11 Best Toys For A 15-Month-Old Baby In 2024, As Per Toys Experts

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Toys are often more than just playthings; they also help develop a child’s motor and cognitive skills. Choosing the best toy for a 15-month-old could be tricky because children at this age are in a crucial learning phase. The right toys will help them reach developmental milestones sooner rather than later. So, if you are searching for some unique toys for your toddler, you have arrived at the right place. Here, we have a list of time-tested toys that will make fun gifts for your little one.

In This Article

11 Best Toys For 15-Month-Old-Baby

1. Best For Motor Skills: VTech Smart Shots Sports Center

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Why We Think It's Worth Buying

The whopping 27,030 positive reviews on Amazon reflect the superior quality of this product.

Keep your little one engaged with this tried-and-tested sports center by VTech. The two-in-one hoop toy features a basketball for shooting hoops and a soccer ball for kicking. It helps develop the motor skills of your toddler. The scoreboard is equipped with animated LEDs and counts baskets up to ten, and the toy plays more than 50 songs, phrases, and sounds are also included with the toy. This can be a fun birthday gift for your little sportsman. Watch a tester’s experience in this review video for more information.

Item Weight: 2 pounds | Product Dimensions: 16.54 x 22.83 x 24.02 inches

Pros

  • Promotes curiosity
  • Easy-to-grasp ball
  • Non-skid base
  • Durable design

Cons

  • May not be heavy enough
  • May be smaller than you expect

2. Best For Hand-Eye Coordination: Hape Pound & Tap Bench with Slide Out Xylophone

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Why We Think It's Worth Buying

It's no wonder that this quality product has earned over 15,208 positive reviews on Amazon.

Bring home the versatile multifunctional and award-winning xylophone by Hape suitable for children aged 12 months to three years. The pounding of the toy sends the balls tinkling over, and children need to fetch them for fun play. It helps develop motor skills, enhance dexterity and improve hand-eye coordination. This best-selling musical toy for toddlers encourages musical development and is super safe and non-toxic, making it a suitable gift option. Go through a tester’s experience in this review video for a detailed understanding of the product.

Item Weight: 4.8 ounces | Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 5.3 x 5.9 inches

Pros

  • Water-based paint finishing
  • Strengthens arm muscle
  • Easy-to-grip handle
  • Smooth edges
  • Bright colors

Cons

  • Sound quality may not be great
  • Some parts may splinter over time

protip_icon Quick fact
Musical toys are not only entertaining for little ones but their rhythm and sound also stimulate new neurological connections for effective brain development (1).

3. Best Colorful: LeapFrog Scout’s Learning Lights Remote

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4.6
LeapFrog Scout’s Learning Lights Remote Image: Leapfrog
Courtesy of LeapFrog
worth-buy-icon

Why We Think It's Worth Buying

The 13,992 positive customer reviews on Amazon attest to the product’s quality.

LeapFrog’s learning lights remote is an imitative toy equipped with more than 65 songs, tunes, and fun audio responses. Use it  to teach several early concepts around numbers and shapes to your child and develop their motor skills. It runs on three AAA batteries and comes with more than ten vibrant lights and a weather button. For more information on the product, check out this video of a reviewer testing the toy.

Batteries: 2 AAA batteries required | Item Weight: 0.8 ounces | Product Dimensions: 2.5 x 5.06 x 9.13 inches

Pros

  • Encourages interaction
  • Boosts social skills
  • Encourages pretend play
  • Available in two colors

Cons

  • Battery may run out pretty quickly
  • Buttons may be a bit fragile

4. Best Easy-To-Assemble: Little Tikes Go and Grow Lil’ Rollin’ Giraffe

Courtesy of Little Tikes
worth-buy-icon

Why We Think It's Worth Buying

The 13,149 reviews on Amazon indicate that this product has a loyal following.

Let your toddler ride and have fun with this bike. The Little Tike ride is a three-wheel bike with an oversized back wheel that provides enhanced safety and stability to your toddler. The premium ride-on toy for toddlers is suitable for indoor and outdoor fun and helps strengthen balance and coordination skills of your child. The wide front wheel base and adjustable seat make it super comfy for children, making it a suitable birthday gift option for 15-month-olds.

