Best Wooden Toys for Toddlers
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Quick Summary
Maybe it’s just the nostalgia talking, but for many parents, there’s nothing quite like wooden toys. Sure, plastic toys often come in neon colors and feature bright, blinking lights — but there’s something uniquely charming about a classic wooden figurine or block set.
There are other reasons to let your toddler play with wooden toys. For starters, they’re often more durable — and therefore, can be more environmentally-friendly — than plastic toys. They may also be calming, too. A 2017 study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health has shown that simply touching wood can be relaxing, much in the same way that looking at forests and nature can be relaxing. And really, is there any toddler (or toddler parent) who couldn’t benefit from a little more calm in their life?
How we chose the best wooden toys
The best wooden toys for toddlers are stimulating, safe and developmentally appropriate for children ages 1 year and up. Ideally, they are multi-function toys that can grow with your child’s interests and skills, and don’t cost parents an arm and a leg to purchase. The specifics on what you choose also depend on your child’s interests. To help narrow down your choices, What to Expect staff and community members say you should consider the following factors when choosing the best wooden toys for your toddler:
- Functionality: Since they tend to be more expensive, some of the best wooden toys are ones that you can get multiple uses out of — for example, puzzles that also function as pretend play items like toy animals, or blocks with faces that can double as “dolls.”
- Eco-friendliness: Wooden toys can be made of wood from sustainable foresting and treated with other environmentally friendly paints or stains.
- Longevity: Many wooden toys are durable enough to be passed down from one child to the next — or even one generation to the next. So think about which toys you think will stand the test of time from your child’s POV, too.
- Cost: Wooden toys tend to be slightly more expensive than plastic ones — but they’re also more durable. While you might expect a slightly higher up-front investment with wooden toys, we made sure that the majority of items on this list were under $75.
- Safety: The smaller or more sophisticated toys that a 3-year-old would play with aren’t always safe for, say, a 1-year-old, who is more likely to stick a small piece in their mouth than they are to build a tower with it. Per the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), safe toys for kids should be nontoxic, age-appropriate and have large parts to prevent choking.
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Best Wooden Block Set
Hape Toys Maple Blocks
- Quality wooden blocks at an affordable price
- Some parents say that the blocks were smaller than expected
Blocks are a great STEM toy for toddlers, who are just starting to understand the concept of stacking — as opposed to just knocking down — objects. This popular set contains 50 wooden blocks in a variety of shapes (bridges, triangles, half ovals), allowing your little one to make towers, houses, bridges, mazes and more. The set comes with a canvas bag for easy storage and cleanup.
Another selling point: WTE parents consistently recommend Hape brand’s wooden toys, especially Montessori moms who rave about their quality. “Love them,” says one happy mom. It’s also a bit more affordable price-wise than other wooden block starter sets on the market.
Recommended age: 1 year and up
Weight: 2.6 pounds
Dimensions: 8.3 x 6.1 x 4.7 inches
Best Wooden Walking Toy
Melissa & Doug Chomp & Clack Alligator Push Toy
- Super sturdy
- Since the wheels don’t swivel
- it works best when it’s pushed in a straight line
Few brands are as universally loved by parents as Melissa & Doug. “Anything Melissa and Doug is a hit in our house,” says one WTE mom. Everything the company makes seems to be a hit with kids, including this fun alligator walking toy. Parents rave about the cute design — the alligators’ mouths move up and down and the toy makes a “clacking” noise as it moves — and its sturdy structure can withstand plenty of run-ins with the living room wall (and your couch, and your feet) without toppling over.
Little ones get lots of entertainment out of the gators, too. “For the past few months [my daughter] loooooved pushing that thing up and down the hallway!” says one WTE mom. Just be sure to note the age range on this toy — it’s not meant for children under 1 who cannot walk.
Recommended age: 1-2 years
Dimensions: 17.15 x 12.8 x 6.9 inches
Best Wooden Puzzle
Skyfield Wooden Animal Puzzles for Toddlers
- Affordable set of four
- great intro to puzzles
- "Paint" may peel off easily
This set of four cheerful puzzles — which one WTE parent bought for a child’s Christmas present — is designed for the youngest toddlers, with large, colorful pieces that fit together on a contained board to create smiling butterflies, bees and more. Parents report their little ones getting lots of hours of play from this set, and love the bright colors. However, some parents found that the paint peeled off rather quickly than they expected. They’re also fairly simplistic puzzles, and don’t double as any other kind of toy, so you might get less use out of this set than others.
Recommended age: 12 months and up
Dimensions: 5.8 x 5.8 x 0.6 inches (per puzzle)
Best Wooden Busy Box
Battat Farm Animals Wooden Activity Cube
- Solidly built
- with plenty of activities
- A bit heavy and toddlers can tip it over
These toys are ubiquitous in pediatrician waiting rooms for good reason — they keep little hands busy! The Battat Farm Animals Wooden Activity Cube is a sturdy, colorful activity cube that features a bead maze, peek-a-boo doors and revolving tiles. There’s also a farm scene on the top of the cube with a wooden tractor and animals for some added imaginative play. The cube has rounded corners and is made of smooth natural wood for extra safety and peace of mind.
Happy parents report that their kids get lots of entertainment from this cube, which can be placed on a tabletop or right on the playroom floor. “He does LOVE this battat cube though, it entertains him for like 20 min straight,” says one WTE mom.
