Step away from the plastic and keep things traditional by choosing to invest in a collection of wooden toys. More tactile than artificial materials, stronger than a lot of plastics and durable to last and last for years, wooden toys are a savvy choice for parents and carers to make. We've found 12 excellent options for suitable for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers.
Pepe pull-along wooden puppy
Ages 12 months and up
Perfect for little ones aged one and up, Pepe is a childhood classic. Made of wood, with a non-toxic finish and robust rubber wheels, Pepe works as a push-along toy for non-walkers, then a pull-along one when they have found their feet.
Melissa & Doug geometric stacker
Ages 2 and up
Melissa & Doug do a wonderful line in wooden toys. This classic stacker is comprised of 25 colorful wooden pieces of rings, octagons, and rectangles that can be matched and stacked on three rods. It's great for hand-eye coordination and learning colors.
Play22 wooden magnetic train set
Ages 3 and up
All children love a choo-choo train! This lovely set gives you three wooden engines and a variety of wooden carriages that attach with magnets. This comes complete with a little wooden shelving unit for storage, so makes a great gift.
Coogam wooden jigsaw puzzle set
Ages 2 and up
With no sharp edges and non-toxic paint, younger children can enjoy the tactile feel and bright colors of this six puzzle set. When they're a little older, they can enjoy the challenge of putting the puzzle pieces in the correct positions, so good for critical thinking and coordination.
Manhattan Toy Skwish classic rattle and teether toy
Ages 6 months and up
This is a rattle, a teether, a geometry toy, and a clutch toy to encourage motor skills. Suitable for the tiniest of tots, the elastic linking the beads and dowels "squishes" down to fascinate little learners, but always pops back up for more fun.
Bottom line
Our overall staff pick, the Pepe pull-along wooden puppy, is such a great value wooden toy. Under supervision, babies can enjoy holding and exploring the doggy shape and turning the wheels, non-walkers can push the puppy around on the floor, then Pepe can be used as a pull along toy when they are walking.
Why trust us?
At TheRadar, we recommend the best products to enhance your life. As expert curators, we handpick products based on quality and usefulness to positively impact your day-to-day, from cart to doorstep. We take our responsibility seriously — testing products, reading reviews, and sourcing knowledgeable outlets to ensure our selections are worthy of your time and money. We deliver detailed product overviews, balancing objective information with subjective opinions, so making the best choice for your home and lifestyle is as easy as possible.
