The best toys for one year olds to keep them entertained

Perfect for messy play, the Inspire My Play Tuff Tray has removable compartments and an airtight seal lid that also doubles up as a play tray. You can create all sorts of messy play activities with sand, water, foam or even food, or for less mess, you can use the compartments to create colour sorting activities.

One review said: "Bought this for our grandchildren. First to try was our little granddaughter who is a year and a half and I filled it with rice pasta and lentils and popped some scoops into it and she was happy for hours. I love the versatility of this and how it might appeal to all different ages, it’s educational and fun. Really pleased with it, at first I thought it was expensive but now I have it I think it will last for many years and we will get real value for money."

With the option to connect to other Together in Tune Hape instruments, the Connected Magic Touch Deluxe Piano has 5 music sheets with 10 melodies, that help to develop colour co-ordination. It also has two volume settings, is easy to use and even looks good!

One review said: "Sturdy, well made and attractive wooden first piano. Great tone and easy to follow tune cards for playing well known nursery rhymes. Fun to work out and write more and also compose your own. Recommend this unreservedly."

Another review said: "If you want your little one to enjoy playing tunes and getting an ear for classical music. This is the toy!! Clear sounds and fun for kids to learn the notes with each card."

With a felt back to protect floors, the Starter Wobbel Board is the most simple yet best toy you could get your one year old. It helps to encourage children to rock back and fourth to increase their balancing skills and also use their imagination to make bridges and ramps when playing.

One review said: "I absolutely love the concept of the Wobbel boards. Keeps my boy happy for hours! These days toys are all plastic and don’t last two mins, whereas the Wobbel board can take a beating and I’m sure it’s going to be passed down to the next generation too."

The Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Smart Stages Puppy is the perfect snuggly and educational companion for one year olds. It's hands, feet, ears and heart all light up and respond to babies touch, and with over 75 songs, sounds and phrases the fun is endless.

Our mum tester Stephanie said: "My daughter was immediately drawn to this toy.  She has started to hug and kiss the puppy, which she hasn't done before with any other soft toy.  I like the 3 different levels of learning which correspond to different ages.  It's easy to use and I like the various different songs."

Read our Fisher-Price Smart Stages Puppy review here.

The Triclimb is one of the best climbing toys a child can have from a young age, as it teaches them how to pull themselves up, build confidence, their core strength and gross motor skills. It can even be used as a den!

One review said: "Easy to assemble. Good quality, strong and sturdy. Children love it and it folds away easily to store under the sofa in the evenings"

Another review said: "Great quality product. It was helpful to know before buying what the weight limit was for the item. Many similar products have much lower limit. I was happy to pay more to have a sturdy product which I was confident would stand up to rigours of multiple children using it. Easy to assemble. Children love it."

With a removable floor and handle on the back for parents to push, the Little Tikes Cozy Coupe is a classic toy for little ones. It includes special features, like an ignition switch and open-and-close gas cap and even a real working horn. They'll love toddling about in their very own car!

One review said: "I bought this for my Grand Daughter for Xmas, she is nearly 1. She absolutely loves it. Easy to follow instructions to build and thousands of hours play time makes it worth every penny. Strong and sturdy materials will last for years. Fabulous purchase, would highly recommend"

The Goorder Montessori Toy is fun and interactive. It's specially designed to enrich child learning and develop hand flexibility and fine motor skills. It also stimulates baby's curiosity with button and pop bubbles which encourage touch and press skills.

One review said: "This is great for any age, children or adults. I find my partner playing with this more than my child sometimes. My little boy loves biting down on this and it helps him with his teething. Highly recommend"

The Adjustable Play Table can be raised to 50cm or lowered to 30cm, making it ideal to grow with your little one. It has four play-style themed areas and can even convert into a table! It also helps to develop fine motor skills and concentration, making it the perfect toy for a one year old.

One review said: "A beautiful sea-themed multi-activity table with 4 different areas to entertain your toddler that's got real longevity too"

Another review said: "It took me 15 mins to assemble, and I really liked that there were so many different sections to explore! So much for them to get stuck into"

The sweetest den for your one year old to play in or enjoy story time in. The Grey Star Tent is a pop up design and even comes with a matching storage bag. It's got a lovely all over start print design and a tie-up entrance.

