Your 1 year old is making huge strides in her or his physical and mental development, typically going from rolling or crawling to walking and running.

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They're also becoming more curious and expressive – able to find things that are hidden or, as their fine-finger control improves, put things inside containers and take them out again. They're also starting to recognised patterns and shapes, and maybe even some colours or numbers.

Which type of toys are best for a 1 year old?

Toys that pop up or have things to empty and fill, or pile up and push over, are great choices. Look for ones with clear, bright colours or shapes or pictures that your child can start learning to sort and match.

Colourful, moving toys that you can push or pull along or clamber on top and scoot around on are also perfect for 1 year olds. They'll need to be sturdy as they'll get lots of enthusiastic handling.

As your child moves further into toddlerhood, they'll start to find enjoyment in pretend play, particularly when it's focused around household tasks that grown-ups do, such as pretending to use a phone or rocking a doll to sleep.

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And if you're trying to be a bit more environmentally friendly, wooden toys are particularly good as they tend to be more sustainably made and will take lots of bashing – so a double win there. For toy recommendations for older children, check out our best toys for children aged 2, 3 all the way through to 10 years old.

How to choose and use toys safely

It's particularly important with babies to consider safety when choosing toys. Here's what to look out for.
  • Look for the CE mark, which shows the manufacturer has ensured the toy meets regulatory requirements
  • Look for the voluntary British Toy and Hobby Association's Lion Mark (a red lion inside a yellow triangle)
  • Buy from retailers that you know and trust
  • Ensure the toy is appropriate for your child's age. Small pieces (including things such as plastic eyes on teddy bears that appear 'fastened on', rather than really securely integrated into the toy) are choking hazards for children under 3.
  • Beware of any items that detach or have sharp edges
  • Check toys regularly for things like loose threads, broken pieces or escaped filling.

Best toys for 1 year olds at a glance

Best educational toys for 1 year olds

  • Great for early sorting skills: My 1st Years Peter Rabbit Sorter House, £40
  • Great for vehicle-based play: Fisher-Price Little People Light-Up Learning Garage, £44.99
  • Great for early number recognition: Linkimals Cool Beats Penguin, £44.99
  • Great for fine finger skills: Poppy the Count & Stack Flower Pot, £15
  • Great for early music skills: Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Mix & Learn DJ Table, £54.99
  • Great for interactive sensory play: Clementoni Soft Clemmy Touch, Discover and Play Sensory Table, £34.99

Best wooden toys for 1 year olds

  • Great for early language skills: John Lewis Wooden Alphabet Abacus, £20
  • Great multi-skills playset: Melissa & Doug Shape Sorting Grocery Cart, £74.99
  • Great for matching and sorting skills: My 1st Years Wooden Animals Ark, £50
  • Great for independent play: Janod Wooden Turtle Pull-Along Toy, £18

Best developmental toys for 1 year olds

  • Great for strength and co-ordination: Toomies Pull Along Peppa, £22.99
  • Great luxury walker: Little Bird Told Me Dexter Dog Push Along, £109.95

Best ride-on toys for 1 year olds

  • Great for indoor and outdoor ride-on fun: Scuttlebug, £24.99
  • Great for longevity: Little Bird Told Me Stirling & Mac Rocking Horse, £149.95-£199.95
  • Great for combining balance bike and scooter: Kinderkraft Halley, £69
  • Great indoor ride-on toy: Wheelybug Ride-On Ladybird (Small), £69.95

Best soft toys for 1 year olds

  • Great for bringing characters to life: In the Night Garden Talking Soft Toys from Golden Bear, £17.99
  • Great for cuddles: CoComelon Bedtime Cody Musical Plush Doll, £28
  • Great for social skills: Baby Annabell Little Sweet Princess Doll, £41.99

Here's our pick of the best toys for 1 year olds, as tested by children and rated by their parents…

Best educational toys for 1 year olds

1. My 1st Years Peter Rabbit Sorter House, £33-38

– Great for early sorting skills

My 1st Years Peter Rabbit Sorter House tester picture and product shot

Age suitability: 12 months+ | Best for age: 18 months+ | Size: L22.8 x W20.6 x H21.6cm | Batteries: None | Awards: Editor's Choice, MadeForMums Toy Awards 2023

This charming shape sorter looks just like a little house, complete with Peter and Flopsy Rabbit on either side. The wooden shapes are a great size for a 1 year old's hands to grab, and finding the correct holes helps children develop hand-eye co-ordination, problem-solving and matching skills.

