Your tiny bundle of joy is now a rambunctious one-year-old boy ready to explore the world full of sights and sounds. With so many toys available, you want to find toys that will inspire him to learn and grow.
We’ve consulted the experts and moms, and we’ve found the best toys possible for a newly-minted toddler boy!
Here is the list of the best toys for one-year-old boys, from time-honored classics to new-fangled inventions guaranteed to cause happy squeals of delight. Take a peek at the best toys for one-year-olds to help them learn and have fun at the same time.
| The Best Gifts for 1-Year-Old Boys This Year | Why It's Best | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Radio Flyer Classic Walker Wagon | Balanced walker, wagon, toy storage, wooden quality | ♥♥♥♥♥ |
| TOP BRIGHT Wooden Race Track Car Ramp Racer | Bright colors, sized right, watch 4 mini cars race | ♥♥♥♥♥ |
| Battat Wooden Activity Cube | Classic toy, spinning and moving parts, perfect for baby's room | ♥♥♥♥♥ |
| Mega Bloks 80 Piece Building Classic | Large, easy to hold legos, nice soft bag for storage | ♥♥♥♥♥ |
| YGJT Baby Balance Bike | Use as a walker or ride-on, adjustable, sturdy frame | ♥♥♥♥♥ |
30 Best Toy and Gift Ideas for a 1-Year-Old Boy
Radio Flyer Classic Walker Wagon
Summary
Whether your child isn’t walking yet or is still mastering the skill, the Radio Flyer Classic Walker Wagon is a great toy and tool for them to have. For those about to walk, it’s a good support. For those who walk already, it’s an endless wagon of fun. They can put in and take out toys to their heart’s content. The solid wood materials and Radio Flyer name let you know that it’s going to be a reliable and fun product that will accompany your child for years to come.
Up Side
- Baby walker with resistance clickers for safety
- Front bumper protects your home
- Side panels lift out for a smaller wagon
- Wagon doubles as toy storage
- 35-pound weight capacity (in case a sibling takes baby for a ride)
- Helps toddlers to mimic parents and siblings
- Plastic wheels with grippy texture
Down Side
- Can’t really steer the walker well
- A bit pricey for a walker
Why You Should Buy
Not all one-year-olds are walking but they are ready to become comfortable on their feet. Whether used as a walker or a wagon, this toy for 1-year-olds will last for years and it’s sure to become a favorite.
TOP BRIGHT Wooden Race Track Car Ramp Racer With 4 Mini Cars
Summary
Young boys will enjoy TOP BRIGHT’s Wooden Race Track Car Ramp Racer With 4 Mini Cars for several years. Do not underestimate the enjoyment little guys get from watching tires spin and watching cars go down tracks. Even adult guys enjoy going to the track. Bring the track to your little man without the need for earplugs and terrible seating.
The cute design is simple with slightly curved tracks and simple cars made of wood. The top rack holds the four included cars and boys will love this toy from their first birthday and many more. This toy can teach time management as they need to space the cars on the track, as well as, hand/eye coordination, reasoning, and observation.
Up Side
- Includes track and four cars
- Cars have a parking lot for storage
- Space saving design
- Fun learning toy
- Appeals to boys love wheels
- Simple enjoyable toy with one main function
- Solid non-toxic construction and materials will still be in great condition for grandchildren.
- Wheels are not removable and not a choking threat
Down Side
- The cars are small and some one-year-olds may be able to fit them in their mouth. Adult supervision only.
Why You Should Buy
Boys love to watch cars move and this toy lets them move cars for hours of fun while still learning important skills and concepts. Moving cars always make one of the best gifts for 1 year old boys.
Battat Wooden Activity Cube
Summary
The Battat Wooden Activity Cube – Discover Farm Animals has four sides and a top full of fun activities. The top of the cube has a fun farm theme and bead sliders. The sides are full of fun action toys like spinners and peek-a-boo doors. This wooden toy will soon be your little guy’s favorite with all the busy actions.
At a year old, all toys are learning toys for kiddos so new to the world, but this toy packs a lot of learning into one portable toy. The toy has figures to push, matching, cute animals, and lots of different parts to spin and move. Activity cubes are a great and sturdy toy to keep around for child after child.
Up Side
- Quality wood construction
- No batteries or noise
- Friendly farm animals
- Large size (18 inches tall) for bigger play
- Teaches body movement, language intelligence, math and cognition, fine motor skills, and observation
- Safe wooden design without sharp edges and water-based paint
- Multi-functional
- Primary colors
- Fun for years
Down Side
- No downsides, this toy is practically perfect
Why You Should Buy
Activity cubes are great learning toys for 1 year old boys- with tons of interactions to engage even young babies and help them to grow and learn. Your older kids will even have fun!
