The Best Baby Blocks for Stacking, Building and Play
These blocks are colorful, creative and perfect for open-ended play.
By
Blocks are one of those classic toys that stick around for a reason. Babies can start playing with blocks as early as six months old—with soft, easy-to-grasp sets that support their budding coordination—and toddlers can keep the fun going for years with more complex builds and pretend play. Blocks are open-ended, endlessly engaging and great for development at every stage.
As a mom of two and a former preschool teacher with a background in early childhood development, I’ve seen firsthand how much learning and joy the right set of blocks can spark. My oldest is almost six and still loves to play with each of our block sets, which goes to show that investing in a good set of blocks can be worth it because they’ll definitely go the distance. From fine motor skills to imagination, blocks help build it all—and they grow with your kiddo, too.
We’ve rounded up our favorite blocks for every stage, from soft starter sets for babies to more intricate building toys for toddlers.
Best Blocks for Babies
Babies love to explore with their senses, and the best blocks for this age reflect that curiosity. Look for options that are soft, easy to grasp and safe to mouth. At this stage, block play is all about discovering textures, colors and cause-and-effect. (Bonus if they stack easily or knock over with flair.)
Best First Blocks Set
These squeezable, stackable, super-soft blocks are just right for babies still mastering their grip. Sized perfectly for little hands, they’re easy to grab and coordinate—making them a great choice for early stacking practice. Bonus: they’re big enough to build with but soft enough to be safe during those inevitable tumbles.
Additional Specs
Ages: 0 mos+
Includes: 12 blocks
Best Shape Sorting Blocks
Shape sorting is a classic developmental win, and this colorful bucket of blocks makes it extra fun. With 10 chunky, easy-to-grasp shapes and a shape-sorting lid, babies get to practice their fine motor skills while learning about colors and shapes. The lid doubles as a shape sorter, and everything stores neatly inside—perfect for cleanup and on-the-go play.
Additional Specs
Ages: 6 mos+
Includes: 10 blocks
Best Sensory Blocks
Around the one-year mark, most babies start getting the hang of stacking—and their grasp is just right for a first set of wooden blocks. This six-piece starter set is perfect for curious hands, with bold colors and fun surprises like a push button, kaleidoscope and jingle bell hidden inside each block. The smaller size means fewer blocks underfoot and just the right number for short, satisfying towers that won’t tumble too hard on tiny toes.
Additional Specs
Ages: 12 mos+
Includes: 6 blocks
Best Blocks for Toddlers
As toddlers get more confident with their hands and imaginations, their block play levels up. Now's the time to introduce sets that challenge their motor skills, support early learning and encourage storytelling. Whether they’re building a tower or creating a world of their own, these blocks make playtime feel like an adventure.
Best Blocks That'll Grow With Them
Lovevery’s done it again with this thoughtfully designed, super-versatile block set. If you already love The Play Gym or The Play Kits, this one’s a natural next step. It comes with 70 different pieces, giving your little one endless play opportunities. The wooden box also serves as a shape sorter!
With over 20 stage-based activities that support everything from stacking to storytelling, these blocks grow with your child and keep play aligned with their developmental stage. It comes with a play guide full of ideas and a linen drawstring bag to store everything.
Additional Specs
Ages: 18 mos+
Includes: 70 blocks
Best Intro to Lego Blocks
These chunky, colorful blocks are a classic for a reason. With interlocking pieces and a variety of shapes, the Mega Bloks Big Building Bag is a toddler favorite—and a great introduction to the world of building toys. Kids can freestyle their own creations or follow simple online diagrams to build trains, robots, giraffes and more. It's open-ended play that’s big on fun and early STEM skills.
Additional Specs
Ages: 12 mos+
Includes: 80 blocks
Best Learning Blocks
Created in collaboration with everyone’s favorite educator Ms. Rachel, this block set combines hands-on building with learning-focused play. It comes with chunky wooden blocks and a set of activity cards designed to support early language development, color recognition and more. Whether you’re following the prompts together or just stacking for fun, it’s a great way to connect while your toddler learns through play.
Additional Specs
Ages: 18 mos+
Includes: 26 blocks
Best Magnetic Blocks
These magnetic tiles will be your toddler's next favorite thing. The translucent colorful tiles can make flat shapes or build 3D structures; the options are endless. They're also great for holding up to a window or playing with on a light table for a fun stained glass effect. Magna-Tiles also makes expansion packs to add safari animals and even dinosaurs to your collection!
One thing to note: Magna-Tiles contain little magnets inside of them which is why the recommended age is three years and up. Parents shouldn’t let kids who still put things in their mouth play with these, and the pieces should be regularly checked for damage to ensure they remain safe to play with.
Additional Specs
Ages: 3 yrs+
Includes: 32 blocks
Best Heirloom Blocks
If your nursery aesthetic is more on the neutral side, there are some beautiful natural-wood options for blocks. These stunning artist-designed blocks are made from solid beech wood and feature letters and numbers in playful fonts as well as delicate nature images.
Additional Specs
Ages: 2 yrs+
Includes: 26 blocks
Best Classic Wooden Blocks
Lakeshore Learning Hardwood Blocks Starter Set
From $69.99Sometimes the classics really are the best. These smooth, solid hardwood blocks are the kind you might remember from your own childhood—and they’re still just as fun (and beneficial) today. With a variety of shapes and sizes, they’re great for building tall towers, imaginative cities and everything in between. Bonus: the sturdy wood stands up to years of play, making them a solid long-lasting pick.
Additional Specs
Ages: 3 yrs+
Includes: 50 blocks
More Blocks to Consider
Looking for something a little different? Here are a few more block sets that’ll provide a ton of fun—whether they add a unique material, sensory features or a design that encourages specific developmental skills.
How to Choose Blocks
When picking out blocks, you'll want to pay close attention to the age recommendations. This ensures the pieces are appropriately sized for your baby or toddler to prevent any choking hazards.
Another tip to keep in mind is that less really is more. As with any kind of toy, having too many things out at once can be overwhelming for little ones and actually counterproductive in encouraging play. Start with smaller sets, and as they get older you can build on to your block collection or simply put more out for them to play with.
It's also a good idea to look for open-ended block sets as opposed to a set with a specific theme or configuration. This offers your baby or toddler truly endless ways to play.
The Benefits of Playing with Blocks
Blocks are super beneficial for the development of both babies and toddlers. According to the National Association for the Education of Young Children , blocks provide development opportunities in all areas. This includes:
Fine and gross motor skills. From grasping to positioning in a stack, playing with building blocks requires both fine and gross motor skills.
Spatial awareness. Stacking blocks and building towers helps develop this perceptual motor skill, which is learning about how objects exist in space in relation to our own bodies.
Problem solving. When your little one’s tower topples, it opens up a new chance for them to problem-solve and try building it differently.
Imagination and creativity. Babies and toddlers love to play, and blocks are an ideal toy for an endless source of fun and possibilities.
Self-esteem and self-efficacy. Seeing your hard work pay off feels good! Feeling proud of their creations contributes to building self-efficacy (which is a measure of how capable people feel of doing things and achieving their goals) which in turn boosts their self-esteem.
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