Eco-friendly wooden baby toys are safe for little ones and fun for them to play with.
Have you ever taken a good look at baby toys? When you do, you’ll notice the majority are made from plastic. These toys are easy to find, but parents have other options. They can switch to sustainable wooden toys.
Best of all, we've researched some of the top-rated wooden toys, so you just have to pick the ones your baby will adore.
OUR TOP PICK
Give your toddler the gift of hands-on learning with Manhattan Toy’s Deep sea Adventure wooden activity center. The colorful graphics have plenty of details, perfect for capturing your toddler’s imagination.
It comes with spinning gears, bead runs, and clacking clams, along with springy flaps decorated to look like coral and gliders shaped like sea creatures.
This wooden toy has a non-toxic, water-based finish. You don’t have to worry about chemicals around your toddler. It’s rated for children ages one and older and makes the perfect present for any active toddler.
Pros
- Water-base, non-toxic finish
- Multiple hands-on learning activities
- Colorful and detailed
Cons
- Toddlers can quickly outgrow its shorter height, around two feet.
EDITORS CHOICE
Get ready to make some noise with this hammering, musical toy from KIDWILL. Its versatility will keep active toddlers busy for hours. The multifunctional educational toy makes learning fun. It’s even designed for two little ones.
It’s a pounding bench, number maze, and xylophone. It comes with two soft hammers and three pounding mallets, and the maze is designed for multiple hands.
Children work on their eye-hand coordination and musical development. It also teaches basic numbers preparing toddlers for school.
Pros
- Made from high-quality wood with a water-based finish
- Versatile, it comes with three activities
- Designed for use with multiple children
Cons
- The pop-up hamsters can break easily if hit too hard.
BEST VALUE
The cossy Wooden Learning Walker is not only eco-friendly, but it also comes with a pretty forest theme. It’s perfect for toddlers just learning to walk.
Toddlers need a little support during their first steps. The sturdy handle gives your toddler stability and the wheels glide smoothly, guiding their steps.
Walking is tiring, and when your child wants to rest the 36 forest-themed blocks will keep them occupied. The blocks have a variety of patterns to capture toddlers’ imaginations.
Pros
- 36 different patterned blocks
- Rubber-tipped wheels to protect flooring
- Made from high-quality wood
Cons
- The walker can easily tip over.
BEST VALUE
Parents and toddlers both have reasons to love this award-winning stacker puzzle from Le Toy Van. The set comes with nine colorful pieces perfect for stacking.
The cute woodland animal shapes are crafted from quality wood, and the colorful paint is non-toxic.
Toddlers can start learning the names of the various forest animals, while also developing eye-hand coordination. The nine-piece set also comes with a handy matching bag. This educational toy is rated for toddlers two years and up.
Pros
- Nine puzzle piece set
- Non-toxic paint
- Comes with a matching storage bag
Cons
- The smaller stacking puzzle pieces can pose a choking hazard.
BEST VALUE
It’s hard not to fall in love with the Hape Wobbling Musical Penguin. It’s an adorable roly-poly toy that will make babies giggle with delight. It also brings a smile to adult faces.
The funny penguin doesn’t roll away and shakes its arms every time it waddles. A soothing bell tinkles whenever your baby gives the penguin a little push. The soft bell doesn’t irritate sensitive ears.
The solid wood construction ensures durability, and the colorful paint is child-safe.
Pros
- Adorable wooden roly-poly toy
- Child-safe paint
- Musical bell inside
Cons
- The solid wood toy can break objects if thrown.
BEST VALUE
Teething is an uncomfortable experience for parents and babies, but this eco-friendly wooden toy ring offers some relief. This organic baby teething ring from Socub is made from imported beech wood and food-grade silicone. It’s odorless and free from chemicals.
The beads’ size is based on average baby finger width. The beads are easy for babies to grab stimulating motor and sensory development.
The beads are safe for teething babies and can soothe irritated gums. They are easy to clean with a baby wipe or in warm, soapy water.
Pros
- The beads are sized for newborn fingers
- Made from beech wood and food-grade silicone
- Easy to clean
Cons
- Some babies may find the wooden beads too hard for their gums.
BEST VALUE
Start introducing your toddler to music with this instrument set from Chriffer. The eco-friendly wooden baby toy set comes with 15 musical instruments.
