Climbing toys for 1 year olds are a brilliant way to help your baby or toddler develop important skills.
But the best thing is they’re all about making playtime fun. Climbing is one of the most important things to teach your one year old.
Having climbing toys available to your 1 year old in their home will help them practice to climb ladders, steps and over objects, which is key to their physical development.
As your one year old becomes a toddler they are super curious and excited to explore the world around them, particularly as they become steadier on their feet after taking their first steps.
You can nurture their curiosity and sense of adventure with these awesome climbing toys for one year olds!
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Fun climbing toys for 1 year olds
SoftZone Climb and Crawl Activity Playset
These foam blocks can be pushed together in a variety of ways to create a mini obstacle course for your one year old.
Features a triangular slope that can be used to climb up or slide down, square block, curved block, tube block and rectangular block.
They’re constructed with certified flexible polyurethane foams.
Kids love to push and roll the shapes and climb on them – my two loved these foam climbing block toys when they were little!
PROS
- Suits smaller play spaces
- Flexibility for play use
- Quick and easy to shuffle pieces around to create different shapes for play
- Not too high from the ground
- Lightweight pieces – can be easily transported between rooms and elsewhere
- Wipe clean
- Can also be used outdoors thanks to wipe clean material (but remember to always store in a dry place indoors)
CONS
- No velcro to stick the blocks together
Little Tikes First Slide
This simple slide is a must-have for little ones.
We had one ourselves when the kids were tiny and it lasted really well. They’re sturdy and I never saw them at risk of tipping it over.
Features three steps up to the top of the slide and handles at the top for getting ready to slide.
Comes in lots of different colours too, provided they are in stock!
This option is an ideal size for smaller gardens or small playrooms.
PROS
- Small size will fit in small gardens
- Made from plastic, so easy to clean and can be kept outdoors
- Durable
- Easy and quick to construct – simply snap on the handles and slot the ladder into the slide
- Remove the steps for compact storage when not in use.
- Very stable
CONS
- Short slide will be too small for older kids to enjoy
- Could be used indoors but only in larger rooms
Step 2 Sportstastic Activity Center
There’s lots to keep little ones busy with this cool Step 2 activity centre.
This is a 3-in-1 toy with a slide, basketball hoop and tethered baseball.
The slide is one of the lowest – much lower than the Little Tikes slide – which is perfect for babies and toddlers who are just taking their first steps and parents who are nervous about getting their child something too big.
The additional sports activities included make this a great way to keep your one year old busy at play time. They will love the tethered baseball and bat, which means you won’t have to chase after the ball to retrieve it every few minutes!
PROS
- Small number of steps and low to the ground, meaning not so far for a child to fall
- Multi-activity options
- Easy to wipe clean
CONS
- Slide is very small and child will grow out of this quickly
- Not as big as other slides
Tottlr Foldable Climbing Triangle
A folding climbing triangle like this one is a fantastic climbing toy for homes with less space, as they fold up for easy storage.
Kids climb up like a ladder and can climb over the top before lowering themselves down on the other side.
This Tottlr Foldable version is so much fun for little ones, not too big and not too small so it will challenge them safely.
The toy is made of wood too, which is the preferred material for many parents shopping for playtime toys for their kids as it is more sustainable.
It’s also a modern and minimalistic design that is perfect for people who love Montessori-inspired toys.
PROS
- Perfect for helping kids learn to climb ladders
- Simple, wood finish
- Easy to fold and store
CONS
- Not particularly versatile – it’s effectively just a ladder
Little Baby Bum Climber and Slide
Is your child a fan of the Little Baby Bum preschooler TV series? They will love this climber and slide!
This is more than just a slide, with a steering wheel that plays “Wheels on the Bus” and makes noises when they honk the horn.
Kids will love to pretend to drive the bus and use the slide. Features pretend wheels to make it look like a real bus and pictures of characters from the show.
