Independent toys are becoming increasingly popular among parents tired of shopping at overpriced big box stores, and looking for something slightly different for their kids. Independent toys are often far more imaginative and thought-provoking than their big box counterparts, while occasionally appealing to moral standards associated with environmentalism and fair trade.
A lot of independent toys are unabashedly quirky and extremely niche. Toys with this sort of character are not created as often by big-name toy companies simply because they don't have the same mass appeal and won't sell as prodigiously.
Therefore if your kids' toy interests are more niche, or you're a parent simply looking to stimulate their kid by giving them different kinds of toys, you might want to scope out the independent toy landscape.
13 Independent Toys
From Giant Round Stuffed Animals to Cheeseburger Monster Toys:
Rahul Kalvapalle — Oct 20, 2014 — Life-Stages
13
Eco-Friendly Wooden Toys
Friendly Toys Creates Organic Options that Educate and Evoke Emotions
12
Felt Food Toys
CreationByM Crafts a Diverse Range of Plush and Educational Dishes
11
Diabetes-Teaching Teddies
This Educational Teddy Bear Shows Kids How To Monitor Their Disease
10
Giant Round Stuffed Animals
Squishable is a New York Start-Up that Capitalized on Social Media
9
Plush Fantasy Novels
The Quiet Book and the Ring is a Soft and Interactive Literary Toy
8
Empowering Crochet
Fair Trade 'Pebble' Baby Line Employs Women in Bangladesh
7
Interactive Toddler Tales
Storybook Blocks Allows Children to Actively Play with Favorite Books
6
Modernized Old-Folks Games
Hipster Bingo Will Make a Night at the Bar More Fun & Eventful
5
Crowdfunded Photography-Based Coloring
This Photograph Coloring Book Uses a Photographer's Work
4
Inspiring Educational Dolls
The Miss Possible Doll Toys for Girls Feature Enpowering Role Models
3
Kid Safety Cycling Devices
MiniBike's Remote-Controlled Bike Brake Makes Cycling Safer for Kids
2
Public Toy Shares
Erez Uman's Jerusalem-Based Toy Library Aims to Bring Children Together
1
Cheeseburger Monster Toys
This Glow in the Dark Burger Toy Makes a Wonderful Collector's Item
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Pokémon Squishmallows are Arriving in Several Styles This Spring
Multi-Generational Anime Plushes
The Newest Build-A-Bear Sanrio Characters Captivate All Ages
Meal-Accompanied Adorable Toys
McDonald's Japan Unveils New Functional Sanrio Happy Meal Toys
Responsive Egg-Like Pet Toys
The 'Wicked Egg' Interactive Pet Toy is Automated
Expansive QSR Toy Ranges
McDonald's Japan Hello Kitty Happy Meals Mark the Character's Birthday
Candy-Themed Toy Dolls
MGA Entertainment Announces a Super-Sweet 'L.O.L. Surprise!™' Collaboration
Whimsical Doll-Inspired Accessories
Pidgin Fashion Dolls Launches a New Accessories Collection
Kid-Powered Imagination Campaigns
Lunchables' A.I. vs K.I. Proves Kids' Limitless Creativity
90s-Inspired Plush Toys
Rubies Launches the 'Kidrobot' Plush Toy Collection for Kids and Kidults
Color-In Photo Cameras
The 'Potto' Toy Camera Concept Encourages Kids to Color in Prints
Imaginative Soft Toys
Blabla's Little Monster Soft Toys Promote Listening, Curiosity and Dreams
Witty Toy-Brand Horror Posters
LEGO Presents a Range of Playful Horror Posters for the Season
Eco-Friendly Racing Toys
VTech's Turbo Edge Riders Inspires Racing and Recycling
Eco-Friendly Bath Essentials
Bebo Seeks to Reimagine the Packaging of Kid's Bath Products
Furniture Waste-Made Toys
ÉCAL Students Redefine What a Sustainable Toy Is
Creative STEM-Based Toys
JitteryGit's Educational STEM Toys Foster Creativity in Kids
Stylish Cartoon-Themed Shoes
Koi Launches a Whimsical 'Teletubbies'-Inspired Footwear Collection