Mega Bloks 80 Piece Building Classic
Summary
Mega Bloks 80 Piece Building Classic is the best building toy to grow with your baby. At a year, most babies are more inclined to chew on the block or bang them against the floor or cat. As he moves closer to two years old he will be familiar with the shape and the little cogs in his brain will figure out how to stack the blocks or possibly even notice the different colors and start to distinguish between the primary colors.
Blocks encourage hands-on play and may even help older siblings interact with the baby. The learning capacity for babies is not the only benefit, these blocks are easy to store, easy to clean, and BPA and PVC free. Also, these blocks are much bigger than Legos so little ones can slobber all over them without any chance of swallowing.
Up Side
- 80 primary colored stackable blocks
- Multiple shapes
- Learning toy for 1 year old boys
- Comes with a storage bag
- BPA and PVC free
- Great toy for group play
- Easy to wash
Down Side
- Blocks to not connect tightly. Loose blocks do make it easier for young children unfamiliar with hand movement but are not great for older children.
- Wheelbase not in every bag
Why You Should Buy
Building blocks teach babies how items can connect together to create new shapes and sizes. This learning toy for 1 year olds will help with spatial reasoning, hand-eye coordination, and the blocks are just fun for little guys.
Need more building blocks ideas? We’ve got the ultimate list here at Experienced Mommy!
YGJT Baby Balance Bikes Bicycle Baby Walker Toys Rides
Summary
What could be cuter than a tiny tot scooting around on a balance bike? Your boy will love the freedom and independence of moving on his own at slightly faster speeds on his own set of wheels with theYGJT Baby Balance Bikes Bicycle Baby Walker Toys Rides. Balance is the building block for walking, running, and riding and learning to balance on a bike now will help him ride a big boys bike younger in the future. Pedals will be necessary for the future but for now start on the hardest part: balancing.
Up Side
- No pedals balance bike
- Adjustable handlebars
- Easy to assemble
- Sturdy frame with carbon steel
- Teaches balance
- Sized for young tots
Down Side
- Might be on the short side for larger 1-year-olds
Why You Should Buy
Many babies struggle with balance for the first few years of life and giving a balance bike as a gift can help simplify the process and pave the way for bike riding in the future.
Playskool Play Favorites Busy Poppin’ Pals
Summary
The Playskool Play Favorites Busy Poppin’ Pals is a toy so basic it might be from the 80s but still a fun toy and simple to use. Five animals live under five lids and have five different shapes to push, pull, or slide to force the animals to pop out of their shell. Babies will love the surprise of cause and effect, bright colors, and of course the smiling critters.
Up Side
- Teaches cause and effect
- Five different animals and shapes to move
- Has a handle for portability
- A pop-up activity that rewards activity
- No batteries or sounds
- Non-noisy toy
Down Side
- The triggers may be difficult for young tots
- Pricey for only one type of function
Why You Should Buy
Basic toys focus on teaching a single skill and this toy teaches cause and effect. For kids who love peek-a-boo, this will be the perfect gift.
Rotating Star Projector Night Light for Kids
Summary
Bring the night sky to your boy with the Night Lights for Kids, Multiple Colors Rotating Star Projector with Timing Shutdown Function. Constellations will span across the ceiling to soothe your guy to sleep and function as a nightlight. Change to different colors for a new surprise every night. Comes with a cover to place over the globe to serve as a nightlight. With a timing function, you can set the light to go off at a certain time for easy sleep.
Up Side
- Comforting and soothing
- Five different colored stars and moons to project on the ceiling
- Changes into a nightlight
- Can use batteries or DC power supply
- Portable
- Timer function allows you to see the projection to turn off
- Different color lights even with the nightlight dome
Down Side
- Requires AAA batteries without power supply
- Stars can be a bit fuzzy depending on room size
- Not the highest quality item
Why You Should Buy
One-year-olds often still need lights to feel safe and fall asleep. With this nightlight, they can have a safe life and the night sky right in their room. It’s a great 1-year-old gift choice.
Top Bright Wooden Puzzles Alphabet Education Toys
Summary
Puzzles are always fabulous learning toys and the Top Bright Wooden Puzzles Alphabet Education Toysis one of the best sets. Made of wood, these brightly shaped letters and numbers are big enough to prevent choking hazards and easy to hold for little hands with no experience.
What seems like a simple puzzle to adults is a cornucopia of learning for little eyes. They need to learn the shapes of letters, the difference between colors, how items connect to other, animals, spatial reasoning, and so much more. Beginner toys are the building blocks of education and brain strength. If you can manage to keep track of all of the pieces, this toy will be fantastic straight into elementary school for your little boy.
