft toy.
Challenging
Your little boy is never too young to be challenged by a toy. He can’t fetch toys yet, so he relies totally on your choice of toys. The toys you choose to challenge him with will play an important role in how he develops age-appropriate skills.
Initially, everything will delight him, but he can get bored with too easy a challenge. He’ll also discard a too advanced toy. Pick different toys that both reward and push the horizons.
Fun
Toys that help develop skills should be fun too. Even at a young age, he can be quite picky about the kind of toys he prefers.
Different shapes and sizes of the same kind of toy will bring endless fun and challenge to your child.
Lifespan
While an infant will move on to new toys by the time they are two, he will play hard with them during play time. As he develops hand-eye coordination and motor skill control, he discovers new ways to play with the toys.
Unless you are looking to pass the toys on to future children, the toys don’t have to last forever.
Warranty and Warning Labels
Although the warranty should be checked before purchasing the toy, don’t ignore the safety warning labels. Manufacturers place warning labels on toys because it could be harmful at a certain age. These age-appropriate warnings are there to protect your baby boy. He’s at the stage that discovery means putting it into his mouth. If it’s small enough, he can swallow it and harm the intestines. Avoid buying toys that he’s not ready for. Be patient; he will soon be old enough to enjoy the toy.