Best Toys for 18 Month Old Baby Girl
Under $20
Playful pegs
Soon after my oldest daughter started preschool, I asked her (then 2) what she liked to play with in the classroom, and she answered, "Pegs!" I bought a set of these brightly colored, stackable pegs for our home and was fascinated to see how intently she and, subsequently, her younger siblings played with them on their own. The pegs offer 2-year-olds just the right level of challenge and open-ended play: Kids can fit the pegs into holes on the included foam mat, stack them one on top of the other to see how high they can go, or string them on a shoelace. As simple as these pegs are, my kids would pull them out of the toy bin again and again.
A first piggy bank
My daughter received this toy piggy bank as a gift when she was a toddler, and as far as noise-making plastic toys go, this one is a winner. Andie liked being rewarded with the pig's cheerful responses and songs when she pressed its snout or dropped the large coins through the slot. And I liked how mercifully brief—and not too loud or grating—the songs and noises were. The pig helps develop motor skills and also teaches colors, counting (in Spanish, too), and all that other important stuff. Andie has outgrown this toy, but now she likes to show her baby brother how it works. I'm impressed by how well it's held up through years of rough treatment (and on just two pairs of CC batteries in all that time).
Acrobatic robots
Schylling Wooden Stacking Robots ($15 at the time of publication)
We've noticed stock issues with this item. We'll update this article once it's available again.
A friend gave my son these slightly sinister-looking wooden blocks when he was a toddler, and at age 9 he was still playing with them regularly. The tiny angles allow for all kinds of wacky creations, and the more robots you get (we later added a second pack), the bigger your robot trees can become. Creating a simple pyramid may make a 2-year-old feel triumphant, while older kids can construct some truly impressive designs. These blocks are the type of thing adults may find themselves leaving out on the coffee table—or even playing with themselves.
A toddler's tape measure
There are lots of possibilities for role-playing with this sturdy, oversize tape measure, which is a favorite among young kids at the Toybrary Austin (a local toy-lending library in Texas), according to owner Liza Wilson. Two-year-olds enjoy pulling out and winding back the easy-rolling vinyl tape, which makes a satisfying clicking sound. Older kids love to measure and compare everything in the room using the real inch and centimeter markings printed on the toy—a great way to begin developing spatial awareness and concepts related to numbers, counting, and math.
A fun intro to games
My daughter received Bears in Pairs for Christmas when she was 21 months old. She loves it—for reasons that have progressed with each passing month. At first, she simply liked to match each of the three sets of twin bears and open and shut all six compartments on their 3D plastic playhouse. Only recently has she started to play the actual game, which involves flicking a spinner and trying to find the coordinating bear set. Bears in Pairs is a perfect introduction to memory matching games—without requiring reading or shuffling cards.
An indoor tunnel
I found one of these classic collapsible IKEA tunnels at a secondhand store when my older son was 2 years old. Five years and another kid later, it was still in good enough shape to be handed down to a different family. Both 1- and 2-year-olds can simply enjoy the challenge of learning to crawl from end to end. Later, the tunnel becomes a cozy spot to play with other toys or a fun component to an elaborate living-room fort (which was my kids' favorite use for it). IKEA's colorful polyester play tents also offer long-lasting fun for a low price, and we recommend them in our guide to the best gifts for 3-year olds.
A Lego starter set
This Duplo Number Train, with its 23 delightfully chunky pieces, is excellent for introducing toddlers to the joys of building with Lego bricks. The train-themed set includes blocks that are numbered from 0 to 9 in bright colors, four wheeled bases, and two figures (plus a cat for good measure). Kids can arrange the pieces in all sorts of configurations, all the while developing their fine motor skills and immersing themselves in imaginative play. When my son turned 2, he happily took over his older brother's collection of Duplos (numbered blocks and numerous vehicle bases included) and never looked back—no doubt all but guaranteeing himself a Lego-filled future.
Bright, bold flash cards
My 2-year-old son thinks that identifying objects is the greatest form of entertainment. As we approached the, oh, 500th reading (who's counting?) of his 10 favorite board books, I realized we needed something new. I also realized that we didn't own flash cards. To remedy the situation, I bought this ringed set by Mudpuppy. The letters and words are printed in a pleasing, sans-serif-like font. The bold, colorful artwork speaks to my kid—and he speaks back. Our favorite? F: A frog playing a flute for a fly.