Up Side
- Wooden non-toxic construction
- Easy to hold pieces
- Not a choking hazard
- Bright festive colors
- Beginning math and reading skills
- Polished edges and non-toxic paint
- Lively colors and designs
- Usable for years
Down Side
- Pieces may not fit precisely in the spots.
Why You Should Buy
Math and reading are two of the most important aspects of life for both children and adult life. Teaching babies young to begin to understand and recognize the shapes gives them an early advantage. The bright colors and perfectly sized shapes make this an ideal gift for 1 year old boys.
See our reviews of the best puzzles for toddlers here.
Bright Starts Giggling Gourmet Walker
Summary
The Bright Starts Giggling Gourmet Walker is a great toy for little shoppers and eaters. The shopping cart has wider spread legs for new and beginning walkers and the toy part comes off the cart to be played with separately for two toys in one. A versatile toy for loads of fun.
The four in one functions will encourage babies to try new ways of playing with the same item. Your boy will love the bright colors and food design or shopping around the house and loading items into the cart. When they are ready to sit they can play with the toast and eggs for healthy breakfast inspired fun.
Up Side
- Great for sitting and play or standing and play
- Toy station is removable for more play options
- Electronic with lights and sound
- Has a shape sorter
- Push handle
- Wider legs for early walkers
- Multiple languages
Down Side
- Requires batteries and makes noise
- Not the sturdiest toy and the wheels do not move well.
Why You Should Buy
Toddlers love to mimic adults and will enjoy their own shopping experience as they learn to walk with this 1 year old gift. Be sure to check out all the best baby walkers on our comprehensive list.
DJECO Animambo 18 Key Electronic Piano Musical Instrument
Summary
DJECO Animambo 18 Key Electronic Piano Musical Instrument packs a lot of amusement into a tiny piano! A great toy for the playroom, nursery, or even a covered porch! While not tiny, it’s small enough to move around and go where baby goes.
While the top and construction of the piano are smooth wood, the musical component has beautiful keys ready to make noise. The flat keys can be used to play one note at a time. The piano comes with 3 different sheets of music and the piano comes painted with a gorgeous design with tons of colors.
It’s battery operated which means you will need to get some batteries. It’s a great learning toy for children three and up. Keep an eye on younger children using the piano. Makes an excellent gift.
Up Side
- Musical
- Bright colors
- Sized big enough to be fun, but small enough to move
- Tons of keys
- Beautiful design
- Fantastic learning toy
Down Side
- Requires AA batteries
- Colored notes on sheet music contain a mistake
Why You Should Buy
Let your little boy become acquainted with classical music with this adorable little toy for 1-year-olds (with adult supervision). Music helps the brain to work harder and everyone loves music.
Sassy Wonder Wheel Activity Center
Summary
The Sassy Wonder Wheel Activity Center is the perfect attachment for a highchair or car seat tray for easy noise-free entertainment. While small, this toy suctions to surfaces for multiple uses in multiple locations. A great way to keep tots entertained while they eat Cheerios in their high chair or while cruising around the fair in their stroller.
Up Side
- Suction cup design
- Wobbles, spins, flips, and movable rings
- Great for coordination, and strengthening fine motor skills
- Fun colors and patterns
- Easy to wash
- Portable
Down Side
- May not stick to every surface – try getting the suction cup wet to stick
- Babies will be able to take it off and throw it at some point
Why You Should Buy
Buy to entertain your little man while he is eating or strolling as children tend to get fussy when unstimulated. Easy toy for travel.
Baby Gund Flappy the Elephant
Summary
Do you remember that singing fish plaque (“don’t worry…. be happy….”) that was all the rage years ago? Yeah, the Baby Gund Flappy the Elephant is the baby version of that. It’s the adorable animatronic elephant that will both delight you and annoy you at the same time. And as for baby, there’s no way they can resist this elephant’s charm! Every time Flappy moves his ears or plays peek-a-boo or sings “Do Your Ears Hang Low,” your baby is going to giggle in delight and will probably try to tackle Flappy.
Up Side
- Adorable plush elephant
- Wiggling and flapping ears
- Plays games like peek-a-boo
- Sings songs and moves to the music
- Super soft plush
- Sturdy stitching can handle the hugs
Down Side
- Surface wash only
- Lots of batteries needed!
Why You Should Buy
Even big boy one-year-olds love to cuddle and who better to cuddle with than this adorable plush elephant? Embroidered eyes for added safety and funny flappy ears make this the perfect gift.
VTech Turn and Learn Driver
Summary
The VTech Turn and Learn Driver is a simulation toy for little guys ready to drive! At a year old, babies might not be able to make vrooming sounds but this musical little toy will do the work for them while entering little drivers. Beyond music, the toy is full of ways to move and pull on the toy for tons of playtime options.