One review said: "Lovely pale grey with stars fabric, bought for my grandson for his birthday I'm sure he will love it.. pack's away flat into a small bag with carry handles, so easy to take with you on your travels"

A lightweight bike that is perfect for indoor and outdoor use, the Bammax Balance Bike is a great first bike for your one year old. It has an ergonomic shape and 135 degree steering limit to help avoid your little one accident falling off.

One review said: "Bought this bike for my daughter's first birthday. It has been one of our best purchases ever! It really helped her balance and coordination. I would highly recommend. She will be 2 in June and still flies round the house in it."

An interactive book that's perfect for one year olds! The LeapFrog Learning Friends 100 Words Book enables your little one to learn words through play and sounds. They simply press the pictures to hear sound effects and can even learn the words in another language.

One review said: "Easy for my 1 year old niece to use and she loves it. I think it's really good too. Might help me with my French."

Another review said: "We have all of the ‘100 words’ books now, this was the last one we needed & got it at a good price from Amazon warehouse just because the box was slightly ripped. The book is sturdy, clear & gets the attention of my one year old. My 4 & 6 year olds enjoy looking through it too!"

With 150 classic coloured blocks, the Mega Blox First Builder Deluxe is every mini-builders dream. They can create huge towers or block houses, then enjoy knocking it over once they're done.

One review said: "Because these are so big I feel safe leaving them with my thirteen month grandson. He is really able to build anything yet but he enjoys breaking constructions apart and passing individual blocks to others."

With songs and phrases to introduce shapes, colours, numbers and the alphabet, the Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Game Controller is a great toy for learning and playing. Your one year old will love the moving joystick and buttons.

One review said: "Great for little gamers to help them feel like are participating in the PlayStation and Xbox action without missing out! We have an older child that plays on Xbox and this was a great buy to help them get involved without trying to snatch the other controller!"

The Melissa & Doug Wooden Shape Sorter is designed to look like a Jeep and has beautifully painted detailing. It comes with nine painted blocks that are easy for little hands to hold.

One review said: "Bought for daughters first birthday and is the main toy she actively seeks out and plays with daily. Definitely recommend."

Another review said: "Ordered for a birthday present for an animal/zoo mad toddler and it provided hours of fun and he loves it. Very sturdy and durable, I’ve ordered a few Melissa and Doug toys and never had a problem with anything. Would recommend."

Watch the cars roll down the ramps on this beautiful Car Roller! It's a stimulating and entertaining race tracker that doesn't take up a lot of space in the house like traditional car trackers. It also makes a lovely decorative piece too. It's easy to clean, and provides a calm, sensory noise when the cars clack when they drop down a level.

One review said: "Beautiful toy, will be a keepsake For sure! Can’t wait till He’s big enough to play with it properly. Picking up the cars will be great for his fine motor skills. I love the gender neutral colours too."

Another review said: "Very sweet wooden toy with good quality buts and bolts holding it together. Feels like it will last a lifetime."

This long-lasting Plum Discovery Easel has an easy clean painting screen. It also include storage holders and a cute bamboo wind chime and mini growing station for little gardeners. It's the perfect outdoor toy for hours of fun.

One review said: "I bought this for my one year old son for messy fun and it didn’t disappoint. Love the paints that come with it as they can be refilled which is perfect."

Great for supporting little ones as they learn how to walk, the Little Dutch Little Goose Baby Walker not only aids in baby walking and learning how to pull themselves up, it's also got fun, interactive elements. They can spin and move the little goose attachments and help their fine motor skills.

One review said: "This walker is adorable and has rubber wheels which helps with noise and protecting our wooden floor. Would definitely recommend."

Another review said: This chunky but charming wooden multi-activity walker gives your baby so many things to do and see."

Encouraging outdoor play and hours of creativity, the Plum Store-it Wooden Sand Pit comes with a handy storage box for toys and protective cover. It's ideal for building, digging and playing!

One review said: "Got this really discounted and it’s great. Son loves it and it looks nicer than the plastic ones in the garden. Seems sturdy and the little seats and storage are great for allowing him to sit and play and also store sandy toys neatly once playtime over"

A simple toy, but one that can provide hours of entertainment for one year olds. The Djeco Rain Stick makes a fascinating sound when tilted, and is great a developing the cause-and-effect skill. It's also beautifully designed.

One review said: "Emilia was very mesmerised by the sounds as I gave it to her. She's really enjoyed playing with it, especially shaking it like a maniac!"

Another review said: "Very sweet little rain stick. Can be left out on units too for decoration in the kids room."

