Guides & advice
Everything we have learned about buying wooden toys that last, written to save you time and money.
The Best Wooden Toys
Our pick of the best wooden toys for every age, from baby rattles to building sets, with what to look for before you buy.
Read guide →Wooden Toys vs Plastic Toys
An honest comparison of wooden and plastic toys on safety, durability, learning value, cost and the environment.
Read guide →The Best Wooden Toys for Toddlers
The best wooden toys for 1, 2 and 3 year olds: shape sorters, stackers, push toys, puzzles and first pretend play.
Read guide →Montessori Wooden Toys
What makes a toy Montessori-friendly, and the best wooden options for each stage from baby to preschool.
Read guide →How to Clean and Care for Wooden Toys
Safe ways to clean, disinfect and restore wooden toys so they last for generations, without ruining the finish.
Read guide →How to Choose a Safe Wooden Toy Box
What to look for in a wooden toy box or chest: safe lid hinges, ventilation, weight limits, and our top picks.
Read guide →Non-Toxic and Organic Wooden Toys
How to find genuinely non-toxic and organic wooden toys: finishes, certifications and the safest brands.
Read guide →Waldorf Wooden Toys
What Waldorf (Steiner) toys are, how they differ from Montessori, and the best open-ended wooden picks.
Read guide →Personalized Wooden Toys
The best personalized and engraved wooden toys for keepsake gifts: name puzzles, toy boxes, stackers and more.
Read guide →The Best Wooden Toys for a 1st Birthday
The best wooden toys to gift for a first birthday: walkers, stackers, shape sorters, bead mazes and pull toys.
Read guide →Wooden Toy Christmas Gift Guide
The best wooden toys to give at Christmas, by age, from first-year keepsakes to family game-night classics.
Read guide →Educational and STEM Wooden Toys
The best educational and STEM wooden toys: counting, pattern, building and logic toys that teach through play.
Read guide →Melissa & Doug vs Hape
Melissa & Doug vs Hape compared on quality, design, price and range, so you know which wooden toy brand to buy.
Read guide →BRIO vs Hape Wooden Trains
BRIO vs Hape wooden railway compared on track quality, trains, price and compatibility. Which train set should you buy?
Read guide →Plan Toys vs Melissa & Doug
Plan Toys vs Melissa & Doug: eco-credentials, quality, price and which wooden toy brand is right for you.
Read guide →The Best Lovevery Alternatives
Cheaper Lovevery alternatives: how to get the same Montessori wooden play without the subscription price.
Read guide →Vintage and Antique Wooden Toys
A guide to vintage and antique wooden toys: what they are worth, how to spot them, and modern heirloom-style picks.
Read guide →