Top 10 Toys for One-Year-Old Babies

This really silly toy is a big hit with babies. You drop the five colorful balls onto a track, where they tumble down and then pop up through the middle so baby can start the whole thing over again. The Busy Ball Popper appeals to a baby's desire for repetition, and the fun, lively music adds excitement, as well. Not only have I seen babies play with this toy for long stretches in person, I've had several parents email me to say that their babies and toddlers loved it, too.

As the name indicates, this cool toy allows baby to bounce up and down, as well as spin around, while riding a colorful zebra. I like this toy because it encourages active play, instead of just sitting in one place. It also encourages imaginative play, which is important as your baby enters the toddler years. The Bounce & Spin Zebra has lights, music and animal sounds that make this toy even more fun for toddlers. It can be used from about one year old up to age three.

A tricycle that can grow with a toddler is a great choice for a gift. Kettler tricycles are well-built and are made to turn only to certain angles so they don't tip over like the trikes you may remember from your youth. The molded seat is comfy for toddlers, and the removable pushbar that comes with this version of the Kettler Junior Tricycle allows a parent to help push the child along when necessary. This also allows younger kids to start using the tricycle sooner, and a parent can help while they learn to pedal.

Fisher-Price has updated this classic baby toy to include battery-operated sounds that babies will love. The set includes the familiar barn and several animal pals, as well as a farmer figurine. Babies will enjoy practicing their animal sounds and exploring life on the farm with this fun activity set. The whole barn closes up, housing all of the accessories inside, so you can easily store it when play time is over.

Wheely Bugs are a fun update to the classic ride-on toy for babies and toddlers. Available in ladybug, cow or bee patterns, these ride-ons have swivel wheels that allow baby to move back and forth, side to side, or any which way. The soft seat is comfortable and easy to wipe clean if necessary. The padded handlebar is nice, too. The toddlers who tested this toy for me were instantly in love with the Wheely Bug. It's a sturdy and entertaining toy that should last for several years. The small size is best for smaller toddlers. A larger size is available for ages 3 and up.

I can still remember playing with a basic set of blocks from an early age. A classic set of blocks gives a baby or toddler lots of playtime options, from the favorite "build a tower and knock it over" game to creating wooden roads for toy cars and more elaborate games. This 26-piece blocks set has several shapes and sizes to help baby be creative. The colorful designs on the blocks are eye-catching, too. Some of the blocks have bells or shimmery stickers on them. The paint is all non-toxic.

Many parents today are going back to basics when it comes to toys. Wooden toys from Bajo allow imaginative play, and they're gorgeous to boot. This airplane toy comes in natural or green wood. Toddlers will love zooming it around on the ground or through the air. The finishes are all non-toxic.

Help foster a love of reading with a fun book that features a 3-dimensional mouse that peeks out from holes in each page. The mouse is attached to the book by a string, so it won't easily be lost. The book itself is made of wood, so it's really durable and able to withstand the abuse a 1-year-old might give it. The pictures are printed onto the wood so they won't peel off.

At age 1, toddlers are beginning to use their imaginations quite well. Finger puppets allow you to interact with your little one, and it lets them get in on the story time fun, as well. These modern finger puppets from Dwell will give you and your toddler plenty of creative options for making up stories together. A moose, raccoon, bunny, bear and owl are included in the set.

This toddler-size guitar has three modes for fun and learning. Your baby can practice counting, listen to animal sounds, or jam to Old McDonald with the Learn & Groove Animal Sounds Guitar from LeapFrog. You can also switch between English and Spanish, so your child can get a head start on a second language. Lots of buttons to push and fun sounds as rewards make this a great toy for young toddlers.