PROS
- Perfect for fans of Little Baby Bum
- Multi-use climber and interactive toy with pretend bus steering wheel and slide plus music and horn
- Safe slide that is 18ins from the ground with a gentle slope that is perfect for little ones
- Durable material
CONS
- As it is focused on the TV show kids may grow out of it faster if they decide they no longer love Little Baby Bum
Wooden Arch Ladder
This cute wooden arch ladder has lots of potential uses and comes in a beautiful rainbow design.
Kids can climb over the arch, and slide their way down if they choose, or flip it over and use it as a rocking toy.
Turn it on its side and the wooden arch doubles as a lookout or play shop counter!
PROS
- Multi-use toy
- Easy and simple climbing over the arch
CONS
- Cannot be folded or collapsed so is a little harder to store than folding triangle climbers
Febergus caterpillar play tunnel
This adorable caterpillar play tunnel is a fantastic option for indoor and outdoor play.
Babies can perfect their crawling skills by going through the tunnel and as they practice climbing will be able to climb on top of the hard plastic tunnel.
The brightly coloured segments can be rearranged in different ways.
Sturdy and simple to assemble – this is ideal if you have a little more space in the garden or indoor play place.
Kids will love using it to create an obstacle course, hiding out inside the tunnel or keeping lookout from the top.
PROS
- Bright and colourful toy is engaging for little ones
- Fun caterpillar shape
- Multi-use toy, kids can crawl through it or climb and sit on top
- Flexibility of building with segments that can be detached and rearranged
CONS
- Very large, solid plastic toy needs a lot of space for storage
SoftZone Single Tunnel Climber
These foam blocks are hours of fun with a step block, tunnel and slide for kids to put together.
Features stay-put fasteners to hold the blocks together. We really love the tunnel, which kids can hide in or climb through. Perfect for practicing crawling and climbing, with soft foam blocks providing a safe space for kids to climb on.
PROS
- Lots of options for play – climb, slide, crawl
- Soft foam climber is safe for little ones
- Lightweight and easy to move between rooms
- Easy to wipe clean
CONS
- The tunnel is quite a tight space and only small babies will be able to fit
Grow’n Up Climb N Explore
Multi-use play gym that lets kids climb, slide and crawl!
This play gym features a slide, steps for climbing and a basketball hoop plus a tunnel for crawling through as well as portholes to peek through or aim a ball into.
We love the bright colours plus it features alphabet stickers for learning while playing.
PROS
- Easy to clean
- Multi-use play gym with lots of different play options.
- Suitable for indoor and outdoor use
CONS
- Large item that does not fold for easy storage
Eezy Peezy Playset with ball pit
A ball pit is always a hit with babies and toddlers! This cool activity gym features a slide for kids to climb up to plus a ball put attached.
This is a larger toy that will need extra space compared to other toys on this list, however we think the multi-use aspect means kids will get tons of use from it!
Kids need to climb to get into the ball pit independently – they will be able to do this from around 18 months onwards.
PROS
- Durable material made in bright colours
- Multi-use with slide and ball put for climbing practice
- Deep ball pit comes with 50 balls
- Great climbing practice for kids to reach the slide
CONS
- Large, bulky item that needs decent space for play
- Best used indoors
Ikkle Toddler Climbing Cube
This is a super cute Montessori-inspired climbing toy for a 1 year old.
Features a cute bear cutout on the sides. Children can climb through the bear holes or climb up the sides and onto the top of the cube.
There is an option to add a ramp for more climbing fun at playtime!
PROS
- Sturdy climbing cube
- Great practice for climbing ladders
- Cute teddy bear design
- Minimalist wood toy
CONS
- Indoor use only
- Does not fold or collapse for easier storage
Step2 Play Ball Fun Climber with Slide
We love the features of this cool slide and climber toy.
They can crawl underneath the climber to play peek-a-boo or build a den, or they can climb the steps to reach the small slide.
Features a small table tray feature with space to add water or sand for sensory play. Kids can drop the balls that come with the play set into tunnels on the side of the slide, and these drop down into the table tray.
