It’s no secret that smartphones can be addictive, especially for children. Too much screen time can lead to a number of problems, including attention problems, sleep problems, and behavior problems (1). While a toy phone won’t have all the bells and whistles of a real phone, it can help your child stay occupied without harming their development.
Young toddlers frequently pretend to make calls on toy phones, which are miniature, phony phones. They may be used to teach kids proper phone manners such as how to answer a call and converse on the phone. We have examined some of the best toy phones for toddlers available. You can pick the one that best fits your child from this selection.
Our Top Picks
- Best Overall: LeapFrog Chat and Count Smart Phone
- Best Retro Classic: Fisher Price Classics Retro Chatter Phone
- Most Realistic Toy Phone: YOYOSTORE My First Own Cell Phone
- Best Sing-Along: Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Smart Phone
- Best Cartoon Character: Minnie Bow – Tique Why Hello Cell Phone
- Best Interactive: VTech Call and Chat Learning Phone
- Best Rotary-Style: Just Play Minnie Mouse Happy Helpers Phone
- Best Touch Screen: VTech Touch and Swipe Baby Phone
- Cutest Toy Phone: PlanToys My First Phone
- Best Flip Phone: Infantino Flip and Peek Fun Phone
In This Article
HappyBabyHub’s Best Toy Phones For Toddlers Picks
LeapFrog Chat and Count Smart Phone – Best Overall
- Great for car trips and diaper changes
- Hard to swallow, since it’s so big
- Voice and tones are pleasant
- Colorful
- Loudest volume setting is very loud
Jam-packed with more than 15 games, this little phone will have your toddler singing, laughing, and learning in no time. Not only can you exchange calls and voicemails with Scout the dog, but the phone also teaches counting and phone manners through catchy tunes and engaging activities.
And for even more personalization, you can access the LeapFrog Learning Path online to track your child’s progress and get tailored learning tips. This toy phone is perfect for kids ages 18 months and up!
Fisher Price Classics Retro Chatter Phone – Best Retro Classic
- Eyes moving
- Kids get to use their imagination
- Cute toy
- Safe for a child and durable
- The phone cord could be longer
Back in 1961, the Chatter Telephone was the king of pretend play toys, with its friendly and interactive design. And even though technology has come a long way since then, children still light up with joy when they hear the sound of the Chatter Telephone.
This delightful phone is now available for a new generation of kids to enjoy, complete with eyes that roll up and down and a rotary dial that rings. Little ones love talking on the phone and playing with this trusty pull-along toy, which features a smiling face that’s sure to make them smile too.
YOYOSTORE My First Own Cell Phone – Most Realistic Toy Phone
- Looks like a real phone
- Music & lights are delightful
- Would turn off automatically when not in use
- Comes with a USB cord for recharging
- Does not include a charger adapter
This toy phone is the perfect choice if you’re looking for a realistic and interactive toy for your little ones. With 10 lullabies and 20 of the Best Children’s Songs, this phone is sure to keep your baby engaged and entertained. Designed to look like an iPhone, this toy phone is ideal for infants 18 months and older, featuring informative lectures and delightful melodies that will spark your baby’s curiosity.
One of the most exciting features of this toy is the multicolored lights that flash around the button when pressed, which is sure to capture your baby’s attention. The volume is also adjustable, so you can choose the right level for your little one. When the switch is turned on, the phone will ring, and clicking on the phone’s image will trigger it to speak, making for an interactive and enjoyable experience for your child.
Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Smart Phone – Best Sing-Along
- Not too loud
- Pretty colors and sounds
- Easy to wipe off and clean
- Nice pre-recorded songs
- The display needs a good bit of force to register touches
Your baby will love hitting any of the 12 large “app” tile buttons and being rewarded with sing-along tunes and entertaining words that teach numbers, counting, greetings, and more. With over 20 tunes and phrases in total and dancing lights, this phone is sure to keep your little one engaged. And don’t forget the slider! Simply swiping back and forth activates even more tunes and noises.
But that’s not all – the sleek and slim design of the Laugh & Learn Smart Phone makes it easy to take learning and fun with you wherever you go. Plus, button presses and slider movements help develop your baby’s fine motor skills and eye-hand coordination. The bright colors, music, lights, words, and noises stimulate your baby’s growing auditory and visual senses. And when they talk over the phone with “friends,” they’re engaging in early role-playing and dialogue.
Minnie Bow – Tique Why Hello Cell Phone – Best Cartoon Character
- Super cute
- Very well made
- Not very loud
- The kids will love to pretend to take pictures
- Might need to purchase a battery
Minnie Mouse is always on the go, but that won’t stop her from staying in touch with your little one through her fantastic Why Hello! Play Cell Phone. The phone is specially designed for small hands and big imaginations, featuring delightful Minnie phrases, realistic phone sounds and lights, and a spacious keypad. The bright screen showcases a variety of engaging apps that are sure to captivate your toddler.
With its large keyboard, lifelike phone sounds, and charming lighting, this toy phone is perfect for little ones who adore Minnie Mouse and can spend hours playing with their favorite character. It’s an excellent choice for kids with vivid imaginations and is recommended for ages 3 and up. The phone boasts a lovely Minnie hair bow at the top and even sweeter Minnie buttons at the bottom.
VTech Call and Chat Learning Phone – Best Interactive
- Plenty of learning games
- Fun to play
- It talks and asks questions
- Very interactive
- Volume is a bit low
When it comes to your child’s first phone, it should be both entertaining and engaging. And that’s where this phone comes in! With 15 app buttons, a special chat button, and the chatty parrot character, your child will have a blast exploring all the games and activities. And let’s not forget about the call-and-chat feature, which allows your child to choose from five different contacts (mom, dad, grandma, grandpa, friend) or even add their actual phone numbers.
