Categories for MadeForMums Toy Awards 2023

MadeForMums is the UK's number 1 site for parenting product reviews, with an outstanding reputation for expert, honest review content, so a MadeForMums Toy Award is recognised by parents and retailers – and the national press – as a sign of a toy's outstanding quality and play potential.

Here is the full list of this year's categories – together with the criteria our child, parent and editorial judges will use when they're testing and judging the toys that are entered.

There will also be special Editor's Choice awards for toys that have particularly impressed our editorial team. These Editor's Choice awards are not open for entry; instead, all entries will be automatically considered for them.

Best art/craft toy or kit

• A toy or kit that encourages art and/or craft creativity
• Judging criteria: play potential, and value for money

Best baby activity mat/play mat/baby gym

• A soft mat where a baby can lie, kick and enjoy tummy-time play
• Judging criteria: play potential, and value for money

Best baby sleep-aid toy

• A toy that uses light and/or sound to encourage a baby to sleep
• Judging criteria: sleep-soothing potential, toy element/appearance, and value for money

Best baby toy (0-6 months)

• A toy suitable for a newborn or small baby
• Judging criteria: age-appropriate play potential, and value for money

Best older baby toy (6-12 months)

• A toy suitable for a baby aged 6 months to 1 year
• Judging criteria: age-appropriate play potential, and value for money

Best balance bike

• A balance bike for toddlers/preschoolers
• Judging criteria: ease of use, ride experience, and value for money

Best bath toy

• A toy a baby or child can play with in the bath
• Judging criteria: bathtime play potential, and value for money

Best board game

• A game for 1 or more players, suitable for children
• Judging criteria: play potential, and value for money

Best Christmas-themed toy

• A toy or advent calendar with a Christmas theme/special focus on Christmas
• Judging criteria: play potential, Christmas suitability and value for money

Best collectible toy

• A modest-value toy that's sold as part of a collectible set
• Judging criteria: play potential, and value for money

Best construction/building toy

• A toy or set that comes in parts and requires construction to complete
• Judging criteria: play potential, and value for money

Best doll

• A doll for a child of any age
• Judging criteria: play potential, and value for money

Best educational/learning toy

• A toy designed to develop a child's learning potential
• Judging criteria: play potential, educational value and value for money

NEW! Best fiction book

• A fiction book for any age up to Young Adult
• Judging criteria: child engagement level, and value for money

NEW! Best non-fiction book

• A non-fiction book for any age up to Young Adult
• Judging criteria: child engagement level, educational value, and value for money

Best first bike or trike

• A pedal bike or trike suitable as a first bike/trike for a child
• Judging criteria: ease of use, ride experience, and value for money

Best interactive toy

• A toy with interactive/electronic features
• Judging criteria: play potential, interactive/electronic features, and value for money

Best jigsaw/puzzle

• A puzzle or jigsaw for a child of any age
• Judging criteria: play potential, and value for money

Best outdoor/garden toy

• A toy or play equipment that's designed to be used outside or in a garden
• Judging criteria: play potential, and value for money

Best playset

• A themed playset with figures/accessories
• Judging criteria: play potential, and value for money

Best portable/travel toy

• A portable toy that is suitable for a child to take away with them
• Judging criteria: play potential as a portable toy, and value for money

Best science/STEM toy or kit

• A toy designed to promote scientific or STEM exploration and learning
• Judging criteria: play potential, educational value and value for money

Best scooter

• A 2 or 3-wheeled child's scooter
• Judging criteria: play potential, ride experience, and value for money

Best sensory toy

• A toy for a baby or older child that's particularly designed for sensory exploration
• Judging criteria: age-appropriate play potential, and value for money

Best soft toy

• A plush, rag, cloth or knitted soft toy
• Judging criteria: play potential, softness and value for money

Best stocking filler

• A small, modest-value toy that's suitable for a child's Christmas stocking
• Judging criteria: play potential, and value for money

Best sustainable/ethical toy

• A toy that's designed, made and packaged sustainably and ethically
• Judging criteria: sustainability and ethics, play potential, and value for money

Best tech toy or gadget

• A toy that's designed to teach or use tech
• Judging criteria: play potential, and value for money

Best teething toy

• A baby toy that's designed to help ease or soothe teething pain
• Judging criteria: play potential, teething relief and value for money

Best toddler ride-on

• A ride-on toy for a child aged 12 months and up
• Judging criteria: play potential, ride experience, and value for money

Best toddler toy (1 to 3 years)

• A toy suitable for a child in the age range of 12 to 36 months
• Judging criteria: age-appropriate play potential, and value for money

Best toy featuring a TV/movie/book character

• A toy that features a TV, movie or book character much loved by children
• Judging criteria: play potential, and value for money

Best toy for active play

• An indoor toy that encourages a child to move as they play
• Judging criteria: active play potential, and value for money

Best toy for role play/pretend play

• A toy that stimulates role play. NOTE: this category is often subdivided into Role Play for smaller items (eg doctor's kit) and Pretend Play for larger items (eg: play kitchens)
• Judging criteria: play potential, role-play value, and value for money

Best toy subscription/rental service

• A subscription or rental service there you can buy or hire regular batches of toys
• Judging criteria: play potential, customer offering, and value for money

Best toy vehicle

• A toy car, train, plane, rocket, bus – or similar (for playing with; a large ride-in vehicle should be entered in the Best outdoor/garden toy category, above)
• Judging criteria: play potential, and value for money

Best walker, push-along or pull-along toy

• A toy that can be pushed or pulled along by a baby/toddler or a sit-in/stand-in wheeled toy that's designed to encourage walking
• Judging criteria: play potential, and value for money

Best wooden toy

• A toy made entirely or almost entirely from wood
• Judging criteria: play potential, design and value for money

Editor’s choice awards

• Not open for entry; awarded by the editorial team

Read more...

• Enter your toy in the MadeForMums Toy Awards 2023
• Got a question? Check out our Toy Awards 2023 FAQs
• More about the Toy Awards and how they're judged