The bright yellow and red toy sticks to primary colors but looks like a video game steering wheel complete with traffic lights, gear shifter, and a side mirror. Everything moves, sings, or slides and for a bonus, the top has five buttons for different vehicle sounds. Baby will love honking the horn and steer his imagination to far off destinations, like grandma’s house.
Up Side
- Tons of moving and interactive parts
- Five buttons play different car sounds
- Tons of car parts like steering wheel, gears, lights, windshield wipers, ignition
- Plays 60+ songs
- Three modes of play – animal, driving, music
- Portable
- Great for pre-walking one-year-olds
Down Side
- Requires 2 AA batteries
- Noisy toy
- Repetitious sounds
Why You Should Buy
Your little tot will love spinning the wheel and honking the horn to mimic adults and generally to make a lot of fun noise. Trust me when I say, this is one of the best gifts for 1 year old boys!
Ditty Bird Interactive Nursery Rhymes Book
Summary
The Ditty Bird Nursery Rhymes Book for Babies is easy to read and comes with a fun sing-a-long song including buttons to start the song on each page. Each song is sung by children making it fun for a little one.
Up Side
- Musical board book with favorite nursery rhymes
- Cute and color pictures
- Each page has a song button to match the theme
- More books available in the collection
- Introduces sounds, language, animals, and a love of reading
- You can purchase these books in both Spanish and Mandarin
Down Side
- The batteries may need to be replaced and Ditty Bird battery replacements are sold separately
Why You Should Buy
One-year-olds have a lot to learn including classic nursery rhymes and all about animals. This book toy will help your child to learn and grow by understanding the world around him.
Fisher-Price Rock-a-Stack & Baby’s First Blocks Bundle
Summary
Fisher-Price’s Rock-a-Stack & Baby’s First Blocks Bundle is two different classic toys for the price of one! Babies will love stacking rings on the Rock-a-Stack and coordinating shapes into the right spot with the shape sorter. Both toys are great for teaching your one-year-old boy dexterity, coordination, and problem-solving.
The bright colors will attract your little guy’s eyes and the smallest ring works as a rattle too. Most babies love to drool all over the rings but eventually realize the toys can stack on top of each other. Each ring gradually gets larger and stack on top of a rocking base for a little added fun. The shape sort comes with a detachable lid and 10 shapes to sort into the bucket. This is an easy carry toy with a handle. A great skill for little guys to learn shapes and coordination.
Up Side
- Two toys for the price of one
- Educational toys
- Bright colors and cute pictures
- Durable plastic
- Classic toys.
- Small and portable
- Easy to clean
- No batteries or noise
Down Side
- No downside to these timeless toys!
Why You Should Buy
Your kiddo will play with these uncomplicated toys meant to encourage interest in shapes and colors. Babies will love using the rings as chew toys too.
Dear Zoo: A Lift-the-Flap Book
Summary
The Dear Zoo: A Lift-the-Flap Book will appeal to little tots who love animals and find zoo creatures fascinating. Each page has a flap for your boy to find a new animal hiding. Young toddlers love to find all things new and interesting in the world. Encourage a life of reading and discovery with colorful and bold artwork and a zoo full of animals.
Up Side
- Board book with flaps
- Fun story with a great rhythm
- Lots of animals to introduce baby to
- Bright colors and cute cartoons
Down Side
- The flaps are paper and may rip off
Why You Should Buy
Young readers love interactive books with tons to look at and touch. Your tiny man will love flipping the pages and the flaps to discover new animals, making this one of the best gifts for 1 year old boys.
Educational Ball Drop Toy for Kids
Summary
Like the car ramp from above, the Educational Ball Drop Toy for Kids – Spinning Swirl Ball Ramp 2 sets Activity Toy is a toy drop ramp. Babies love to watch items fall, spin and move. This toy comes with balls and a different type of ramp to help babies engage and watch the balls fall into the holes and spin back down to their feet. Beyond teaching hand-eye coordination, this ramp has the ball drops and helps teach spatial reasoning with lots of bright colors.
Up Side
- Fun bright colors
- Comes apart for easy storage
- Two sets included for group play or stack taller
- 4 balls and five layer drops
- The balls have fun shapes inside that make noise
- No batteries and easy setup and tear-down
- Fun for years
Down Side
- Some babies may still be able to fit the balls in their mouth – Adult supervision recommended.
- Made of plastic and not the most sturdy toy
Why You Should Buy
Children love to pick up and drop items and watch them zoom around. This toy for 1 year old boys will make your baby laugh and engage for hours.
