Best Wooden Train Sets for Toddlers That Encourage Child's Development

Review & Comparison, Last Update January 19, 2024
Kids learn about the outside world through play. So, what matters in selecting toys is how much knowledge and fun your child can derive. A wooden train set is the most beneficial toy in terms of child’s development that also can bring a lot of joy. Our review will help make your choice! ...Read more ...Read less
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BEST 2024
PROS
CONS
OUR VERDICT
Recommended Age
Pieces
Size
Features
Warranty
 
PROS
This kid-sized wooden train table will become a favorite playtime activity for your little one. It’s not just a railway, but a whole town full of adventures! Also, your child can expand an existing set by adding a variety of other toys.
CONS
May not be suitable for small nurseries.
OUR VERDICT
KidKraft is an excellent choice for children over three years of age! It helps foster your kid's imagination and turn their fantasy into reality. And parents will appreciate removable storage bins to keep your child’s nursery clean and tidy.
detailed parameters
Recommended Age
3-8 years
Pieces
120 pieces including bridge, tunnel, gas station, helicopter and more
Size
48.75" x 34.38" x 16"
Features
Table with 3 removable storage bins, 1 1/2" lip along the perimeter of the table, compatible with major wooden railway brands
Warranty
90 days
PROS
Brio wooden train set would fit confined rooms where there's not much space for big toys. All pieces can be stored away in a box until the next exciting trip.
CONS
AA battery is not included.
OUR VERDICT
This admirable, bright train set will come to liking to kids over three years of age. The battery-operated set will make kids' play more realistic and diversified.
detailed parameters
Recommended Age
3+
Pieces
54 pieces including 2 trains, battery powered engine, 3 cranes, truck, cargo, bridge, rocks, and crossing signal
Size
31.9" х 22"
Features
Special BRIO storage box with latching lid, engine is powered by 1xAA 1.5V battery, combines with most other railway systems on the market
Warranty
Amazon's 30-day return policy
PROS
Dozens of track pieces allow for building a variety of track formations, encouraging your child's imagination during play.
CONS
The carriage wheels seem a bit wobbly.
OUR VERDICT
Melissa & Doug Deluxe railway set for 3-year olds and over offers a good quality product at an affordable price. The set is large so it will be an ideal solution for families with many kids.
detailed parameters
Recommended Age
3+
Pieces
132 pieces including roundhouse engine shed, dozens of track pieces in curves and straights, trees, workers, traffic signs; multi-piece trains; magnetic-tipped cranes; switches and T-junction for changing course; suspension bridge, and trestle bridge
Size
48" x 32"
Features
Compatible with all popular wooden railway systems
Warranty
90-day return policy
PROS
In addition to versatile track pieces for future expansion, the Orbrium Toys set offers non-colored pieces to boost your child’s imagination.
CONS
The bridge can be a bit unsteady.
OUR VERDICT
Every child of about 3 years of age will be excited with such a variety of cars, buses and other pieces included in the set. The set complies with the CPSC's testing and certification requirements.
detailed parameters
Recommended Age
3+
Pieces
100 pieces including engine, coaches, bridge, buildings, city vehicles (police cruiser, ambulance, cars, buses), road signs, trees, and figurines
Size

~ 6"

Features
Compatible with all major wooden railway systems on the market
Warranty
Amazon's 30-day return policy
PROS

All parts of this toy train set are of premium quality. The tracks are made of sturdy beech wood; each element is carefully polished and doesn't contain BPA, lead, or phthalates.

CONS

You may need a bit of effort to put together some of the elements.

