Behind the toy shelf

About OurToys

Who picks the toys, and how every guide is put together.

A bright playroom with a white cube shelf, toy storage boxes and a cushioned window seat

Our playroom corner

Hi, I’m the parent behind OurToys

A parent first. A reviewer second.

I have two kids, five years apart. That means I have bought baby toys twice, watched the same toys get played with or ignored, and given away a lot that was never touched.

OurToys started as a note on my phone: the toys that actually got played with, and the ones I’d never buy again. Each guide covers one kind of play: sensory toys, teethers, play gyms, stackers, walkers and ride-ons, blocks, pretend play, outdoor toys and STEM kits. I keep each list to seven picks, and I say who each toy is really for.

Every pick links to a live Amazon US listing that was checked for an in-stock offer. I never write a price in. The product card shows Amazon’s current price, so what you see is what you pay. If a listing goes away, I replace it.

Read the guides

How I choose

Three rules for every pick

1Age firstEvery toy has an age range, and I say when it starts to fit and when kids outgrow it. If a toy has small parts, magnets or marbles, it is flagged as not for under-3s.
2No colour clonesOne product per family. You won’t find the same stacker in four colours padding out a list.
3Play value over hypeI care about toys that get played with for months, survive siblings and don’t need a new battery every week.

The collection

What I cover

Nine guides, from the first rattle to the first circuit board.

Sensory toys0–12mTeething toys3–24mPlay gyms0–9mStack & sort6m–3yWalkers & ride-ons9m–5yBlocks & tiles1–8yPretend play2–6yOutdoor play18m–8ySTEM kits5–8y

next step

Find the right toy for their age

Start with the growth chart on the home page, or open any guide.

Browse the guides