Our child tester, Lucas, 18 months (pictured), made an "oooh" sound when he saw the toy for the first time. His mum Hannah said, "My little boy absolutely loves taking things apart and putting them back together again so he had loads of fun doing this! I definitely think it is a toy he loves because he often carries it over to me if he wants to play. Carrying it round in general is also something he loves to do!"

She also praised the quality and finish of the toy, saying it felt like it would stand the test of time. "Although there are lots of plastic shape sorters on the market, and for a much cheaper price, this would definitely catch my eye as it is a beautiful neutral colour and Peter Rabbit is a cute, timeless character."

For a gorgeous finishing touch, the Peter Rabbit Sorter House can be personalised with your child's name.

Available at: My 1st Years, Not on the High Street and Next

2. Fisher-Price Little People Light-Up Learning Garage, £44.99

– Great for vehicle-based play

Fisher-Price Little People Light-Up Learning Garage tester picture and product shot

Age suitability: 1+ | Best for age: 1+ | Size: L25.4cm x W82.5cm x H40 cm | Batteries: 3 x AA (included) | Awards: Silver, Best Playset Under £70 – MadeForMums Toy Awards 2023

Beep beep! Toddlers can fill up, tune up and wash their car before racing along to the next adventure with the Fisher-Price Little People Light-Up Learning Garage. This interactive car garage playset also has lights, songs, and sounds to keep your 1 year old engaged.

There’s a lot of child-activated detail – lights flash as kids send their car through the car wash and there is a working elevator for figures and cars. Once cars are clean, you can send them racing down the ramp. Cars can also be filled up or charged at the station, and mini mechanics can ‘fix’ them with the wrench pieces.

The set comes with two character figures, two mechanic tool play pieces, and a push-along toy car with a bonnet that opens and closes.

While our testers did comment on the plastic-heavy nature of the playset, there’s a lot of colourful detail here to enhance pretend play. Our child tester Maxi (pictured), 22 months absolutely loved it, according to his mum Francesca. She said, “He loved dancing to the music and repeating the letters, numbers, and colours. He also loved the car and putting the characters in and out of it.”

Available at: John Lewis, Very, Argos and Amazon

3. Linkimals Cool Beats Penguin, £44.99

– Great for early number recognition

Linkimals Cool Beats Penguin with child tester

Age suitability: 9 months+ | Best for age: 12 months+ | Size: L14cm x W27cm x H25cm | Batteries: 4 x AA (included)

There's a lot of fun to be had with an interactive penguin who lights up and bobs and flaps his flippers along to the music that plays when you press the green button on his foot. It's such a versatile toy that it was picked out by retailer The Entertainer as a must-have for Christmas 2023.

The red button on his other foot plays phrases about numbers, shapes, the alphabet and opposites. And, if you have another Linkimals animal (like the Musical Moose and Play Together Panda), you can 'link' them up so they sing and 'chat' together.

He's nice and sturdy, with cute soft arms, but the rest of him's not very cuddly and he is fairly hefty (a toy for keeping on the ground, rather than carrying around). However, his flapping and bobbing is lovely: all our child testers were delighted by his dance moves. The lights and sounds are fun without being too grating to parental ears, and we think it introduces counting and numbers in a genuinely engaging way.

"I actually didn't think this toy would be such a hit," said Jayne, mum of our child tester Rory, 20 months (pictured above). "But it's such fun! It has loads of songs, both silly and educational – and my 3-year-old is really enjoying it too."

