I have been compiling a list of our FAVORITE must-haves for 12-18 months since Jack turned 1 and finally feel like this is a good list to share! There are 20 items on here and we love + use every single one. I included some of our best toys, eating accessories, shoes/clothing faves and more. Check it out:
Best Toddler MUST-HAVES for 12-18 Months
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Lovevery Play Tube
This play tube is the BEST and definitely deserved a spot on our must-haves for 12-18 months. Jack loves it and it’s just like the ones at the kids gym we go to. It provides hours of entertainment for him.
Water Tubes for Bathtime
These are SO FUN and go great for fine motor development. Jack laughs and laughs as he uses a little cup to pour water into each of the different tubes. Each one does a different thing (like spin, spray, drip, etc) when water is poured through them!
Lovevery Play Kits
I can’t imagine NOT having these play kits for Jack. They are absolutely an investment – but every 3 months, Jack gets a toy delivery of montessori-based toys and it’s SO good. They are developed by leading doctors and child development experts and they are by far his favorite toys. He goes back to them time and time again.
YBike
This Ybike is one of the coolest gifts Jack got for his first birthday. It’s a great ride-on bike, but you can also flip it around for pushing. It helps toddlers develop motor and cognitive skills like balance and coordination!
Silicone Bibs
These are a must-have for kids of honestly any bib age. I absolutely DESPISE cloth bibs because they make so much laundry and I go through like 3 a day. These wipe clean AND catch any food that falls out of Jack’s mouth.
Child Sized Piano
This is the piano we have for Jack. He LOVES music and this is a toy that can keep him entertained for hours. I love that he can play his own music or play music that is on the piano for dancing!
Kitchen Learning Tower
This learning tower is the BEST. 10/10 one of the best purchases we have made for Jack. He stands at this every day – he often eats his breakfast and lunch here, too. Jack gets to be level with us while we are cooking. He LOVES it.
Sleep Sack
Jack is still in a sleep sack at 18 months. It helps him understand that it’s time to sleep (nap or bedtime) and keeps him cozy during the night when he kicks off his blankets.
Stride Rite Shoes
Alright listen. I KNOW that spending more than $10 on shoes for little ones feels so counterproductive because their feet grow so fast HOWEVER – they really do need good shoes to support walking and standing development. Stride Rite is one of the BEST todder/kids shoe company and we have loved the shoes Jack has. They support their developing arches and give them good support as they are learning to walk.
Open Cup
This is key for little ones learning how to use an open cup. Jack is still learning, but these little cups have weighted bases so they aren’t easily knocked over and they are tiny and perfect for little hands. The lip is silicone and thin for tiny mouths!
Lovevery Block Set
I am OBSESSED with this block set. It is pricey – but worth every penny to us. According to the Lovevery website, this set is the most comprehensive block set ever designed and honestly we believe it is brilliant. It includes 70 heirloom-quality pieces that work together in over 20 configurations. This is Jacks FAVORITE block set and we know this will last through multiple children.
Matchbox Cars
We only use these with parent supervision BUT Jack LOVES them. They do have little wheels, so you want to make sure you watch so they don’t become a choking hazard. That said – Jack plays with his every day and carries them around everywhere he goes in the house.
Soft Baby Toothbrush
You have to start brushing teeth as soon as they come in – so we started a couple months ago! Now we brush every morning and night! Jack LOVES this giraffe brush and helps keep him from fighting it.
First Words Book
We read a LOT with Jack and he is such a chatter box. He says a lot of words these days and one of the best books we have is this First 100 Words book! We slowly go through each word and talk about it!
Grippy Bath Mat
This is a must-have for active littles. Jack stands, swims, sits, crawls all over the tub during bath time. He NEEDS a grippy bath mat otherwise we will have face plants DAILY.
Non-Toxic Jumbo Crayons
I love these!!! They are honey sticks – beezwax crayons that are large enough to fit comfortably in little hands without breaking. They are natural, non-toxic and durable.
Umbrella Stroller
This umbrella stroller is the BEST. We took this on our summer vacation last year and it was PERFECT for traveling! It is also great for neighborhood strolls. It’s lightweight, doesn’t take up a ton of space and is secure enough to feel confident in pushing your kiddo around.
Leap Frog Learning Friends 100 Words Book
This is another first words book we swear by! All your little one has to do is tap the page on the book and it says the word! You can also switch between spanish and english for bilingual kids!
S|M Straw Cup
We SWEAR by S|M cups in this house. Seriously. I have more than one, I gifted them to my entire family for Christmas and last year we bought this for Jack right before our beach vacation. It was perfect for travel and the soft silicone straw is great for little ones. Super insulated and basically spill proof.
Send-A-Friend Stuffy
Jack has a send-a-friend stuffed animal and we LOVE it. He sleeps with his Llama every night and it’s a big hit at our house. They’re 10 in, super softa and plush and the perfect “hug” size for little ones.
PIN THIS FOR LATER:
Don’t forget to pin these must-haves for 12-18 months and book mark it for later so you can snag all of the best things for your budding toddler!