This Climbing Arch Set is the perfect multifunctional rocker. It can be used as a rocker, a climbing arch and even a desk! With the option to purchase a cushion, the rocker can also be used as a little reading nook for your little one, or somewhere cosy to nap.

One review said: "We are very happy with the Climbing Arch. The quality and attention to details are exquisite. The arch was easy to build (even my boys had fun helping out). It looks sturdy and reliable. We ordered it with a cushion, which again did not disappoint. Just perfect. We are super impressed with the design, which will transition well from a rocking bed for a newborn, climbing arch for a toddler, to a desk when things settle. Love it and recommend."

With everything your one year old needs to support their development, the Babbler Play Kit challenges your little one with different skills to learn. Help develop their stacking skills, fine motor skills and more! A new play kit is also sent out every three months to keep up with your child's developmental needs.

Our mum tester Georgi said: "The toy selection is beautifully curated to encourage curiosity and learning in older babies and its design is inviting for both babies and adults alike. I felt more inclined to sit with my baby to explore these particular toys, allowing us to spend some quality time together. I personally found the play guide very useful as a first-time parent, as I do sometimes feel a little lost about what I should be doing with my baby during playtime."

Read our Lovery Play Kit review here.

Made with a solid wooden base, the Rocking Horse Bugsy has faux fur that's soft to touch. It's small enough for one year olds to climb onto, but big enough to provide years of fun! It also features a hidden bell in one ear and rattle in the other.

One review said: "This was a gift for my new grandson. We love how soft this horse is and how beautiful it looks. My grandson is only a few months old but he already enjoys sitting on the horse and patting his ears to hear the bells there! A great gift!"

The Pull-Along Roland Sausage Dog teaches helps children to learn cause and effect. The dog itself is super soft and can even be detached from the wheels so that your little one has a snuggly bedtime toy, as well as a play toy for the day. They'll love taking their little friend for walks!

One review said: "Perfect present for a little girl very versatile as it can be cuddly bedtime toy and a pull along toy during the day. Great idea."

Another review said: "So cute and I love that the child can take it off the wheels to cuddle . So nicely made and will last many years."

With soft lights and music, this Baby Xylophone can provide hours of fun for your little one! It comes with three balls and a hammer, so when your baby hits three of the colours, the balls pop out! It's a great way of teaching cause-and-effect, and the sounds and lights make it engaging.

One review said: "I brought this for my baby brother's birthday and he loves it. He is constantly using the xylophone feature and gets hours of fun out of it. I would recommend to those who are thinking of buying this for a child."

Another review said: "Had this for over a year now and my daughter still loves playing with it. Very sturdy and despite her best efforts it is still in one piece."

The Baby Montessori Dinosaur helps children to develop their fine motor skills. It's a really cute ankylosaurs design, and helps children to recognise numbers and colours. It's also lightweight so it's easy to take on the go, and the pegs store neatly in the dinosaurs back.

One review said: "This is good, very simple, my 1 year old was impressed with the colours and the noise, my 3 year old was impressed that his little sister liked a dinosaur.. so yeah 10/10."

If your little one loves pretend play, then they will love this cute toy vegetable set. Made of soft plastic, it will encourage their vocabulary as well as promote healthy eating. The pieces in the set look realistic and are a great size for small hands.

Review: "We absolutely love this set of play food. It’s sturdy, rubbery plastic that is slightly bendable. Absolutely excellent quality. The only part that is drawn on is the edges of the cucumber so the colours stay as they are, vibrant and deliciously looking. It’s looks very realistic and has a nice feel. Our three year old daughter loves mixing the salad pieces together. She uses them in different play activities such as in her role play, sorting and counting."

With soft flaps on every page that are easy for babies to lift, this book is not only engaging but helps your little one to develop their fine motor skills, and it is illustrated by Axel Scheffler, the bestselling illustrator of The Gruffalo. This is the perfect gift to share together, especially on chilly winter days.

Review: "Really nice book with the lift up flaps being felt which makes them easier to lift and less likely to rip. Well illustrated, colourful and appealing. Great quality and good size, larger than I expected. Good value and quality."

A jigsaw puzzle is a great activity to do with your little one and this colourful wooden peg puzzle is made of environmentally friendly wood. The puzzle board has name tags and colourful pictures under the blocks which will encourage your little one's interest in animals, as well as improving hand eye coordination. Plus the wooden pegs on each piece make them easy for your little one to grasp.

One customer wrote: "Lovely jigsaw, good quality and great for learning. Good handles on each to pick up."