Best Musical Toys for Toddlers
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Kids are born to be soothed and entertained by music. And what better way to get out excess energy (or a case of the crankies) than with a jam session? Music broadens toddlers’ sensory environments, especially when they can make it their own. Giving your child plenty of ways to tap, clap, swing, and move to the beat encourages coordination along with fine and large motor skills, and it may even help build the base for future STEM skills.
These days there are tons of ways to get your child singing, playing, and grooving to tunes, from child-sized guitars to keyboards that are practically as intricate as the real deal. Be sure to check the age limit before buying, as many musical toys have small pieces that can pose a choking hazard to younger tots. We scoured the best options online to pick out a few of our favorite musical toys for toddlers that encourage your little one’s natural sense of rhythm and style.
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Best Overall Musical Toy for Toddlers
VTech Zoo Jamz Piano
- Lots of buttons to explore
- plus volume settings for adults
- As with any musical toy
- it might annoy you
Toddlers are curious, and this toy is seriously packed with buttons to inspire exploration and play. Four settings play more than 20 songs on the piano, violin, xylophone or saxophone. Light-up piano keys help your child to follow along with the melody or learn to play a song. The whammy bar and scratch disc encourage fine motor skills with fun sounds. Kids will love hearing themselves on the working microphone as they sing along to more than 100 songs, sounds and phrases.
Weight: 2.38 pounds
Dimensions: 2.95 x 17.32 x 11.14 inches
Age/weight limit: 18 months to 4 years old
Best Toddler Guitar
Baby Einstein Together in Tune Guitar
- Easy to clean
- can connect with other instruments
- touch-sensitive "buttons"
- Some wish it had a shoulder strap
Rock out and role play to a variety of kid-friendly tunes with the Baby Einstein Together in Tune Guitar. Toddlers can jam to four different play modes and 10 differrent melodies. Your toddler can hear real guitar sounds when they touch the colorful frets (which are super-receptive to touch, meaning your toddler won't have to slam down on the frets to hear noise). The frets are also buttonless, which makes this wooden toy particularly easy to wipe clean. Your little one can even play with other friends or family members who are using Together in Tune instruments nearby by connecting wirelessly via radio signals. Parents will also appreciate the off, low and high volume control panel.
Weight: 2.2 pounds
Dimensions: 22 x 2.5 x 8 inches
Age/weight limit: 12 months and up
Best Musical Mat
RenFox Kids Musical Mat
- Lots of modes for play
- works well for many ages
- volume control panel
- Takes up a decent amount of floor space
Active toddlers will twist and leap their energy out across this musical mat, wiggling or dancing along to tons of instrument sounds and melodies. Four play modes mean there's plenty of fun to be had with this mat, from hearing different instruments to touching and kicking the keys to even recording your tot's own special tune. You’ll appreciate having one more way to keep your little busy body moving and exploring.
Weight: 9.6 ounces
Dimensions: 43.3 x 14.2 x 0.39 inches
Age/weight limit: 12 months to 3 years
Best Musical Toy for the Littlest Toddlers
Baby Einstein Toddler Jams Musical Toy
- Plays a variety of music and is easy to use and carry around
- Some parents say that it breaks easily
This Baby Einstein musical toy is deceptively simple: With just a few buttons, your toddler can groove to more than 30 songs. Kids can get down to a variety of music, from classical to pop. The easy-to-grab handle makes it like a ‘90s boombox, playing music on the go. Bright lights flash to the beat of the music, encouraging coordination. The colorful buttons allow your little one to pause, skip, mix it up or hit replay.
Weight: 1 pound
Dimensions: 8.75 x 2.5 x 5 inches
Age/weight limit: 12 months and up
Best Musical Toy for Kids Who Love to Sing
Pinkfong Baby Shark Sing-Alongs
- All of the buttons play a full song
- which is enough to keep toddlers entertained for up to half an hour.
- Some users complain that the book suddenly stops working
“Baby Shark” is this generation’s toddler hit — guaranteed to get your little one singing and dancing like a maniac. Parents love that this version doesn’t involve screen time. The book’s form and buttons are designed for little hands, and built-in speakers provide a surprisingly rich sound. Each page features a playful image and lyrics that pair with the song button.
Weight: 11.7 ounces
Dimensions: 8.78 x 7.87 x 0.67 inches
Age/weight limit: 12 months to 4 years old
Best Back-to-Basics Musical Set
Looikoos Toddler Musical Instruments Natural Wooden Percussion Instruments
- Sturdy toys that work for a wide array of ages.
- Some buyers say the toys don’t stand up to toddlers’ antics.
Kids get the most educational experience from simple musical toys that encourage creativity and exploration. Get back to the basics with this musical percussion set, including a tambourine, hand bells, triangle, maracas and more. Made of natural wood and metal, these toys are safe for even the littlest toddlers’ sensory experience. Turn on your own favorite tunes and encourage your tot to play along.
Weight: 2.42 pounds
Dimensions: 11.5 x 8.98 x 3.19 inches
Age/weight limit: 6 months and up
Best Toddler Drum Set
VTech KidiBeats Kids Drum Set
- Teaches kids the alphabet and numbers
- Some parents find the sounds annoying
Hit it! Work your child’s memory and musical creativity while releasing pent-up energy. The drum pads and cymbal light up and make a unique sound when tapped with a stick. Toddlers can either free-play or jam along to nine rock, dance and pop melodies. Four play modes also teach kids letters and numbers.
Weight: 1.51 pounds
Dimensions: 3.9 x 12.09 x 11.46 inches
Age/weight limit: 2 to 5 years old
Best “Real” Musical Toy for Toddlers
B. toys Wooden Toy Piano
- High-quality construction and soft but quality sound.
- The paper sheet music isn’t super durable.
Your budding maestro will appreciate that this colorful piano looks and feels a whole lot like the real thing. Twenty-five keys cover two octaves, and a music button plays classical pieces by composers like Bach and Beethoven. Kids can eventually advance to color-coded sheet music that teaches them how to play six familiar tunes.
Weight: 2.72 pounds
Dimensions: 15.9 x 8.25 x 10.5 inches
Age/weight limit: Designed for kids 3 years and up (small parts may pose a choking hazard)
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