Picking out just the right toy for a one year old can sometimes be a daunting task.  However, there are a few simple rules for making your favorite one year old happy with that special toy which can provide hours of fun.

Make sure the toy is age appropriate and that the baby will have the skills to begin playing with it.  You also want the toy to be challenging enough to keep the child’s interest so it can also be a learning toy.

Always check the toy to make sure it is safe.  Wooden toys, for example, need to have smooth edges with no jagged areas that could cut your child or cause splinters. 

Wooden toys, wooden cars, trains, and planes such as  the Ducky Duck Pulling Toy  also give small one year old hands something to grapse and hold on to. 

 Wooden toys are amongst some of the most beautiful playthings because they are usually handcrafted or look like they have been handmade.  Some may even become future collectors’ items because adult collectors also love wooden toys.

P’kolino Puzzle Stacker

Look for small parts that a year old baby might put in his mouth.   A stuffed animal or doll should have eyes and features that are well sewn and that your child can not remove.  Make sure the soft doll or animal is washable. That’s important just in case it becomes your child’s most favorite toy.

Here are some good suffed animals

Peter Rabbit

This is a good soft toy for a one year old because it is recommended for all ages.  You must be careful in choosing dolls and make sure they do not have small parts.  This toy is also phthalate free and is made from certified organic cotton.

How about a large blue bear?

Jumbo Blue Bear also comes in pink for girls and is perfect for a child’s nursery.  He’s big, cuddly and a good teddy bear for snuggling and playing.  He’s 40 inches high. 

Then there are toys that make sounds.  Babies love them, but will you? Will the toy drive you or other family members crazy?    Babies who are twelve months to twenty-four months like repetition.   But how much repetition is too much? 

Choosing an all time favorite like building blocks will be an instant hit with most babies.  That’s because blocks have been popular with babies and toddlers for centuries. 

Babies love to stack things on top of each other and a good set of building blocks give them lots of things they can actually hold.   You want to buy a building block set the baby can use since they haven’t developed the skills for complicated construction like older children.  Sure, the baby can grow into the blocks, but you really want to give her something she can happily play with now.

Another good example of a building block set suitable for a one year old to two year old is the Haba Discovery Blocks

Each block has a unique feature such as a bell, mirror, kaleidoscope and red push button.  The blocks are made in Germany and are painted bright colors with safe, non-toxic paint.

One of the most popular all time favorites has to be the red wagon.  There are several different and unique wagons you can choose from that any baby would love such as the All Terrain Cargo Wagon and the Classic Red Wagon 

  Ride on toys such as the Choo Choo Express Train Set are really good for children on the go.  Little people who are eighteen months old to three years old are busy and have lots of energy.   They want  to be on the go.  Why not give them their own  train or riding toy to get them where they want to go?

 Don’t forget push around toys such as the Plan Toys Shopping  Cart. With its sleek modern style, it can actully be adjusted for your child’s height.  There is a big bag for her favorite things and she can have hours of amusement pushing them around. 

Last but not least balls are very  big with one year olds.  They love balls because they can learn to throw the small balls and roll with larger ones. 

Here are some balls such as the Allegra Stacking Ball that even grown-ups would probably like to play with. 

 With a little thought you can find the ideal toy for a one year old.  You want your baby to be safe and here are some more guidelines for toy safety.   Here’s another source for information about  the development of babies who are aged twelve months to twenty-four months.

Teaching your child how to talk   while playing is helpful for any parent who wants to better prepare their toddler for reading.  Guidelines for when your baby becomes mobile   is also helpful for parents who want to keep their children safe in a learning envirnoment.

But you never can know too much about how babies interact with each other.   Here are some more tips for helping your baby adjust to a playgroup.  Playgroups can also help parents meet other parents of young children.