Who: Peek-a-Flap Board Book
Summary
Who: Peek-a-Flap Board Book is another adorable book with flaps to discover animals similar to the Zoo book from above but now animals in the woods. One-year-olds love repetition and flaps to peek under but with a bit more education by teaching the natural habitats of animals and other fun facts. A beautiful colorful board book that will appeal to babies for years to come.
Up Side
- An educational book that teaches about wild animals and their habitats
- Flaps to lift and explore
- Thick pages for easy turning
Down Side
- Flaps thinner and may rip off
Why You Should Buy
Young children are excited to discover the world around them and flap books are filled with fun surprises they will want to read over and over again.
Soft & Educational Bath Toy for Baby & Toddlers
Summary
Toddlers want to play in the bathtub too and with theseSoft & Educational Bath Toy for Baby & Toddlers by Little Additions, babies can play and moms can wash the toys to prevent mold. Even better, the toys come with a mesh bag and four critters to join your son for a fun bath. In the set are a bright yellow duck, a shark, a dolphin, and a frog all made of washable mesh.
Up Side
- Mesh sea creatures
- Washable – no mold bath fun
- Fun bath time toys
- Bright colors and adorable
Down Side
- The toys take a long time to dry and need to air dry.
Why You Should Buy
Bath toys are lots of fun but many toys end up growing mold in spots that are uncleanable. With these toys, baby can have fun without the worry of mold, which will save money.
ToBeReadyForLife Cloth Book Baby Soft Books
Summary
With the ToBeReadyForLife Cloth Book Baby Soft Book you get a durable and washable soft book made especially for small children like your one-year-old boy. The cloth book is an educational toy to stimulate learning languages, reading, communication, and imagination. Comes with a free eBook for parents with tips for helping children love reading. Parents will also love the handcrafted soft polyester construction with a handle for easy transportation.
Up Side
- Washable
- Transportable
- Cute pictures with lots of interactions
- Great for bonding with tots
- Cute stuffed puppy on the front cover
Down Side
- Some of the interactions may stop working.
Why You Should Buy
A washable gift is perfect for tiny tots determined to make messes life one-year-olds often do. Encourage reading and interaction with this soft book.
B. toys One Two Squeeze Baby Blocks
Summary
B. toys One Two Squeeze Baby Blocks are another classic toy with no bells and whistles but will delight children all the same. Each block has different pictures on each side including animals, numbers, textures, letters, and something to count.
Up Side
- 10 hand-sculpted blocks for stacking
- BPA and Phthalates free
- Squeezy and squeaky toy for little chewers
- Promotes early learning
- Right size for little hands
- Tons of colors – not just primary colors
- Easy to wash
Down Side
- Not for the bathtub, mold can get in and cannot get out
- Not as much fun as noisy toys
Why You Should Buy
Classic toys may seem boring compared to noisy toys with tons of buttons, but classic toys still teach babies lots of skills like stacking and learning from the tactile imprints on the side. Simple toys can be the best toys for 1 year old boys.
Manhattan Toy Skwish Classic Rattle and Teether Grasping Activity Toy
Toddlers are still working on growing teeth and tend to need something to chew on. Give them the Manhattan Toy Skwish Classic Rattle and Teether Grasping Activity Toy where the teether is also a fun toy! Moms will be pleased with the easy and portable toy made of solid wood and non-toxic paint and materials. Tots will love squishing the toy and watching it pop back up with the sticks held together by strings with movable beads kids will love to fiddle with.
Up Side
- Teether toy
- Quality materials
- Fun to squish
- Beads to play with
- Fun primary colors
- Portable
Down Side
- The strings can pop out after a lot of use.
Why You Should Buy
Kids will love the squishable teether toy that acts like a toy. Even without bells and sounds, the toy for 1 year olds is a lot of fun without all the noise.
VTech Lil’ Critters Roll and Discover Ball
Summary
VTech’s Lil’ Critters Roll and Discover Ball is a great toy for tots who enjoy thrown and shaking their toys. The discovery ball plays cute sounds and songs when tossed or rolled. Babys can strengthen their motor skills, cause and effect understanding, sensory development, as well as language growth all inside one plush, fun to touch ball. Great for crawlers and walkers as it can be rolled, tossed, kicked, or pushed.
Up Side
- Soft, plush ball
- Plays sounds, sounds, and phrases
- Portable
- Colorful
Down Side
- Requires 2 AAA batteries
- Hard to clean
- Doesn’t bounce
Why You Should Buy
Children love to play with noisy toys, this gift for 1 year olds has the added advantage of softness and heaviness unlike other noisy toys giving it a uniqueness that will appeal to many kids.
Trend Lab Children’s Plush Character Chair
Summary
Let your boy have a snuggly elephant chair with the Trend Lab Children’s Plush Character Chair. Child-sized furniture is a comfortable and cute addition to the living room or bedroom and a great place for tots to sit with their book or bottle. The plush construction is sized for little bodies to easily be able to climb into and enjoy.