A puzzle with a sense of place
It feels like we now own every children's puzzle that's ever been stamped and laser-cut into cardboard, but this map jigsaw remains the one I pull out the most. For starters, it's suitably challenging for my pre-schooler, who can confidently wield the thick, oversize pieces and eventually match the colors and shapes of the United States together. But it also serves as a stellar geography lesson and conversational jump-off for the two of us. We discuss all the states we've been to, point out where our friends and family live, and plan future road trips by tracing our fingers from the image of cowboy boots (representing Texas) to the sunflowers or flamingos near her grandparents' houses.
$20 to $50
A classic hopper
Rody is a rounded, inflatable vinyl pony that's perfect for a toddler who's bouncing off the walls. My little kids loved to hop, scoot, and bump around the house on it. And because Rody is soft and springy, I loved not having to worry about them scuffing the floor or banging into walls. It's hard not to smile at the pony's cuddly shape, poppy colors, and cartoony cuteness (it kind of looks like a Jeff Koons sculpture). Rody comes deflated, so you'll need a bicycle or hand pump to start bouncing.
A chunky puzzle
My son received this clever animal puzzle as a baby gift. Though he's played with the pieces and we've assembled it together over the years, he's just now, at 5, almost able to complete it on his own. The chunky wooden creatures nest together into a single block, and reassembling the menagerie may provide a slight challenge even for grownups. Each animal is printed with the letter that corresponds to its name (A is for Alligator, U is for Unicorn) and guides a kid into puzzling out the proper placement. The oblong shape of the completed puzzle makes it a bit novel, and it stands upright in its wooden box—a nice decoration for a nursery shelf. The same company also makes similar puzzles with ocean, farm, and outer space themes, but I think the classic animal parade makes the nicest decorative piece.
A tougher truck
We accumulated a sizable pile of toy vehicles when my kids were little. The truck, plane, and boat from Green Toys are simpler (and quieter) than most, and I found that they aged better than similar toys from other brands—even when left for months outside in the beating Southern California sun. We had the popular red fire truck and the submarine, which carried a zoo's worth of Duplo animals around the bathtub for several years. For a classic 2-year-old gift, the Green Toys Dump Truck is another can't-go-wrong choice. All of Green Toys's stuff is made in the US from recycled plastic and dishwasher-safe. (At Wirecutter, we've also found the Green Toys Sand Play Set to be far superior to disposable sets made of brittle plastic, and we recommend it in our guide to the best beach and pool toys.)
For the sandbox boss
For the kid who loves scooping sand and rocks, the Tomy John Deere Big Scoop Tractor (which has a sturdy steel and plastic frame) allows them to play outdoors as long as they want. Indoors, this tractor is also fun to scoot around and scoop up toys with. My 2-year-old nephew (for whom trucks are less of a passing interest and more of a lifestyle) was equally excited that the 21-inch-long tractor is large enough to sit on.
A first subscription
Babybug ($34 for a one-year subscription at the time of publication)
We gave a Babybug magazine subscription as a birthday gift when our friend's kid turned 2—since then, they report it's been a constant source of delight. They appreciate the high quality of the illustrations and that the stories are short enough for a toddler's attention span but still interesting. They also like that the magazine is made of "destruction-resistant paper," with rounded corners and no staples. No, it won't stand up to a truly dedicated attacker, but this magazine is a bit better under the grabby hands of a toddler than a standard one. Cricket Media (which publishes Ladybug and Spider magazines, among others, for older kids) also offers printable gift announcement cards, so you can give something on the day to let people know a new subscription is on the way. The one caveat: It took around three months for the subscription to actually start after we bought it.
A cooperative board game
My Very First Games—First Orchard is a cooperative board game, so players work together rather than compete. It's designed to teach the youngest players the fundamentals of board games: how to set up a board, roll a die, make choices, and take turns. (It's a favorite in our guide to the best board games for kids.) To play, you match different-colored apples, pears, and plums to their respective trees, and then roll a die to try to gather all the fruits in a basket before a pesky crow reaches them. I started playing First Orchard with my daughters when they were 4 and 2, and I was always amused to see how the race to beat the crow created just the right amount of dramatic tension to hold their interest (and, at times, provided an opportunity to navigate the disappointment of "losing"). And even if your 2-year-old doesn't yet have the patience or interest for the game structure, they can simply play imaginatively with the brightly hued wooden fruits.