OUR VERDICT

Thanks to the Tiny Land WT0001, every child can create their own unique railroad track. The elements of this model can be combined with sets by other manufacturers, such as Thomas, Brio, Melissa and Doug, or Chuggington, which boosts the kid's imagination.

detailed parameters
Recommended Age

3+

Pieces

39 pieces including curved tracks, a bridge, people, scenery, an engine, passenger car, hauler, and other accessories

Size

45" x 22"

Features

Expandable (combines 2 or more sets), allows multiple connection layouts, lead, phthalates, and BPA free, ASTM F963 and CPSIA certifications, comes with a gift and storage box

Warranty

100% Satisfaction guarantee

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KidKraft Waterfall Mountain Train Set and Table

Everything You Need is on the Table

Every parent would love his/her kid to have a separate play area. Toys all around the house eventually can piss anyone off. This won’t be the case if you get this train set from KidKraft. It comes packed with a big wooden table where your kid would be able to store all pieces together away instead of scattering them on the floor. The height of the table isn’t too big and is suitable for kids of about 3 years of age. The manufacturer doesn’t recommend buying it for younger children since the set contains many tiny pieces that can be swallowed. For all the rest, it’s got everything you’d expect from a quality train set. The pieces from the set can be put together to build a real city, so you can give your child full freedom and see what he/she’d do about it. We’re more than sure your little one will be attracted to the game and spend hours at the table. The set is really fun and you’re likely to join your kids in play. The KidKraft train set is so colorful and diverse, you both will find playing with it a fascinating pastime.

Review of KidKraft Waterfall Mountain Train Set and Table

Your Own City in One Set

This multi-configuration train set is great for creating your own small town on an island-like table. The accessories include a police station, hospital, construction site, fire and gas stations, waterfall, various tunnels, bridges, railway crossings, and a helipad on a silk-screened landscaped play board made of solid wood. Moreover, the set includes 4 cars, a helicopter, an airplane, and even a boat! You can change the positions of wooden blocks with magnets inside and rebuild the train tracks. The trees along the track add beauty and color to the scenery, and lots of signs help keep traffic under control. Besides, a few citizens also live in this tiny metropolis, that adds unmatched realism and lifelike detail. A double-sided table top has a landscape design on one side and a plain reverse side. The railway track can run through a beautiful landscape along the river or motorway. If you don’t need a landscape design, simply turn the table on the plain side. Parents can use this set to help their kids learn colors, teach social skills, and foster creativity and imagination through creative play, that are important aspects of child development.

KidKraft Waterfall Mountain Train Set and Table in the use

120 Pieces With Easy Assembly

The table size is appropriate for kids of 3 years of age and over. It’s large enough for multiple children to have hours of intriguing play at once. Parents will be happy to find out that this 120-piece train set takes about half an hour to assemble! Each sticker is coded with the number, corresponding to a picture in the manual. The set is supplied with construction pieces and pre-drilled with holes for bolts and nails. Some toy pieces require assembly, so the set comes with a Phillips screwdriver. Specially-designed T-molded edges prevent the table from chipping and a 1" lip keeps play pieces from falling off during play. Also, durable plastic bins under the table are designed for convenient storage of all pieces. The bins with dimensions of 15.25 x 11.25” can hold all elements of your KidKraft Waterfall Mountain Train Set as well as additional track pieces for expansion.

Detailed review of KidKraft Waterfall Mountain Train Set and Table

A Great Addition to Your Train Set

Wooden blocks of different shapes and sizes will help create different buildings, castles, and hills, that is particularly helpful in the development of spatial skills. Besides, your child can experiment with adding other elements to create a unique townscape.

KidKraft Waterfall Mountain Train Set and Table application

Additional Info

User Manual     Manufacturer

Last updated price $85.26
Stock In stock
ASIN B000KEPCQI

VIDEO
KIDKRAFT WATERFALL MOUNTAIN TRAIN TABLE
 

Brio Cargo Railway Deluxe Set

The Box of Wonders

Most parents would agree that keeping home in order isn't easily done when little kids mess around and when there's not much space for storing their toys. Still, this isn't a reason not to consider buying a train set. The Brio Cargo Railway deluxe set won't take much space but will help teach your kid to keep things organized. The set contains several biggish pieces that can be arranged in many different formations. Here, besides a train itself, you'll also find some nice trucks and buses with flashing headlights, a bridge, a police car, etc. Comparing to other train sets, this set is rather basic, but it may be the only option for a lot of people who don't want to buy a huge thing yet would like to indulge their kids' desires a bit. The set comes with a sturdy plastic box where you'd find it easy to hide away all pieces, carriages, rails after play. Or you can teach your child to do so, playing together and learning to right a room.

