Image: MomJunction Design Team
Toy phones are great fun for toddlers and help them engage in pretend play. The best toy phones for toddlers let them enjoy the seemingly grown-up activity in a fun way. They also come with interactive features and buttons that light up, produce specific sounds. Children can use these to have make-believe conversations, improve their vocabulary, and learn basic phrases.
In this post, we bring you a list of the best-selling toy phones that are safe, durable, and engaging.
Top Picks
13 Best Toy Phones For Toddlers In 2024
1. Best Fun Learning:LeapFrog Chat and Count Smart Phone
With this smart little phone, your toddler can explore more than 15 activities, including various counting songs that the child can sing along. Recommended for ages 18 months and above, this phone has ten buttons, each giving different displays upon pressing. The fun animations and different activities introduce the child to numbers and counting, encourage pretend play, and improve social and verbal skills. Go through this video review for a detailed understanding of the skill-building product
Pros
- Helps to promote sensory skills
- Promotes linguistic development
- Volume ideal for children
- Available in different colors
Cons
- May not have a great display
- May feel a tad heavy
2. Best Voice Activation:VTech Call & Chat Learning Phone
As the name suggests, it is not just a toy phone, but a learning device that features ten practical applications your child could try. The features include a clock, music, photos, interactive games, five different ring tones, pretend phone calls, and a pretend phone book that could store up to five numbers. Recommended for ages two to five years, this trusted toy phone also teaches phone etiquette, letters, numbers, and time concepts. It also has a voice activation feature to talk with an animated bird. Check out this video for a detailed review of this toy, which looks like a real phone.
Pros
- Ready-to-use with demo purpose batteries
- Improves cognitive and verbal skills
- Enhances social and emotional skills
- Promotes motor development
Cons
- Volume may be slightly low
- Buttons may be a bit fragile
"With this engaging and educational toy, I have the ideal solution for keeping my kids away from screens. A volume control would have made it perfect. However, it gets my nod of approval, as it offers my children an interactive play experience."
3. Best Safe And Friendly:Tikooere Baby Musical Toy Phone
Shaped like a car, this environmentally friendly toy is all your baby needs to stay occupied as you get busy with chores or work tasks. The tried-and-tested, multi-purpose phone for kids comes with 29 buttons to play different fun sounds. It has a rounded design to ensure the toy does not hurt your little one. The different colors and cartoon design make this toy visually appealing, and it can be pulled by your baby, which allows them to drag it along as they move.
Pros
- Lights up
- Consists of game modes
- Improves learning and memory skills
- Develops verbal skills and language-comprehension
- Equipped with a tow rope
- Non-toxic and safe
Cons
- Toy rope may be short
- May be smaller than you expect
Quick tip4. Best Durable:LeapFrog Chat and Count Emoji Phone
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
More than 11,665 buyers on Amazon have said the product lives up to the hype.
One of the best toy phones for toddlers that has fake phone calls and voicemail features, this durable phone can improve your little one’s math skills by teaching your little one to count numbers from zero to ten. It has exciting animations that get activated when the child presses the number buttons. While watching videos, the child can add emojis with sound effects to it. It includes phone manners, guessing games, and number games. It is recommended for kids aged between 18 months and five years.
Pros
- Encourages listening comprehension
- Develops fine motor skills
- Promotes role play
- Light-up buttons for clear visibility
- Ideal for toddlers who are learning numbers and alphabet
Cons
- May not fit some toddlers’ hands
- Volume might be slightly low
"My children enjoy looking at this toy phone toy's interactive screen and animal animations. Although the volume feels low in noisy environments, its durability has been commendable. Plus, the educational games have made it easy for me to start their learning journey."
5. Best Premium Quality:Joyin My Learning Remote and Phone
Joyin toy smartphone for kids comes with a remote control and is an ideal pick for ages one year and above. Made of safe ABS plastic, the product is durable, easy to use, and is designed with giant colorful buttons and a large screen. The remote control has channel keys that imitate a TV remote, play realistic sounds, flashing lights, and play words in different languages. Liked by many reviewers, the cellphone helps the toddler learn numbers, hear animal noises, and play eight different songs.
Pros
- Provides sensory stimulation
- Facilitates language development
- 100% child-safe
- Buttons designed ideally for tiny fingers
Cons
- Might be a little loud
- Some instructions may be unclear
"These interactive toys have proven to be quite engaging for my children. The edges could be softer, and the volume control could have been designed better, but nevertheless, they've helped me keep my children away from the actual phones."
6. Best Lights:Minnie Mouse Happy Helpers Why Hello! Cell Phone
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
This product is a hit with users, evidenced by the 9,569 fine reviews on Amazon.