Available at: Amazon, John Lewis and The Entertainer

4. Poppy the Count & Stack Flower Pot, £15

– Great for fine finger skills

Poppy the Count and Stack Flower Pot with child tester Teddy

Age suitability: 18 months+ | Best for age: 18 months+ | Size: L13cm x W13cm x H22cm | Batteries: None

This good-value flower pot is small but stuffed full of play potential. The 6 little numbered flowers each come in 2 pieces – petals and leaf – that can be fitted together, pulled apart and swapped round before popping them into the holes in the 'earth' in the pot. And the pot has a little handle that just the right size for a 1 year old's hands.

"From the moment he saw the handle he was hooked," said Daisy, mum of our child tester Teddy, 22 months (pictured above). "He loves to collect things and carry them around. He immediately began to explore the flowers and put them back in the flower pot. After a few goes, he became more confident and quicker. He gets thoroughly engaged with this toy for at least 20 minutes at a time – which is rare!"

Both Daisy and Amy, mum of our other, slightly older child tester Sarah, 23 months, were really impressed by how effortlessly this toy encourages fine-finger control and early imaginative play – Sarah loved offering her mum flowers to pick – as well as number and colour recognition. "And Sarah is especially thrilled by the flower with the bee on," said Amy. "She keeps saying, 'I love Mr Bee!'"

Available at: Amazon and Learning Resources

5. Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Mix & Learn DJ Table, £54.99

– Great for early music skills

isher-Price Laugh & Learn Mix & Learn DJ Table tester picture and product shot

Age suitability: 6-36 months | Best for age: 6-36 months | Size: L51cm x W13.5cm x H33cm | Batteries required: 3 x AA (included) | Awards: Bronze, Best Educational/Learning Toy Over £40 – MadeForMums Toy Awards 2023

This plastic DJ table with more than 100 songs, sounds and learning phrases went down very well with our testers. Child tester Mabel (pictured), 17 months, loved dancing around when the "catchy songs" started up. Her mother Charlotte said, "When the music plays she stands and dances. My 3 and a half year old has also been joining in and likes recording her singing so she can play it back."

Child tester Finlay, 21 months, was very disappointed when the Mix & Learn DJ Table was turned off. His mum Alison said, "There are plenty of different settings and options to play with and the ability to add legs adds longevity if purchased for a younger child. The different music modes add variety and stop the experience from becoming too repetitive."

The table comes with 8 piano keys, a light-up disc to spin and a light-up number pad, so your child can start to feel like a real DJ. It also has 3 piano modes and 3 smart stages designed to teach your child colours, shapes, numbers and the alphabet. It also caught the eye of retailer John Lewis, which named it as a top toy for Christmas 2023.

Available at: John Lewis

6. Clementoni Soft Clemmy Touch, Discover and Play Sensory Table, £34.99

– Great for interactive sensory play

Clementoni Soft Clemmy Touch, Discover and Play Sensory Table with child tester Chloe

Age suitability: 10 months+ | Best for age: 12 months+ |Size: L40cm x W40cm x H40cm | Batteries: None

Almost all the little activity features on this toddler table are made of soft and squidgy silicone, lending a whole new sensory (and extra-safe) dimension to posting shapes through holes, winding cogs, bashing things with a hammer and catapulting blocks in the air. We especially like the soft flip-over blue flap with the bit you can pop in and out, like bubble wrap (pictured above, in the corner with the blue leg).

The table legs are removable and, once the fun is over, all the soft blocks these can neatly stored inside the little blue house (the red roof comes off).

"Chloe really loves this," says Wing, mum of our child tester Chloe, 22 months. "She plays with it first thing in the morning every day. And she keeps coming back for it throughout the day. She loves the soft touch of the blocks. She is still learning to stack up blocks and this toy's really helping her learn. It is sturdy, very well made with lovely smooth lines. The design is very original – I've not seen anything like this before."

Comes with 10 soft blocks, a booklet of activities and a soft hammer.

Available at: Amazon

Best wooden toys for 1 year olds

7. John Lewis Wooden Alphabet Abacus, £20

– Great for early language skills

John Lewis toy

Age suitability: 18 months+ | Best for age: 18 months | Size: H30cm x W23cm | Batteries: None

From A for apple to Z for zebra, this John Lewis wooden abacus is perfect for helping your little one become familiar with the basics of letters and numbers.

