How many times did you fail to keep your toddler entertained? Don’t be shy and admit that more than once perhaps… But it should not be a reason to get frustrated. We all are humans and being a parent of a toddler is not always easy. But with that said there are ways not only to calm toddlers down but entertain them as well.
And one of such ways is music, or musical toys, to be precise. It is a good time to choose the best music toy for toddlers.
10 Best Music Toys for Toddlers in November, 2024
My personal top10 includes the following toys. Let’s have a look!
| Image | Product | |
|---|---|---|
Best Choice | Fisher-Price Bright Beats Smart Touch Play Space
| Check Price |
Also great  | VTech Record & Learn KidiStudio
| Check Price |
Best for 2 years  | LeapFrog Melody The Musical Turtle
| Check Price |
Best Music Set  | Rabing Kids Drum Set
| Check Price |
Educational  | Munchkin Mozart Magic Cube
| Check Price |
Best for 3 years  | VTech Musical Rhymes Book
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Musical Table  | LeapFrog Learn & Groove Musical Table
| Check Price |
Best Drum  | B toys – Drumroll Please
| Check Price |
Best for 1 years  | Playskool Explore 'N Grow Busy Gears
| Check Price |
With Chair  | WolVol Electric Big Toy Drum Set
| Check Price |
1. Fisher-Price Bright Beats Smart Touch Play Space – best musical baby toy
This is one of the toys that your toddlers can enjoy for a couple of years: starting from sitting to crawling and walking around at a later stage. Interactive smart-touch technology from Fisher-Price will help the little ones to get acquainted with the colors, lights, music, and keep them active for a while.It also encourages the kiddies that are not able to stand yet to raise their arms to activate the blocks. The older ones can stand up and dance/move, repeat the sounds and phrases. Moreover, a ball ramp and a roller-bar are very good in stimulation of fine motor skills development.
Note: Suitable for kids 3 years and up.
You can buy similar toy in Europe and UK.
- Grows with the baby: possibility to use the toy during some years
- Sounds and lights capture the kids’ attention
- Encourages the babies to stand up, move and stay active
- Possibility to adjust the volume
- 3 various modes: piano play, dance party and learning and games
- Needs a decent space to keep it
- Not very easy to assemble (a Philips screwdriver is required)
- 4 C batteries are not included
2. VTech Record & Learn KidiStudio – best music toy for toddlers
This keyboard piano is intended for the kids of 3 – 6 years. The toy is easy to use and it has lots of different options, including fun one – a voice-changing microphone. Suppose it might be a real hit!It’s a great fun musical toy for toddlers to explore various instruments like violin, drum, guitar, etc. Your kid can play different melodies in jazz, rock, hip hop by following the lights of the keyboard. It also gives a kid a possibility to record and play back his own musical compositions and songs.
To top it off, this toy can give your kid several years of imaginative and fun play.
Recommendation:The toy can be a nice instrument bonding with family and friends. Don’t miss your chance and enjoy the quality time with your loved ones!
- Variety of pre-recorded well-known songs and sounds effects
- Supplied with a microphone for recording
- Karaoke function
- Possibility to record and play back
- Ability to adjust the pitch on the fly
- 2 AA batteries supplied as part of package
- Sliding volume control
- Doesn’t need a lot of space
- Some customers complain about poor quality of the microphone
- It’s necessary to be real close to the microphone to be picked up
3. LeapFrog Melody The Musical Turtle – best music toys for 2 year olds
This is one of the best musical toys for toddlers with obvious educational purpose: it helps the kids to learn numbers and colors. Moreover, this interactive toy has some activities your little ones won’t complain. They have a chance to repeat patterns, recognize or create their own music.It’s known that toddles have very short attention spans but I’ve got the feeling that Melody would keep my kids busy for a long time. It’s definitely worth the money!
