The Best Toys for 18 Month Old Toddlers

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A curated list of the best toys for 18 month old toddlers from a mom of three (tried and true favorites and all the best toys for your toddler)!

These are some of my kids’ favorite toys from 1-2 years! We personally own all of these things and they are tried and true favorites!

As your little one turns 18 months old, you’ll witness a whirlwind of growth, curiosity, and boundless energy! At this stage, toddlers are discovering the world around them with wide-eyed wonder, and choosing the perfect gift becomes a delightful challenge.

Whether you’re a parent, grandparent, or a cherished friend, finding a gift that not only captivates their imagination but also supports their development is key.

We’ve handpicked a selection of thoughtful and engaging gift ideas tailored to the vibrant world of an 18-month-old. From toys that encourage cognitive development to those that stimulate creativity and motor skills, each suggestion is chosen with love and consideration based on what my kids have actually used and loved at this age.

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Read more from my Gift Guide Series >>> Gift Guides

Best Climbing and Movement Toys for 18 months

Lily & River Climber – most toddlers this age LOVE to climb! The key to letting your toddler enjoy climbing, is to teach them to do it safely. This climbing set helps a ton and also comes with the option for a slide, ladder, or rock wall.

Play Climb & Slide Mats – We got this set when my second was 1 year old and my oldest was 2 and they still get played with almost every day a year later! These are perfect for crawlers or babies who like to climb and jump. Make obstacle courses or stack them up and knock them down.

Balance bike – your toddler wants to be on the go! A balance bike can help with with motor skills and is a good segue to a strider bike (we like to start these around 2-2.5). Another great option for this age is the Cooghi 4-in-1 bike and scooter!

Little Tikes First Slide Toddler Slide – we’ve loved this slide for many years for both indoor and outdoor play. It’s great to bring inside for the winter (or extremely hot summers) and can be used as a slide into a small pool or sandbox.

Little Tikes T-ball Set – great for practicing fine motor skills like placing the ball on the T, swinging a bat, and throwing a ball. My boys ask to play T ball all the time and have had lots of practice with this set!

Top Imaginative Play Toys for 18 months

Dyson Toy Vacuum – from the time they could walk my kids have loved using these to ‘help’ me vacuum around the house. It is battery operated and does make a noise and have a little bit of suction! This model is almost identical to the real thing and has been so durable after multiple years of use.

Animal Figurine Set – animal figurines are a great versatile toy that will grow with your kids from the toddler years through preschool and beyond! We’ve also used them in lots of activities like the jello dig listed in my post: Toddler Sensory Play Ideas

Little People Train Set – we love Fisher Price Little People toys and this one is no exception! The train plays songs when it gets pushed and the driver and animal figures are great for imaginative play. A simple but durable toy!

Bitty Baby Doll – your toddler will also likely become more interested in having their own “babies” to play with and take care of. The Bitty Baby doll is so cute and they also have little boy babies as well!

Best Fine Motor/Learning Toys for 18 months

Lovevery Block Set – the perfect set of blocks that will grow with your toddler! This block set is so much more than “just blocks” and there are dozens of way to play including shape sorting, a pull car, building, and more. It’s one of our favorites for all my kids and looks so pretty on the shelf!

Crayola Mess Free Marker Set – great for 1-2 years old since these markers are mess-free and wont leave any marks on your furniture, walls (or your kids!). We love these during quiet time, at restaurants or when traveling.

Hedgehog Learning Spikes Toy – this toy is good for hand eye coordination and practicing colors! My boys love to practice pulling out the spikes and putting them back in and also love playing with them with the diggers and dump trucks.

Lego Duplo Blocks – an oldie, but goodie! 18 months is a great age to start building with blocks! They are starting to put them together themselves and explore fine motor skills, spatial awareness, and imaginative play.

Melissa & Doug Wooden Train Cars – cars are great for this age as they start to realize what makes them go, like to push them down ramps, or even begin imaginative play! This set is wonderful because they can work as individual cars or magnet together as a train.

Melissa & Doug Deluxe Band Set – such a perfect idea for 1-2 year old toddlers (and beyond!). Put on some music or watch a video of people playing instruments and let your toddler practice and imitate.

Melissa & Doug Poke-a-Dot Books – Books in general are great for this age range, especially books that are more engaging like this Poke-a-Dot style book! We are big fans!

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