Best Toys for Babies & Toddlers to Begin Learning Your Favorite Hobbies
Best Toys for Babies & Toddlers to Begin Learning Your Favorite Hobbies
Pro gear for the next generation of stargazers, bakers and surfers.
Babylist editors love baby gear and independently curate their favorite products to share with you. If you buy something through links on our site, Babylist may earn a commission.
Babies and toddlers are experts at observing adults so that they can learn new skills. And in addition to being willing little helpers—with household chores & around the kitchen—they’d make a great buddy, too. All they need is a little encouragement and the right introductory gear. So we've rounded up our favorite toys for tiny enthusiasts that are practical, realistic & fun—so they can join you in the garden, under the stars, on a wave and wherever your favorite pastimes take you.
Sports & outdoor fun
Gear for budding athletes & little adventurers.
woom
Original
Biking: A toddler-sized ride that looks just like an adult's & is on our list of the best balance bikes.
Wonder & Wise
Good Wood Mini Golf Game
Golf: Putting practice with mini golf obstacles that are so fun, parents will want to play, too.
Munchkin
Fishin' Magnetic Baby and Toddler Bath Toy
Fishing: A magnetic toy to help the littlest anglers practice casting during tub time.
Roshambo Baby
Polarized Baby Shades with Strap and Case
Adventuring: Polarized eyewear that's lightweight, shatter resistant—and can float.
Dock & Bay
Kids Poncho Towels
Swimming: A towel that doubles as a cover for changing out of wet suits and swim diapers.
ArtCreativity
Bubble Lawn Mower
Lawn Maintenance: A pushable bubble machine that encourages little walkers with entertaining fun.
Lily & River
Little Climber
Rock Climbing: A petite gym with a reversible climbing wall & slide, crafted from sustainable bamboo.
Little Tikes
Sports T-ball Set
Softball: Get a leg up on your little league coaching skills with this tee-ball set for little batters.
Burton
Riglet Kids Snowboard
Snowboarding: For balance training at home: they stand, you pull—in your own backyard or living room.
Quicksilver
Toddler's 1.5mm Back-Zip Springsuit
Surfing: Why a tiny springsuit? Even before they can catch a wave, they'll want to join you near the shore.
Baghera
The Riders Ride-On Car
Racing: A 1950s-inspired model designed for speed (and collectors), featuring high-grade rubber tires.
Gaiam
Kids Yoga Mat
Yoga: A mini mat so they can practice downward dog & butterfly poses with grippy support underfoot.
Crate & Kids
Indoor Kids Bowling Set
Bowling: If knocking down pins is up their alley, this could be the game for them.
For nature lovers
Toys that teach about Mother Earth.
Insect Lore
Butterfly Pavilion
Pollinator Protection: A pavilion & live caterpillars, to teach budding butterfly conservationists about metamorphosis.
Terra Kids
Children's Binoculars
Bird Watching: Complete with a neck strap and carrying case, these itty bitty binoculars also have 4x magnification.
Uncle Milton
Moon In My Room
Astronomy: A night light that emulates the waxing & waning phases of the moon.
KiwiCo
Window Garden Book Set
Gardening: A real windowsill growing kit plus a colorful book about how plants bloom.
Peg Perego
John Deere Ground Force Tractor
Landscaping: This lifelike mini version is outfitted with a tiny trailer—so your little helper can enjoy pitching in with yardwork. (The foot pedal really works!)
Arts & crafts & cooking
Accessories & tools for encouraging creativity.
Nancy Nikko
Bookplate with Dragon Illustration
Reading: Sticky bookplates help early readers keep track of their books while sharing them with friends.
Crate & Kids
Wooden Kids Art Easel
Art: 1 wooden easel that supports 3 types of masterpieces: on paper, with chalk and on a whiteboard.
PlanToys
Lacing Board Toy
Sewing: This classic wood-and-shoelace combo lets little artisans practice needlework skills.
Loog
Mini Acoustic Kids Guitar for Beginners
Guitar: This 3-string version is made from real wood & comes with chord flashcards plus video lessons.
Wonder & Wise
Little Builder Workbench
Building: This mini workbench comes with a pretend hammer, wrench, pliers, hand saw & other tools, so you can work on your home projects "together."
Skip Hop
Farmstand Let The Beet Drop DJ Set Baby Musical Toy
DJ: Unleash the mini mix master in a little one with this fruit and veggie-themed turntable set.
For 1:1 quality time
Giftable items for enjoying your favorite things together.
Hedley & Bennett
Rifle Paper Co. Apron Bundle
Cooking: Matching aprons for home cooks & their tiny sous chefs = as adorable as they are practical.
Polaroid
Sport Action Camera 720p 12.1mp
Photography: A sporty camera that's durable, lightweight & compact enough to share with little hands, too.
Singstation
Portable Karaoke Machine
Karaoke: For passionate vocalists who want to entertain—and then pass the mic to—the next generation.
Radio Flyer
Flyer Via
Biking: This splurge-y electric bike = an enjoyable way to share the joy of cycling without overly straining your muscles (2 kids fit on the back!).
Alainna Wurfel
Senior Newsletter Editor
Alainna Wurfel is Babylist’s Senior Newsletter Editor, a role that combines her enthusiasm for discovering new parenting tips and great baby gear with her love for writing. When she’s not curating emails and creating content to support them, Alainna enjoys gardening, sewing and cooking. In past lives, she was an editor at The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and Texas Monthly Magazine; and a marketing director at the design company Schumacher. She lives in Virginia with her husband and their two children.
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