The best interactive toys for infants play such a huge role in enticing the world of your baby and keeping them always engaged.
Interactive toys attract attention to your toddler, allowing them to focus on the toy’s magic and avoid unnecessary distractions. Also, as the parent, you can afford to perform more tasks as your child is busying on an interactive toy.
However, there are numerous interactive toys and baby items in the market right now. Most platforms only offer basic filters, which do little to match the specific needs of your toddler.
So we delved into dozens of intentional research articles, reviews, and lab results to bring you our top choices for the best interactive toys for toddlers.
Take a quick look at our top 10 picks and right into the reviews below.
Table of Contents
Top Picks For Best Interactive Toys For Infants
- Just Smarty Interactive Abcs And 123s – Best Interactive Learning Toy For Toddlers
- Furreal The Kangaroo – Best Interactive Stuffed Kangaroo Toy For Infants
- Dimple Dc13991 Interactive Robot Puppy – Best Interactive Robot Puppy Toy For Babies
- Fisher Price Think & Learn Code-a-pillar Toy – Best Interactive Fisher-Price Toy For Newborns
- Leapfrog Mr Pencil’s Scribble & Write – Best Interactive Writing Toys For Baby
- Kid Trax Interactive Recycling Truck – Best Interactive Ride On Toy For Babies
- Furreal Interactive Panda Cub – Best Interactive Plush Toy For Babies
- Octobo Advanced Pack – Best Interactive Toy For 6-Month-Old Baby
- Interactive Talking Microscope For Kids – Best Interactive Science-inspired Toy
- Baby Gund Animated Flappy The Elephant – Best Interactive Stuffed Elephant For Babies
Reviews for best interactive toys for infants
1. Just Smarty Interactive ABCs and 123s
Specifications
- Dimensions (LxWxH): 24 x 16 x 0.1 inches
- Weight: 9.6 ounces
- Age Limit: 24 months – 5 years
- Batteries: 3 AAA batteries required and included
Just Smarty Interactive ABCs and 123s are an Interactive Alphabet Wall Chart with a smooth and glossy surface. The toy looks shiny, and the chart has undulations with fast click buttons to spell words.
Attach the included batteries and hang the toy on a wall or refrigerator side to effectively use the toy. Press the switch on key and let your child touch any of the letters or numbers included.
Also, press the music button to open for exciting sounds that make your child want to learn more.
Just Smarty Interactive ABCs and 123s score a 9.0/10 on visual interactiveness, a 9.5/10 on sound Interactivenss, and a 9.5/10 on increased creative time spent on the toy.
Therefore, this toy qualifies as a highly interactive learning toy that keeps your baby engaged while simultaneously preparing them for learning.
The big advantage of the toy from its competition is the inclusion of sound and learning perspectives. While other toys could achieve a high rating on interactiveness,
Just Smarty Interactive Abcs and 123s uniquely add to that by providing a real informative play experience that your child will need and use in their stage at school and in life.
Pros
✅ A great interactive learning tool to prepare for school
✅ An alphanumeric chart wall rather than alphabets only
✅ Significantly higher interactive fun time for play and education
Cons
X Batteries often need replacement, without which the fun in the sounds and music are dysfunctional
2. FurReal The Kangaroo
Specifications
- Dimensions (LxWxH): 12.6 x 5.12 x 14.17 inches
- Weight: 3.31 ounces
- Age Limit: 4 years and up
- Batteries: 4 AA batteries required and included
FurReal The Kangaroo is a stuffed captivative toy to keep your baby hooked at the moment. The toy is well built, feels great to hold even for small hands, and has a soft texture to soothe the baby.
To use the toy, you just have to touch it, and it quickly responds with over 70 sound and motion combo captivating movements.
FurReal The Kangaroo scores 9.9/10 in sound creativity due to the wide diversity of the sounds, 9.8/10 in the visual dynamics since the motions engaging, and 9.5/10 in the increased engaging time.
Therefore, the toy will give your child a fantastic, engaging time to have fun, feel focused, and enjoy the full creative magic out of the toy.
The huge combination of sound and motions gives this toy such a great advantage over its competitors.
While close competition offers exciting sounds and motions, most of them are less than 12 combinations, making them repetitive and boring.
FurReal The Kangaroo, therefore, gives an endless 70+ combos to keep your child always engaged.