Item Weight: 1.98 pounds | Product Dimensions: 15.5 x 22 x 16 inches

Pros

  • Develops motor skills
  • Easy-grip handles
  • Includes wheel guard for safety
  • Controlled steering radius
  • Requires minimal assembly

Cons

  • May not glide well on carpet
  • Backrest may be slightly low

protip_icon Did you know?
Ride-on toys are an ideal means to improve the child’s mobility and sense of direction, reduce their screen time, and get them physically active, which is beneficial for overall health.

5. Best BPA-Free: Green Toys Submarine

Courtesy of Green Toys

Built using recycled plastic milk containers, the Green Toys submarine is free of phthalates, and BPA. Help your toddler enjoy a nautical journey with this fine motor skill toy for 15-month-olds. It features a spinning rear propeller, flat bottom, classic handle, and wide mouth opening. This bath toy can be a great addition to your toddler’s shower time. The easy-to-clean toy for toddlers is dishwasher-safe and suitable for both indoor and outdoor play.

Item Weight: 6.5 ounces | Product Dimensions: 10.5 x 5.5 x 4 inches

Pros

  • Removable cabin
  • No battery required
  • Free of PVC
  • Enhances hand-eye coordination
  • Improves fine motor skills

Cons

  • May be slightly bulky
  • Handle may be a bit flimsy

Our Reviewer's Experience

"Thanks to this submarine toy, bathtime in my house has become an event my son looks forward to. Although lifting the toy by the handle when it's filled with water can cause the lid to open, it's a minor flaw in an otherwise robust toy. It even floats on water, and its eco-friendly construction aligns with my eco-conscious values."


protip_icon Remember
Do not leave this toy outdoors for extended periods of time, as it may cause the color of the toy to fade.

6. Best For Arm Movement: Kidwill Montessori Wooden Hammering Pounding Toy

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4.5
Kidwill Baby Xylophone Image: Kidwill

Keep your little one busy and enhance their hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills with the Kidwill Wooden Hammering Pounding Toy. This versatile puzzle for 15-month-olds features a pounding bench, a number maze puzzle, and a xylophone. As per reviews, the eight-note xylophone encourages musical development and audio recognition, and the number maze puzzle helps with number recognition.

Item Weight: 2.29 pounds | Product Dimensions: 10 x 5.6 x 6 inches

Pros

  • Odorless water-based paint
  • Smooth edges
  • Strengthens arm muscles
  • Meets quality standards

Cons

  • Numbers in the number maze might not slide easily
  • Might be smaller than expected

Our Tester's Experience

"Although it has been a few months since I introduced this toy to my toddler, its multifaceted design keeps him entertained for hours on end. While the puzzle side of the toy could have been smoother, the overall construction and durability are pretty commendable. Overall, the blend of music, puzzles, and other features has offered multiple benefits to my little one"


7. Best For Pretend-Play: LeapFrog My First Learning Tablet

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4.6
LeapFrog My First Learning Tablet Image: Leap Frog

The children’s tablet has realistic features, including a home button and 20 app icons that teaches letters, numbers, shapes, and more to little children. By pressing the Scout button, your child can interact with Scout, who talks and guides them as they explore the functions of this tablet. Sliding fingers across the screen of this pretend play toy for 15-month-olds can trigger various colors, lights, and sound effects, making it an engaging experience for children.

Batteries: 3 AAA batteries required | Item Weight: 12 ounces | Product Dimensions: 1.4 x 6.83 x 7.89 inches

Pros

  • 20 familiar melodies and three songs
  • Various modes, including music, learn, and explore
  • Lightweight design
  • Durable structure

Cons

  • Might be a little smaller than expected
  • Some children may find it confusing
My Personal Experience

"I got this educational tablet as a birthday present for my little one. He also loves taking pretend pictures and dancing to the songs offered by it. While he is yet to get the hang of the learning modes, the toy has been ideal for making playtime fun."

