15 Toddler Music Toys Must Have for 2021

Featured image of cute toddler boy playing with wooden drum set

Parents of toddlers are already familiar with the fact that keeping children entertained and occupied can be hard work.

Music is one of those fool-proof ways to both entertain and calm toddlers down, and musical toys for toddlers are in demand.

With an abundance of toys out there, you would think that finding the right one for your children is going to be easy, but it’s exactly the opposite, which is why we’ve taken it upon ourselves to help you find the best ones.

Read through our 2021 list of musical toys for toddlers you simply must have.

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Baby Einstein Music Explorer

Children are drawn to music instinctively – they will even react while still in the womb if you play them music, and as they grow, so do their fascination and love.

There several reasons why Baby Einstein Music Explorer toy will be one of the best musical gifts for toddlers.

The round shape means there aren’t any sharp edges you have to worry about, and the buttons are rather large which means that children won’t find it overly difficult to press them and use the toy.

There are three different musical instrument sounds: guitar, piano, and the drums, and pressing the keys will activate not only music, but also lights, so child’s senses will be stimulated the right way.

Benefits:

  • Develops auditory, visual, and motor skills
  • Easy-grip handles
  • Big buttons

Kilofly Mini Band Set of 12 Instruments

Many parents already know that while plastic toys might be more affordable, they aren’t always of the highest quality, and this is one of the reasons why this nice wooden Kilofly Mini Band Set is so popular.

The toddler musical toys set contains 12 instruments, but it also comes with a lovely storage bag which will help keep everything together.

Even though the instruments are toys, the sound is convincing, and they will help develop your child’s music skills early on.

Being made of wood, they are very durable and easy to clean, and you won’t have to worry about BPA and toxic elements which can be found in plastic.

The best thing is that most instruments come in pairs, which makes this a great toddler music toy to share.

Benefits:

  • Suitable for older children
  • Durable
  • Good for individuals and groups

Classic Xylophone for Kids

Getting your hands on a perfectly-tuned toddler musical toy seems like mission impossible, and even if you do manage to find one, it doesn’t stay that way for a very long time.

Fortunately, parents can relax, because this Classic Xylophone toy by Small Fish is not only perfectly-tuned but will stay that way no matter how much your enthusiastic toddler keeps playing with it.

It’s made of top-quality materials, doesn’t contain any lead and phthalates, it’s BPA free, and doesn’t have any sharp edges either.

The toy comes with two musical sheets so older kids can start learning notes, and a small diatonic harmonica is also included so kids can play music in pairs making it one of the best music gifts for toddlers with siblings.

Benefits:

  • Includes cards and a harmonica
  • Pre-tuned
  • Safe and durable

WolVol Musical Cube

Any parent will be able to tell you that the attention span of a toddler is very brief and that finding a toy that can keep them entertained for a long time is very difficult.

Fortunately, with WolVol Musical Cube, toddlers will spend a long time playing and developing their music but also motor skills.

Unlike some other popular music toys for toddlers, this one plays quieter and more calming sounds.

The best thing is that the toy is very versatile; it’s much more than just a music toy for kids, but rather a complex piece designed to help children develop and improve their motor skills.

They can sing in the microphone, but they can also drive and talk on the phone.

Benefits:

  • Fun, sturdy, and strong
  • Improves motor skills
  • Not too loud

Woby Musical Flapping Ducka

For active toddlers who can’t seem to be able to sit still for more than a minute at a time, this Woby Musical Flapping Duck is the right choice.

Once you put the batteries in and turn it on, it will move around making funny noises, and if it bumps into something, it will change direction.

The flapping wings are exciting for younger children, and with the abundance of sounds and songs it plays, this will be a charming addition to your child’s toy collection.

Children can follow the duck around the house, and they can press the buttons to listen to songs, melodies, and sounds.

It even has a button that makes the sound like a heartbeat which smaller children find soothing.

Benefits:

  • Educational
  • Improves gross motor skills
  • Sturdy and durable

LeapFrog Learn and Groove Musical Table Activity Center

For those who are looking for musical toys for toddlers that will be played with in the years to come as well, this lovely Musical Table Activity Center is the right thing.

It’s much more than a simple toddler music toy; it also introduces additional educational content that toddlers will love, such as numbers, shapes, colors, and letters. In addition to this, and it also has Spanish.

Not only will the children be able to produce piano and drum sounds by pressing the right keys, but they will also learn some of the most popular children’s songs and nursery rhymes.

The toy is also very convenient because you can remove the legs and let the child play with the board on the floor.

