Music plays such a big role in our lives, helping to feel and express things that cannot always be described in words. It also plays a very big role in the life of a baby, when communication is minimal and everything is about feelings.
You can always play music for your baby to expose them at a young age, but why not let them make their own music with toys instead?
We think that’s a great idea, which is why we put together this list of the best musical toy for baby.
Our 30 Best Picks
1. Wooden Symphony
Musical baby toys, like the Hape Mighty Mini Band Wooden Percussion Instrument, are great for their durability and reliability. Your little one can bang away without you worrying about anything breaking or your little one getting hurt from broken plastic.
Set your child free to create their own symphony with this all in one music making machine. It includes a xylophone, drum, cymbal, guiro, clapper, and drumsticks. Its compact design even makes it a great toy to take on the go.
- An all-in-one melody-making music machine, with a xylophone, a drum, a cymbal, a guiro, a clapper and drumsticks
- Emerging young musicians will begin to develop rhythmic and audio skills
- All art is screen printed on for durability and easy wipe clean
2. Read ‘n Sing
The VTech Musical Rhymes Book not only introduces your little one to their favorite nursery rhymes, but it also introduces a love of reading through fun.
You have the option between music mode and learning mode, which helps your little one learn some of the Pre-K basics. The buttons and musical pages on this best musical toy for baby will keep your little one entertained for years to come.
Related: 20 Fun Items on the Best Educational Toys for Babies 2024
- Interactive kids book has big easy-to-turn pages; nursery rhyme book comes with 6 classic nursery rhymes
- Early education learning center build fine motor skills by sliding and twisting the fun play pieces; Pre-K reading book has 40+ songs, melodies, sounds and phrases
- Talking book features 5 colorful piano buttons that make sounds and introduce colors and instruments; 2 modes of play: music mode and learning mode
3. Dancing Keys
What good is making music if you can move to it? Why not allow your child to do both at the same time with the Play22 Keyboard Playmat?
This is one of the most fun musical toys for 2-year-olds, allowing them to walk on the keys and create music with 8 different instruments: piano, saxophone, violin, clarinet, trumpet, banjo, xylophone, and guitar. Motivate your child to move and burn off that extra energy while dancing on one of the best baby playmats.
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4. Under the Sea
The Baby Einstein Octoplush Musical Plush Toy is a great infant musical toy. It is cuddly and huggable with its nice, soft texture. All your little one has to do is give it a squeeze to hear their favorite melodies.
Not only will they enjoy the sweet classical tunes, but they can also learn their colors in English, Spanish, and French.
- Baby can cuddle up to new colors and music
- Huggable & soft to touch for tactile development
- Discover the colors in English, Spanish and French
5. Shine on Little Glowworm
Another best musical toy for baby you may want to consider for your little one is the Playskool Pink Glo Worm Stuffed Lullaby Toy. This one is also huggable and loveable, activating music with just a squeeze.
There are three modes to choose from: long play for 10 minutes, short play for a single tune, and glow only when you just need silence. And the best part is it’s machine washable.
- A CUDDLY CLASSIC – This Playskool classic has been a delightful baby shower gift or baby's first stuffed toy for generations. Just squeeze the tummy to see its glowing face and hear gentle lullabies
- CHOOSE FROM 3 MODES – The Glo Worm lullaby toy lets you choose from Long-play Mode for 10 minutes of music and light, Short-play Mode for a quick tune with glow, or Glow-only Mode for quiet time
- EASY TO CLEAN – An infant toy that's adorably soft AND machine washable. Sign us up . Just slip out the sound box, toss it in a pillow case, and run it through your laundry machine
6. Woof & Wiggle
The VTech Pull and Sing Puppy provides musical fun while developing gross motor skills. Your little one can either push or pull this cute little puppy to activate the music and puppy sounds.
Just like with most other Vtech toys, there is a learning aspect to this toy as well. Your child can learn numbers, colors, and parts of the body with the buttons on the side of the toy.
