15 Best Musical Toys For Toddlers + Kids (1-4 years old) 2023

While it's no secret that music is essential for early childhood development, finding the best music toys for toddlers can feel overwhelming. Afterall, you want something that supports the child's development fully, while still being fun to play with at home ideally beyond the preschool years. Below, you'll discover the best toddler music toys for 1 year olds to 4 year olds. Including toddler music instruments, games, and even bedtime music toys and band sets!

Whatever you're looking for, we've got you covered!

Best Overall Musical Starter Pack For Toddlers Development: iBaseToy Toddler Musical Instruments

If you’re not sure of which instrument to give your child, you can’t go wrong with this 23-piece variety pack from iBaseToy. It's one of the most complete and well rounded musical instrument packs. It comes with popular classics like xylophones, maracas, castanets, multiple tambourines, and the tried and true recorder. As well as a kazoo, hand bells, castanets, shaker eggs, a tone block and more.

The bright colors are engaging for little ones and the analog toys will keep them off screens and engaged in the world around them. Plus it comes with a zip up carrying bag so that you can easily pack these instruments away when music time is finished. 

Best Wooden Toddler Music Toys Band Set: Wooden Musical Instruments Toys for Toddlers and Kid

The natural wooden instrument set from Chriffer is a great choice if you're looking to have a little family band jam. It builds fine and gross motor skills, while engaging sensory development and hand-eye coordination. The classic wooden instruments also teach patience, perseverance, and respect for music. 

In total, this set comes with 11 instruments and a storage bag for easy clean up. This set is made from natural wood which is unpainted and lead-free so you can let your little ones play with it without any worries of chipped paint or toxic finishes. Older babies will likely enjoy using these as teethers or rattles too while supervised! More importantly, all of the pieces are handmade and sanded to a smooth finish for added safety. 

Best Toddler Music Toys Band Set: CUTE Stone 5 in 1

There’s no shame in admitting that you want to contain the mess associated with play time. This five-in-one piano and drum set from Cute Stone is perfect and also travel friendly. Along with a miniature piano, you’ll get a xylophone, drums, and a microphone. Parents will appreciate the volume switch. 

This battery powered toy also features drum beats and music, helping your child to find their rhythm. We like that the piano has four modes, allowing your child to also discover trumpet and guitar sounds. There’s also a numbers and an animal mode. And for pure entertainment, there’s a whack-a-mole mode. 

Best Xylophone Musical Instrument for Toddlers: Xylophone for Toddlers and Kids

If you’re just testing the waters, a full kit of instruments might seem like overkill — especially if you’re not sure if your toddler will enjoy playing them. This colorful xylophone from Small Fish is a great introduction to real music instruments for toddlers. It features a wooden base with brightly colored keys ranging from C to C. Each key is clearly marked and perfectly tuned. 

We love that the batons feature adorable bears on them that do not pose a choking hazard and sound great when played. Best of all, this pick comes with a harmonica but also sheet music that corresponds with the marked keys. While it can be used by children as young as a year, we think toddlers and preschoolers will enjoy the easily labeled sheet music more. 

Best Guitar Toy For Toddlers: Donner Soprano Ukulele Beginner Kit

Okay this isn't as much a “toy guitar” as it is a real Canadian Maple Wood Guitar! This is the exact guitar we got my toddler for her 2nd birthday and she loves it! It comes with everything you need: carrying bag, strap, tuner pick, polishing cloth, extra strings, and picks.

Ukulele's are tuned differently than acoustic and electric guitars; As a result some guitar experts say they're not ideal for beginners who plan to graduate to a full sized guitar in the near future. With that said, as far as toy guitars go, I consider it the best toy guitar for toddlers!

Best Drum Musical Instrument For Toddlers: Ubblove Drums For Kids

Is there a little drummer in your family? Upgrade them from pots and pans with one of these cute drums from Ubblove. It comes in three styles: bongo, 8 in floor drum, and even a large 10 inch floor drum. Each comes with two kid friendly mallets.

You’ll like that these drums are made from durable wood and that it features rubber feet so that your kids can play it on a table or on the floor. Note though, that the drum head is made from plastic designed to look like sheepskin. 

Best Classical Musical Instrument Band Set For Toddlers: First Note USA

If you follow montessori at home, you know the benefits of introducing real objects tailored to kids. Which is why we love the First Note three-piece classical music band set of brass and wind instruments! They are designed to train your children how to play the trumpet, clarinet, and saxophone. 

Each instrument features color-coded and numbered keys to help children learn finger placement and remember notes. Keep in mind that these instruments are made from plastic and covered in a silver coating to mimic the look of regular instruments. Likewise, children press the buttons to create sounds rather than a combination of blowing through the mouthpiece and pressing the buttons. 