One-year-olds may have a little difficulty staying in the chair when it’s not against a wall but will make your child feel comfortable enough and still low to the ground. It’s lightweight and easy to move if you decide you want to move the chair to another room. Little boys will love snuggling on their new elephant friend made of 100% polyester.
Up Side
- Comfortable and cute chair that looks like an elephant
- Child-sized
- Room for growth and tall arm sides for comfort
- Low to the ground
- Super soft and cuddly
Down Side
- Best if placed against a wall as the chair can slide.
Why You Should Buy
Children want to grow up and move out of their bouncy chairs and with this tiny chair, children can feel big in big boy furniture. This gift for 1-year-old boys is a cute addition to any room.
Manhattan Toy Baby Stella Boy Soft First Baby Doll
Summary
Manhattan’s Toy Baby Stella Boy Soft First Baby Doll is a great toy to teach your little man to grow up to be a nurturing man. This baby does is soft and plush like a stuffed animal but is an adorable cartoonish baby boy. Your little boy will love having his own baby to dress and soothe like mommy and daddy take care of him. Includes a magnetic pacifier, cloth diaper, and a dino onesies. The doll can be loved by your little guy for years and even become his lovey.
Up Side
- Soft and huggable plush doll
- Removable clothing and pacifier
- Cute Cartoon design
- Encourages nurturing
- Washable
- Boy doll with boy colors and face
Down Side
- Stitching can come undone
- Expensive for a plush
Why You Should Buy
Little boys will enjoy having a baby doll of their own to cuddle and nurture they way they see mom and dad nurturing them. The soft and huggable toy will appeal to their desire for comfort and babies can even sleep with this doll.
VTech Musical Rhymes Book
Summary
Toddler love books and with the VTech Musical Rhymes Book they get an electronic book that sings and has buttons. Find favorite classic songs like Old MacDonald had a farm and Hey Diddle Diddle. Each page has fun activities along with the lyrics with colorful pictures. On the side are five musical instrument buttons. In the center is a light up smiling star with two different modes and an off switch. A great travel toy (so long as noise isn’t an issue).
Up Side
- Interactive book with instrument buttons is visually stimulating
- Encourages reading, language, and music
- 40+ songs, melodies, sounds, and phrases
- Easy to turn pages
- Not too loud
Down Side
- Requires 2 AAA batteries (included)
- Sounds can be repetitious
- Runs through batteries
Why You Should Buy
One-year-olds will love this little musical books filled with animals, buttons, music, and fun! Give the gift of music to your little guy this year.
Find more book ideas for 1-year-olds here.
Fat Brain Dimpli Duo
Summary
Not only is the Fat Brain Dimpli Duo educational, but it’s a ton of fun! The rectangular toy features 6 silicone buttons for baby to push and manipulate. The tablet size of this sensory toy is perfect for babies as they grow into toddlerhood. It’s a great travel toy and can even be a good toy for the car seat.
Each silicone button features its own color. On one side, there is a shape imprinted. On the other side, it simply has the color of the smooth silicone buttons. Both sides have the words printed in Braille. The Braille is inclusive for those with a disability, but it’s also a great sensory activity for baby to feel the raised bumps. Baby will love pushing the buttons so that the silicone goes from one side to the other, all while learning shapes, colors, and tactile skills.
Up Side
- Portable and space saving
- Simple fun
- Easy-to-move silicone buttons
- Perfect tablet size
- Great way to start learning colors and shapes
- Bright colors and contrast get baby’s attention
- Simple toy with only a couple of actions to not overwhelm babies
Down Side
- Silicone might be too stiff to pop to other side
- Some kids might get bored quickly
Why You Should Buy
The simple shape toy for 1 year old boys will help babies to understand cause and effect and enjoy the fun actions as they manipulate the soft silicone buttons.
Touch and Feel: Jungle Animals Book
Summary
Touch and Feel: Jungle Animals Book by DK is a fun book to introduce texture and encourage tactile skills in young kids. Your little boy will return to this book over and over again for the fun textures to touch and the beautiful pictures of their favorite animals. Boys will coo over the tiger, orangutan, snack, toucan, jaguar, and frog and the skin texture for each one.
Up Side
- Thick board book with five different animals
- Each page has an imitation of the animal on the page for a touch experience
- Beautiful pictures
Down Side
- Very short book – only five pages
Why You Should Buy
Little guys love to touch everything as everything is so new. With this book, they can experience a touch adventure like a zoo they can interact with.