The spinner has 36 cubes threaded in rows, one for each letter of the alphabet followed by the numbers 1 to 10. Each of the alphabet cubes feature a lower-case letter on one side and a character on the other, such as W for whale. Then, the numerical cubes show the written number on one side and a visual representation of the other through the use of colourful dots.

The spinning function of the cubes is fun for younger babies, and as they grow the toy can be used to aid simple counting and letter recognition. Later it can be used to practise reading words and letters.

The product is made entirely from wood and painted with bright primary and secondary colours to help keep your child engaged.
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Available at: John Lewis

8. Melissa & Doug Shape Sorting Grocery Cart, £74.99

– Great multi-skills playset

Melissa and Doug Wooden Grow with Me Grocery Cart with child tester Zoe

Age suitability: 12 months+ | Best for age: 18 months+ | Size: L38cm x W27cm x H40cm | Batteries: None

This wooden shopping trolley makes for a nice sturdy walker and has fruit-and-veg-themed shape sorters at the front and sides, as well as a built-in picture spinner. It comes with 12 wooden fruit and veg shapes, 2 puzzle boards to fit them on, and a play coffee cup with lid that can nestle in a cup holder inside the trolley.

It's a robust, well thought-through toy, made with high-quality components and good attention to detail. It also comes recommended by Toy of the Year, which picked it out as a must-have toy for Christmas 2023. And we love that there are so many different ways to play with it – from pushing it around and taking Panda for a ride, like our child tester Zoe, 22 months (pictured above), to matching and sorting shapes and learning all about different healthy foods.

"She's so excited with this," said Zoe's mum Amy. "She immediately wanted to show it to Panda – which is high praise indeed! There are lots of different features to explore. The wooden food items can be posted through shape-sorting holes and colour sorted, but there's also opportunities for some great imaginative play. Zoe loves creating 'smoothies' with them in the toy cup, for example."

The toy cup was a huge hit with our other child tester Noah, 19 months. "He likes to sit with it and imitate me drinking my coffee!" his mum Simona said.

Available at: Amazon and Very

9. My 1st Years Wooden Animal Ark, £45

– Great for matching and sorting skills

My 1st Years Wooden Animal Ark with child tester Jake

Age suitability: 12 months+ | Best for age: 12 months+ | Size: L29cm x W15cm x H30cm | Batteries: None

This wooden ark comes in muted, pastel colours with 4 portholes, an opening door that turns into a ramp, a sliding lid, 2 skylights in the roof and a rainbow carrying handle. Included, to be sent on their way up the ramp and on board, are pairs of zebras, elephants, parrots, tortoises, crocodiles, lions, giraffes and monkeys.

You can also personalise it with your child's name painted on the roof – as has been done for our child tester Jake (pictured above left). It's beautifully made and we love how the rainbow carry handle has elastic hinges, so there's no chance a wobbly legged toddler could hurt themselves on it if they stumble or fall.

Some of our child testers' parents noticed – and liked – the absence of any religious features on this ark (no Noah, no dove) and that the animal pairs were carefully gender-neutral. Abbey, mum of child tester Lilah, 12 months, said, "Lilah squealed with excitement when she first saw this. She makes all the noises for the animals and walks them around her play table, up the drawbridge into the boat. She loves taking the lid off for the animals to get in that way, too!"

Available at: My 1st Years

10. Janod Wooden Turtle Pull-Along Toy, £18

– Great for independent play

janod pull along wooden turtle

Age suitability: 12 months+ | Best for age: 18 months+ | Size: L‎16cm x W6cm x H12cm | Batteries: None

This neutrally coloured wooden turtle has wheels for feet, so it can be pulled along beside or behind a toddling child.

Made from eco-friendly wood, it's simple yet beautifully designed. We particularly love that the turtle's shell can be removed, offering more play opportunities and enhancing fine motor skills and that its body sways from side to side as your toddler pulls it along.