Best Piano For Toddlers: Melissa & Doug Learn-To-Play Toddler Piano With 25 Keys and Color-Coded Songbook

You can’t go wrong with a piano as an early instrument to introduce to your toddler. This cute and vibrantly colored piano from Melissa & Doug features 25 keys and comes with a songbook. You’ll like that the keys are color-coded, making it easier for children to follow along. 

This piano is designed for preschool aged children between three to five years old. As is common with Melissa & Doug toys, this piano is also made from sturdy wood and has a classic upright piano design. Another nice feature we like is that you can personalize the piano with your child’s name and choose from a fun multi-color, blue, or pink options!

Best Keyboard For Toddlers: Fisher-Price Teaching Keys Keyboard

Fisher-Price is a tried and true brand when it comes to toddler toys. The Teaching Keys Keyboard is designed for children as young as three, but is ideal for building key familiarity. This 32-key piano comes with 19 white keys that flash lights to guide little ones for hand placement. 

You’ll also get eight musical instrument sounds, eight rhythms, four percussion sounds and 20 demo songs. You can also record music, adjust the tempo and use the one-key-one-note feature to play full tunes by pressing a single note. And parents will appreciate the volume control.  

Best Bedtime Music Toys For Toddler: Cocomelon Musical Bedtime JJ Doll

Show us a parent who doesn’t know CoComelon and we’ll be shocked! For little ones that are familiar with JJ, Yo-Yo, and TomTom, this Musical Bedtime JJ doll is a great way to incorporate music into bedtime routines. 

The happy toddler toy has a plush body and comes with a mini teddy bear, perfect for toddlers to snuggle up with! And little ones will love that he sings the “Yes, Yes, Bedtime” song when you press his tummy. He also repeats seven sounds and phrases.

Best Toddler Musical Toy Game: KKONES Music Super Frog Game Toddler Toys

Kkones Music Super Frog Game is a great light up musical toy. It's basically a fun twist on whack-a-mole. Features include two mallets, two different game modes, music, and it even lets you toggle between four different languages.

The objective is simple: when a frog lights up, whack it! This is ideal for younger toddlers and even aids in improving hand-eye coordination and attention spans. We like that you can increase the intensity level to make the game harder.

Best Music And Dancing Toys For Toddlers: Kidzlane Floor Piano Mat for Kids and Toddlers

If you want a musical toy that will get your kids (and you!) moving, then the Kidzlane Floor Piano Mat is perfect for the whole family. This mat measures six feet long, making it ideal for everyone to get in on the action. 

Along with simply playing keyboard notes, this 24-key mat can playback built-in songs as well as eight instrument sounds. And it comes with 10 song cards that feature color-coded sheet music that matches the keys on the mat. 

Best DIY Music Instruments For Toddlers: KiwiCo Music + Rhythm Kit

What better way to foster a love and respect for music than allowing your child to DIY their own music instruments? KiwiCo has made this SO easy with their DIY Music & Rhythm Kit!

This STEAM focused musical toy will encourage kids to use problem solving skills to build their instruments. Then they can continue improving their hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills while playing them! This pick is ideal for children ages two through four. 

Best Toy For Toddlers Who Love Music On The Go: Baby Einstein Toddler Jams Musical Toy

There’s nothing wrong with wanting some tunes to accompany you while you’re on the go! Now parents can stop handing over their phone and let their toddler play DJ with the Baby Einstein Toddler Jams Musical Toy! It's a great addition to bring on strolls through the park or — if parents can handle it — on car rides. 

This simple faux boombox offers three distinct stations along with more than 30 melodies and sounds. Parents will like the volume control while babies will love the colorful lights. Plus the compact size is perfect for little hands.

Best Baby Sit-To-Stand Learning Walker Toddler Musical Toy:  VTech Sit-to-Stand Learning Walker

Getting little ones moving is important, especially if they’ve finally progressed beyond learning to stand. The VTech Sit-to-Stand Learning Walker is designed to encourage little ones to start exploring the world around them on two feet instead of by crawling. 

Toddlers will get a full workout and develop gross motor skills as they push this walker around the house. This toy comes with more than 70 sing-along songs, phrases,  music, and sound effects. It also comes in four colors: blue, purple, orange, and pink.

How To Choose A Musical Toy Instrument For Toddlers + Kids:

When it comes to choosing a musical toy instrument for toddlers or young kids, the options are endless! Science has long proven a connection between learning music and enhancing concentration as well as academic outcomes. Consider the following to narrow your selection and find the perfect musical toy for your child!

Age/Size:

Check the recommended age range before purchasing.

A toy that's too difficult could leave your child frustrated and defeated. A toy that's too easy, could sit on the shelf collecting dust.