Pros
✅ A huge 70+ Sound and Motion Diversity to ensure your child stays always engaged
✅ Soothing soft texture to touch and get healing to stay focused
✅ A naturalistic stuffed toy that mimics natural sounds including hiccups, and other feeding sounds
✅ Included feeding accessory toy to increase the number of items for your child to interact with
Cons
X High age limit of 4 years and up
X 4 AA Batteries required
Learn More from BestToyLine: Top Toys for Baby’s First Birthday
3. Dimple DC13991 Interactive Robot Puppy
Specifications
- Dimensions (LxWxH): 12 x 8 x 9 inches
- Weight: 1.92 pounds
- Age Limit: 36 months – 8 years
- Batteries: 2 AA rechargeable batteries required. (included)
Dimple Interactive Robot Puppy resembles a real puppy with robotic edges, faces, and vertices.
To use the toy, you need to put batteries in the remote and control movements such as crawl, fat, forward, dance, crawl, and more up to 6.5 feet away from the puppy.
Therefore, this toy is great when the baby is too young to walk or even tired but still wants exciting experiences.
The toy scores a 9.5/10 in sound interactiveness since the song, small fart, alphabet songs, and speech are high-end and well crafted.
The toy scores a 9.9/10 in visual interactiveness because the toy has excellent manoeuvers that include crawling, forward, back, stand, and more. The design of the eye ode to light up is a focal point to increase interest and excitement in the toy.
The eye mode, the many different maneuvers, the remote control functionality, and the USB rechargeability set this toy apart from its competitors.
The eye movement is significantly engaging, making your baby focused on the toy. The remote control offers full operability from a 6.5 feet distance.
The USB charge can use a laptop USB socket or power bank to keep the toy functional.
Pros
✅ An engaging eye mode that is an excellent visual art to look at
✅ Up to 6.5 feet remote full operability
✅ Many maneuvers that make the dog move in different angels and moves
✅ USB Charge that enables charging through a PC/Mac/Laptop/Powerbank socket
Cons
X No volume control and can get loud to distract other home occupants
4. Fisher Price Think & Learn Code-a-Pillar Toy
Specifications
- Dimensions (LxWxH): 16.13 x 4 x 13 inches
- Weight: 3 pounds
- Age Limit: 36 months – 6 years
- Batteries: 4 LR44 batteries required
Fisher-Price Code-a-Pillar resembles a robotic caterpillar, has 1 motorized head and the codes fit in the hands excellently, even for small hands.
Using the toy involves connecting each of the 8 segments to the motorized head in a sequence. The 8 segments include 3 move-forward, 2 Turn Right 90 degrees, 2 Turn Left 90 degrees, and 1 sound action segment. In addition, the 2 destination targets enable your child to configure the segments and have the toy reach the target.
Fisher-Price Code-a-Pillar scores a 9.9/10 in sound interactiveness due to the well-built character sounds that bring more engagement.
The toy also scores highly at 9.9/10 in visual engagement by showcasing interesting motion and interactive lights that keep the baby focused and entertained.
The inclusion of lights and the segment coding gameplay sets this toy apart from its competition.
While other toys only have interlocking capabilities, this toy couples this function with sounds and light to bring an engaging toy perfect for your child to develop problem-solving skills.
Pros
✅ Highly suitable for the development of problem-solving skills as children connect sequences
✅ Highly captivating lights and sounds and the toys meanders
✅ A wide range of possible combinations to keep your child entertained and not lack ideas
Cons
X The 4 LR44 batteries required are not part of the package
X No volume control and can get loud to distract other home occupants
5. LeapFrog Mr Pencil’s Scribble & Write
Specifications
- Dimensions (LxWxH): 8.3 x 8.6 x 1.3 inches
- Weight: 14.1 ounces
- Age Limit: 36 months – 7 years
- Batteries: 3 AA batteries required. (included)
LeapFrog Mr. Pencil’s is an interactive toy with an led touch screen to draw on, buttons to dictate the shape or letter to be drawn, and a stylus pen for tracing the object on the screen.
Using the toy requires that you push the On/Off button, press the button of a shape of the letter that the child wants to trace, and trace out using the stylus upon which exciting animations award a correct trace.
Other activities here include spelling, drawing, and spelling letters and numbers.
The toy scores 9.0 in sound interactives since the sound is only for spelling but is well engineered. LeapFrog Mr. Pencil scores a 9.5 in visual interactiveness and shows a huge difference in eye engagement.
The key advantage here with LeapFrog Mr. Pencil’s that sets it apart from its competition is using a stylus to draw shapes, numbers, letters, spell and scribble.
While other toys generally would omit the stylus capability, LeapFrog Mr. Pencil’s is great for including a feature that engages the eye that sees, the mouth that reads, the ear that hears but also the hand that writes.