- Possibility to select the number of players: a kid can play solo or with a friend
- Encourage to learn
- Develop fine motor skills and memory
- Colored buttons capture kid’s attention and keep him busy
- Sliding volume control
- 4 demonstration AA batteries supplied as part of package
- There are some complaints about a very loud sound
4. Rabing Kids Drum Set Beats Flash Light Toy Adjustable Microphone – best musical instrument toys for toddlers
If you have noticed that your kid started to show any interest in music or tried to sing or to thumb/beat rhythmically on various surfaces, then it’s time to think of having a musical instrument in the house, or a musical toy to start with. And a drum could be a perfect thing for a toddler to express himself.This colorful toy has three drum pads that provide different sounds, two cymbals and 5 different play modes. Should your kid have a passion for singing, a functional microphone could be a real heat! It has a 90 cm cable that can be connected to a computer.
Note: The toy is recommended for kids 2+ years old.
- Very easy to assemble
- Sliding volume control
- Pre-recorded songs
- Develop fine motor skills
- Stimulates and provokes kids’ interest and desire to sing and play
- Music, bright colors and lights grab kids’ attention and keep them busy
- There are some complaints about an odor of the material the toy is made of
- Batteries are not included
5. Munchkin Mozart Magic Cube – Best Music Playing Toy for Toddlers
This educational toy intended to help the kids to explore different types of instruments while they listen to the classical music. Marriage of Figaro, Magic Flute, Country Dance and 5 other most celebrated musical compositions of Mozart are included in the toy. Each of them lasts 30 seconds and can be played in sequence.Looking at the toy I can say that it’s a pretty durable little piece of equipment. Each of its sides is interactive; it has its own color and represents a different instrument. There’s on/off switch and volume control. That’s a huge plus!
Pressing different sides the kid can either add or remove various instruments to the orchestra: violin (yellow side), flute (blue side), harp (purple side), piano (green side), and a French horn (orange side). If the kid presses the top red button, all the instruments play as a whole orchestra.
But with that said, the best age for this toy is from 6 months up to 3 years old 🙂
Note: 3 AA batteries can hold up to 5 hours of play on a maximum volume.
- It has pretty simple and durable design
- Very easy to use
- Made from high-quality plastic, safe for your kid
- Large buttons
- Possibility to get acquainted with classical music and sounds of different instruments
- Possibility to learn colors
- May be too loud
- Could be a little bit heavy for a kid to hold
- Batteries are not included (requires 3 AA batteries)
6. VTech Musical Rhymes Book – Best Music Toy for 3 Year Old
This nursery rhyme book is recommended for 6-36 months old kids. Its pages have sounds, lights, and music that allow your kid to keep his interest in the toy. The book includes six classic nursery rhymes and more than 40 songs, phrases and melodies.Moreover, each interactive page has a moving or sliding object allowing your kid to learn about different shapes and practice his fine motor skills. Buttons on the side not only help your little one to learn colors but get him acquainted with the sounds of different instruments as well.
I think that the toy is absolutely perfect way to entertain toddlers. I took a closer look and noticed that the instruments from the buttons were shown at the pages.
Recommendation: With the help of this toy you can easily teach your kid about colors. You can point up the color of the border of the page and ask your baby to press the matching color button. You can also ask you kid to match the color of some items on the pages. This nursery rhyme book can be highly recommended!
- Colorful buttons and easy to press
- Easy to use
- Easy way to learn the nursery rhymes, colors and sounds of the instruments
- Large buttons
- Reasonable price
- Volume control has only two settings
- Batteries are included for demonstration purposes only (requires 2 AAA batteries)
7. LeapFrog Learn & Groove Musical Table – Best Musical Table for Toddlers
This musical table is one of the toys that are designed to grow with your child.You can place it on the floor for a baby who can only sit yet; and once your kid is able to stand and play you can attach the removable legs.
The toy seems to be built with tough design. It is made from the robust plastic and is durable enough to withstand long-term use.
In the music mode your kid would be able to explore various sounds, songs, and instruments at his own pace. Colorful buttons, sliding and moving objects along with lights and sound effects would definitely capture the attention of your little one and easily keep him engaged for some time (hopefully without annoying other members of the family).
Moreover, it’s a functional educational toy for a bilingual child as it has two languages: English and Spanish. Special switch will allow you to use both languages.