But that’s not all! By selecting the chat button, your child can have a conversation with the parrot using voice activation technology. The parrot will ask questions and respond to your child’s vocal commands, making for an interactive experience. And with apps that teach counting, numbers, letters, a fun game, image gallery, music mode, clock app, and even the option to choose your own ringtone, this phone has it all.
Just Play Minnie Mouse Happy Helpers Phone – Best Rotary-Style
- Endless amounts of fun
- Great quality
- Easy to use
- Simply toy
- A bit pricey but not too much
The Disney Junior Minnie Mouse Happy Helpers Phone is the perfect rotary-style toy for little ones who love to play pretend and help others. This pink phone, inspired by the one Minnie Mouse uses in the show, is adorned with a glittery rainbow ribbon, making it super cute and fun.
Your child will have a blast pretending to be Minnie Mouse and Daisy Duck, just like in their favorite episodes of Minnie’s Happy Helpers. With realistic phone sounds, adorable Minnie Mouse phrases, and flashing lights, this toy phone is sure to keep your little one entertained for hours!
VTech Touch and Swipe Baby Phone – Best Touch Screen
- The product is large so it is easy for a young child to hold
- Cool features, like the touch screen and it slides so there are two different “modes”
- There are a lot of different buttons
- A good substitute for your baby for your real phone
- The product goes through batteries very quickly
This educational toy features twelve light-up learning applications that your child will love exploring in two different ways: by sliding through the displays or selecting the Music mode for some catchy tunes and sing-along songs. The touch screen and vivid colors are sure to keep your child engaged as they pretend to call their loved ones, friends, or even their stuffed animals.
The “Home” button allows you to record and store your home number for easy access later on. Your child can learn about the day using the mock calendar, clock, and weather app while developing hand-eye coordination with the touch screen and slider. With entertaining noises and sing-along tunes that teach the ABCs, 123s, and first words, your youngster will have a blast exploring and learning.
PlanToys My First Phone – Cutest Toy Phone
- Makes no sounds
- Your child will enjoy pressing the buttons
- Simple toy
- Great size for a toddler
- The strap is a bit small
This educational toy is designed with a magnifying screen and colorful beaded buttons to encourage your little one to interact and imagine. Plus, it’s perfect for cognitive and manual dexterity development for kiddos 12 months and older.
And that’s not all! The toy phone is made from environmentally-friendly rubberwood and has a non-toxic finish, making it super safe for your child to play with. And because the colors are made with vegetable dye, you can rest easy knowing that your little one is playing with a toy that is safe for them and the environment.
Infantino Flip and Peek Fun Phone – Best Flip Phone
- The sounds are short and relatively quiet
- So cute
- Durable
- There are many buttons
- The “soundtrack” seems to be set regardless of the button pressed
With delightful sounds, cheerful phrases, and friendly greetings, your little one won’t be able to resist turning this toy phone around. What’s more, this phone is perfect for bilingual families, with three Spanish and English phrases included to help your child learn two languages.
There’s also a playful peek-a-boo mirror and three extra phone sound effects to keep your baby engaged and curious. And don’t worry, this toy flip phone is designed with safety in mind: it’s small enough for your infant to handle securely and features vibrant colors and an eye-catching design. Suitable for children three months and older, this phone is a great way to stimulate their senses and encourage early learning.
How To Choose A Toy Phone?
- Age-Appropriate: If your child is very young, you may want to choose a phone with large buttons and simple features. If your child is older, you may want to choose a phone with more advanced features, such as a camera or games.
- Imaginative Play: Play phones are a great way to encourage imaginative play in kids. They can pretend to communicate with their favorite characters, and the phones themselves can be appealing with their colors and features.
- Safety: To reduce the chance of choking, make sure to remove any detachable attachments and check the assembly of such items. Choose a toy that was produced in accordance with global safety regulations.
- Durability: A toddler may occasionally bang and drop their items, and a newborn will inevitably slobber all over them. The phone should be robust, with a strong shell and few potentially fragile components.
- Features: When choosing a toy phone for a toddler, look for one with a variety of features that will capture their interest. These might include light-up and buzzer buttons, speak and text modes, touch-screen capabilities, icons, and bold colors. The more elements the phone has, the more likely it is to keep a toddler’s attention.
What Are Some Advantages Of Getting My Toddler a Toy Phone?
There are a few reasons why you might want to get your baby a toy phone. For one, it can help them develop their fine motor skills as they learn to press the buttons and swipe across the screen. Additionally, it can help them learn cause and effect, as they understand that pressing certain buttons will result in different effects (e.g. making a call, playing a game, etc.). Finally, it can be a fun and entertaining way to keep your baby occupied.
What Are Some Disadvantages Of Getting My Toddler a Toy Phone?
The main disadvantage to getting your baby a toy phone is that it could potentially lead to them developing bad habits. For example, if they see you using your phone all the time, they may think that it’s normal to be on it constantly. This could result in them not paying attention to their surroundings, or not interacting with people as much. Additionally, if they’re always playing with their phone, they may not be getting enough physical activity, which is important for their development.
What Are The Best Educational Features To Look Out For In A Toy Phone?
There are a few essential features to look for in a baby toy phone that can increase the phone’s educational value.
- The ability to play music or other noises is one feature. This might help your child learn by stimulating their mind.
- The ability to adjust the volume is another feature to search for. Your kid will be able to manage their volume and learn to make less noise if you do this.
- Last but not least, look for a phone with various light settings. Your infant will be able to learn about various light intensities and colors as a result.
