27 Toys Your Picky Toddler Will Actually Use

We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.

Your rejected toy graveyard is going to be wondering where you went.

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A Bluey-themed water drawing pad that's *magically* colored with water. Even the most aggressive of colorers will be able to color in the lines with only water and once it's dried, start all over again. Low mess, high reward: the sweet spot.

A versatile doctor kit with plenty of accessories so your pint-sized doctor can run their very own make-believe clinic and have you in ship shape and on your way in no time! Doctor kits get years of imaginative use — my kids have played with theirs for five years now!

The track includes a toy police car, ambulance, and fire engine.

Promising reviews: "It's a great toy to teach cause and effect, patience, and also to help with motor skills. I bought it as an educational toy for my toddler, but everyone from older kids to adults tends to gravitate toward it." —kate

"You know how you want to give gifts that are educational and fun? Gifts that encourage kids to explore and figure things out for themselves through play? Gifts that do not involve screens or videos or batteries, that do not flash or make annoying noises or 'talk' in a squeaky voice that sets the dog to barking? This is the gift you want to give. Easy to assemble, fun for adults to play with before wrapping, perfect for little kids upon opening. A little challenging for the 2-year-old to always keep the cars on the tracks and to line up the car with the helicopter for pickup, but something to learn and grow into. The 4-year-old declares it his favorite toy. This grandma loves it because it's kid-powered, appealing, and sturdy, and who doesn't love to push buttons, turn cranks, and close up a drawbridge? Very pleased I found this and broke my rule about no plastic gifts!" —Kindle Customer

Get it from Amazon for $49.99.

Includes: wooden toolbox, hammer, screwdriver, wrench, three sets of screws and screw caps, board connector, two gears and plastic nail.

Promising review: "After watching his dad and I put together his new toddler bed, my son got super excited over 'helping' to fix things, but of course, letting him use real metal tools wasn’t something I wanted to do just yet...so I was trying to choose between a plastic set of tools that were cartoonish styled, and this wooden set that was a little more expensive. I am soooo glad I got this set instead! It’s not been out of the box more than 30 minutes, and he has learned how to hammer in 'nails,' take them out again with the back of the hammer, use a wrench and screwdriver in tandem to work a 'screw' and 'bolt,' as well as put gears on the side of the kit so that they spin each other. The tools are all very well made but not heavy, so there’s no fear of him breaking stuff if he decides to run around hammering things." —Khestra

Get it from Amazon for $21.48.

Promising review: "I bought this flower garden as a gift for my 3-year-old daughter. She absolutely loves it! She has always enjoyed blocks, and this is something different that has kept her engaged for hours! We highly recommend this product to others!!" —Ashley Petersen

Get it from Amazon for $15.98+ (available in four sizes and with a storage box).

Promising review: "My 2-year-old LOVES these! I Bought these to entertain my toddler, and they do that! She can color for hours! They’re easy to use, easy to clean, and aren’t a huge mess! So I love them too!" —Caitlin Moore

Get a set of 24 pens from Amazon $23.70.

Promising review: "I love this! My toddler loves playing with this every day! All of the pieces are well made and don't look cheap at all. She is learning about bugs and fruit all at once! Definitely recommend. ☺️" —Eduardo Caldera

Get it from Amazon for $22.49.

Sand not included.

Promising reviews: "My very active toddler absolutely LOVES this sandbox. Great for digging, imaginative play, and building. Used one 50-pound bag of sand, and it filled it the perfect amount. Easy to put the cover on and take off, great size for play without taking up too much space." —Courtney

"Purchased for our 2-year-old grandson. He and his 4-year-old brother LOVED the excavator and the toys (trucks, shovels, and little construction worker). The cover fits well. The box took one bag (50 pounds) of sand. The box is a perfect size for a tot and does not take up a lot of room in the yard. Would purchase again." —JJ

Get it from Amazon for $70.90.

The set includes a mop, broom, dust pan, dust brush, duster, and a stand.

Promising review: "I have a 2.5-year-old granddaughter and she is obsessed with this cleaning kit. She watches me clean all the time and she goes right over to her broom and starts sweeping. Good quality, sturdy, and worth the money. I am not disappointed." —gary e.

Get it from Amazon for $30.09.

Promising review: "My newly turned 3-year-old daughter instantly fell in love with this set! She loves seeing how high she can stack the ice cream cones and pretending to serve mom and dad her creations. She's been obsessed with climbing things around the house, and we *desperately* needed a distraction to get her to stop, and this is working so far — she plays with this thing for HOURS!" —West Family

Get it from Amazon for $36.99.

Each set is self-contained and the top of the box works as a mountain for the set and has 60 pieces to set up plenty of track variations. It's also compatible with most name-brand train sets in case you want to make them more expansive.