An in-tune music maker
For banging and making noise, just about any xylophone for kids will do, but many of them (which are actually glockenspiels, since they have metal and not wooden bars) are out of tune and terrible for learning about music. Most are toys, not tuned instruments. Our toddler played this set of eight resonator bells in a music class, and we got a set for home. They're durable, sound good, and allow for all kinds of musical (and other) exploration. Kids can get a hands-on feel for the sequence of a diatonic octave by ordering the blocks by size or note (each bell is marked with its letter on the scale) or by grouping two or more blocks together to experiment with intervals or chords. The bells come in a sturdy carrying case and are made to last: The ones at the music school have taken a beating from who knows how many kids, and they're all still in good shape.
Some gooey, clean fun
For more than a year now, the only way I've been able to get my daughter into the bath is to promise the inclusion of this colorful, sensory goo. Less of an actual slime than a fragrant jelly—it comes in scents like Wacky Watermelon and Gallopin Grape—this bath slime provides all the fun of its viscous namesake, with the welcome bonus of being easy to clean. (Not just because it's contained within the tub, but also because it's literally soap.) My kiddo likes to squish it through her hands and swirl the little floating pieces around to the farthest reaches of the bath. Then we grab a couple strainers and try to rescue and return all the squiggles back to the jar before it's time to get out.
An endlessly versatile thingamajig
It might not be immediately clear what a child is supposed to do with a Bilibo, and that's precisely the point: All ideas are valid when it comes to this sturdy plastic, shell-shaped object. (Is it a helmet? A seat? A spinner? Yep.) Research shows that open-ended play fosters creativity and resilience in children, especially toddlers who are not yet accustomed to more-programmed activities with a "right" and "wrong" way. My daughter started occupational therapy when she was 15 months old. The Bilibo—which measures 15 inches across and comes in a range of bright colors—was hands-down her favorite prop. At the beginning of each session, the therapist plopped my daughter's butt into the cupped seat and slowly twirled her around in circles (if a kid is younger than 2, they will likely need adult help to keep them from toppling). She'd giggle uncontrollably, all the while developing the core and neck strength needed to balance and sit up on her own. Now that my daughter is 4, we use the Bilibo as a container for sensory play materials—rice, dough, and foam. And for my 8 year-old son, it's the perfect addition to a mini-golf course … in our living room. The Bilibo also comes in a miniature (4.7 inch) size, sold in a set of six, that's perfect for shoveling, scooping, and serving tea to stuffed animals.
Over $50
A first bike
A balance bike can help kids learn to steer, brake, and keep themselves upright on a two-wheeler from a very young age. Many families find that balance-bike riders graduate to pedal bikes earlier and without the training-wheels phase (training wheels don't really teach a kid to balance, which is, of course, exactly what a balance bike does). The Strider 12 Sport Balance Bike is easy to assemble, durable, and offers a range of adjustability for kids of different sizes and ages, including 2-year-olds. (It's the top pick in our guide to the best balance bikes.) Our son started riding the Strider when he was 2½ years old, and within a week of daily use he was zooming confidently around our local park with his feet off the ground. When he eventually graduated to a pedal bike, the transition from striding to pedaling took about five minutes.
Slumber-party snuggles
Over the years, my mom has given each of her grandkids one of these Pottery Barn personalized sleeping bags as a crafty enticement to stay over at her house. My 2-year-old is the latest unwitting recipient, and when out-of-state overnights became out of the question during the pandemic, the sleeping bag took up residence with us. More of a slumber-party sleeper than the kind you'd take camping, the soft zip-up rolls easily and has two straps for carrying and storage. My daughter loves its fuzzy, bear-headed pillow and cotton shell—ideal for cozying up on the floor to play games or watch a movie. She also adores that her name is on the bag, though be warned: The monogram font is a bit cramped and hard to read compared with her cousins' earlier editions. If you decide to personalize, I'd recommend one of the blockier fonts.
A ride for the snow
Babies and toddlers don't need to tear down hills at breakneck speeds to have a blast in the snow—they're mostly content with being pulled around in a comfy, well-constructed sled like this classic wooden one from L.L.Bean. I've had this sled for nine years and through four kids, and it's still in great shape (it's a top pick in our guide to the best sleds). With its smooth-gliding wooden runners (which are reinforced with metal bars for durability), supportive side rails (which keep tots from tumbling out and make it an accessible option for kids working on their trunk strength), and classic red cushion, this sled is like a snow stroller. It's expensive, but it'll last through many winters—or even generations.