8. Best For Language Skills: VTech Lil’ Critters Spin And Discover Ferris Wheels

Help your child boost their language skills with VTech Lil’ Critters Spin And Discover Ferris Wheels. The attractive animal buttons on this Ferris wheel introduce your child to numbers, colors, and animals. With happy music, flashing stars, and a friendly voice, this unique baby toy keeps your child engaged for hours.

Batteries: 2 AAA batteries required | Item Weight: 13.6 ounces | Product Dimensions: 3.15 x 5.91 x 7.87 inches

Pros

  • Five sing-along songs
  • Strengthens gross motor skills
  • Suction cup holds the ferris wheel in place
  • Comes with two AAA batteries

Cons

  • Might be a little noisy
  • Might not stick well on rough surfaces

9. Best Interactive: VTech Musical Rhymes Book

This interactive nursery rhyme book has been designed to support early education and enhance fine motor skills. It plays six nursery rhymes and features five colorful piano buttons and two play modes-music and learning. Turn up the six pages to explore a flashing light-up star with sound. You can also keep your little one engaged for hours with the book’s 40+ songs, melodies, sound effects, and phrases with this interactive toy for toddlers.

Batteries: 2 AAA batteries required | Item Weight: 1.11 pounds | Product Dimensions: 1.7 x 8.8 x 7.5 inches

Pros

  • Easy-to-turn pages
  • Adjustable volume
  • Teaches colors, instruments, and rhymes
  • Meets the US Toy Safety Standards
  • Promotes sensory development

Cons

  • May be slightly heavy
  • Sound may be screechy

10. Best Premium-Quality Wood: Dreampark Educational Toddler Toys

Enhance your little one’s concentration with this education toy. The Dreampark wooden block toy for toddlers is a premium wooden toy made using water-based paints. Equipped with smooth edges, the stacking geometry board for 15-month-olds is safe to play with. Your toddler needs to match different geometric shapes on four columns. This educational toy for toddlers enhances shape identification skills, hand-eye coordination and more.

Item Weight: 13.7 ounces | Product Dimensions: 9 x 7 x 2 inches

Pros

  • Enhances logical-thinking skills
  • Boosts focus
  • Stimulates color recognition
  • Easy-to-grasp shapes
  • Develops parent-child interaction

Cons

  • Paint may not be chip-resistant
  • Size may be small

11. Best For Color Recognition: Melissa & Doug K’s Kids My First Activity Book

star-ratingstar-ratingstar-ratingstar-ratingstar-rating
4.6
Melissa & Doug K’s Kids My First Activity Book Image: Melissa & Doug
*The prices provided in this article are based on the latest available information. However, they may vary due to changes in pricing by the seller and/or promotional offers.

If you’re searching for the best birthday gift for your toddler, Melissa & Doug brings you this cloth activity book for hands-on, screen-free play for children aged up to two years. An ideal sensory toy for 15-month-olds, the activity book with attached soft handles features fun activities like buckling, buttoning, counting, peek-a-boo, and matching. See your little one jump in delight as the toy set includes a crinkling surprise, a removable hand puppet, and two finger puppets. Also, telling the time has never been fun with the included clock with movable hands.

Item Weight: 8 ounces | Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 2.75 x 8.75 inches

Pros

  • Machine-washable
  • Durable and soft
  • Improves fine motor skills and color recognition
  • Promotes sensory development
  • Comes in a clear tote with a handle

Cons

  • Might be a bit smaller than expected
  • Zipper might not be sturdy enough
Our Reviewer's Experience

"The range of activities in this plush book, including the finger puppets and buckles, have helped my toddler work on his motor skills. While some components were more advanced for his age, it ensures that the toy will grow with the child. Overall, the book has been an enriching addition to his playtime."

How To Choose The Right Toy For A 15-Month-Old?

Here are the factors you should keep in mind while buying age-appropriate toys for a 15-month-old.