PROS
- Multi-use toy with slide, steps for climbing, crawlspace and ball pit/sand and water tray
- For indoor and outdoor use
- Easy to wipe clean
CONS
- Large item not suitable for small play spaces
Different types of climbing toys for 1 year olds
If you’re in the market for a climbing toy for your one year old then here’s a guide to the different types of fun activity gyms, equipments and sets you could try.
Soft foam shapes
Create a miniature soft play zone in your own home with soft foam shapes!
These sets feature different shapes, usually including a slope, cube block and different shapes for rolling or fitting together.
Sometimes these come with velcro to fit them together, which you may want to consider as a necessary feature so your child does not slide down between two blocks while trying to climb between them. It just makes them a little more stable.
They’re brilliant because you don’t need to worry about sharp edges and the durable material can be wiped clean in case sticky fingers make their mark.
Because they are lightweight babies and toddlers will find it easy to push the different shapes around.
Slides
A slide is fun for kids from the time they can crawl to toddlerhood and beyond!
Slides are great because they provide an incentive for kids to practice climbing up steps, ladders and blocks. Once they get to the top they can have fun sliding down!
For one year olds look for smaller slides with just a few steps – two to four – so that they do not get too far from the ground.
Construction frame set
Construction frame play sets usually feature poles and fittings that can be slotted together to create different shapes that can be climbed on.
They’re great because there is flexibility to be creative with how kids build the climbing frame, and they’re also easy to store because you can take them apart when playtime is over.
Climbing frames
These are fixed toys that are usually outdoor only, although you can find some smaller climbing frames and structures that can be fitted to walls and ceilings indoors.
Baby and toddler climbing frames will be lower to the ground and may include tunnels, steps, a slide and swing for them to play with.
Wooden climbing cubes
Wooden climbing cubes are a cool climbing toy that very much align with the Montessori idea of toys that encourage kids to experiment when playing.
Children can climb on the sides, sit on the top, crawl through the model, turn it on its side, whatever they feel like! It inspires imagination and ideas for how to manipulate objects.
Climbing triangles
Similar to wooden climbing cubes, climbing triangles have a ladder on either side and allow kids to climb up one side and down the other. They can also drape a blanket over the top and turn them into a little den!
You can also find this type of toy in a arch shape, which is great as these can be turned over and used as a rocking toy.
The climbing triangles are easier to store than cubes as they tend to fold down when your child is not playing with them.
Benefits of climbing toys for your 1 year old
You may notice that your one year old has turned certain items of furniture into their own personal climbing toy. Or that your toddler loves to climb the stairs at any opportunity!
It’s natural for kids to want to climb as part of their curiosity and desire to explore, plus figure out what they are capable of doing.
By providing climbing toys you are redirecting your toddler’s energy and curiosity to equipment that is built for their age group to climb and is much safer for them.
Helps develop gross motor skills
Gross motor skills refers to physical skills that require whole body movement and enable children to perform a wide range of important things like walking, climbing and running. So having a climbing toy or two is an excellent way to practice those crucial skills.
Develops fine motor skills
As the name suggest fine motor skills involve control of smaller areas such as hands and fingers.
Climbing encourages kids to reach out and grasp onto handles or steps to get themselves up to the top.
Social interaction
Kids gain confidence in their ability to face challenges when they learn how to climb and climbing toys also encourage them to use their imagination.
Develops critical thinking
Kids need to use problem solving skills to figure out how to reach the top of a climbing toy. Something that challenges them to thing about how to climb to the top, and the different ways they could do this, is a brilliant way to develop critical thinking skills.
Increased muscle tone and strength
Kids have to pull up their body weight when climbing which helps build strength in their legs. arms and core.
Final thoughts on climbing toys for 1 year olds
As you can see there are climbing toys to suit all types of homes. Whether you prefer an indoor toy or need something that can be folded to save space, there’s an option that suits.
A climbing toy is a brilliant addition to the home for a one year old and something they will enjoy using every single day!
And while they will be having great fun whenever they use it, your little one will also be developing important physical skills at the same time!