- New Skill Development: Push or pull the playful kids toy puppy using the cord to activate music, words, and other fun sounds while building gross motor skills
- Colorful Buttons: 3 colorful push buttons are added to the toddler puppy toy to help promote fine motor skill development in infants and toddlers alike
- Language Growth: Introduce numbers, colors and parts of the body; push the button to hear music and puppy sounds; the perfect language development toys for 6 month old to 36 month old kids
7. One Kid Band
Looking for the perfect pack of musical instruments for toddlers and babies? Get them the kilofly Kids Mini Band Musical Instruments Rhythm Toys Value Pack.
There are so many fun noise makers included in this bag. You get two different sized tambourines, two castanets, two egg shakers, and two maracas. With such a great variety of baby musical instruments, your little one can explore lots of different sounds.
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8. Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star
A great infant musical toy is the Baby Einstein Star Bright Symphony Toy, which is perfect for on the go music enjoyment. Attach it to your little one’s crib, car seat, or stroller and watch them enjoy the sweet melodies and light up face.
- Follows your baby’s curious spirit wherever they go
- Smiling star plays 6 classical melodies
- Musical toy for on-the-go entertainment
9. Little Genius
Boost your child’s potential for genius with the Munchkin Mozart Magic Cube. It is one of the cool musical toys for a 1-year-old as it teaches how different classical instruments go together.
There are different buttons on all six sides, five different instruments – harp, French horn, piano, flute, and violin – and one that plays them all together. This toy is quite unique, introducing your little one to classical instruments rather than electronic midi music.
- Educational toy teaches how sounds combine to create 8 Mozart masterpieces
- Includes harp, flute, French horn, piano, and violin instrument sounds
- Orchestra button plays all instruments at once
10. Feel the Beat
The VTech KidiBeats Drum Set is one of the best music toys for toddlers. It is sure to provide fun for your little drummer for years to come. They can enjoy beating along with rock, dance, and pop music as well as learn their letters and numbers through play time.
More toys for toddlers ideas: 20 Fun Best Educational Toys for Toddlers of 2024
- Kids learning toy has three drum pads and cymbal each with its own unique sound for sensory development
- Toddlers can play along to 9 melodies in styles including rock, dance and pop; music toy teaches letters, numbers, and music
- Kids drum set has 4 modes of play: Free Play, Letters, Numbers, and Follow-Along; each drum features a unique LED light
11. Band in a Box
Similar to number 7 on our list, Melissa & Doug Band in a Box is a great set of musical instruments for babies. This basketful of toys offers plenty of noisemakers for little hands, including maracas, tambourine, triangle, and cymbals.
Melissa and Doug is well known for its quality wooden toy products, and these instruments are built to last. Your child will enjoy a variety of sounds, from the soft ding of the triangle to the satisfying rattle of the maracas.
- DIVERSE 10-PIECE MUSICAL INSTRUMENT SET: The Melissa & Doug Band-in-a-Box Clap! Clang! Tap! is a 10-piece musical instrument set with a variety of instruments that get kids moving, grooving, and feeling the beat.
- EXPOSES CHILDREN TO MULTIPLE TONES: Melissa & Doug musical instruments help children develop a musical ear. This set exposes your mini-musician to different tones, volumes, and rhythms.
- HANDY WOODEN CRATE: To keep this band set for kids organized, we’ve included a durable wooden crate that has plenty of space to store each of the 10 instruments.
12. Shake it Off
A love of music can start from infancy. And the Hohner Kids Musical Toys MS9000 Baby Band is another perfect best musical toy for baby.
This set comes with 4 noisemakers: mini rainbow shaker, baby maraca, baby rattle, and cage bell. All of these shaker instruments are made for little hands, so you can start your child with these toys as early as 3 months old.
You may be interested in: The Best Toys for Babies 3-6 Months Old Your Baby Will Love
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13. Portable Player
The Baby Einstein Take Along Tunes Musical Toy is a classic best musical toy for baby. It has been a favorite of parents and kids for many years now, with nearly 17,000 reviews online!
This handheld device plays 10 tunes that your little one can shuffle through. And the volume control will be mom and dad’s best friend.