A doll that delights
First released in 1995 to help children acclimate before the arrival of a baby sibling, this American Girl classic has evolved over the years. Today's Bitty Baby comes in different combinations of skin tone, hair color, eye color, and outfit color; you can even customize a set of Bitty Baby twins. The doll is a hard-to-find hybrid; its soft fabric torso and brushed knit outfit offer some of the cuddliness of a plushie, while the molded face and operable eyelids provide the interactivity of a doll. We learned through our research into doll manufacturing that it takes great skill to design a face (like Bitty Baby's) that's realistic without being creepy—many cross the line. And although every Bitty Baby comes packaged in American Girl's signature bright pink boxes, the dolls themselves aren't assigned a gender, or traditionally gendered names, and you can choose between pink, blue, and gray sleepers. (Note that the doll is $60, but comes with an optional board book and knit stuffed lamb for an additional $20.)
A speedy slider
If, like me, you live much farther south—where snow is just a mythical ground cover kids see only in holiday books—the PlasmaCar is the ultimate toddler toy for gliding around. The brightly colored ride moves almost as quickly as a sled across flat surfaces, without any batteries, pedals, or gears. The wheels work much like in-line skates or cross-country skis, so when the handlebar is wiggled rapidly, the car moves forward through lateral friction force. Toddlers can achieve exhilarating speeds with just the occasional push and steady cranking of the handlebar. The PlasmaCar is sturdy enough to hold up to 220 pounds, so adults may be able to tear around the house a few times too—strictly to conduct safety checks, of course.
Clattering cars
Sometimes it seems like the simpler the toy, the more engrossing it is for babies and toddlers (a theory supported by my child's love of playing with a bookmark above all else). Of all the toys in our pediatric audiologist's waiting room, this basic tower made of beech and birch plywoods is the one that draws the biggest and most competitive crowd of little ones. Kids can place the three-part "millipede" car at the top and watch as it works its way down to the base of the wooden tower, with a satisfying clicking sound at every turn.
An indoor trampoline
Our pediatrician recommended a mini trampoline like this one as a tool to combat toddler constipation. I can't say definitively that it was effective for that purpose, but it worked great for bouncing out a lot of pent-up energy. And it was generally a big hit with our own kids as well as with any visiting friends. The trampoline obviously takes up some space, but our two kids used it just about every day from the ages (roughly) of 2 to 5.
A family membership to a children's museum
For me and my wife, the gift of an annual membership to the Thinkery children's museum in Austin, Texas, was an immense relief from cabin fever when the summer heat made it impossible to be outdoors. Suddenly we now had a bright, educational fortress to escape to with our then-2-year-old daughter. Millie loves the water science room's cascading series of water tables, the earth science exhibit's hurricane and tornado simulators, and the Light Lab's magnets and mini LEDs. She even loves to watch kids scale the giant outdoor climbing structure (though it will be at least another year before she can try it herself). Memberships to children's museums like the Thinkery make excellent gifts: They offer educational play spaces and workshops for kids, as well as special events that include adults and families, such as Pride nights and parents' night out.
A modern play kitchen
We purchased a KidKraft kitchen for our daughter when she was 2. We wanted a sturdy kitchen that was big enough for her to grow into and could withstand years of playtime. The KidKraft kitchens, which come in a variety of sizes and configurations, look so modern and real that we don't have to hide, cover, or set fire to ours before guests come over. The KidKraft Ultimate Corner Play Kitchen Set comes in both white and dark wood finishes, and it has a faux-subway-tile backsplash that will inspire interior-design envy. The cubby-style refrigerator, oven, and washing machine include shelves for storing lots of play fruits and vegetables. (We like these big baskets of colorful fruits and veggies from Learning Resources.) And when you discover old sippy cups (and, omg, forgotten snacks!) in the sink, pause and breathe. The sink detaches for easy cleanup!
A chair (and then some)
My toddler's body needed a more-supportive (read: less flimsy) first chair. And as her parent, I needed the peace of mind to know she wouldn't tip over while sitting in it. A physical therapist recently introduced us to this Children's Factory Cube Chair, which is stable without being heavy. It's made of a lightweight plastic that's much easier to maneuver than the Montessori-style wooden furniture we'd tried before. But what makes the cube chair a true winner is the 6-inch seat height with cozy "walls" on three sides; when she grows out of the lower height, I'll flip it over for a higher 9-inch seat with less enclosure. (Note: The manufacturer recommends this for ages 12 months and up, so use your judgment based on what's best for your kid.) Available in bright primary colors as well as more muted "woodland" tones, the cube chair can also double as a side table or stool—versatility that helps take the edge off the price tag.
—Additional reporting by Julie Kim
Best Toys for 18 Month Old Baby Girl
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/gifts/best-gifts-toys-for-2-year-olds/
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