Benefits:

  • Sturdy and colorful
  • Educational
  • Bilingual

Cartoon R/C Police Car and Race Car Radio

It seems as if toddlers everywhere have a hard time learning to share, which is why this toy is a great gift choice.

The package comes with two cars and four figurines, and children can learn to use remote controls.

The RC’s are convenient for their small hands, and the toys can be used on both carpet and tiles.

There are buttons that make noise, and there is also a sound that’s emitted when you place the figure in the RC car, and there are also bright lights that go on when the music is played.

Even if your toddler doesn’t quite get the RC idea, they can still play with cars as each toy makes different sounds.

Benefits:

  • Come in a pair
  • Easy remote control

Dance Mat Games for TV with HDMI Wireless Musical Electronic Dance Mats with HD Camera

Trying to keep up with toddlers is very difficult as they seem to be fueled with so much energy that by the end of the day, it’s the parents who are the most exhausted.

If you have a happy and energetic toddler on your hands, and you’ve been looking for dancing toys for toddlers, step to step Dance Mat is a great way to help them channel that energy and turn it into music.

The play mat is just short of 50 inches long, and your toddler will be able to produce music while stepping on the “keys”.

If, on the other hand, they aren’t in the mood to create music, they can always sing and dance to some of the tunes that the toy will play, and enjoy the lights.

Benefits:

  • Adjustable volume
  • Promotes physical activity
  • Automatically shuts down

LeapFrog Learn and Groove Musical Mat

One of the best music toys for toddlers who are very active and who love to jump and dance, this Learn and Groove Musical Mat by LeapFrog is not just fun, but educational too.

And one of the most popular gifts for toddlers who love to dance.

Not only will the child be able to dance and play music, but they will also learn to identify different sounds that toddler musical instruments can make, numbers, colors, and animals.

One of the most sought after educational music toys that play music for toddlers and preschoolers.

Seeing as the mat is about 4 feet long, the child will have plenty of room for jumping and dancing, and their gross motor skills will be significantly improved in the process.

There is also an option to follow instructions and try to make as many correct moves as possible, thus helping children learn to follow instructions early on.

Benefits:

  • Colorful and sturdy
  • Educational
  • Improves gross motor skills

Fisher-Price Beats BeatBo Boogie Boom Box

Another great choice for parents who are looking for musical toys for toddlers that are going to ‘grow’ with their child, Bright Beats pals are here in a Boogie Boom Box.

This is the perfect gift for younger children because it will further improve their sensory environment.

The child can make music by batting at the roller ball, and this action activates both the lights and the happy tune.

As they grow, they will learn that by placing the shape sorter figures in the slots, they will be able to hear music and phrases.

The child’s hand-eye coordination will be improved, and the songs and the music itself don’t play for a very long time which is perfect for toddler’s brief attention spans.

Benefits:

  • Two ways of use
  • Encourages creativity
  • Interactive

Melissa & Doug Band-in-a-Box

When you feel like it’s the right time to start introducing real toddler musical instruments to your toddler, you’ll learn that Band-in-a-Box by Melissa and Doug is just what you need.

There are 10 pieces in the box which makes it a perfect gift for children who have siblings, as they will be able to share the instruments.

The set comes with a convenient wooden crate that is going to help you keep the instruments in order.

Until the children grow up enough to make their own music, parents can play the instruments and encourage children to sing and dance.

It’s a wonderful way to bond, have fun, and encourage creativity. Because it’s made of quality materials, this toy will last for years to come.

Benefits:

  • Sturdy and durable
  • Conveniently stored
  • Contains more instruments

VTech KidiBeats Kids Drum Set

Being able to play the drums doesn’t require that the child has any innate talent – learning to play the drums also teaches discipline and has many health benefits.

Even though it resembles a real drum set, this KidiBeats Drum Set by VTech is at the same time affordable and convenient.

What is more, the set will also help children learn about letters and numbers while playing music.

Children will be able to use a pair of drumsticks to play, and there are 9 melodies for them to listen to and different music styles.

Holding the drumsticks will improve their fine, and hitting the cymbals their gross motor skills. This drum kit isn’t too noisy but it’s durable, and it will ease children into the world of drumming.  

Benefits:

  • Improves visualization memory
  • Encourages musical creativity

VTech Record and Learn Kidi Studio

If you feel that there’s a gifted singer hiding inside your child, help bring it out with this charming Record and Learn KidiStudio by VTech.