Pros
✅ An excellent stylus capability that engages handwriting skills early in your child’s life
✅ Easy-to-use toy with zero chance of damaging or losing the stylus
✅ Visually engaging learning toy
Cons
X The batteries included are only for demonstrating and fade significantly fast
6. Kid Trax Interactive Recycling Truck
Specifications
- Dimensions (LxWxH): 33.17 x 19.37 x 20.24 inches
- Weight: 28 pounds
- Age Limit: 18 months – 4 years
- Batteries: Rechargeable 6-volt battery and wall charger included
Kid Trax Recycling Truck is an interactive, plastic ride-on car toy designed as a recycling truck. Using it requires that your child sit on the driver’s seat and press the push-button drive to the ‘dumpsite.
There are nine recyclable accessories included, and the truck responds when you insert an accessory into a shape sorting slot. The working lever conveniently lets the child dump out the recycling haul.
The toy scores a 9.6/10 in the sound interactiveness given the exciting sound response upon correct shape sorting plus over 100 voice lines and sound effects, including 1 sung song and 2 instrumentals.
The toy scores a 9.5/10 in hand and leg coordination and captivates the child’s mind, keeping them focused and entertained for a long time.
Loading the truck, driving to the dumpsite, and offloading the truck while repeating this cycle keeps your child focused on the play.
The toy scores 9.9/10 in increased gameplay time because once the toy is issued to the child, the option of varying the distance between ‘dump sites’ keeps your child always entertained.
The biggest advantage of this toy from the competition is coordinating songs and sound while driving around.
Also, the model of having a recyclable truck makes the learning more advantageous, fulfilling, and fruitful than other ride-on cars in the market that lack any additional activity or mission.
Pros
✅ Well-coordinated sounds that match well with riding instances
✅ Ability to vary the distance between dump sites and achieve an increased gameplay time without boring the child
✅ Additional recycling activity different from ordinary ride on cars
Cons
X Lacks rechargeable batteries
X Lacks USB port for charging
7. FurReal Interactive Panda Cub
Specifications
- Dimensions (LxWxH): 8.5 x 12.5 x 15.5 inches
- Weight: 2.2 pounds
- Age Limit: 4 years and up
- Batteries: 4 C batteries required.
FurReal Panda Cub is a soft plush toy resembling a panda cub and feels soft ad soothing to hold in hand.
The baby can just hold, touch, or hug the toy, which response with 100+ sound and motion combinations to use the toy. Also, the child can use the toy by feeding it with an included bottle accessory that is engaging.
FurReal Panda Cub scores a 9.9/10 in sound interactiveness due to the smart sound and motion combinations that are exciting and engaging.
FurReal Panda Cub scores a 9.9/10 in visual interactiveness owing to the interesting and engaging movements by her head, eyes, ears, nose, mouth, and arms.
FurReal Panda Cub ensures an increased gameplay time and scores a 9.5/10 since movements and sounds are numerous and make your child entertained and hooked to the toy’s magic.
The advantage here is the many 100+ sound and motion combinations which are 25% more than the rest of the competition.
While many other panda toys only have 50 or fewer sound and motion combinations, FurReal Panda Cub doubles that at 100+, giving your child no reason to get bored but every reason to stay busy and engaged.
Pros
✅ A huge collection of sound and motion combinations
✅ Many different movements of the toys nose, head, limbs, and mouth to keeps the eyes of your child hooked
Cons
X A drop could ruin the hands of the panda toy, making them immobile and dysfunctional
8. Octobo Advanced Pack
Specifications
- Dimensions (LxWxH): 10 x 10.5 x 11 inches
- Weight: 4.3 pounds
- Age Limit: 3 – 7 months
- Batteries: 4 AA batteries required.
Octobo Advanced Pack includes one plush toy with an octopus design, 8 Learning Mini-Games, and 2 Storybooks.
To use the toy, take the 26 tokens representing an alphabet letter to improve your child’s spelling and phonetics to prepare them for early education.
Also, use the storybooks for an immersive illustrated experience that keeps your child engaged and excited. The puzzle of identifying Octobo Octopus favorite fish is a problem-solving activity to help your child develop creative ways of dealing with problems.
Octobo Advanced Pack scores a 9.0/10 in sound interactiveness. Octobo Advanced Pack scores a 9.0/10 in visual interactiveness.
These scores are relatively lower than the rest of the recommendations because the toys are simple and require a significant amount of parental supervision.
The key advantage here is the value for your money by including 3 accessories to the plush toy, which increases your child’s avenues to explore more diverse magic.
While other plush toys and panda cubs come solely packed, Octobo Advanced Pack gives your child another angle for interacting.
Pros
✅ Lights and Sound for your child’s learning experience
✅ Many accessories to attain diverse sources of entertainment
✅ Included immersive storybooks
Cons
X Requires a tablet to use
9. Interactive Talking Microscope for Kids
Specifications
- Dimensions (LxWxH): 10.1 x 8.1 x 5.6 inches
- Weight: 1.5 pounds
- Age Limit: 4 months – 4 years
- Batteries: 3 AAA batteries required.
