Best Wooden Toys for Toddlers: Natural Wood Baby Toys

Most parents will swear by electronic and battery-operated toys since they also double as easy learning toys, which is fair, but there is still something to be said for some of the best wooden toys for babies and toddlers. As a whole, they last a lot longer than plastic toys and without the need for batteries, you won’t have to worry about the toys losing power at any given time.

There’s also less of a chance of simple wooden toys being too loud for some parents’ sanity. Wooden baby toys also encourage more imaginative play than plastic toys, even if those plastic toys aren’t battery-operated. And without all of the sounds and flashing lights, wooden baby toys can be less distracting for little ones while still fun and engaging them in a real way.

In short, wooden toys can be better at improving fine motor skills, general motor skills, imagination (pretend play) and hand-eye coordination. And most kids can learn to have fun in the same way as plastic toys. Wood toys also have the benefit of being among the more non-toxic toys, or at least less likely to be toxic.

Overall, wooden baby toys offer longevity (durable) and interactive play that some other toys just can’t.

These are the best wooden toys for toddlers:

1. Battat Wooden Activity Cube

An interactive play cube is a must for any baby and the Battat Wooden Activity Cube is just that. It has different play stations on almost every side and something engage your child in a fun and creative way (creative thinking skills and imagination / pretend play).

There are spinners, letters of the alphabet, little doors to open and close, and loop-de-loops to engage your little one for nearly endless play. The wooden construction means the cube can last your child a long time and all of the little features are designed to grow with your child as he or she learns.

• Child Age Range: The cube is designed for children ages 12 months and up.
• Where To Buy: You can find it on Amazon or in-store at Target.
• The Best Part: It grows with your child, so it’s not a baby toy you’ll find yourself getting rid of after just a few months of play.
• The Not So Great: If your older toddler gets too rough with the cube, it can fall over and pieces can break off.
• Price: Check out on Amazon!
• Has This Item Been Recalled?: There are no recent or current recalls on the cube.

2. Baby Einstein Magic Touch Piano

Baby Einstein is a well-known brand for baby learning toys, but they also have wooden toy options, like the Baby Einstein Magic Touch Piano.

It has all of the appeal and longevity of a classic wooden toy, but the excitement of an electronic one. This is because of the integrated music that plays when your little one hits the piano keys. Because of that, it does require AA batteries, but it’s still a wooden piano that babies can get joy out of from an early age.

• Child Age Range: It’s suitable for little from age 12 months old and up.
• Where To Buy: You can find it on Amazon or in-store at Target.
• The Best Part: It comes with three sheets of music and six different songs to keep your baby entertained and engaged.
• The Not So Great: It does require batteries, which can be a downside for many parents.
• Price: Check out the latest price on Amazon!
• Has This Item Been Recalled?: There are no current or recent recalls on the piano.

3. Toy Chest NYC Wooden Ring Colorful Rainbow Stacker

A stacking toy is also a baby toy staple for any little one. The Toy Chest NYC Wooden Ring Colorful Rainbow Stacker in particular is the perfect option for any little one ready to hone their hand-eye coordination skills and motor skills.

It comes with five stacking rings to fit on the base and a bear head to put on top. The brightly colored rings allow for visual stimulation, creative thinking (perfect for stimulating child’s creativity), and imagination while the smooth wood won’t result in any splinters. They’re also lightweight enough that even if your baby is a little rough, he or she likely won’t get hurt from the toy.

• Child Age Range: It can be used with children from eight months old and on.
• Where To Buy: You can primarily find it on Amazon.
• The Best Part: There aren’t too many pieces to keep track of or potentially lose; the geometric stacker is an engaging and colorful wooden toy.
• The Not So Great: One issue parents might have is that the yellow and orange rings are very similar in color, which can make learning to distinguish them a little harder on your child.
• Price: Check out the latest price on Amazon!
• Has This Item Been Recalled?: There are no recent or current recalls on the stacker toy.

4. Hape Elephant Wooden Push And Pull Toy

The Hape Elephant Wooden Push and Pull Toy  is one of the easier to use wooden baby toys that you don’t even have to teach your little one to use. They just instinctively get it after a few rounds of trial and error.

This one, in particular, is shaped like an elephant and has a little pull string and wheels so your little one can scoot with it. Then, as he or she begins to walk, they can pull the elephant behind them. It even has a little handle to help your child get the hand of gripping things before they’re ready to start walking with the elephant.

• Child Age Range: It’s made for children ages 12 months old and up.
• Where To Buy: You can primarily find it on Amazon.
• The Best Part: It can help encourage little ones to practice walking more.
• The Not So Great: It is on the smaller size, so there’s always the chance of your child losing it more easily than other toys.
• Price: Check out the latest price on Amazon!
• Has This Item Been Recalled?: There are no current or recent recalls on the toy.

5. HAN-MM Wood Baby Gym

There are plenty of plastic and cloth-made floor mats for babies, but the HAN-MM Wood Baby Gym is an easier option that is also a lot more aesthetically pleasing in any home. In other words, you won’t have a problem keeping it out at all times.

The wooden gym can be unfolded as needed but can be easily put away when it’s not in use. It requires no tools to put together and your little one can lay on a soft blanket beneath it to engage in the little hanging toys. It even comes with a ribbon to extend some of the rings lower if needed.

• Child Age Range: It’s suitable for babies after three months of age.
• Where To Buy: You can primarily find it on Amazon.
• The Best Part: It’s easy to put together and even take on the go if you want to.
• The Not So Great: There is a chance that your baby might get bored with the few hanging toys after a little while.
• Price: Check out the latest price on Amazon!
• Has This Item Been Recalled?: There are no recent or current recalls on the HAN-MM Wood Baby Gym.

