Our Favorite Toys (0-2 Years Old)
I know buying toys can be a daunting task, so I thought I’d share our favorites. These are toys that Max has loved from about 6 months to almost 2 years old. They have been played with daily or at least weekly at our house since their arrival. These toys are fun and spark meaningful play through many developmental stages.
Ball and Hammer Toy - I talk a lot about hitting, so let’s talk about a toy that is perfect for redirecting that behavior! Kids like to whack stuff. This toy is perfect. I’ve seen kids as old as 6 years old playing with this toy. It has a looooong shelf life. Do yourself a favor and get one that isn’t fully enclosed (like the one I linked) - your child will shove something that isn’t round in there and you will spend hours trying to fish it out…speaking from experience. Also, I know you might be tempted to get the beautiful wooden ball and hammer toy, but remember balls get thrown and those wooden balls are HARD.
Stack and Roll Cups - We received these awesome stackers as a hand-me-down from Max’s older cousin. I absolutely love them. They nest, they stack, they connect to make balls…so many possibilities! Lately, I’ve set out 3 or 4 along with some pom poms and Max enjoys pushing the pom pom through the hole, then finding the pom pom underneath. SO fun!
School Bus with People - This toy was a gift for Max’s 1st birthday. It was an instant hit and he is still obsessed to this day. He loves the Little People and plays with them almost daily. This would make a great gift! The newer version is linked.
Linking Rings - These are the best! Not much to them, but so many possibilities. I have these in a pouch in my diaper bag for when we are out and about. I’ve had them FOREVER. Max used to grip and teethe on them, then he loved yanking on them to pull them apart, now he can put them together all by himself and enjoys making long chains (and taking it apart).
Farm Animals - There’s something about kids and farm animals! They love them! Max loves to match the parent and baby animals, line them up, label them, and make the sounds. I like that these are more realistic looking. I bought this Melissa and Doug barn off of a trading site several months ago and it has been a big hit.
Soft Cars - I love these cars! They are perfect. They pull-back and go SO fast, which is super fun, but since they are soft, they don’t bang against your baseboards. They are pretty lightweight, so I’ve thrown them in the diaper bag and packed them for a trip. I also think they are machine washable. These make a great gift!
Cars and Ramp (not pictured) - I thought of this one after I made the graphic. Max LOVES this toy. I think it was a Christmas gift last year (he was 11 months). He was instantly obsessed with the little cars (they are small, so be mindful) and over time he’s figured out how to send them down the ramp. He played with this for like 20 minutes last night. It’s another staple around here. Also, I love that it doesn’t take up too much space!
Happy Shopping!
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.