- A best-selling favorite with thousands of 5 star ratings and over 30 million sold worldwide and counting
- The Baby Einstein Take Along Tunes inspires a lifelong love of music with hours of entertainment
- Baby can switch between 10 total melodies and the lights dance with the melodies
14. Cutest Keyboard
The JOYIN Baby Piano Keyboard is more than just a piano. It is an all in one music making machine.
Your child can develop fine motor skills while they play animal sounds, an electric drum, and 4 different instrumental sounds. The different music modes programmed in the toy will also help develop cognitive skills as they learn to sort colors and groove to the beat.
- SUPER VALUE with Bright Color Cutie Piano Keyboard Music Activity Center Infant Toys with Music, Lights and Animal Sounds.
- Including Play Animal Sounds, Flash Electric Drum, 4 Different Instrumental Sounds, 3 Music Mode (Piano, Funny, Music), Play Music, 4 Colors of Different Keys. The Animals can be Detached from the Keyboard and Used as Separate Toys.
- Perfect for Developing Cognitive Capacities of Babies and Toddlers. Developing Color Sorting Skills. Play with Buttons and Animals to Improve Fine Motor Skills. Different Music Modes Enhance Kids Rhythm of Music While Enjoying the Music and Animal Sounds.
15. Holy Guacamole!
Let your little one rock and roll with one of the cutest and best musical toy for baby: the Skip Hop Baby Guitar Developmental Musical Toy. What’s cuter than a little guitar that looks like an avocado?
The buttons on the neck play 6 songs, 6 riffs, and colorful lights, while the spinning pit in the center plays 4 guitar riffs. You’ll have a blast watching your little rockstar create fun music with their little guitar.
- A little bit country and totally guac and roll this adorable avocado guitar inspires mini musicians with strumming riffs, fun tunes and more
- Easy for little hands to hold just spin the avocado’s “pit” or press the light up buttons and guac out
- Press buttons or spin avocado pit for songs, guitar riffs and lights
16. DJ Turn it Up
While not necessarily made for babies, the VTech Record & Learn KidiStudio is the best music toy for toddlers. Unleash your child’s creativity with this complete music making machine.
There are over 40 songs and sound effects programmed, and the light up keyboard teaches your child to follow along with jazz, techno, and rock and roll music. This set is one of the popular singing toys for babies since they can sing their hearts out with the microphone. Your little one will also have fun with the voice changer, scratch disc, drums, and whammy bar.
- Toddler toy recording Studio allows kids to record and playback their own music; early education toy comes with a real microphone and voice changer
- Kids music toy teaches pretend play, instruments, creativity and music; explore a variety of sounds including drums, a scratch disc and a whammy bar
- 40+ songs and sound effects; kids keyboard lights up to teach children to follow along to jazz, Techno, and rock and roll music
17. Nothing Beats the Classics
Just about every child has owned the Fisher-Price Classic Xylophone at some point. It’s a staple musical toy for infant. Not only are the colors visually stimulating but your little one will also have a blast beating on the keys and making music.
As they are ready to start walking, this xylophone can also be dragged along by the pull string and wheels.
- Classic pull-along toy musical instrument for toddlers
- Toddlers can use the tethered mallet to tap on the 8 colorful keys for fun sounds
- Pull string and easy-rolling wheels let toddlers pull it along anywhere
18. Jam Around
The iPlay, iLearn Baby Music Activity Cube Play Center is the best music toy for toddlers to take on the go thanks to the compact design and easy to grab handle. The 5 sides offer different functions with a variety of buttons, switches, and instruments.
The adjustable volume levels also make it a great toy for your little one to play with in the car without causing deafening noise while you’re driving.
19. Little Drummer Monkey
Your baby’s first drum should be the VTech Baby Beats Monkey Drum. The adorable design with buttons and flashing lights is sure to grab your little one’s attention and keep them playing for hours on end.
The little monkey moves and grooves whenever your baby taps on the center drum button. Music mode plays over 70 songs, melodies, sounds, and phrases to keep your little one engaged.
