Pop-up toys are a fun and engaging way to keep children entertained. They are also a great tool for helping to develop hand-eye coordination, problem-solving skills, and more. In this guide, we will take a look at some of the best pop up toys available on the market today. We will also discuss some of the key features to look for when purchasing one of these toys, as well as some tips for ensuring that your child has the most enjoyable experience possible.
What are pop-up toys?
Pop-up toys are a type of toy that features an element that pops up when it is touched or squeezed in some way. This can be done using a variety of different mechanisms, such as springs, levers, or even magnets. Pop-up toys typically feature brightly colored elements and are often designed to resemble familiar objects or animals.
The Pop-Up Activity Toy will teach your child about various shapes, and animals and how cause-and-effect works through fun play.
Below is an image of a pop-up toy with 8 popping animal friends. When your child squeezes the sides of this toy, the animal characters will pop-up one by one in a row.

Why are pop up toys beneficial?
- Hand-eye coordination: One of the main benefits of pop-up toys is that they can help to improve hand-eye coordination. This is because children need to use their hands to activate the toy, and then track the movement of the popping element. This can help to develop fine motor skills and improve hand-eye coordination overall.
- Problem-solving skills: Another benefit of pop-up toys is that they can help to develop problem-solving skills. This is because children need to figure out how to make the toy work in order to get the desired result. This can help to teach kids how to think critically and solve problems effectively.
- Active Play: Pop-up toys encourage active play, which is important for children’s physical development.
- Interactive: Pop-up toys are also interactive, which can help children develop social skills.
- Fun: Pop-up toys are fun, which can help children stay engaged and motivated
How pop-up toys work:
The inside-out shape is stable when held at the edges, but if left on a surface, it will quickly return to its natural shape and leap upwards. The snap back takes a short while: there is an observed during which the popper moves slowly before rapidly accelerating to its final resting position.This is due to the elastic potential energy stored in the popper as it is compressed. This energy transforms into kinetic energy when released, causing the popper to accelerate upwards.
The speed of the popper’s ascent can be increased by compressing it more before release. This will store more elastic potential energy in the popper, which will be transformed into kinetic energy when released. However, if the popper is compressed too much, it will not have enough time to fully decompress before hitting the ground. This will result in a slower ascent or even prevent the popper from popping at all.
Pop-up toys vs. other toys:
Pop up toys are a great option for children who are looking for a toy that is both fun and interactive. However, they are not the only type of toy on the market. Other options include traditional toys, such as dolls and action figures, as well as electronic toys, such as video games.
Each type of toy has its own set of benefits, so it is important to consider what your child is looking for in a toy before making a purchase. If your child is interested in an active and engaging toy, then a pop up toy may be the best option. However, if your child is more interested in a traditional toy, such as a doll or action figure, then you may want to consider other options.
How to choose the best developmental pop-up toys:
When choosing a pop up toy for your child, there are a few things you will want to keep in mind.
- Age: First, you will want to consider the age of your child. Pop-up toys are typically recommended for children ages 2 and up. However, there are some pop-up toys that are specifically designed for older children.
- Size: You will also want to consider the size of the toy. Pop-up toys come in various sizes, so you will want to choose one that is appropriate for your child. If you are unsure about the size of the toy, you can always check the manufacturer’s recommendations.
- Features: Finally, you will want to consider the features of the toy. Pop-up toys can come with a variety of different features, such as lights and sounds. You will want to choose a toy with features that your child will enjoy.
List of top brands that make great popping toys:
- Fisher-Price
- Skip Hop
- VTech
- Hasbro
- Disney
- LeapFrog
- Melissa & Doug
- Playskool
Here are the best Pop toys in the US for kids.
Reviews of top Pop-Up Toys for Baby in 2022
Pop up toys for babies
This toy has five animal pals that have hidden, and your little one must use the buttons correctly to discover (pop up) the animals. It allows her to develop fine more skills to press, turn, and twist the different switches and buttons. It also has numbers and colors that she can learn.
This pop-up toy is especially great for developing motor skills, although it’s entertaining and educational as well. It is suitable for kids above 9 months of age.
Fisher-Price Poppity-Pop Musical Dino
This Fisher-Price pop up toy will keep your baby entertained for hours. It includes Dino, colorful balls, and 8 fun music sounds. Your baby will have fun filling Dino’s belly with balls, which then pop up from Dino’s tails or roll from its mouth, encouraging her to crawl after the rolling balls.
This toy will help your baby learn how to grasp and drop, which encourages eye and eye coordination, and gross motors as they also strengthen their muscles from crawling around after the balls. It is recommended for kids aged 6 months and up.
Music Pop-Up Toy Eggs
This musical toy by Fisher-Price uses a similar concept to the animal pop up toy we saw above. The only difference with this is that it has music. The toy has three eggs, each hiding a different character, a toucan, a turtle, and a chick. The baby only reveals the fun characters after pushing, twisting, or sliding buttons and switches. Furthermore, she is also rewarded with lights and sounds every time she uncovers the characters.
This musical toy is great for babies above the age of six months. It helps to improve their fine motor skills.
Pop Up Toys for Toddler-Jack In The Box Pop Up Toy
You probably know about Jack in the Box musical toy; it is one of the most popular toys. This toy includes a colorful music box and jester Jack. When a lever on the side of the box is pushed down, the music box plays Pop Goes the Weasel song, and at the end of the tune, a soft plush Jester Jack pops up dressed like a clown, catching your little one by surprise and making them laugh. To start over, your child needs to stuff Jack back in the box, but they have to listen out for a click sound to ensure it’s done correctly.
This toy will teach your child to listen and be patient, not to mention it’s truly amusing.
Pros
- Really cute and amusing
Cons
- It’s a bit hard for small babies to learn to stuff and push down the lever
- Dysfunction with the popping mechanism
- About the Author
- Latest Posts
- More info
Mary Stephens is our infant development and baby fun activities specialist here at Motherhood HQ. She has over 10 years of experience dealing with kids, previously as a K3 teacher and now as a K9-12 teacher specializing in physical education and Social Studies. She is certified to teach in New York and Massachusetts and when not teaching trampoline jump tricks or giving toddler safety guides, she enjoys writing and providing helpful guides to parents on baby fun activities from infancy to toddlerhood. Mary is also an independent consultant providing parents with fun activities at home and appropriate toys and baby gear for infants and toddler development. She can be reached at her email, mary.s(at)motherhoodhq.com.