Review of Brio Cargo Railway Deluxe Set

Ready, Set, Go!

The headlight lights up the way for the battery powered freight engine that will surely attract your child’s attention. All you need is to install 1 AA battery (not included). The battery is strong enough to go uphill and push train cars attached to each other with magnets. The switch tracks change the direction of the rails when pushing a button. Undoubtedly, this set will keep your children busy for hours.

Brio Cargo Railway Deluxe Set in the use

What’s Hidden Inside the Box?

The set contains 30 track pieces with straight, curved, and elevated elements that allow you to build a layout with brick and arch-shaped bridges. Children are tactile learners. They need to physically touch and see what they are playing with to understand it. With this excellent train set, you can show how a battery-operated train slows down going up the hill and then speeds up plunging down the other side. Also, it will be interesting for your child to load and unload the trains with 3 mechanical, magnetic cranes, specially designed to hold the cargo securely during transportation. Thus, this train set will not only provide your little one with hours of imaginative play but also help obtain new knowledge and skills.

Detailed review of Brio Cargo Railway Deluxe Set

Logical Thinking Development

The Brio Cargo Railway Deluxe Set offers lots of developmental benefits to your child. And colorful marble runs will be a great addition to the set. This is a great way to develop logical thinking and visual perception, as well as keep your kid busy and occupied for a long time.

Brio Cargo Railway Deluxe Set application

Additional Info

User Manual

Last updated price $169.99
Stock In stock
ASIN B004RK7F2U

 

Melissa & Doug Deluxe Wooden Railway Set

Turn Your and Your Kid's Fantasy Into Reality

When choosing toys for children, parents often ponder about for how long they will be playing with these toys. Meanwhile, children don’t always share their parents' excitement about the same toys. When it comes to the Melissa & Doug Deluxe wooden railway set, however, you both will love it at the first sight! The set includes dozens of track pieces that set it apart from many other models of train sets. Using an easy-to-follow instruction, your child will be able to build 4 various track formations with straights and curves, climbs and descends, creating new layouts each time. Besides main parts, there are 30 other accessories - trees, workers, trains, trucks, a magnetic crane, etc., so that your child could transport imaginary passengers, ship cargo and load off carriages. You can find a similar farm animal wooden train set with colorful cows and horses on it. The Melissa & Doug Deluxe wooden railway set is one of the toys that can unleash your child's potential and contribute to his/her creativity.

Review of Melissa & Doug Deluxe Wooden Railway Set

Perfect For Large Playrooms Or Multiple Kids

This fabulous set consists of a huge number of train track pieces - all your kid needs for railway fun! However, it takes up a lot of space. When assembled, the set measures up to 48"x 32". Just keep it in mind when planning to set up the set in your child’s playroom on a permanent basis. Yet, it is able to accommodate a number of kids at once. So, you can invite your child’s friends for an exciting play. The Melissa & Doug Railway Set offers lots of different train track combinations to keep multiple children busy at the same time!

Melissa & Doug Deluxe Wooden Railway Set in the use

A Note on Safety

In addition to fostering creativity and imagination in children, Melissa & Doug focuses on manufacturing toys with safety in mind. The Melissa & Doug Railway Set is made of quality solid wood and painted in vibrant colors from nontoxic materials. So, this train set is built to last and will delight your little one for many years to come. The product conforms to toy safety standards (ASTM-963 and CPSC Directives).