6. Melissa & Doug Shape Sorting Cube [Shape Sorter]

The Melissa & Doug Shape Sorting Cube is another oldie but goodie when it comes to wooden baby toys. The idea of little hands learning to fit shapes inside of other shapes is simple enough, but overall, the shape sorter does plenty for your child’s cognitive development with shape recognition.

The sorting cube can help with their hand-eye coordination skills (fine motor skills) and problem-solving skills while also engaging them with bright colors that don’t include bright flashing lights. It’s also a virtually noiseless toy, except in the event that you step on one of the stray blocks in the middle of the night, of course.

• Child Age Range: Officially, it’s for children ages 2-4, but with supervision, younger toddlers may be able to get some playtime out of it.
• Where To Buy: You can find it on the manufacturer’s website and on Amazon.
• The Best Part: The safe water-based paint (non-toxic paint) used on the blocks doesn’t chip easily.
• The Not So Great: The vox itself slides open, which can mean your little one can get to the blocks on the inside a lot easier and make a mess of the pieces.
• Price: Check out the latest price on Amazon!
• Has This Item Been Recalled?: There was a 2009 recall on some Melissa & Doug toys, including shape sorting cubes.

7. Hao Jie Wooden Teethers

The Hao Jie Wooden Teethers  might not fit the exact definition of a baby toy, but for babies, teethers can sometimes be as entertaining and necessary as toys. These ones, in particular, are shaped like an elephant and a bird and made of smooth safe wood. Your baby can gnaw on the pieces while learning early motor skills as she grips the wooden teething toys. It’s basically a win-win all around.

• Child Age Range: They can be used for babies ages four months old and up.
• Where To Buy: You can primarily find them on Amazon.
• The Best Part: They’re lightweight and easy to use for young teething babies.
• The Not So Great: Although they are teethers, some babies might prefer silicone teethers to these wooden ones.
• Price: Check out the latest price on Amazon!
• Has This Item Been Recalled?: There are no recent or current recalls on Hao Jie Wooden Teethers.

8. Melissa & Doug Chomp & Clack Alligator Push Toy

Another one of the best wooden toys for babies out there is actually another Melissa & Doug toy. The Melissa & Doug Chomp & Clack Alligator Push Toy  is made for babies who are starting to walk and is meant to be a walker. As your child pushes the walker, the little wooden alligators on the front chomp their mouths up and down. It also has ladybug beads and a pinning butterfly to further engage your little one as they walk with it and play.

• Child Age Range: It’s made for children from 12 months old and up.
• Where To Buy: You can find it on the manufacturer’s website and on Amazon.
• The Best Part: It can help your baby as they learn to walk on their own.
• The Not So Great: It can be a little tricky to properly assemble.
• Price: Check out the latest price on Amazon!
• Has This Item Been Recalled?: There are no recent or current recalls on the push toy.

9. Magpie’s Office Children’s Wooden Musical Instrument Set

No parent is crazy about loud musical toys, but the Magpie’s Office Children’s Wooden Musical Instrument Set is at least charming in its own way.

The set comes with a xylophone, a pair of maracas, a triangle, a tambourine, and even dance scarves to make music time extra fun for your little one. The best part is that they can work their way up from shaking to maracas to eventually using the triangle in tune with the other instruments. And, as an added bonus, there are no batteries required.

• Child Age Range: It’s made for children ages two and up, but with proper supervision, younger children can have fun with the set as a child’s toy.
• Where To Buy: You can primarily find it on Amazon.
• The Best Part: They’re made to be sturdy and hold up under rough play.
• The Not So Great: Some of the noisier instruments, like the xylophone and triangle, might get a little annoying after a while.
• Price: Check out the latest price on Amazon!
• Has This Item Been Recalled?: There are no current or recent recalls on the instrument set.

[lasso Other Wooden Toy Ideas for Toddlers

The following are some additional ideas for inspiration:

• Wooden Ride-On Toy, such as the Hape Scoot Around
• Manhattan Toy Skwish: Super fun to play with for young children and preschoolers even.
• Building Blocks, such as the Melissa and Doug Wooden Building Block Set
• Stone Classic Wood Rattle & Teether Combo
• Manhattan Toy Tree Top Activity Center: While this Manhattan Toy brand product does have some metal elements, it’s primarily wood-based and perfect for inquisitive little minds.
• Hape Play Kitchen: A very fun and educational pretend kitchen (all wood) for toddlers to learn about food groups and creative play.

Final Thoughts: Best Natural Wood Toys

Wooden baby toys might last longer than plastic toys, but that’s not the only benefits parents and caregivers will find with wooden toys. They’re also made to make playtime a lot more fun than just pressing some buttons.

Instead, your baby can interact with their toy a lot sooner and figure it out on their own rather than having bright flashing lights in their face. There’s nothing wrong with battery-operated learning toys of course, but wooden baby toys are also useful on their own.

Recommended Reads:

• The Best Learning Toys For Toddlers
• The 6 Best Musical Toys All Toddlers Want to Have!
• 7 Best Water Toys for Toddlers To Keep Them Actively Learning
• 9 Best Bath Toys For Toddlers You’ll Really Appreciate
• 7 Best Toys For 3-Month-Olds That Promote Healthy Development
• 9 Best Educational Toys for Toddlers You Will Both Love
• Best Learning Toys For Babies That You’ll Love
• The Best Toys to Stimulate Your 6-Month Old
• These Are the Best Wooden Dollhouses Your Daughter Needs
• Schoenhut vs. Melissa & Doug Piano: Which Kid Piano is Best?
• The 8 Best Wooden Play Kitchens for Pretend Play
• Top 9 Gifts for Toddlers – What Would a Tyke Actually Like?