Parent tester Rebecca tried this with their daughter Pippa (pictured above) age 23 months saying, "The turtle is really easy to pull along, with smooth running wheels, even with its jaunty walking style! It's survived a few throws across the room, so is sturdily made. It looks absolutely beautiful, it's got a lovely pastel colour palette and a very cute expression, I can definitely see it being a nice ornament long after Pippa grows out of pulling it around."

Available at: Amazon

Best developmental toys for 1 year olds

11. Toomies Pull Along Peppa, £22.99

– Great for strength and co-ordination

Toomies Pull Along Peppa tester picture and product shot

Age suitability: 18 months+ | Best for age: 18 months+ | Size: L30cm x W16cm x H21cm | Batteries: None | Awards: Silver, MadeForMums Toy Awards 2023

Peppa, George and their favourite dinosaur are all on hand with this lovely pull-along to encourage children to crawl and walk. The three bendy axles allow the characters to wobble from side to side as your child rolls them along the floor. And as the wheels turn, it plays tunes and happy snorting sounds to really engage children as they play.

When he first saw the toy, our 21-month-old child tester Zakariya (pictured) burst into his favourite Peppa song. His mum Forhana said, "When we pulled it back and forth he loved hearing the sounds mainly the giggles and the roars. He enjoyed copying the sounds made. It was lovely to watch him giggle and play with the pull-along toy. It's a good idea to have children pull along and walk with it, it would be encouraging with younger children when learning to walk. It can also be moved around whilst they're sat down."

Available at: Amazon, John Lewis and Very

12. Little Bird Told Me Dexter Dog Push Along, £109.95

– Great for walking and riding

Little Bird Told Me Dexter Dog Push Along with child tester

Age suitability: 12 months+ | Best for age: 12 months+ | Size: L48cm x W26cm x H51cm | Batteries: None

For toddlers who are just about up on their feet or are very nearly getting there, this furry dog walker is a beautifully designed, beautifully stable push-along toy to encourage more steps – if you've the budget for such a luxury buy.

Firmly attached to a solid wooden frame and wooden wheels with rubber tyres. Dexter the cuddly lab has crinkly ears, a button nose, a collar and a squeaker in his tail. He's sturdy enough to be ridden (up to a weight of 20kg) – although with a seat height of 30cm, your child will need a leg up.

When our child tester Theo, 12 months (pictured above), first saw Dexter, he crawled straight up to him and gave him a cuddle and kiss. His mum Liey said Dexter is helping him gain balance and strength in his legs, adding, "Theo loves pushing him around the room, squeaking his tail and crinkling his ears."

Available at: Natural Baby Shower and Samuel Johnston

Best ride-on toys for 1 year olds

13. Scuttlebug, £24.99

– Great for indoor and outdoor ride-on fun

Scuttlebug tester picture and product shot

Age suitability: 12 months+ | Best for age: 18 months | Size: L60cm x W33cm x H37.5 cm | Batteries: None | Awards: Gold, MadeForMums Toy Awards 2023

With a bright and funky design and appealing face, the Scuttlebug is a 3-wheeled ride-on that kids will love to scoot around on. Designed in the shape of a yellow and black bee, pink and black butterfly or a red and black beetle, it is a foot-to-floor ride-on with front wheel steering.

The three wheels give extra stability for toddlers and the steering offers them manoeuvrability. And if your 1 year old wants to ride in the house it's not a problem – the quiet, non-scratch wheels ideal for both indoor and outdoor fun.

For added convenience, the Scuttlebug also has a simple 3-click folding system, meaning it can be folded down to a much smaller size. This makes it easy to take out of the house and store under the pram, for example.

“My son is always smiling when playing with the Scuttlebug” said Katherine, mum of our 18-month-old child tester Finn (pictured). She added “It is well worth the money and the cost for longevity is very good. It easily folds to carry it or put it under the buggy once child has had enough – big thumbs up from mum!”

Four Scuttlebugs are available in the range, the Scuttlebug Bumble, Beetle, Grasshopper and Butterfly.

