The Hottest Baby and Toddler Toys of 2026

Part learning toy, part just-for-fun toy, this market scale includes four little veggies that have different weights, so when your toddler weighs them, they’ll see a different number pop up. And if they still enjoy gnawing on a teether, the leaves on the veggies have a ridged texture that soothes irritated gums.

If you’ve been around a baby in the last three years, you’re likely familiar with the battery-powered Fisher-Price Kick & Play mat that went viral for its (actually really good) soundtrack. This noise and light-free version is totally baby-powered and comes with eye-catching features like a colorful swaying flower that moves back and forth and when your baby kicks the panel. The mat comes with more than 10 toys designed to engage your baby’s senses as they learn and develop. And the best part is it’s made to grow with your baby from the newborn days to early toddlerhood, which Mierzejewski says is a trend that’s continuing to grow this year (which we’ve heard from our Babylist parents too).

‘Mess-free’ and ‘arts and crafts’ are two concepts that typically don’t go together, but with this Ms. Rachel iteration of Crayola’s Color Wonder set, you get just that. The set comes with five ink pads, a paintbrush and 25 Ms. Rachel-themed coloring pages. When your toddler dips their brush into the ink pads, the color will only show on the special paper (instead of your cream-colored carpet or heather grey couch).

For the last three years, screen-free story players have been trending and a top holiday gift. Mierzejewski says that parents are drawn to these toys “because they help spark a love of stories, which can help spark an interest in early literacy.” A favorite for Mierzejewski, the Luna Storytime Projector comes with a toddler-sized projector and a character that’s packed with five classic stories. Toddlers can easily pop on different characters to listen to different stories all on their own, and the handle lets them tote the projector from one room to another.

Last summer, Toniebox released their Toniebox 2, which features softer Tonies for younger toddlers and babies. They’ve taken their cuddly companions a bit further this year with their Tonies Cuddles, which are soft plush figures that are large enough to hug and squeeze.  

Filled with trendy food that would actually show up at a mid-afternoon picnic (like a wedge of brie and dollops of jam), this pretend play basket from Step2 is the ultimate open-ended toy. Toddlers can push the basket around on the front wheels and the top closes, so the basket doubles as storage. While pretend play food is one of the most classic toys on the market, we like this one (and predict it will be a holiday hit) because each food piece has tiny pegs that allow them to interlock for easy stacking—which is great for motor skill sharpening and open-ended creativity (because who said the hotdog can’t go on the burger bun?).

This colorful gumball machine is filled with 10 numbered balls that toddlers can use to fill the machine, sort and count. When the functional button is pressed, the machine releases the ball to slide out. Fitting into the open-ended play trend, the rainbow gumball machine is battery-free and, with your toddler’s imagination, can be played with in a dozen ways.

Magnetic tiles have continuously grown in popularity over the last few years and as “many parents are gravitating toward screen-free, hands-on toys that encourage active play, imagination, and interaction with caregivers, siblings, and peers rather than passively consuming content,” that trend is projected to keep growing, according to Maddie Michalik, toy trends specialist at The Toy Association. This set from CONNETIX kicks it up a notch with a light-up tile that makes the star structure glow.

Open-ended play has been a growing theme in trending toys, and according to a Toy Association survey. Michalik says that 78% of parents told them they want “more toys that help their children develop skills like creativity and problem-solving.”. Toys like this Plus Plus block building set give toddlers five and up the creative space to follow a template to build an ice cream cone, remix the instructions to create their own version or just go rogue and do their own thing. The interlocking blocks can be used to make 2 and 3-D structures and come in a handy reusable container.

With a sprinkle of physics and a healthy dose of creativity and STEM learning mixed in, Air Toobz is like a marble run that, instead of gravity, uses air circulation to shoot foam balls into the air. Kids can build the set into different formations and with extra accessories, the options are endless.

Aligning with the push for more screen-free entertainment, microMAGS gives toddlers something to do while traveling, eating out at restaurants or hanging out anywhere that they’d deem boring—all without needing to pull out your phone or tablet. This is the basic version but there are several colorways and design themes to choose from.

There’s something about the collect-them-all factor of some toys that drives them in popularity and makes them super trendy. Michalik says the love for collectibility comes down to “the surprise element, self-expression, community, and the thrill of the hunt,” and Needoh is the latest toy to fit perfectly into this trend. According to Michalik, Needoh is having a moment right now because they are “approachable, affordable, tactile, and highly shareable both online and among friends,” plus they make dozens of options. The tough part of collectibles is being able to grab one before they're out of stock.