I would classify it as one of the toys that you won’t be disappointed after buying!
Note: This music table is intended for kids between six months and three years of age.
- With removable legs for infants
- Colorful large buttons and easy to press
- Possibility to learn two languages: English and Spanish
- Easy way to learn numbers, letters, shapes and colors
- Adjustable volume control
- Tough and steady design
- Easy to assemble
- Easy to clean
- Some customers complain about the flimsy legs
- It’s rather lightweight and can be easily moved by a toddler, especially on smooth surfaces
- Batteries are included for demonstration only (requires 3 AA batteries)
8. B toys – Drumroll Please – 7 Musical Instruments Toy Drum Kit for Kids 18 months + (7-Pcs)
This drum is a perfect way for a toddler to explore music and create his own sounds with all the seven instruments included in the set. It’s also one of the sensory toys helping your kid to learn different shapes, colors, and textures. On top of that, all the instruments of the drum are intended to improve concentration, hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills.And of course, could be a nice noise-making present for the families that doesn’t mind noise throughout the house!
Recommendation: In case you plan to make a present for a birthday, Christmas or any other event and want the kids to use it straight away, it’s better to spend some time beforehand and unpack the pieces from plastic. Moreover, you might need scissor and/or a knife to remove unnecessary plastic wrapping.
- Colorful instruments
- Easy for storage and transportation
- Compact for small places
- Made from the safe materials
- Might be a bit noisy
9. Playskool Explore ‘N Grow Busy Gears – Best Music Toy for 1 Year Old
This is another educational interactive toy that will definitely improve visual and auditory senses of your kid. 11 interchangeable gears have different textures helping the toddler to develop tactile abilities. Besides that, Busy Gears is a great possibility for improving hand-eye coordination and developing baby’s motor skills.I’m sure your kid could have lots of fun placing and removing the gears in different positions. After pressing the button, swirling gears and music could keep your little one engaged for a while. And that’s one of the ways for a toddler to learn cause and effect.
Note: Suitable for the kids 12+ months.
- Possibility to develop coordination and fine motor skills
- Improvement of tactile abilities
- Improvement of auditory and visual senses
- Possibility to learn colors
- Easy packaging: possibility to start playing straight away
- Reasonable price
- No volume control available
10. WolVol Electric Big Toy Drum Set for Kids with Movable Working Microphone to Sing and a Chair – Best Gift for Toddlers Who Love Music
If you have noticed that your little one shows any interest in singing and desire to play, this drum would be a perfect choice! Various colors and flashing lights would grab the attention of your toddler and keep him busy at least for a while.Having said that, the toy has certain educational aspects. It will not only introduce and develop music skills, but improve fine motor skills, memory and hand-eye coordination, and encourage audio recognition.
Recommendation: Could be a great gift for a little musician!
- Colorful and attractive design
- Made from durable and sturdy quality materials
- Good collection of pre-recording songs, melodies, sounds, and beats
- Working microphone
- Easy to set up
- Adjustable volume
- No batteries included (requires 3 AA batteries)
- It’s not foldable and needs some space
- There are some customers’ complaints with regards to the microphone: it doesn’t pick up the sound well unless the kid is real close to it
Best Music Toy for Toddlers 2020 – Buyer’s Guide
When faced with a choice of a musical toy for toddlers, I’m guided by the following criteria:
Safety and Perfect quality
A toy should not only withstand the tear and wear of daily use but also be produced from sustainable and preferably eco-friendly materials. I don’t want to put my kids at risk for intoxication and/or injury due to unsafe products.
Fun and activity element
Any toy should bring a toddler some time for enjoyment. And it’s always better when such toy is in high demand by your little one and not in the bottom of a toy box. Every time I’m looking for a new musical toy, entertainment/fun element is always an issue. I prefer to find a toy encouraging my baby to move and enjoy the music.
Sound
Good sound is a must-have item in case of musical toys. It should be pleasant and preferably with volume control.
Educational benefits
Musical toys can serve different educational purposes. I prefer those that help my kids to develop multiple skills and encourage them to sing and play, learn colors, numbers or letters, spoken phrases, etc.
