Shopping: Best Baby & Toddler Toys

Play is such a big part of how babies and toddlers develop both their brains and their personalities—and their toys progress with them, presenting different challenges and amusements. Here are some of our fave fun, developmental, and cute toy picks.

Little Friends Fox
This snuggly Fox Friend is handmade by Dsenyo—a Fair Trade women’s cooperative—in Malawi, Africa. With its fun printed fabric, it makes a gift for infants to grow with and love for years to come. $24, dsenyo.com
Estella NYC Metrocard Rattle
Available locally from the Pink Olive, this rattle—which is handmade in Peru—is a fun way to acquaint your little New Yorker with the commotion of this lively city. $22, pinkolive.com
Maileg Veggie Rattles
Help your child foster a love for vegetables early on with these adorable Veggie Rattles designed by Danish company, Maileg and available locally at ABC Carpet and Home. Made of cotton, these friendly rattles give off peaceful sounds that inquisitive infants love to explore! Rattles are sold individually. $24 each, abchome.com
Skip Hop Click Clack Hedgehog
kip Hop’s (a beloved NYC company) Click Clack Hedgehog is filled with colorful rattle beads and surrounded by soft teethers. Little ones will be busy developing motor skills while trying to find the hidden mirror. $10, skiphop.com
Piyo Piyo Rocking Rattle Stacker
Get rocking and rolling with Piyo Piyo’s super colorful Rocking Rattle Stacker. Designed to promote hand, visual, and audio development, this stacker features textured pieces to help babies learn colors and shapes. $13.99, piyopiyousa.com
Little O Plush Toy
Made with the same luxurious fabric as their famous blankets, Little Giraffe’s cuddly owl is the kind of gift a newborn will come to cherish. Polka Dots are available in pink or blue. $45, littlegiraffe.com
Wanderlust New York City Organic Playmat
It’s never too early to start discovering Manhattan’s many neighborhoods. Made out of organic cotton and hemp canvas, this playmat by Ella Lou is perfect for a newborn’s tummy time. $92, shopellalou.com
Plan Toys My First Phone
It may not be an actual smart phone, but the My First Phone, available from Land of Nod, will help your little one get smart by developing their cognitive skills. This super savvy “phone” features a magnifier screen and a beaded dial pad for interactive play! $9.95, landofnod.com
RH Baby & Child Chambray Whale Pull Toy
These heirloom quality whale toys are as high in quality as they are in cuteness! Toddlers (18 months and up) will love being able to pull their little friend around by an all-natural rope pull, while parents will love how the muted hues, chambray fabrics, and weathered wood base fits into a polished decor motif! $59, rhbabyandchild.com
Uncle Goose Nautical Blocks
Each of these 26 wooden blocks by Uncle Goose includes a letter of the alphabet, its maritime signal flag, its Morse code, its semaphore, and its NATO phonetic alphabet word. Who says stacking blocks can’t be educational? Appropriate for ages 2 and up. $48, unclegoose.com