- Drum up learning fun with the Baby Beats Monkey Drum by VTech; animated monkey moves and plays a variety of drum sounds when your little one taps on the drum, introducing cause and effect
- The drum pad has two sensors and rewards baby's tapping with a variety of drum sounds and tunes, developing motor skills; three light-up shape buttons introduce animals, animal sounds and colors
- Learning mode encourages interaction by asking your little one to find animals or colors, or press the flashing light
20. Let’s Get Rolling
Need to motivate your little one to start crawling? The VTech Wiggle and Crawl Ball is one way to do that with the fun of music and lights. The ball will wiggle and roll across the floor while your child chases after it with delight.
This best musical toy for baby features over 45 songs, melodies, sounds, and phrases, and teaches about animals, colors, and numbers. And we all know parents love toys that teach while still being fun.
- Move and crawl with the animal friends on the Wiggle and Crawl Ball by VTech
- Interactive ball wiggles and wobbles on its own encouraging your little one to chase after it; features 45+ playful songs, melodies, sounds and cheerful phrases
- Press the dog, cat and bear buttons to hone fine motor skills and learn about animals, colors and numbers; 6 interactive animals encourage play
21. Moving and Grooving
Once your little one is ready to stand, they will be ready to dance. The LeapFrog Learn & Groove Musical Table will give them a reason to move with all of the fun activities it has to offer.
There are so many fun baby musical instrument sounds and songs to explore. Your child will also learn their new favorite tunes, like Old MacDonald and the Itsy Bitsy Spider.
- Colorful instruments and buttons activate a variety of 70+ songs, tunes, and learning responses
- Introduces numbers, letters, shapes, colors and more
- Explores sounds, songs and instruments such as the piano and drum
22. Light Up Keys
Easy to take on the go, the Discover & Play Piano Musical Toy is one of the best musical toys for 1-year-old. This little piano will fit right in their lap, making it easy to use in the car, in the stroller, and everywhere in between.
The buttons respond easily to your little one’s touch, introducing instruments, numbers, and animals through music and sound. You’ll be able to watch their hand eye coordination develop by leaps and bounds.
More 1-year-old baby toy ideas: 25 Top Picks of The Best Learning Toys for 1 Year Old 2024
- Makes the world a musical place to discover
- Musical baby toy introduces instruments, numbers and animals
- Soft cloth piano keys respond easily to touch
23. Baby’s Musical Friend
It may be an unusual looking toy, but this little monster – the Fisher-Price Dance & Groove Rockit – will quickly become your child’s new best friend.
Your baby can explore textures and activities of all kinds, from the roller on his belly to the rattling rings on his foot. Watch your child’s face light up as Rockit repeats their sounds and words and rocks back and forth to the music.
- Interactive musical learning toy featuring characters Rockit and Glow who interact with each other (and your child) at every activation! For babies and toddlers ages 6-36 months
- Fun rocking motion encourages baby to move and groove along to the music! Push down on Glow for exciting songs, music, and colorful lights
- 3 Smart Stages learning levels with 100+ songs, sounds and phrases that teach the alphabet, numbers, shapes, colors, Spanish words and more
24. Let’s Get the Ball Rolling
Want your little one to be a sports nut? The VTech Bright Lights Soccer Ball will introduce them to soccer while entertaining them with lights and music. Kick, pass, or shake the ball to activate the sounds and music. Your child will be able to enjoy this toy for years to come, running after their musical ball.
- This brightly colored soccer ball plays playful and encouraging phrases and teaches about colors and sportsmanship
- Press the happy light-up face button to hear playful phrases and three songs that introduce opposites and numbers
- Kick, pass or shake the ball to activate the motion sensor and hear fun sounds and music
25. A Quackin’ Good Time
Similar to #23 on our list, the JOYIN Dancing Walking Yellow Duck Baby Toy will be your baby’s new musical friend. This dancing ducky plays a variety of music as it blinks, dances, swings, walks, and sings.
The buttons on its belly encourage your little one to explore and practice their fine motor skills. Your baby may even be motivated to crawl as it chases after the moving ducky.
- MULTIPLE MODES: A Dancing Ducky Includes 5 Buttons Playing 7 Melodies, Activating Sounds and Flashlights and Generating Heart Beats; a Baby Duck Singing from its Pouch; a Button from the Top of the Head to make the duck Dance, Blink, Swing, Walk and Sing; and the Volume Control on the Foot. 3 AA Batteries Required (Not Included)
- SAFETY MATERIAL: Made of 100% Child Safe ABS Plastic.
