Wooden Toys for Babies (0 to 18 Months)
In the first year and a half, the best wooden toys are simple, safe to mouth and built around grasping, shaking and cause-and-effect. These are our go-to picks for newborns through new walkers, and they all make lovely new-baby gifts.
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At a glance
Our top 5 picks
Skwish Grasping Rattle
Manhattan Toy
The collapsing wooden ball every baby can grab. A baby-shower classic from 0 months.
$$$ Budget
Check on Amazon
Wooden Ring Stacker
Hape
The graduated-ring stacker for the back half of year one. First problem solving.
$$$ Budget
Check on Amazon
Wooden Bead Maze
Hape
A weighted bead maze for busy hands once baby is sitting.
$$$ Budget
Check on Amazon
Wonder Walker Push Cart
Hape
A sturdy push walker for cruising and first steps, from around 10 months.
$$$ Mid-range
Check on Amazon
Wooden Rattle & Teether Set
Hape
A natural-wood gift set of rattles and teethers for newborns.
$$$ Budget
Check on Amazon
What to look for
- For mouthing babies, choose untreated wood or food-grade oil and beeswax finishes, with no small parts.
- Rattles, teethers and grasping toys come first; stackers, bead mazes and push walkers follow as baby sits and stands.
- One brilliant open-ended toy beats a pile of single-use ones.
Common questions
What wooden toys are safe for a newborn?
Lightweight grasping rattles and teethers made from a single piece of untreated hardwood, or finished with food-grade oil or beeswax, are ideal from birth.