Available at: Argos

14. Little Bird Told Me Stirling & Mac Rocking Horse, £149.95-£199.95

– Great for longevity

Little Bird Told Me Stirling & Mac Rocking Horse tester picture and product shot

Age suitability: 12 months+ | Best for age: 12 months+ | Size: (small) L64cm x W37cm x H54cm (large) L77cm x W30cm x H 60cm | Batteries: None
Awards: Bronze, MadeForMums Toy Awards

Looking for a modern take on a traditional nursery toy that can be handed down? The Little Bird Told Me Stirling & Mac Rocking Horse is a classic rocking horse toy made from woven herringbone fabric in modern grey shades.

The rocking horse has a leatherette bridle and scrunchy faux suede mane and tail with crinkles, which provides sensory stimulation. The saddle on the horse is soft and padded for a comfortable ride to any wannabe jockeys, and you can also hold on safely using the Stirling’s wooden handles. While the body is soft and padded, the inner frame is made of sturdy solid wood. There is also an additional teddy toy in pocket, for added play value.

While this is expensive for a static ride-on, it is a beautifully constructed heritage toy that has potential to be passed down from nursery to nursery. Claire, mum of child tester Lucy (pictured), 15 months, said, "The quality is superb, it is 100% worth the money. It is very sturdy and a timeless toy that will give pleasure for years to come. Even once outgrown it looks stunning in the child’s bedroom.”

The Stirling & Mac Rocking Horse is available in two sizes, suitable from 9 months and from 12 months.

Available at: Little Bird Told Me and Amazon

15. Kinderkraft Halley, £69

– Great for combining balance bike and scooter

Kinderkraft Halley tester picture and product shot

Age suitability: 12 months+ | Best for age: 12 months+ |Size: L77cm x W30cm x H60cm | Batteries: None
Awards: Bronze, MadeForMums Toy Awards

Looking for a balance bike and a 3-wheeled scooter? The Kinderkraft Halley offers both, all in one product.

The Halley has a seat you can lift to turn the balance bike into a scooter. And when your child is tired of riding you can lower the seat again, turning it back into a balance bike. The handlebar can be set at one of 3 levels as your child grows.

Halley also has a rear-wheel brake and two front flashing wheels for walks after dark. And in a plus for parents, the lightweight design means it is not heavy to carry.

"Wow", were the words of child tester River (pictured), 2, on first seeing the scooter. Her mum Rebecca also thought it was “really well made and feels like it is made from good-quality material”. She added, “It is also something that will grow with your child. And it is great for parents as it folds down very easily and compared to most scooters or balance bikes is very light to carry.”

The Kinderkraft Halley is available in pink, green and white.

Available at: Kindercraft and Amazon

16. Wheelybug Ride-On Ladybird (Small), £69.95

– Great indoor ride-on toy

WheelyBug with child tester Amelie

Age suitability: 12 months+ | Best for age: 12 months+ | Size: L39cm x W23.5cm x H31cm | Weight: 1.8kg | Maximum child weight: 25kg | Batteries: None

This ride-on toy is all about whizzing about in all directions: with its 360°-swivel castors, this little ladybird can go forwards, backwards, sideways and round in circles. It has big, easy-to-grip handle and a padded, wipe-clean (leathered) seat that's low to the ground, making it nice and easy to clambering onto.

Our child testers were all very taken with the wobbly, spring-loaded eyes/antennae at the front. "It's so cute and incredibly well made," said Laura, mum to child tester Amelia, 23 months. "Amelia likes playing with the antenna springs, for the satisfying noise they make when you move them about and let go. It's great that the wheels move in all directions as she can move about easily. She would had loved this when she was a few months younger – and I know she'll still love it for a good while yet!"

You can take it outside but it does need properly level ground (and the seat's not waterproof), so this is really more of an indoor toy and, given its manoeuvrability, you don't need masses of indoor space for your child to be able to enjoy it inside.

Also comes as a Bee, Cow, Tiger and Mouse or, if you buy a plush cover for £18.50, you can change your animal into a Lion, Dog, Unicorn, Hedgehog or Panda. There are Large versions of all models for age 3+.