Gummy Bear Toys
Gummymals are Squeezable Toys with 20 Different Interactions
Technical Education Car Toys
The Conceptual 'GoCar' Helps Kids Learn to Code Autonomous Vehicles
Blind Box Toy Shops
The Newest MINISO Store in the UK is Full of Mysteries and Surprises
Ultra-Modern Infant Furniture
Nestig Boasts Slick & Modern Infant Furniture That is Also Adaptable
Playful Toy-Like Furniture
The 'Frunchroom' Furniture Collection by Adi Goodrich is Delightful
Multisensory Oven Playsets
Cookeez Makery Helps Kids Create a Sweetly Scented Best Friend
Adult-Focused Modeling Dough
Hasbro Revamps its Classic Scented Play-Doh for the Kidult Market
Sustainable EV Toys
Little Tikes’ Cozy Coupe Aims to Get Families Thinking More Sustainably
Introductory STEM Toy Sets
The Zig & Go from Djeco Combines Music and Forces in an Educational Toy
Anti-Design Pet Food Packaging
Gentle Giants' Bags and Cans Waste No Available Visual Space
Nostalgic Toy-Inspired Fashion Collections
rue21 is Collaborating with Barbie® and Hot Wheels®
Miniature Vinyl Collectibles
The itSmol™ Figurines are Whimsical and Perfect for All Ages
Emotional Support Plushies
WDYM Just Launched a New Doll for Kids and Its Called Ouch & Oops Plush
Interactive Sensory Tables
The Fisher-Price Sensory Bright Light Station Offers Six Play Modes
Educational Climate Change Toys
The 'Habitat' Educational Toy Brick Sets Come in Two Options
Nature-Inspired Pet Toys
A Team of Designers Create the Unique Triangle Toy for Pets
Adorable Organic Stuffed Animals
Estella Boasts a Range of Eye-catching Handmade Toys
Collectible Coloring Dolls
L.O.L Surprise! Loves Crayola Celebrates Creativity and Expression
AI-Enhanced STEM Toys
The Kidx Classbox Fuses Montessori Methods with NFC Tech & AI
Playful Restaurant Pop-Ups
The Play-Doh Restaurant of Imagination Turns Kids' Creations Edible
AI-Powered Plushies
Curio and Grimes are Collaborating on Artificial Intelligence Toys
Modern Children's Furniture Brands
Little Seeds Specializes in Hiqh-Quality Children's Furniture
Space-Exploring STEAM Toys
LeapFrog's Magic Adventures™ Line Arrives for Kids Five and Up
Kid-Envisioned Urban Environments
The Little Big Playmat Takes a Creative Path to Design Problems
Miniature Baking Collectibles
Make It Mini Food Collectibles Can Be Made & Displayed
Sensory Surprise Dolls
Barbie Pop Reveal Shares Scented Dolls and Squishy Friends
Festive Baking Miniatures
The Miniverse Make It Mini Food Holiday Series Makes Tiny Treats
Sex Toy-Resembling Wooden Tools
Craig Green Designs the Unique Jumbo Wooden Tools
Appliance-Themed Playsets
LG & Playmobil are Unveiling a Toy Collection at IFA 2022
Toy Brand Retail Partnerships
Target and FAO Schwarz Have Partnered for Physical and Online Shops
Interactive Holiday Plush Toys
The Bearlieve Bear is the First Interactive Build-A-Bear Friend
Iconic Toy Retailer Expansions
Toys"R"Us Canada Amplifies Retail Presence Ahead of Holiday Season
Nostalgic Kidult Meals
McDonald's x Cactus Plant Flea Market Made Happy Meals for Adults
Adult-Targeted Plush Toys
Build-A-Bear After Dark Shares Gifts & Collectibles for "Kidults"
Transforming Imaginative Furniture Designs
The Kiddie Couch Encourages a Sense of Play
Kid-Designed Sculptural Furniture
Art Gallery Galerie Philia Engages Children with Design-Thinking
Self-Esteem Promoting Plushies
Bigfoot Kin Teaches Children How to Love Themselves
Modern Parenting Solutions
KeaBabies is Sustainable Solutions for Modern Parenting Challenges
Bubble-Shaped Cribs
The Luxurious Bubble Baby Bed Gently Rocks Little Ones to Sleep
Ergonomic Dog Toys
Earth Rated's Debut Dog Toy Collection is Durable, Stimulating & Safe
Creativity Time Capsules
Crayola's Campaign for Creativity Reunites Adults with Childhood Art