Grimm’s Rainbow Stacker
Summary
The Grimm’s Rainbow Stacker is a classic toy that has delighted children for decades or longer! This seemingly-simple stacker toy can be stacked and unstacked as a rainbow or the arcs can be used to imagine anything from contemporary art sculptures to tunnels to doll chairs to animal pens. The solid wood construction guarantees a long-lasting toy that will encourage creativity, hand-eye coordination, and early STEM skills.
Up Side
- 6-piece wooden rainbow
- Teaches math and science concepts
- Sturdy wooden construction
- Non-toxic paint colors
- Small and portable
Down Side
- No downsides!
Why You Should Buy
Classic toys like this have worked for generations and will still bring a smile to baby’s faces with the simple design and function. You’ll see why this toy won the Spiel Gut Award (Play Well Award) in Germany.
Fisher-Price Little People Caring for Animals Farm Playset
Summary
Fisher-Price’s Little People Caring for Animals Farm Playset is like many of their other Little People sets ready to inspire children to play and interact with the world. Fisher Price has several Little People sets to expand into if your boy enjoys this adorable farm inspired set. With animal action figures and sounds, your baby can learn to recognize animal noises. Other actions include fun songs, moving parts, and a farmer to tend to the animals. The entire structure closes together to act as storage. Kids will love ringing the bell to call animals back to the farm for food.
Up Side
- Folds up for storage
- Cute animal and farmer figurines
- Multiple ways to play
- Lots of actions and movements to entertain tots
- A noisy toy that teaches animal sounds
- Will last into preschool
- Expandable with other Little People sets
Down Side
- Requires 2 AA batteries
- Noisy toy
Why You Should Buy
Let your baby learn about life on the farm with little animals he can tend to and fun actions like ringing a bell or a rotating silo. Kids will love the introduction to animal noises in this 1 year old toy option.
Gifts for Similar Ages
- Best Toys and Gifts for 2-Year-Old Boys
- Best Toys and Gifts for 3-Year-Old Boys
- Best Toys and Gifts for 4-Year Old Boys
How Gifts and Toys Were Chosen
At a year, babies are still learning everything! Some babies are walking or close to walking but still need to learn to run, balance, play, and learn about all aspects of life. Each best toy for 1 year olds about was chosen to help children with the basic concepts they need to learn to help them in future years to learn even more about the world around them.
Physical Milestones
At a year some babies are walking while others are running, a lot of babies are still cruising around furniture and thinking about walking in the near future. Babies are learning every physical skill they can at a year. Beyond walking, babies are learning how to move with balance. Give them lots of toys like cars to push or pull around, take them for walks, and give them plenty of opportunity for movement and activity, which will also tire them out for nap time.
Social Milestones
One-year-old are beginning to pay attention to the people around them and find they enjoy the company of others, especially mom and dad. Your son may begin to hand to books to read him. He may also want to play peek-a-boo and pat-a-cake repeatedly.
He may even pick a favorite caregiver for the time being to focus on. While he loves everyone one, social skills are new and focusing on one person is easier. Usually, the preferred person will be the parent who stays home with him the most. Babies do not have long-term memory skill just yet and the person they see the most is the person they will rely on.
Emotional Milestones
Toddlers are still very young and will spend years learning to control their emotions. For now, they will focus more on recognizing familiar people and situations. Many one-year-olds will become shy or nervous at this age as they start to sense unfamiliar and uncomfortable situations. Your son will begin to mimic the behaviors he sees in others.
This is a fun time! If the baby sees you sweeping he may try to sweep himself and lots of other activities like reading, he learns how to interact with the world by watching his family interact with the world. Tots may begin to fear situations at this age as well, not surprising as everything is so new. Your boy might begin to experience separation anxiety making it difficult to part with him.
Sharing
A toddler cannot understand sharing at and will focus only on himself. Keep lots of engaging learning toys around for him to play with. If there are other kids make sure they have their own set of toys, not that this will stop your little guy from reaching for what is not his. One-year-old’s are focused only on themselves and what the world means to them and how life affects them.
Cognitive Milestones
Your son will be learning to talk over the course of the next few years. A few babies have a handful of words by a year and others are preparing to talk by absorbing the words around them spoke by the people in their life. As he learns words one of the first he will recognize is his name. As the year progresses, he will be able to follow simple instructions and requests.
With a better understanding of his hands and feet, your little guy will learn to play. As a result, he will want to touch everything and play with everything he comes across. His play will be immature at first and he will be excited to try moving levers, wheels, and all other moving parts. Toys with lots of movements are a favorite to help him learn how to use his new motor skills. Balance is another issues as he is still new to using feet.
Object Permanence
He may have a favorite toy or plush he will want to sleep with and take everywhere he goes. Object permanence is a big issue for one-year-olds and that favorite toy provides security that somethings stay and do not leave. All the people in his life go to different rooms or places and leave him all alone. But his toy can come with him and offers stability.