Keep in mind, the recommended age range is typically 3+ because of “choking hazards.” Any toy that has a screw or a small piece that could potentially come off typically has that warning/age recommendation as a result.

When choosing a musical toy for my toddler, personally, I look for something that is size appropriate – so her tiny hands can use it effectively, even if it's not exactly as the musical instrument was intended to be played.

Quality/Durability: 

Toddlers can be tough on things — especially toys. And if a child really loves a toy, it ideally will hold up to the wear and tear of toddlerhood! You want to look for toys that are made from sturdy materials. 

They should be able to be thrown across a room, or fall from a table or chair without falling apart. Make sure that if a product has seams, they’re securely pressed together. Products with hinges should also be reinforced so that they don’t break from frequent use. 

As always, even the most quality and durable toys should be checked frequently to ensure they aren't splintering, cracking, or developing any other issues that could pose a safety concern.

Sound: 

Are you looking for a musical toy that create a true sound to the music instrument? For instance, do you want the sounds of a toy guitar to sound like a real guitar?

Or are you looking for something that sounds nice while also giving you control over the volume? While this won’t help you if you pick an analog instrument set for your child, volume control can be your best friend for other battery or electric-powered toys!

Engagement vs. Entertainment: 

Do you want a toy that teaches or a toy that entertains?

Typically, it's not recommended to select toys for entertainment purposes. Most parents ultimately want kids to play independently, and the foundation for teaching children how to play independently begins during the first year by selecting toys that foster concentration and engagement; not entertainment.

While light up push button toys may be fun for a few minutes, ultimately they do not provide the same level of skill development and refinement that, not only will help toddlers reach milestones, but also sets them up for a ton of success in the long run (think self esteem).

With that said, there is a time and place for everything. An entertaining push button electronic musical toy that inspires your toddler to dance, sing, and move around is still engaging them! It's really about choosing whatever makes the most sense for you and your budget.

If you’re focused on either teaching your child to play an instrument ultimately though, you'll want to choose toy musical instruments with color coded keys and sheet music.  

Developmental Milestones/Skill:

Also consider your child’s dexterity. Toys that require fine motor skills such as precise finger movements might be a struggle for younger toddlers that are still trying to master those behaviors. 

But along the same lines, musical toys should help to engage those motor skills or developmental milestones such as sounding out letters and words, or recognizing colors and shapes. 

FAQS About Toddler Musical Toys:

What benefits do musical toys have for toddlers? 

 Research has shown that musical toys — especially percussion instruments — can improve overall development. Musical toys can serve as an early language development tool for toddlers. Toys that incorporate songs can encourage recall and boost vocabulary. And in terms of physical benefits, musical toys can improve a child’s fine motor skills and aid in building coordination. 

Are musical instruments safe for toddlers?  

As long as you pick an age-appropriate toy for your toddler that doesn’t pose a safety risk, yes musical instruments are safe. 

How early should I introduce musical instruments to my child?

You can begin introducing musical instruments as soon as your child is born if you wish. Don’t forget that your voice is also an instrument! Of course, they won’t have much interaction with physical instruments in the beginning, but if you keep them around your child to model using and taking care of them, your child will likely follow suit.

How can music provide structure in a child’s day?

Music is a great way to mark the passage of time and create predictable routines.

For example, playing a specific song when it’s nap time or time to clean up the playroom are great ways to incorporate music into a daily routine while regulating your child emotionally and mentally about what to expect next.

For the best results, you should use the same song for specific events to help build familiarity and develop a consistent routine.  

What are ways I can encourage a love of music for my toddler? 

There are plenty of ways to make music a lifelong love for your toddler. The simplest method is to frequently have music playing. Or, sing songs and dance with your child. Introduce them to a lot of different types and styles of music, and give them choices frequently about the music you'll listen to or sing!

And of course, giving them musical instruments and musical toys that toddlers can play independently with or you can play with them, will help encourage a love of music. 

Final Thoughts:

Finding the best toddler musical toy doesn't have to be hard. At the end of the day, it's just about finding musical instruments that meets your toddlers development and don't give you a headache or break the bank!

Our personal favorite is the starter percussion band set from iBaseToy. It gives you a ton of musical instruments that work for 1 year olds, 2 year olds, 4 year olds and beyond the preschool stage! It's loads of fun for the entire family to have band practice at home!

We are also quite partial to the Kidzlane Floor Piano Mat as it's a nice gross motor activity that encourages a love of music and movement. Perfect to burn off that toddler energy indoors on a rainy day!

And of course, what child doesn't love Cocomelon?! The Cocomelon Musical Bedtime JJ Doll is sure to be an absolute hit with most toddlers!