Interactive Pixel Plushies
Eolo Toys' Pixel Hugs are Cuddly Plushes Enhanced with Tech Features
Kid-Friendly Toy Collections
Funko Launched the 'Snaps!' Product Line for Younger Consumers
Big Apple Toy Blocks
These Machi Town (New York) Blocks by kiko+ Encourage Creative Play
Experiment-Based Playsets
Moose Toys' Beast Lab Reinvigorates Action Figure Category
Play-Based Learning Collections
Staples Launches the Curated Kids Learn + Play Collection
Timber Tech-Packed Dolls
These teenage engineering Wooden Dolls Come in Eight Varieties
Forest-Inspired Screenless Toys
Boogie Board Launched the Sketch Pals Forest Friends Line
Anthropomorphized Bath Products
Uoga Uoga Kids' Packaging Can Be Customized with Stickers
Plush Toy Board Games
This Monopoly for Collectors is the First Squishmallows Board Game
Snackable Back-to-School Lunches
Little Spoon's Lunchers are Nutritious Meals for Big Kids
Giftable Customized Figurines
Pop! Yourself Lets Anyone Create Customized Vinyl Collectibles
Fuzzy Musical Collectibles
Furblets are Interactive Toys That Introduce Furby to a New Generation
Buildable Paper Playsets
Playper's Curious Kingdom: Castle Playset Encourages Creativity
Squishing Jellybean-Scented Toys
Jelly Belly Squishi Toys Come in 12 Different Scents
Super-Mini Toy Collectibles
Minis-in-Minis are Miniatures with Even Tinier Toys Inside
NYC-Themed Baby Gift Sets
The Big Apple Baby Gift Set by Estella Features Clothes, Toys and More
Digital Collectible Displays
Gatebox's Digital Figure Box Shows Off Virtual Collectibles
Family-Focused Learning Toys
Chick-fil-A Debuts a Family Game Brand to Inspire Family Playtime
Nostalgic Toy Stores
Christmasville Cove is a Tennessee-Based Retailer of Fun Toys for All Ages
Customizable Vinyl Toys
Makeship Launches New Vinyl Figures Collection for Content Creators
Fan-Made Merch Stores
The Wonder Shop Shares a Mix of Creator-Made Goods and Recipes
Wasteful Shopping Billboards
Not On The High Street's Billboards Highlight a "Don't Gift Guide"
Doll-Inspired Kids Collections
The PatPat x Barbie Collection Features About 60 Unique Styles
Cartoon Cappuccino Toys
Hello Kitty Cappuccino is a Multi-Sensory Interactive Toy
Specialty Baby Retailers
Buybuy Baby Debuts the Baby and Toddler Specialty Retailer Ever & Ever
Tri-Level Luxury Dollhouses
The American Girl x KidKraft Luxury Dollhouse is for 18-Inch Dolls
Toy Block-Inspired Wooden Bookshelves
Waiting Woood Designs the New Rotating Picture Book Rack
Kid-Friendly Modular Sofas
The Figgy Play Couch is Launching in Durable, Family-Friendly Materials
Game-Themed Plush Toys
Square Enix Releases a Series of Final Fantasy-Themed Cube Plushies
Next-Gen Fuzzy Robot Toys
Hasbro is Introducing a New Furby for a New Generation
90s Toy Holiday Trees
Furbtrees are Introducing the Next Generation of Furby Across the UK
Toy-Specific Storage Systems
Step2 Debuts a Toy Storage Box for Developing Organizational Skills
Toy-Themed Snack Collaborations
LesserEvil Collaborates with Disney on Toy Story Lil' Puffs Series
Cognitive Toy Subscriptions
Lovevery is a Subscription that Delivers Developmental Toys to Kids
STEM Subscription Crates
KiwiCo's STEM Subscription Crates Equip Children with Valuable Skills
Kid-Targeted Holiday Bundles
Storypod Boasts Three Holiday Bundles for Kids
Challenging Sensory Games
Toy Mania's Quick Pops Feature Four Game Modes
Discarded Toys-Created Homes
Wallmakers Designs the Toy Storey Home with Repurposed Toys
Natural Scavenger Hunt Toys
Craft-tastic Nature: Scavenger Hunt Potions Inspire Play in Nature
Life-Size In-Store Countdowns
Toys R Us Asia and Craig & Karl Created an Advent Calendar for All
Life-Sized Puzzled Insect Capsules
LEGO Presents the Insect Collection of Decorative Puzzles
Insect Habitat Toys