Available at: Hippychick and Amazon

Best soft toys for 1 year olds

17. In the Night Garden Talking Soft Toys from Golden Bear, £17.99

– Great for bringing characters to life

In the Night Garden Talking Soft Toys from Golden Bear tester picture and product shot

Age suitability: 0+ | Best for age: 12 months | Size: L11.5cm x W6cm x H32.5cm | Batteries: 2 x AAA (included)
Awards: Silver, Best Toddler Toy – MadeForMums Toy Awards 2023

Bring the magic of In The Night Garden to life with these interactive musical toys based on the instantly recognisable characters from the show.

When the child presses the toy's hand it plays the theme tune and various character sounds. Each character is dressed in their iconic outfit, including Upsy Daisy’s colourful dress, and Igglepiggle carries his famous blanket (which can handily be replaced if needed). The soft fabrics and fillings are made of 100% recycled fabrics.

Our toy tester Liana (pictured), 21 months, recognised the characters and enjoyed playing with them. Her mum Bella said, “She was excited and intrigued when she first saw them and then spent the first day exploring their features and listening to the different sounds. They were instantly recognisable as the characters from one of Liana's favourite TV shows and she was excited when she saw them. They are also made from 100% recycled fabric, so as a mother this was a big positive for me.”

The range includes the three main characters from the show - Igglepiggle, Upsy Daisy and Makka Pakka.

Available at: Argos, Very and Smyths Toys

18. CoComelon Bedtime Cody Musical Plush Doll, £28

– Great for cuddles

CoComelon Bedtime Cody Musical Plush Doll with child tester

Age suitability: 12 months+ | Best for age: 15 months+ | Size: H32cm x W21cm x D11cm | Batteries: 3 x AAA (included)

This cuddly plush doll, instantly recognisable to any small CoComelon fan as JJ's dinosaur-loving friend Cody, is a nice big size for hugging and carrying about – although we do wish his head was as super-soft as his body.

If you press his tummy, you can hear 8 sound effects, among them Cody's laugh and Cody's roar and clips from some of the TV show's songs, including (of course) Cody’s Special Dinosaur Day song.

"My son loves CoComelon," says Yvonne, mum of our child tester Kian, 22 months (pictured above), "and is so delighted to have a Cody doll – and an Afro-Caribbean doll that looks like him. He's obsessed with pushing his tummy to hear the dinosaur songs!"

Available at: Argos and Amazon

19. Baby Annabell Little Sweet Princess Doll, £41.99

– Great for social skills

Baby Annabell Little Sweet Princess with child tester Imogen

Age suitability: 12 months+ | Best for age: 12 months+ | Size: H36cm x W20cm x D19cm | Batteries: 3 x AAA (not included)

New to the long-bestselling Baby Annabell range is this toddler doll with long, thick hair and a soft fabric body under a pink gown. She closes her eyes and makes sleeping noises when you lie her down and, if you give her a kiss, her cheeks will blush and she'll make kissing sounds back at you.

She's a really good size and weight for a 1 year old to cuddle – although we reckon the accessories (shoes, tiara and hairbrush) won't really come into their own until your child's a bit older and has developed a little more dexterity.

"We really love this dolly," said Kirstie, mum of our child tester Immy, 12 months (pictured above). "She is adorable and makes the loveliest noises. Immy is besotted with the way she makes 'kissy' noises when she kisses her and she loves touching her cheeks after they have gone red. I'm so impressed with the quality of this doll. She is amazing– well worth the money!"

Available at: Argos, Zapf Creation and Amazon

Pics: Product websites/MadeForMums testers

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About the author

Helen is Deputy Editor of MadeForMums, the author of Parenting for Dummies (Wiley, £17.99) and the Head Tester for our MadeForMums Toy Awards. She has written about parenting for Mumsnet, Pregnancy & Birth, Prima Baby, Boots Parenting Club and She Magazine and she's also been Consumer Editor of Mother & Baby. She has 3 boys and a heavy-duty washing machine.

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Authors

Helen Brown
Helen BrownHead of Content Delivery

Helen is author of the classic advice book Parenting for Dummies and a mum of 3. Before joining MadeForMums, she was Head of Community at Mumsnet and also the Consumer Editor of Mother & Baby.

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