If your toddler loves Minnie Mouse, then this could be something you may prefer buying. Featuring Minnie phrases, realistic phone sounds, a large keypad, and phone lights, this time-tested toy phone would surely entertain the child. It has a cute Minnie hair bow and Minnie buttons that bring cheer on your little one’s face. It is intended for kids aged three years and above.
Pros
- Features a rubber strap
- Has smooth edges
- Detailed crafting
- Includes batteries
Cons
- Available only in English
- Battery life may be lower than expected
"My little one adores this Minnie Mouse phone toy and carries it wherever she goes. Its camera feature is impressive, and the device isn't noisy. I wish they had put more effort into the design of the battery compartment."
Quick tip7. Best Interactive:Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Smart Phone
Your toddler gets fun learning opportunities with this realistically designed toy phone. It features 29 interactive buttons for endless fun, eight emojis that introduce feelings and emotions, and plays more than 75 songs, sounds, tunes, and phrases. All of these teach your child the days of the week, feeling words, the art of conversation, social phrases, and greetings. There is a voicemail message feature and pretend dial that gives real sounds.
Pros
- Made of plastic material
- Boosts motor development and cognitive skills
- Introduces children to early academics
- Builds communication skills
- Available in pink and blue color
Cons
- Batteries may run out soon
- May not allow volume control
"This engaging device grabs my little one’s attention with its play-and-learn features. He seems to like the message recording function in particular. The volume is a tad low and the size could have been a bit large, but it's a cool educational tool for toddlers nonetheless."
8. Best Rotary Dial:Just Play Disney Junior Minnie Ring Me Rotary Phone
Give your child the experience of using a phone with a rotary dial and realistic telephonic phrases, sounds, and light effects with the Disney Junior Minnie Ring Me Rotary phone. It can make their role-play sessions more engaging and boost their imagination and language development as they rotate the dial and pretend to talk to their friends for as long as they want. In addition, the phone is appropriately sized to fit your child’s desk and bedroom.
Pros
- Lightweight yet durable
- Comes in a playful attractive design
- Encourages interactive skills
- Includes battery
- Suitable as birthdays and Christmas presents
Cons
- May have a short cord
- May contain tiny parts that may pose a choking hazard
"What I love the most about this captivating toy is its quality build. My child isn't particularly fond of Minnie Mouse, but the recorded messages and other playful features keep her giggling each time."
9. Best Bi Lingual Learning:Infantino Flip and Peek Fun Phone
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
The 2,205 positive customer reviews on Amazon attest to the product’s quality.
Your toddler would show enthusiasm with this easy to grasp and flip over toy phone. It has a bi-lingual learning mode of English and Spanish. According to the reviewers, your child gets to listen to funny sounds, phrases, and greetings that engage them. The flip phone comes with a fun peek-a-boo mirror and is available in vibrant color themes. It is recommended for children above three months.
Pros
- BPA-free
- Easy to grasp
- Engaging
- Realistic mirror
- Available in two colors
Cons
- Hard to adjust the volume
- Battery life may be lower than expected
Did you know?10. Best Eco-Friendly:B. Toys By Battat – Hellophone Toy Cell Phone
Here is another fun flip phone that seems realistic and calls back. It features songs, fun sounds, a light-up screen, and three pre-recorded messages. Parents could record personalized messages to their children, and the phone has a locking message function. Your child would love its soft finish, bumpy texture, and cushioned strap. It is a learning and skill-building toy that improves hand-eye coordination and facilitates fine and gross motor development. It is recommended for children between the ages of 18 months and five years.
Pros
- Loop attached for easy carrying
- Enhances creativity
- Tiny lock button at the bottom
- Made with recycled materials and soy-based inks
- Available in two colors
Cons
- Volume control is not provided
- Microphone may be flimsy
"This adorable kids’ phone has become one of my daughter’s favorites. Despite the low volume, its recording feature makes it a worthwhile toy for children who revel in mimicking grown-up behavior."
11. Best Safe Color:PlanToys My First Phone
Your child would love this toy phone for its magnifier screen and the colorful dial pad. This toddler toy phone is made with sustainable chemical-free recycled rubberwood material and water-based non-toxic colors. It is recommended for children above 12 months of age and could improve your child’s fine motor skills and cognitive skills.