This type of musical toys for kids offer a lot: it can record your voice and change it, and parents can encourage children to discover some of the musical sounds this toy has.

With over 40 sounds to play with, your child will be entertained for hours.

The toy is perfect for a bit older children too, and they will soon learn how to create and record their own music.

In addition to this, these are great musical toddler toys for sharing and bonding with siblings and friends, and the children will have a blast preparing and recording their own concerts.

Benefits:

  • Encourages pretend play
  • Keyboard keys work simultaneously
  • Suitable for younger and older kids

VTech Touch and Teach Elephant

Brightly colored, interactive, and fun, this adorable Touch and Teach Elephant is one of the best musical toys for toddlers.

Even though the toy is conveniently sized, it ‘hides’ a lot: 16 storybook pages that are interactive, 150 melodies, songs, sounds, and phrases, and even a question button that’s good for testing the child’s comprehension skills.

In addition to all of this, there are buttons that give interesting information about animals as well as buttons that play piano sounds.

This toy is also a learning aid that’s great for introducing children to first words, numbers, and letters.

It will spark their interest in stories and animals, and the best of all – all of the pages are laminated, which means that smaller children can even chew them without damaging them.

Benefits:

  • Tests comprehension skills
  • Colorful and sturdy
  • Interactive

VTech Pull and Learn Car Carrier Pull

When children fall in love with a certain toy, they develop a habit of carrying (or pulling) it around for a long time, and they will often get upset if they lose or forget it.

VTech’s push-and-pull car toy is not just a simple car:  it will teach children colors, animals, and numbers.

The child can place a vehicle or an animal in the carrier, and the small sensor will activate the right music and sounds, much to the delight of the child.

Because the toy will interact with them, children will be interested in it for a long time, and they will not get tired of playing with it.

The best thing is that the toy will do more than just keep them entertained – it will teach them to distinguish between different objects too.

Benefits:

  • Interactive and educational
  • Durable and colorful

How to Choose the Best Music Toys for Kids?

With so many different types of musical toddler toys, it can be difficult to choose the best musical toys for preschoolers. You have to know what you’re looking for: are electronic toys that play music an option or would you rather they play with musical instruments instead?

Do you want a toy that’s going to play for a long time or a toy that produces many different, albeit shorter sounds? When you have the answers to these questions, it’s going to be easier for you to find the right toy.

How old is your toddler? This is also an important thing as there are musical toys that are designed for children who are just learning to walk and talk but also toys meant to be used by children who already have well-developed gross motor skills.

Younger toddlers will benefit greatly from toys which are going to help them meet their development goals, while older ones will fall in love with more complex toys that resemble real instruments.

Toddlers who have older siblings or parents who plan an instrument will absolutely adore toys that will allow them to join in. Of course, it’s of utmost importance that there aren’t any small parts which can come loose.

Criteria We Used

  • Durability

Children grow so fast, and the world is full of wonders for them, which is why we have focused on musical toys that they will be able to play with for a long time. We have chosen different kinds of toys and tried to give you an overview of the ones that are most likely to endure a bit of rough handling by their toddler hands and a lot of love in the years to come.

  • Education & entertainment

We did our best to pick the toys that aren’t just fun for kids, but that are going to teach them something too. Learning to play an instrument is great, but with some of the toys on our list, they will also learn to count and spell. This is why we have so many interactive and educational toys – so that the children will learn while they’re having fun.

FAQ

How early can I give musical toys to toddlers?

Babies can listen to music even when in their mother’s womb, so it’s safe to say that you can expose your baby to music from the earliest days. Still, it’s best to expose them to toys they can watch and listen to until they develop their motor skills a bit more.

What kids music toys will help develop their motor skills?

As they grow, children’s fine and gross motor skills will keep improving, but you can help them along by giving them toys that are going to encourage them to move their entire bodies as well as their fingers. There are toys that can help them engage both muscle groups, but you should wait until they are a bit older to give them those.

Conclusion

There are parents who hesitate to buy any music toys for kids out of fear that they will never again have any peace and quiet in their home, but it doesn’t have to be the case. Children genuinely enjoy music; they love listening to it as well as creating it, so why not give them the right tools to do so? Developing musical skills is much easier when you have the right tools, and with the right musical toys for toddlers, you will be able to help your child explore the world of music and fall in love with it.

Author: Catherine Evans
Author: Catherine Evans

Catherine is a writer from Canada who simply loves toys, collectibles and superhero figurines. Writing is her passion, but she also loves reading, enjoying her “me time” and finding new ways to improve her work and ways to entertain the readers.

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