  1. Engaging: Consider your little one’s interests and look for toys that pique their curiosity. Little kids have limited attention spans. Choose toys that are fun and appealing for them while promoting sensory development, such as textured toys and sensory balls. You can also consult a child development expert to get a better understanding of the appropriate options.
  1. Skills: Choose the toy based on the skill you want to nurture in your child. Different toys might focus on various learning skills, such as toy trains for motor skills, language development, and easy-to-grab puzzles with large knobs for cognitive skills.
  1. Size: Pay attention to the size of the toy and choose the one that can fit in your toddler’s playroom. If you have a small room, invest in small toys rather than large ones.
  1. Non-toxic: Look for a toy that is free of BPA, toxins, lead, and other harmful chemicals so that your little one can easily play with it without supervision. Opt for softer toys such as stuffed animals to reduce the chances of getting hurt during playtime.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What kind of toys should a 15-month-old have?

Toys that are made of non-toxic materials, big enough to not cause a choking hazard, and have smooth edges and corners are ideal for 15-month-olds. Apart from these safety aspects, the toys that can be easily used and understood by the toddler are crucial as they allow them to play independently without much assistance.

2. What do 15-month-old babies play with?

Being fascinated by their immediate surroundings, most 15-month-olds are attracted to toys that stimulate their sensory responses either in the form of sight, sounds, or mobility. Our list above can help you choose such entertaining and safe developmental toys for 15-month-olds.

3. Can a 15-month-old play with playdough?

Playdough could be an advanced-level toy for most 15-month-olds. They could be too small to comprehend how to play with it. Most importantly, clay could pose a choking threat as toddlers usually love to put almost everything into their tiny mouths. Instead, opt for toys such as stacking cups and shape sorters to help your toddler’s cognitive development.

The Bottom Line

When babies reach the age of 15 months, the best toys for a 15-month-old baby help them achieve their developmental milestones by stimulating various senses and promoting different skills. Since babies have a limited attention span, choosing colorful toys that make sounds can help capture their attention. When you choose a toy made of non-toxic material, such as the Hape Pound & Tap Bench with Slide Out Xylophone, your beloved child will be safe when playing with it. Given the many toys available on the market, you can choose one based on the skills you want to nurture. For instance, the VTech Smart Shots Sports Center is ideal for developing motor skills, while the LeapFrog Scout’s Learning Lights Remote can improve numeracy skills.

Infographic: Things To Remember When Choosing Toys For 15-Month-Olds

A 15-month-old can walk independently and would be at a rapid developmental stage. Therefore, you must include toys in their playtime that can support their developmental process and help them to achieve various skills. Check out the infographic below to learn about some tips you should consider when choosing the toys for them.

Tips For Selecting Toys For 15 Month Olds (infographic)

Illustration: Momjunction Design Team


References

MomJunction's articles are written after analyzing the research works of expert authors and institutions. Our references consist of resources established by authorities in their respective fields. You can learn more about the authenticity of the information we present in our editorial policy.
  1. Musical benefits
    https://www.learningpotential.gov.au/articles/musical-benefits

Why Trust MomJunction?

Our writer Priti Bose has thoroughly researched consumer-tested products for this post on the best toys for 15-month-olds before adding them to the list. She has studied their specifications, including interactive, vibrant, and educational designs. These features have also been mentioned under each product. She has also read several customer reviews from various e-commerce websites and has included a well-researched buying guide to help you make an informed choice.

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Jennifer Stalley
Jennifer StalleyToys entrepreneur
Jennifer Stalley is the founder and president of Meemzy Magic, a kids’ toys and DIY kits business. Through her venture, Jennifer aims to bring sensory play to children around the world and help moms take a load off.  She is a believer in the power of play, for all ages, on screen and off.

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Priti Bose
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Priti Bose is a poet, songwriter and blog writer. She did her masters in English, Public Relations and Advertising from Delhi University. Her creative skills and hunger for details make her do in-depth research on the topics she covers.

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Wedetso Chirhah holds a masters degree in English Literature from Mangalore University and has over 13 years of experience in content. He has written content for more than 15 B2B websites and edited school books before joining MomJunction as an editor.

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Vibha is a coder turned content writer. She holds a Masters degree in Computer Applications from Osmania University, Hyderabad and a certificate in 'Introduction To Child Psychology'. Her passion for writing fresh and informative content made her a full-time writer in 2019.

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