Pros
- Improves coordination skills
- Tot tested
- Has passed ASTM and EN71 standards
- Certified E-zero formaldehyde-free glue is used
- Organic and safe color pigment
Cons
- Not suitable for rough use
- Buttons may be hard to press
12. Best Educational:VTech Touch and Swipe Baby Phone
The VTech smartphone could be used to teach your toddler a lot of things while also allowing them to receive calls. The touchscreen feature has 12 light-up pretend apps that include a clock, calendar, and weather. It is programmed with around 15 melodies, sing-along songs, and different phrases to keep the child engaged. It encourages your child’s development by teaching the 123s, ABCs, and first words. It is intended for children between six months and three years.
Pros
- Easy toggle between screens
- Stimulates imaginative play
- Develops fine motor skills
- Enhances discovery exploration
- Boosts hand-eye coordination
Cons
- Not suitable for teething child
- Some songs might be repetitive
"This realistic-looking phone keeps my child thoroughly occupied. Although it has lag issues, my girl loves babbling into it and pretending to press the number keys. And while it hasn't wholly replaced the allure of using an actual smartphone, it sure does keep her away from mine. Hence, it gets the nod of approval from this mother."
13. Best Volume Control:CoComelon JJ’s First Learning Toy Phone
The CoComelonn JJ’s First Learning Toy phone comes with 50 different catchy sounds, phrases, and nursery songs. These interactive features encourage your child to learn the alphabet, numbers, colors, and shapes. Your child can also strengthen their fine motor skills and have more engaging interactions with their friends as they handle the phone and tip and press the buttons. The skill-building device allows you to control the volume at a noise-free child-safe hearing level.
Pros
- Improves social and emotional skills
- Promotes creative and cognitive learning
- Comes in an age-appropriate size
- Easy to handle
- Suitable for role-play
Cons
- Some may find the volume a bit low
"This durable phone has been able to withstand the rough play of my enthusiastic toddler, and the Cocomelon music and phrases keep him thoroughly occupied. The button interface is slightly tricky to navigate, but it does not seem to interfere with my little one's playtime. All in all, it has been a worthwhile purchase."
How To Choose The Right Toy Phones For Toddlers?
Here are a few points to consider while buying a toy phone for your toddler.
- Age: Buy an age-appropriate toy phone. Read the features to know if they are challenging to their age and if they could educate them.
- Safety: Check for any removable accessories and its assembly, to prevent the risk of choking. Choose a time-tested toy manufactured according to international safety standards.
- Features: Some toy phones would just imitate the latest smartphones and do not offer features that could raise curiosity or entertain the child. Look for the one with multiple features such as light-up and beeping buttons, talk and text modes, touch-screen functions, icons, bright colors, and size. The more the elements, the higher is the curiosity of the toddler.
- Durability: A toddler is likely to drop and bang the toy occasionally. Therefore, buy a toy phone that ensures durability.
- Price: Stick to your budget and buy a toy that is reasonably priced and is of good quality.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What toy phones are toddler-friendly?
Toy phones with simple features, music, a light-up screen, and large buttons are appropriate for toddlers.
2.Are toy phones safe for toddlers?
To ensure your child’s safety, look for toy phones made of non-toxic materials and without sharp edges. Further, ensure there are no removable pieces that could pose a choking hazard.
3. How long do toy phones last?
It depends on the material of the product and how you take care of it. For example, look for an appropriate-sized toy phone so your child can easily hold it in their tiny hands without dropping it.
Why Trust MomJunction?
Finding some fun toys for your children can be challenging, so Priti Bose focuses her skills on researching and writing about new and unique games. Her years of experience as a product writer and reviewer have given her a keen eye for high-quality products, which she enjoys recommending to her readers to make sure they have a seamless shopping experience. In this post, she highlights the best toy phones for your toddler to help them improve their vocabulary and learn basic phrases without missing the fun.
The Bottom Line
Tickle your child’s imagination with a toy phone that helps improve their communication and vocabulary. When buying the best toy phone for toddlers, make sure it’s age-appropriate, has an easy-to-use, entertaining interface, and interactive games, like the LeapFrog Chat and Count Emoji Phone does. Additionally, toy phones with brightly colored keys and an interactive design, like the Joyin My Learning Remote and Phone, can keep your child engaged for extended periods. For cartoon lovers, we recommend the Minnie Mouse Happy Helpers Why Hello! Cell Phone. Furthermore, ensure the toy is vetted for safety and keep an eye out for removable parts that may be a choking hazard. Also, ensure the tried-and-tested toy is made of high-quality, durable materials for long-lasting use.
Infographic: Things To Consider When Buying Toy Phones For Toddlers
When children see their parents talking on the phone, they are likely to imitate them and ask for one of their own. Now, you can surprise them by buying a toy phone with fun features. Take a look at the infographic below stating the key factors you must consider when purchasing a good toy phone for your toddler. Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
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