Children will love playing with the various beating, tapping, blowing, and shaking instruments as they develop musical skills.
The set also comes with a handy storage bag. You can keep all of the instruments together until it’s time to play.
The hand-made instruments are crafted from wood without the use of chemicals or paint.
Pros
- Comes with15 musical instruments
- Storage bag is included
- Made from organic wood without paint or chemicals
Cons
- Durability can be an issue with some of the instruments.
BEST VALUE
The Skyfield Farm Harvest Game is a fun developmental toy for toddlers ages three and under. Made from pine wood, the box, and seven fruits and vegetables are free from sharp edges and splinters.
Each piece is a different size and fits into a hole, helping toddlers build motor skills. Each piece comes with realistic felt leaves, and the bright colors keep babies’ attention.
The cute box is painted with friendly animals in a farm setting.
Pros
- Fun and educational
- Comes with seven pieces
- Made from smooth pine wood
Cons
- Some of the pieces can be a choking hazard to children one and under.
BEST VALUE
You get six toys in one with the Gemileo Wooden Activity Cube Center. The cube has five games the include a bead maze and an animal matching maze.
A teaching clock, number board, and colorful abacus also come with the activity center.
The colorful cube doubles as a storage box, and it also has removable wheels. The wheels and handle turn it into a baby walker.
These Montessori toys are made from 100% wood with water-based paint approved for play.
Pros
- Comes with five Montessori games
- Doubles as a storage box and baby walker
- Rated safe for toddlers
Cons
- The wheels are solid wood and can scuff some flooring.
BEST VALUE
This 42-piece magnetic set from Tegu comes with nine shapes and magnetic wheels. It encourages creative and unscripted play.
Toddlers will love playing with the unique shapes and seeing what they can build as the magnets repel and attract.
The blocks are made in the USA from sustainably-sourced Honduran hardwood. It’s an eco-friendly toy you can feel good about giving your child.
The blocks and magnetic wheels are free from chemicals.
Pros
- Comes with 42 magnetic blocks in nine unique shapes
- Made from sustainably-sourced hardwood
- Magnetic wheels also come with the set
Cons
- The placement of the magnets limits where you can connect the blocks.
Best Eco-Friendly Wooden Baby Toys Buying Guide
There are plenty of reasons to forego plastic toys for eco-friendly wooden ones. You know they are better for the environment, but organic toys are also healthier for your baby.
You can find fun and educational wooden toys your toddler will love, but where do you start. If you are new to eco-friendly wooden toys, here are a few things you want to consider.
Materials
The best eco-friendly baby toys are made from sustainable wood. The wood is often beech, pine, or hardwood.
Look for the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) seal on the product The non-profit organization certifies baby toys made from sustainably managed forests.
Type of Finish
Organic baby toys are free from chemicals, including BPAs. It applies to any paint or finish on the toys.
Some eco-friendly baby toys have a water-base paint or finish. It is rated for safe for babies and toddlers, but you can also find adorable, natural wooden toys without any type of coating.
Size of the Pieces
Some wooden baby toys are rated for toddlers ages one and up. These activity-based toys often come with multiple pieces.
You want to pay attention to their sizes. Some of the pieces can present a choking hazard.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Wood is Safe for Babies?
Look for wooden baby toys made from hardwood, maple, pine, or beech. These woods are less prone to splintering and can withstand hours of play.
What are the Benefits of Wooden Toys?
Wooden toys benefit the environment by reducing plastic waste. The toys are eco-friendly and safer for children’s play.
Are Wooden Toys Safer?
Wooden toys are safer than plastic ones. Plastic toys contain phthalates, and the minuscule particles can get into your toddler’s airways.
Are Wooden Toys Better for the Environment?
Wooden toys are often made from sustainably-sourced materials, and some are biodegradable.
Are Wooden Toys Better Than Plastic?
Wooden toys are better for children and the environment than plastic. Wooden toys do not contain phthalates and are eco-friendly.
Conclusion
Your eco-friendly lifestyle can extend to your toddler’s toys. You can find a variety of great eco-friendly wooden toys your toddler will adore. Whether it’s magnetic blocks or a wobbling penguin, you can find it and more.
Don’t forget to check to see if the wood is sustainably-sourced. It’s also a good idea to make sure the paint or finish is chemical-free.