Conclusion
It’s not that easy to choose a right toy for a toddler as lots of factors and criteria should be taken into account. You should always bear in mind various educational aspects, durability of a toy, materials it is made of, etc. And of course any toy you are going to buy should help your kid to explore the world and develop his skills and abilities. In that case music is one of the best ways to entertain your toddler and encourage a love of music.
However, before buying any musical toy, you need to take into consideration the type of music your kid prefers.
However, in case of some difficulties in telling the preferences of the kid, you can always look for a versatile musical toy.
I do hope that our review would be helpful in choosing the best music toy for toddlers. At least you can have an idea of various products available in the modern market. And don’t forget about the most important thing: your kid should have lots of fun playing with the toy that you’ve bought!
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FAQ
1. What is the role of music in the early development of a child?
Music has a deep influence on all areas on kid’s early development: it helps to recognize and learn new sounds and words, encourage to listen, repeat, sing and play, develop music skills, etc.
2. When is the right time to introduce a child to a musical toy?
Your little one can show his first interest in simple musical toy starting from 3 months old, but he can start playing with it being 1.5-2 years old.
3. What is a must-have feature of a musical toy?
Adjustable volume control is a must-have feature in any musical toy. Some musical toys are incredibly loud. Before buying any of them make sure you would be able to adjust the volume, and your kid could not get an easy access to it!
4. What materials are used to make musical toys for toddlers?
Most musical toys are made of wood and quality plastic, both are non-toxic and not easy to break.
5. What is the best musical toy for a 2-year-old kid?
It might be any musical toy your kid shows his interest. But as a general pattern kids of this age enjoy pretend play, and prefer to have active toys. Try to get some musical toy with a microphone for your kid to sing and interact.
Hey, I would love to order the VTech Musical Rhymes Book. My kid is already 2 years old and I really want him to be interested in books someday. Maybe this can help us achieve that. This has sounds and other cute activities.
After reading that the LeapFrog Learn & Groove Musical Table also has available Spanish language, I’m sold. I would love my kids to be bilingual and learn Spanish as well. It would really be helpful if they can start at an early age as part of their development.
The LeapFrog Learn & Groove Musical Table looks amazing. I love how they arrange the large buttons to make it look more enticing for the kids. And the sounds it produces are mazing based on the youtube video. Kids always want to just push buttons and hear something amazing and just keeps smiling while at it.
Yep, these should be made from eco-friendly materials as much as possible. You never know when your kids might start biting them. I don’t think my toddler can understand music but I know he likes it. Rabing Kids Drum Set would be perfect because he just needs to strike it and it will produce a sound right away and that’s what’s important.
My toddler just turned 1 year old and I’m sure he’ll love the Munchkin Mozart Magic Cube. It’s so simple and looks so easy for a starter toy for my boy. I think I also love the sounds from the youtube review of the item.
I really don’t know what type of music my kid prefers right now but she keeps smiling on the drum sounds from youtube videos. I think that’s gonna help her be more creative for the time being. I hope the Wolvol Electric Big Toy Drum would be an awesome entertainment for her.
I ordered the VTech Record & Learn KidiStudio because it also has a mic that you can use for recording. I know we all have our mobile phones now but I think it’s great if our kids would try to explore the item and how to record all by themselves. I hope she likes it.
The LeapFrog Melody The Musical Turtle melody is so cute that my child played with it right away with a huge smile on his face. It’s a 2 in 1 item iI guess. You get to have a toy and a kid’s musical instrument at the same time.
We had the Playskool Explore ‘N Gro and now we would like to try the Fisher-Price Bright Beats. The reviews here are really great and accurate. Thanks for keeping us updated with the best items for toddlers. It’s really helpful since everything has already been researched.
I’ve been looking for a toy that has music and shapes that the kid can work on. I think the B Toys Drum Roll would be the perfect one. You know how kids would just interact with the item and see for themselves which will fit and what wouldn’t in the box? It’s really healthy for kids development and toys like this are very helpful with that.
A wonderful article that I have shared.