This Interactive Talking Microscope resembles a real microscope, has a plastic build, and feels great to gold and observe.
Using the microscope requires that you choose your mode of play, whether Fact Mode or quiz mode, then work with the 60 beautiful full-color images and get a response on 100+ facts and questions.
The microscope scores 9.5/10 in sound interactiveness and gives a perfect fit to spell out scientific facts and quizzes. This introduction to scientific facts in early childhood makes your child entertained and informed, ready for future education.
This toy can shape the career direction of your child to an analytical field or hone research skills enthusiasm in any profession later in life.
The advantage that sets this toy from the competition is the interaction between the microscope, images, and sound.
While other microscopes just have a magnifying lens that is less entertaining, the microscope couples this with quizzes and facts to engage the scientific learning session.
Pros
✅ A facts and quizzes model to ensure the microscope is entertaining
✅ Premium built plastic microscope for long term durability
✅ Interactive buttons for convenient controls
Cons
X The 3 AAA batteries required are not included and need an extra purchase
10. Baby GUND Animated Flappy The Elephant
Specifications
- Dimensions (LxWxH): 7.7 x 10.5 x 12 inches
- Weight: 15 ounces
- Age Limit: 6 – 30 months
- Batteries: 3 AA batteries required.
GUND Flappy Elephant is a soft, plush stuffed elephant toy. Using the toys requires that you use the 2 playing modes available: (1) Press the left foot to play an interactive peek-a-boo game, (2) the right to hear the song Do Your Ears Hang Low in a cute child’s voice.
GUND Flappy Elephant scores a 9.0/10 in sound interactiveness since it only gives basic sounds when touched on either left or right foot.
The toy scores a 9.0/10 since it has just basic movements when touched or pressed. However, the toy has a 9.9/10 increased gameplay time, making your child entertained for a long time.
Therefore, you have a guaranteed entertainment session with your child when using this toy.
What sets this toy from the competition is the likeability and familiarity with many kids.
While many stuffed animal toys may go for the same elephant design, the plush material and the exciting hanging ears make the toy an excellent choice.
Pros
✅ A long entertainment session with your child
✅ Longlasting plush toy to extend the exciting experience of your young one
✅ A grey color which resists showing stains and dust
Cons
X A loud elephant without a volume control that can distract other home occupants during quiet times
Learn More from BestToyLine: Best Brain Development Toys For Infants
What to look for in an interactive toy – Ultimate Interactive Toys Buying Guide
1. Visuals
An interactive toy should have high visual interactiveness to capture and captivate the mind of your child. Features for high visual engagement include exciting motions and dynamic movements of the parts or limbs of the toys.
By having moving parts pointing in different directions, you can have your child focused on the activity, feeling happy, and exploring the toy’s magic.
2. Sounds
The best interactive toys for your child should have exciting sounds that will capture your child’s hearing senses to bring melody and liveliness to their life.
Features that enhance great sound features include songs, speech lines, music, melodies, and instrumentals.
3. Lights
Lights add value to toys by glowing up everything and giving a great visual appeal. Once a light pops up, the kid is surprised, awoken, or even just curious. The child feels compelled to repeat the action to achieve another lighting session.
4. Gameplay time
Interactive toys should keep your baby busy and engaged for a significant time.
A regular toy can entertain your child for just a few minutes, whereas an interactive toy captures your child’s attention, compelling them to take the next action on the toy, and in the end, your child plays for longer.
Features to watch out here include toy activities that have a larger play distance, toys that involve different pieces and toys with many diverse sounds, or lights such that your child is not bored even for a moment in the gameplay
5. Multiple entertainment sources
Toys that come with fun accessories help your child to overcome the monotony of the main interactive toy. Other accessories allow them to explore different magic.
This way, your child has a broader choice to fall in love with different accessories.
Frequently Asked Questions
What toys make a child more engaged?
Baby toys with high visual interactiveness, diverse sound responses, different pieces of the toy, increased gameplay time, and lights on them are the kind of toys that keep children more engaged.
These toys capture and captivate your child’s mind, eyes, and attention, making them present at the moment.
Conclusion
Just Smarty Interactive ABCs and 123s and FurReal The Kangaroo are our top choice for the best interactive toys for infants.
These toys have an excellent visual, sound, and light installation that significantly increases fin playtime and keeps your child engaged and even educated. Also, the durability of the toys is exceptional and only requires simple installation.
For an interactive toy to keep your child entertained, look for toys with high engagement in terms of visuals, sound, multi-piece setups, increased gameplay time, and lights.
Also, a toy that lasts long with a premium built enables your child to enjoy the toy for long.