This is another toy that my family has had for about three years. The pieces are sturdy and it really does take some critical thinking to connect the tracks. I love that when play is over, all of the pieces can be tossed haphazardly into the bucket and stored away until next time. There is nothing worse than packaging that has to be put PERFECTLY, or it never closes again.

Promising review: "I got this for my son around his third birthday because he wanted a train to play with, and I didn’t want to get a big train table. This set has been fantastic. He loves the features (bridge, crane, Y tracks), and I love that it takes up no space when not in use. He’s now almost 6 and still playing with it. He’s old enough to get it out, set up the track, and put it away all by himself. One of our best toy purchases." —kehlargo

Get it from Amazon for $82.47.

Promising reviews: "Great toddler blocks. Beautiful colored blocks that are easy for little hands to grab and learn how to put together. The bright colors also help keep their interest. Our whole family loves playing together with these! I also feel comfortable letting my daughter play with these by herself because they aren’t small enough to fit in her mouth!" —Bchairs

"This is one of the few toys that keeps my son’s attention for long periods of time. Highly recommend!" —zack

Get a set of 80 blocks from Amazon for $15.99+ (also available in pink and in a 150 block set.).

Promising reviews: "These binoculars are perfect for toddlers. They are lightweight, which makes it easy for my 2-year-old to hold and look through them. These make her very eager to be outdoors and learn. The only drawback is that the size of them is hard to travel with, and my daughter doesn’t go anywhere without them. Otherwise, great company and great toy!" —Courtni Leondard

"My 3.5-year-old loves these! Perfect for toddlers wanting to explore. He uses them for bird watching, plane watching, checking out bugs, and just about anything! Great for learning!" —JillS

Get them from Amazon for $9.69+ (available in two colors).

Promising review: "We have bought this one several times over the last four years; the grandchildren love these. The dinosaur is cute, and the car is made well heavy-duty. This car has lasted for years of 18-month to 6-year-old kids' daily wear and abuse. It still works as it did the day we put it together. I love these cars. They are worth every penny you pay for them. Definitely will and have recommended this to everyone." —mfeatonjr

Get it from Amazon for $64.99 (also available in another style).

Promising reviews: "It’s great for toddlers. They will be on it the whole day. Definitely gets their energy down. It’s very sturdy and safe. I would purchase it again." —Esmerelda Navarro

"This is the second one of these we have owned. The first one lasted us about four years and that is with two children jumping on it for hours every day. It's not too large, it's sturdy, and has a nice give to it so it isn't too stiff." —Chris McJimsey

Get it from Amazon for $74.91.

Apparently, it's actually an "alicorn" since it has wings, but I'm just assuming that means your little mystical creature enthusiast is going to be doubly excited.

Promising reviews: "We own a play farm for kids. We purchased two of these bouncy pals because they fit our 'farm' themed attraction, but we had no hopes that they would last out the week. We have 500 kids a week come through our facility — and these bouncy boys are holding their own! They have not deflated one bit and get lots of rides from children ages toddler through 7-years-old. We are impressed, not to mention they're really cute, and you can wash the cover when needed." —Linlake

"It was super easy to inflate, came with an extra 'plug,' and is cute enough to give a T-rex a cavity. The material is VERY sturdy…reminds me of what you would make an inflatable raft with…really tough! My granddaughter loves it, even just to sit on and watch TV. The cover is easy to clean (by hand, allow to air dry) and not difficult to put back on and zip. I’m pretty sure it will be around for a long time!!!" —Athena L.Stallman

Get it from Amazon for $29.99+ (also available as a cox, fox, or horse).

Promising review: "We love this versatile, sturdy toy. We’ve had it for about a year now, and it’s held up to a very rough 3-year-old playing with it almost daily. He uses it as a house, a barn, a dragon’s lair, and the obvious carwash and gas station. While it’s designed for little wooden cars, it’s a great size for Hot Wheels/Matchbox cars. It’s fantastic value for the money I spent. My son has even stood on it a few times with no problem. The parts have all lasted, and the paint still looks vibrant. I would absolutely recommend this to anyone with a kid who likes cars! 10/10" —Carli Atlakson

Get it from Amazon for $22.39.

Promising review: "This tablet has entertained my 4-year-old grandson for hours at a time. He loves that he can erase at will and that the drawings are multicolored. I highly recommend this item for 18 months old and up. I bought a pink one for our 18-month-old granddaughter, and she, too, is just as enthralled with it and the 'power' she has to erase, create, erase, create! They loved them so much that we bought another set of two different colors so that they would have them at home as well as at 'Grammy's.'" —Kindle Customer Red Heart

Get it from Amazon for $13.99+ (available in two sizes and four colors).

Promising review: "I got this for my toddler, and it is the perfect quiet-time toy. She loves to play with it in the car. Definitely keeps her attention." —Nancy

Get it from Amazon for $15.98 (available in three colors).

