At Melissa & Doug, we have a confession to make: we love all of our toys. From our classic wooden puzzles to our sensory rollers, every single item we design is built with a singular mission — to spark imagination, foster screen-free learning, and encourage child-led, open-ended, purposeful play.
But every now and then, a few of our toys earn a little extra-special recognition. We are absolutely thrilled to share a roundup of our recent product awards from parenting experts, pediatric specialists, and — most importantly — parents like you.
Whether you're building your ultimate baby registry, shopping for the holidays, or looking for the perfect birthday surprise, we invite you to learn more about these award-winning favorites and discover why they are beloved in playrooms worldwide!
The Big Winner: 2025 Toy of the Year (TOTY)
🏆Sort, Stock, Select Wooden Vending Machine Play Set — Preschool Toy of the Year
In a historic moment for our brand, our wooden vending machine play set officially took home the prestigious Preschool Toy of the Year award at the 2025 Toy of the Year (TOTY) Awards! This marked our first-ever win at the TOTY Awards, celebrating the toy's originality, skill building, and fun factor.
Our Stellar 2026 Award-Winning Lineup
From infant developmental play to creative preschool activities our newest toys have continued to dominate top industry lists. Here are the 2026 award winners making waves:
🌟Sensory & Infant Play
The Award: theSkimm Moms Who Get It Awards 2026 & The Everymom’s 2026 Baby Registry Awards
Why It Wins: Loved by parenting experts and editors, this soft, textured fish is a sensory wonderland. One real Skimm mom raved, "This soft, textured fish was hands-down the biggest motivator to get my baby to roll over." Read theSkimm' Favorite Newborn & Infant Products, and check out The Everymom's Baby Registry Awards.
The Award: Good Housekeeping 2026 Parenting Awards
Why It Wins: Engineered to make tummy time more engaging, this soft roller is packed with adorable textures, colors, and friendly farm characters. Check out the Good Housekeeping 2026 Parenting Awards.
🌟 Pretend Play & Storytelling (Ages 2+)
Make & Bake Pies Play Food Set
The Award: Yahoo! 2026 Best Gift Ever Award
Why It Wins: Gifting experts praised this 27-piece set for its high demand, high quality, and "worth unwrapping" play value. Toddlers love rolling out the fabric crust and baking play pies in their personal wooden oven. Check out the Yahoo! Best Gift Ever Awards 2026 Showcase.
The Award: Shop TODAY Best Toy Award & Toy Insider 2026 Holiday Gift Guide (HOT 20 Winner)
Why It Wins: Ranked as one of the hottest must-have toys of the year, this open-design, modular dollhouse nests together perfectly for easy storage and limitless storytelling. Read the Shop TODAY Hottest Toys of 2026 List and browse the Toy Insider 2026 Holiday Gift Guide.
Swirl & Serve Ice Cream Play Set
The Award: Good Housekeeping 2026 Best Toy Awards & Toy Insider 2026 Holiday Gift Guide
Why It Wins: Delivering cool pretend play, kids can pump realistic wooden soft-serve swirls directly into cones or cups, encouraging fine motor skills and creative hospitality. Check out Good Housekeeping Best Toys and the Toy Insider Holiday Gift Guide.
The Award: 2026 National Parenting Product Awards (NAPPA)
Why It Wins: NAPPA evaluators and family testers praised this wooden post office center for bringing back the magic of sending letters, teaching shape-sorting, and fine motor precision. Read the NAPPA Stamp & Sort Mailbox Review.
Farmers Market 3-in-1 Activity Table
The Award: Toy Insider 2026 Holiday Gift Guide
Why It Wins: An interactive workspace loaded with hands-on features that grow with your child, keeping them busy and learning. Find it in the Toy Insider 2026 Holiday Gift Guide.
🌟 Creative Play & Puzzles (Ages 3+)
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Sticker WOW!
Happy Hens Push to Pop Puzzle
The Award: 2026 PAL Award (Play Advances Language)
Why It Wins: Established by speech and language experts, the PAL Award recognizes toys that expand communication skills. Sticker WOW!'s refillable stampers and the Happy Hens Puzzle both earned glowing reviews for supporting cooperative play and language development. Read the expert reviews for the PAL Award Happy Hens Puzzle and PAL Award Sticker WOW!.
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Design Your Own Railroad Floor Puzzle
Sticker WOW! Dinosaur Value Pack
The Award: Toy Insider Top Summer Toys 2026
Why It Wins: Hand-selected as elite summer activities, these keep young minds busy during travel and rainy afternoons alike. Check out the Toy Insider Spring & Summer Toy Guide.
In addition to our specific toy wins, Melissa & Doug has been honored as a company on a broader scale:
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🏆 Named "Best Toy Brand" by parents casting over 4,000 votes in the 2026 Best of BabyCenter Awards.
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🏆 Voted "One of the Most Trusted Brands by Parents" in a nationwide USA Today survey of 5,000 recent parents. Read the USA Today Most Trusted Brands Feature.
- 🏆 Inducted into Toy Industry Hall of Fame: Founders Melissa and Doug Bernstein were inducted into the Toy Industry Hall of Fame in 2026.
Are you ready to bring home an award winner? Which of these celebrated toys is on your child's wishlist?