Language
Finally, language is an important skill for your one-year-old. Sing to him or turn music on for him often. Read lots of books and give him toys with lots of letters and numbers so he can begin to recognize their shapes and sounds. He will enjoy sitting on someone’s lap and have a book read to him. Let him turn the pages and flap the book or any other movement he likes. He will learn as he plays.
New Skills Summary
The toys above will assist your baby in learning the skills they need to learn on the road from his first to his second birthday. The best toys for 1 year old boysshould spark creativity and imagination but have boundaries to teach specific skills. Important skills in play include:
- Introduction to music
- Learning movement
- Balance
- Colors
- Shapes
- Hand-Eye Coordination
- Spatial Reasoning
- Cause and Effect
These are just some of the skills he will learn over the course of his year. Let your son explore as much of the world as he can but expect him to find a particular interest in bright colors, animals, and loud annoying toys. The toys in this list focus on animals, shapes, bright colors, and music, along with balance which they may not want to learn but need to learn to not be super clumsy.
Best 1-Year-Old Boy Toys and Gifts FAQ’s
Are there any toys I should avoid for my one-year-old?
Avoid toys your baby can put in their mouth and choke on. Also, stay away from toys not recommended for their age when playing alone. One-year-olds can play with safe toys meant for older kids if supervised by an adult. At a year old, your son is still a baby and cannot tell the difference between safe and unsafe.
My son doesn’t put toys in his mouth. Can I let him play with smaller toys?
No. While your son may not put small items in his mouth now, he may later out of curiosity. Also, when toddlers are teething, they tend to put more stuff in their mouth to alleviate the discomfort. It’s best to stay with age-appropriate toys to prevent an emergency. Be careful to check the house for smaller items your son can put in his mouth too, such as marbles, paper clips, and other tempting objects.
Are battery operated toys safe for my son?
If the toy is listed for one and older than they are perfectly safe for your son. Most toys for younger ages are sealed in with a plate and a screw to prevent babies from reaching the batteries. Do keep toys with water away from water and other liquids as they can damage the battery and make toys unsafe. Also, check the toys and if you see any signs of batteries rusting remove them immediately or toss the toy if it has battery debris.
Are there any arts and craft my son can do at this age?
Most arts and crafts are better for older children two and up. Crayons are far too likely to be eaten, as are paints, paint brushes, and chalk. One-year-olds are busy learning lots of skills; arts and crafts can wait another year or two for the safety of your son.
Should I force my one-year-old to share?
No. The best option is to provide other toys and a slightly separated space for young children on a playdate. Young brains are not aware yet that not everything belongs to them. What you can do is explain to your child simply that sharing is necessary and not everything belongs to him. He will not understand yet but repetition is a fabulous teaching method. If they start hearing about sharing now it will sink in sooner when they are older, hopefully.
Does my son need a lot of imagination play toys?
Yes. Most toys are imagination toys so this will not be too difficult a task to accomplish. Every toy out there is meant to stimulate the imagination either with colors, objects, animals, and more. Try to keep a few toys with no boundaries (like blocks) to allow your child to stimulate their imagination.
How many toys should my 1-year-old have?
There is no specific number a baby should have but the more toys your son owns the more you will have to pick up. Too many toys can over stimulate your baby and cause him to cry. Try to keep five or fewer toys around him at any given time. That way he has options but not an overwhelming amount of choices.
Should I put toys in my son’s crib when he is one-year-old?
No. Cribs should be for sleeping. Toys are not safe and can create an uncomfortable or possibly unsafe sleeping space. Toys are meant to engage babies and if they are engaged they may be unwilling to sleep. There are a few exceptions. One stuffed animal or musical toy attached to the side of the crib will be both safe and soothing for your son.
Check out the best crib toy options for your 1 year old boy.
Family-specific Gift Selections
Do you have family traditions, favorite family activities or anything unique about your family heritage that you would like your kids to be exposed to or learn more about? Families that enjoy sports, music or the outdoors can use those interests to help them select gifts.
Native-American families, for example, might appreciate these baby gifts. The more related your gifts are to who you are as a family, the more meaningful they will be.
Toys and Gifts Wrap Up
Try and focus on toys for 1 year old boys that will help your son with balance and movement like the Bright Starts Giggling Gourmet Shop’n Cook Walker. Your child will love this toy because it will help walk and balance while also letting him mimic shopping. The detachable toy station will entertain as well for added fun.
Also, toys that are engaging and fun will promote learning like the Wooden Puzzles Alphabet Educational Toys. Puzzles teach hand-eye coordination and are the building blocks for learning numbers, letters, colors, and shapes all important skills for toddlers. The fun colors and pieces will entice children to play over and over again.