Smart Lab Toys' Insect Inspector Lab Bug Playground Encourages STEM Learning
Youth-Focused Architectural Toys
The Freckled Frog's 'Happy Architect' Toy is for Curious Youth
Hand-Knit Finger Puppets
Blabla's Finger Puppet Mushrooms are Sold in a 5-Piece Set
Baby-Focused Learning Toys
Matchstick Monkey's Playtime Toys Help Babies Develop Fine Motor Skills
Kid-Friendly Customizable Bags
Pop ‘n’ Swop Bags Can Be Decorated with Badges, Handles & More
Bilingual Baby Toys
Bebé Fuerte Explores Movement as Play
Miniature Collectible Campaigns
The World’s Smallest Lines are the Focus of Influencer Marketing
Space-Themed Chocolate Toy Products
The Kinder Joy Space-Themed Collection Includes 12 Toys
Educational Candy Toy Products
Yowie Baby Animals Put a Spotlight on Endangered Wildlife
Dream-Inspired Building Toys
Lego Dreamzzz Encourages Kids to Build with Their Imagination
Magnetic Hand-Holding Socks
These Children's Socks Add a Touch of Whimsy to the Everyday Item
Planet-Friendly Organic Clothing
Toby Tiger Offers Ethical and Affordable Kids Clothing for All
Collectible Anthropomorphized Toys
Epoch's Calico Critters Line Opens a Direct-to-Consumer Website
Kid-Focused Meal Containers
b.box Launches the Kid-Approved Eco-Friendly Bento Boxes for Meals
Wearable Fidget Toy Bracelets
The Infinity Flip Mobius Fidget Band Toy is Relaxing
Multifunctional Building Planks
'KEVA Planks' are Diverse Building Toys for All Ages
Child-Friendly Knife Sets
Little Kitchen Academy's Progressive Knife Set Instils Confidence
Whimsical Gnome Toys
My Gnome On The Roam® is an Interactive Toy Range for All Ages
Sticker Fashion Dolls
Decora Girlz Merge Creative Style Expression and Sticker Play
Bean-Shaped Vibrant Chalks
Areaware Presents the Colorful New Bean Chalks for Imaginative Drawing
Space-Inspired Toy Collections
Stomp Rocket® Debuts the Space Collection at Target & Toy Retailers
Stone-Like Supportive Toys
Play Maker Stapelstein Expands to the American Market
Animated Turtle Clothing Collections
Shein's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is Kid-Friendly
Personalized Bedtime Stories
StoryGenius Let's Parents Insert Their Children Into Books
Jelly Bean-Inspired Toy Collections
These Jelly Belly Toys Were Created with the Incredible Group
Authentic Asian-American Dolls
The Jilly Doll Celebrates Heritage & Builds Confidence Through Play
Life-Sized Toy Construction Sets
The Funphix' 'Standard' is an Educational Outdoor Playset
Enchanted Potion Dolls
Magic Mixies Pixlings are Dolls That Kids Create Inside a Potion Bottle
Surprise Mini Dolls
L.O.L. Surprise! Sooo Mini! Has a Ball-in-Ball Unboxing Experience
Hexagonal Connectable Collectibles
Nano Pods House Licensed Characters from Pop Culture
Whimsical Kids Furniture Collections
Oeuf Presents the New Moss Collection of Modern Looks
Comic Book Antihero NFTs
McFarlane Toys Launches New 'Spawn' Digital Collectible Series
Humorous Holiday Snack Packs
Seasonal Stresses Inspired Lunchables' Festive Snack Packs
Parental Gift Generators
The Parent Present Gift Generator Supports Gen Z & Millennial Shoppers
Playful Toy-Inspired Exhibits
The Eames Institute of Infinite Curiosity Debuts Toys & Play Exhibit
Candy-Filled Christmas Ornaments
The Gummy Pop Surprise Holiday Hunt Series & Ornament is Festive
Eco-Friendly Health-Conscious Dog Toys
These Cosmos Snack Shack Toys Come in Two Styles
Private Label Holiday Products
Sprouts Brand Holiday Items Have a Better-for-You Formula
Expanding Plush Collectibles
Miraball Shares Two “Little but Legendary” Surprises for Under $10
LTO Holiday Packs
Lunchables Launches New Holiday Packs to Help Parents Tackle Holiday Stressors
Superhero-Themed Retail Toys
McFarlane Toys Launches Three New Target Exclusive Figures