- HIGHER QUALITY: Super Durable. Easy to Use.
26. A Drum-ful of Fun
Another great set of musical instruments for toddlers and babies is the B. toys – Drumroll Please Toy Drum Kit. You get quite a variety of instruments with this compact package. Your baby will get one toy drum, 2 drumsticks, castanets, a whistle, a tambourine, and a shaka egg.
All of the instruments store nicely inside of the drum. This makes it both easy to clean up and take with you wherever you go.
- Kids' Drum Set: Drum and play all day with this portable and colorful set of musical instruments!
- Includes: This percussion kit comes with a drum, drumsticks, shaker, slide whistle, castanets, and a tambourine.
- Portable: Take this drum set wherever you go with the help of the handy handle.
27. Musical Love Bug
Every baby needs a little tug friend that plays music, and the Infantino Hug and Tug Musical Bug is a great choice. Simply hang this little guy from your baby’s crib, stroller, or car seat, and pull down to activate 90 second of music.
There are also 2 clacker rings, mirror, and knotty legs to keep your little one’s fingers happy as they cuddle their friend.
- Pull down for fun music, motion and activities
- Plays music for 90 seconds as this huggable bug slowly moves back-up
- Includes 2 clacker rings, peek n' see mirror and knotty legs
28. Retro Throwback
There is no denying that retro is in. If you want to add a little bit of retro to your baby’s nursery, get them the Fisher Price Classic Toys – Retro Music Box Record Player. This record player actually plays 10 songs over 5 records that can be changed out.
As your little one grows, they will be able to change out the records themselves, providing a new level of fun beyond just listening to this best musical toy for baby.
- The original 1971 Fisher Price Change-A-Record Music Box, or otherwise known as the Fisher Price Record Player, is back
- An endearing classic
- Features 10 songs on 5 records
29. Shake, Rattle, & Roll
Sometimes you don’t need to get the flashiest toys. Simple is just better in some cases, especially when your little one is still in their infant stage. The Skip Hop Baby Musical Toys: Explore & More Egg Shaker Trio is a great introduction to music for your baby.
These little shakers fit perfectly into tiny hands. Each one is shaped like a different animal – a fox, an owl, and a hedgehog – and makes its own unique sound, which will delight your little one.
- Each perfectly-sized egg shaker makes its own unique sound for a rocking good time. Little ones will love to shake up playtime with these three cheerful characters. For other discoveries, be sure to check out our complete line of Explore and More baby toys
- Three pieces: Owl, Hedgehog and Fox
- Each shaker makes its own unique sound
30. Get Those Gears Turning
For those who want to introduce their baby to engineering at a young age, the Baby Einstein Symphony Gears Musical Gear Toddler Toy is a great choice. It is a bit advanced, so this is probably among the better musical toys for 2-year-olds.
The character gears can be removed and layered to build up musical sounds and create an entire symphony. This puzzle-type toy will really challenge your child’s mental cognition as they fit the different pieces together.
- Music and engineering create baby’s greatest hits
- Character gears layer up instrument sounds
- Crank the big gear to activate baby’s symphony
Conclusion
We hope you enjoyed our list. We tried to compile the best musical toy for baby available on the market right now, though the ideas list we put together is not exhaustive but serves as a good buying guide when getting musical gifts for your little one.
Of course, a list of 30 products can be a bit overwhelming, so we’ve tried to condense it into our top 5 picks from this guide of best musical toy for baby as follows:
- Hape Mighty Mini Band Wooden Percussion Instrument
- Baby Einstein Take Along Tunes Musical Toy
- Skip Hop Baby Guitar Developmental Musical Toy
- Fisher-Price Classic Xylophone
- B. toys – Drumroll Please Toy Drum Kit
Were there any toys that we missed? Let us know what your favorite musical baby toys are. Reach out in the comments below and share this article with those who may find this list useful!
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Last update on 2024-08-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