Promising review: "My toddlers love them! I keep them in my purse for times when we are waiting and need a distraction. They are way more fun than other fidget toys and get played with for much longer. They seem to be built well, or at least haven't broken yet!" —Chelsea H.

Get a set of two from Amazon for $13.98+ (available in various pack sizes and color combinations).

See why this parent says this toy is a hit with their 7-month-old on TikTok.

Promising review: "My grandson LOVES this! He has so much fun! He loves the colors and how it squirts water. Really cute for a 1- or 2-year-old. Heck, I think it's fun and cute! Definitely a must-have for bath time!" —Faye

Get it from Amazon for $12.99+ (available in four colors and in a rechargeable option).

The 12-piece set includes a carrying case because not enough toys are self-contained.

Promising review: "I bought this for my 18-month-old for Christmas in 2021. It’s now two years and another kid later, and it’s still in great condition. We’ve managed to keep all the pieces because the carrying case is sturdy and still in great shape. It’s remained one of our favorite and most used toys over the last two years. I can’t recommend this enough." —Em122

Get it from Amazon for $24.99.

If you prefer the stick vacuum model, check out this version!

Promising review: "My son is obsessed with his Dyson toy vacuum, and it's absolutely hilarious! He wanted to match my Dyson vacuum, and now we have a mini-me vacuuming alongside me. The best part? He takes his 'cleaning duties' very seriously. He'll go around the house, vacuuming every corner with such determination — and it's the cutest thing ever. Sometimes, he'll even point out spots I missed and proudly say, 'I got it, Mommy!' It's like having my own little cleaning assistant, and I can't help but laugh every time he gets into his vacuuming mode. Plus, it's a great way to keep him entertained while I get some actual cleaning done. Overall, this toy has been a huge hit in our house. It's durable, looks just like the real thing, and provides endless entertainment. Highly recommend for any little one who wants to join in on the household chores!" —Amazon Customer

"My kid has played with this toy vacuum for over a year now. It makes plenty of noise, just like a real vacuum, and is easy for toddlers to use. Would buy again." —blanz

Get it from Amazon for $24.99+ (also available in purple).

If you already have magnetic tiles and are ready to level-up, check out this ball run extension.

Promising review: "This is by far one of the longest-lasting toys in terms of quality and level of engagement for my little one. First, the amount and variety of shapes/pieces included are enough to be creative and complex without having to buy additional sets to build decent sized structures. Secondly, the strength of the magnets is good — strong enough to keep the creations from collapsing but not overly strong that it would be difficult for toddlers to pull them apart. And — the true test — it has been kid-handled for years and still intact! My kiddo has been using these for years since toddlerhood and can be entertained for more than an hour! The level of motor skills and problem solving skills have definitely improved with the use of these tiles. I also have used them to help with speech and vocabulary since it’s such a highly preferred toy. Definitely would recommend." —S

Get a set of 100 tiles from Amazon for $39.99.

Each book has eight pages of various activities to keep your toddler engaged for longer periods of time!

Promising review: "This is the perfect activity for traveling with toddlers. My 22-month-old usually can't ride in the car for 15 minutes without screaming and crying to get out, but we recently took a five-hour road trip, and this kept him busy for so long! I love that you can take pages out and give them one at a time to avoid overwhelming them with options. This has quickly become a favorite!" — Lehua Birkholz

Get it from Amazon for $26.93+ (available in five styles).

Promising review: "I debated on so many types of bath toys. I don’t like ones with batteries as they leak and I don’t like the squirt toys because they get mold inside of them. This is the perfect toy for a toddler, and you cannot beat the price. I can’t keep my little one out of the tub now." —Teagan

Get it from Amazon for $9.97.

Promising review: "I have a toddler (21 months) who is thoroughly entertained by these suction toys. He loves sticking them to any flat surface he can think of. And I love that they have their own carrying sack so they have somewhere specific to go when it’s time to clean up. So far no issues with the quality of the product. I like that he gets to practice his fine motor skills by connecting them together and pulling them apart. I honestly didn’t expect them to be as fun as they are, but so far, they’re a hit! And super affordable :)" — Dani Cray

Get a set of 10 from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in smooth or textured and in packs of 10, 24, or 44).

Promising review: "This bike is a hit! My toddler races around the house all day long and on our street. I like the ease of this bike. My 1-year-old is quickly picking up on it too, which means I need to buy a second one here soon!" —Katie A

Get it from Amazon for $37.99+ (available in eight colors).

Promising review: "It’s only a few pages, but when it dries, it goes colorless, so you can paint over each picture many times. This holds my 2-year-old's attention and he really loves it! These water paint books are so fun for toddlers and younger kids. They travel well and the water pens hold plenty to keep them busy for a long drive or flight! Recommend 10/10!" —Aprilmomlife3

Get it from Amazon for $4.99+ (available in six versions).

The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.