Recommended age: 1 year and up
Dimensions: 14 x 12 x 18 inches
Best Wooden Toy Instrument
Manhattan Toy Musical Lili Llama
- Engaging
- cute design
- Makes noise (so you might get sick of it)
What’s better than introducing your budding Beethoven to a musical instrument? Five musical instruments, of course. Lili — part llama, part musical band — features a maraca “tail,” a xylophone “back,” a washboard “head,” two clacking “saddle blankets” and two mallets. Thanks to its bright pops of color and sleek wooden structure, this is one toy that you won’t want to ask your toddler to put away. (Until the headache kicks in, of course…) The wood finish is non-toxic to ensure that when your little one inevitably tries to chew on Lili’s tail, no harm is done.
Recommended age: 1 year and up
Dimensions: 12.25 x 7.25 x 10.5 inches
Best Wooden Food Toys
Melissa & Doug Cutting Fruit Set
- Realistic-looking design
- The Velcro can lose its hold over time
It’s only a matter of time before your little one takes an interest in play food. This 17-piece wooden fruit set from Melissa & Doug lets toddlers “slice” through the fruits with an included toy knife — the sound of the Velcro coming apart is particularly fun for tots. With enough practice (and a few more years!), your little sous chef will soon be chopping up real food of their own. Your toddler will also learn to identify different produce items (like bananas, kiwis, strawberries, pears and more) while she preps and creates her own pretend dishes. The wooden crate serves as a cutting board, pretend produce display area and storage. Just note the age range and remember not to purchase this for a younger child for their own safety.
Recommended age: 3 years and up
Dimensions: 11.8 x 10.85 x 1.95 inches
Best Wooden Tangram Tiles
HABA Funny Faces Tangram Wooden Tile Arranging Game
- Stimulates creativity
- good for open-ended play
- Contains small pieces
Tangrams are one of those rare activities that are just as much fun for adults as they are for toddlers. This HABA Funny Faces kit contains 21 wooden tiles in bright colors and patterns. Kids can build figures inspired by the included 20 template cards or create their own designs — you never know what your kiddo will come up with! Plus, it’s made with sustainably-sourced beech wood, making it good for the environment, too. (Hence why eco-minded WTE parents frequently recommend the brand.) Note: A few of these pieces are small, so don’t give them to a child younger than 3 years old.
Recommended age: 3 years and up
Dimensions: 8.75 x 8.75 x 1.85 inches; each assembled square is 1.75 x 1.75 inches
Best Wooden Train Set
Hape Busy City Rail Set
- Comprehensive starter set
- compatible with other brands
- Has some plastic pieces
- not ideal for younger toddlers
- pricey
Wooden trains are a classic toddler toy, and for good reason — your little one can fit together sturdy tracks like a puzzle to create a complex rail system right in her own living room. This 51-piece set from beloved brand Hape comes with wooden tracks, bridges, trains, automatic gates and other pieces to help bring a tiny city to life. The tracks and trains are compatible with many other wooden train sets, allowing your little one to more easily build with friends (or add onto their own set). Parents say it’s a solid starter set, but wish the wood was a bit smoother. Be mindful not to give this set to a younger child, as it’s not designed for children under 3 years of age.
Recommended age: 3 years and up
Dimensions: 33.5 x 29.9 x 7.9 inches
Best Wooden Toy Kitchen
KidKraft Uptown Wooden Play Kitchen
- Cute
- durable
- fun for older kids too
- Very expensive
- requires assembly
“This is the kind of toy kitchen I wished I had as a child,” says one WTE mom of this top-rated wooden kitchen set. The sleek white wooden kitchen comes with a fridge and a freezer, an oven, cabinet and microwave that all open and close, along with four “burners” on the stovetop for cooking pretend food. They can fill the sink with water to clean their dishes (then you can pop it out when playtime is over to drain and wipe down mess). Your little one will love scribbling on the chalkboard and making pretend calls on the attached phone.
The obvious downside (aside from the hefty up-front cost) is the fact that this adorable set requires some elbow grease to assemble. But many WTE parents say both factors are worth it for how much play their little ones get from this fun set. “My daughter got a KidKraft a few years ago and it looks brand new still... 2.5 yrs later and lots of "cooking"! I highly recommend! They are sturdy and adorable!” says one mom.
Recommended age: 3 years and up
Dimensions: 41.5 x 17.5 x 40.5 inches
Our Research
We canvassed What to Expect community boards to learn what wooden toys parents have used and loved, and to get a sense of what features parents prioritize in wooden toys.
FAQ
Are wooden toys safe for toddlers?
Yes, provided that they are age appropriate (check the label on the toy for the recommended age) and free of lead, splinters or other damage. Make sure that you’re purchasing new (or very recently used) wooden toys; older toys may have lead paint that could be harmful to children.
How do you clean wooden toys?
Cleaning wooden toys is thankfully fairly straightforward. Wet a washcloth with mild dish soap, then wipe off the toys that need to be cleaned. Then let your wooden toys air dry before returning to your toddler’s toy chest. You should clean wooden toys when they’re visibly dirty (say, you can see dirt or juice stains on them) or daily if someone in your home is sick.
- American Academy of Pediatrics, How to Buy Safe Toys, December 2021.
- American Academy of Pediatrics, Toy Buying Tips for Babies & Young Children: AAP Report Explained, December 2020.
- KidsHealth.org, Smart Toys for Every Age, June 2018.
- International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Physiological Effects of Touching Wood, July 2017.
- Seattle Children's Hospital, Toy Safety, Undated.
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