Top Toy Picks 2010: Ages Infant-18 Months

The LeapFrog Learn & Groove Musical Table is popular year after year. For the younger children, remove the legs and have the table sit flat on the floor. As your little one gets older, reattach the legs to transform back into a table. This musical table has 15 activities and over 40 songs and melodies in both English and Spanish. Colorful interactive learning stations introduce early reading, math, and language development skills. Recommended for ages 6 months to 3 years.

Of all the toys my little girl has, this Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Say Please Tea Set has received the most playing time. It includes 2 teacups, a shapesorting cookie tray, 3 teethable cookies, and sings 3 songs. Teaches baby about numbers, shapes, opposites, manners, greetings, and more. Don't be surprised if you start singing the catchy songs yourself! Recommended for ages 6 months to 3 years.

LeapFrog's My Pal Scout and My Pal Violet are interactive companions that help children learn with an entertaining twist. Download your child's name and favorite things to do with this cuddly customizable puppy. Press your puppy's paws for lullabies, learning songs, and activities with numbers, animals, food, and more. This is another toy that we had in the house that was a big hit. Recommended for ages 6 months to 3 years.

The Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Learning Farm has three great modes of play including a Learning Mode, Music Mode, and Imagination Mode. The magic starts when your little one opens the gate and crawls through, triggering sing-along songs, dancing lights, music, sounds, and fun phrases. There are veggie shapes to sort, chicken eggs to count, plus lots of pressing, flipping, spinning, and turning discoveries to make. Recommended for ages 6 months to 3 years.

Ok, I admit it. I remember seeing the Playskool Explore and Grow Busy Ball Popper in the store with my first born thinking, "that will never hold a child's attention." However, it wasn't until it was given to my little girl as a Christmas gift did I realize how much fun kids have with this one! This ball popper is a great toy for infants gaining gross motor skills or for toddlers who are ready to chase the balls around the house and dance to the upbeat music. I honestly believe my (then) three-year-old enjoyed this just as much as my (then) one-year-old. Recommended for ages 9 months to 3 years.

The Fisher-Price Brilliant Basics Stroll-Along Walker is perfect to steady your baby girl's first steps while allowing her to push her baby at the same time. The wide base and easy-grasp handle gives her the supports she needs when walking and encourages role play and nurturing. She can press the wiggly bear's tummy for musical rewards, or enjoy fun activities with spinners, roller bar and flip book. Recommended for ages 9 months and up.

The Vtech - Sit to Stand Alphabet Train has three modes: Floor Play Mode, Walker Mode, and Ride-On Mode. It features 26 double-sided letter blocks, a book with six turning pages, five colorful number buttons, one movable elephant character, a motion sensor, a ride-on carriage and a drop-space for sending the blocks from the train to the carriage. Recommended for ages 1-3 years.

The Fisher-Price Little People Stack 'n Learn Alphabet Blocks combines classic block play with Little People characters for hours of enjoyment. Set includes twenty-six letter-and-picture blocks, 23 shape-and-color blocks and a Little People dog figure. Comes in a durable, vinyl bag, perfect for storage, with a handle for easy take-along. Recommended for ages 12 months to 4 years.

The Fisher-Price Laugh and Learn Cookie Shape Surprise plays music and says phrases every time something is placed in or on top of the cookie jar. There are 2 modes of play: Shape Mode and Number Mode. As your little one places the correct shape through the correct opening they will hear the name of the shape or the number that is on the shape. Includes 5 cookie shapes, the magical cookie jar, and the lid. Recommended for ages 6 months to 3 years.

Your baby can work and learn with the Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Learning Workbench. It includes 15+ sing-along songs and tunes, along with lively music, fun sounds and phrases. There is a dancing drill, spinning vise, twirling paint roller, count-and-slide ruler, and rattling hammer. Volume control for quiet play! Recommended for ages 6 months to 3 years.


To view Top Toy Picks for other ages, see this post.