Detailed review of Melissa & Doug Deluxe Wooden Railway Set

Enjoy Playing With Friends

Are you thinking about how to keep a large group of kids occupied and entertained for several hours? Consider buying the slot cars to provide hours of thrilling racing fun! Trigger your kids' competitive spirit by holding slot car championships!
Melissa & Doug Deluxe Wooden Railway Set application

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price $97.99
Stock In stock
ASIN B000FIN2E8

 

Orbrium Toys Triple-Loop Wooden Train Set

Creative Approach

Actually, the Orbrium Toys Triple-Loop wooden train set is quite similar to other sets on our shortlist as they are compatible with other railway systems. The manufacturer offers a high-quality set with versatile track pieces. The bright-colored set allows your child to imitate various real-life situations, develop imagination, fine motor skills, and visual perception. The materials used in manufacturing the set are completely safe and conform to certification requirements. Add the Orbrium Toys Unpainted Wooden Train Cars to your child’s train set collection (sold separately), coloring them with painting markers or buy the Orbrium Toys 8 Unpainted Train Cars for Wooden Railway with colors paint and brushes, so your little one can create his/her own fancy toys, learn and recognize colors, and have a lot of fun in general! What could be more enjoyable than learning and playing together with your little one!

Review of Orbrium Toys Triple-Loop Wooden Train Set

Basic Set

Adding some extra pieces will allow for more layout configurations with plenty of opportunities for creative play. However, everything your child needs to recreate an exciting wooden train world is included in the basic set. So, it will keep your little engineer busy for hours! This affordable train set includes 100 easy-fitting wooden track pieces. It comes with a triple-loop track layout that allows a smooth transition of cute colorful trains. Also, the set comes complete with figurines, buildings, cars, buses, trees and road signs. Different types of city vehicles, traffic signs, and a railway crossing allow you to explain some road safety rules to your child. Thus, your kid will be captivated for hours, while creating a world of fascinating train scenarios.

Orbrium Toys Triple-Loop Wooden Train Set in the use

Skills Development Through Play

The Orbrium Toys Train Set is designed for kids from 3 years of age and older, as it contains small pieces, which can be accidentally swallowed. However, what is dangerous for young kids can be useful for older children since small objects develop fine motor skills. This has a positive impact on cognitive abilities, enhances memory, develops speech and agility. The basic set is what you need to help your kid start recognizing colors without adding unpainted train cars. Most pieces are covered with bright non-toxic paint, besides some track sections. According to many experts, explaining difficult topics to children is easier through play. Moreover, the knowledge and skills obtained during the game are more likely to be applied to the real-world situations. So, this wooden train set is a good investment into your child’s development.

Detailed review of Orbrium Toys Triple-Loop Wooden Train Set

Young Artist

Does your child enjoy drawing? Then one of the beginner drawing sets is everything you need for teaching your little one how to draw step by step. If your kid doesn’t lose interest in drawing over time, you may buy a professional drawing set.

Orbrium Toys Triple-Loop Wooden Train Set application
Last updated price $39.99
Stock May be out of stock
ASIN B004B8FIZO

 

Tiny Land WT0001

A Railroad Wonderland

There are toys that are just toys; and those that teach our little ones more about this world. The Tiny Land wooden train set definitely falls into the latter category.

What’s so different about this set for toddlers? First of all, the quality. Your child will never get any splinters from the smooth, well-polished beech wood. All edges are hand-sanded, and the elements are free of hazardous components. Just by looking at it, you can tell that this really is a crafted product.

Moreover, this train set is not made exclusively for boys. Customers report many happy baby girls enjoying it as well, thanks to a clever and beautiful design. There are also two characters, male and female, so any child can pick one to relate to. The paint job is done professionally, and nothing will distract your eager kid from the play.

The Tiny Land train set includes two types of track (flat and curved); an eye-catching red bridge; scenery pieces, such as houses and trees; and a few train types. All this allows your child to free their fantasy and build a unique toy world that’s full of life and fun. Not mentioning that a train set is a great way to learn more about vehicles and how they work.

Review of Tiny Land WT0001 Wooden Train Set for Toddler

Boosting a Child’s Imagination

When your Tiny Land train set arrives, you can spend a wholesome time with your kid just putting it together. (Yes, it’s that simple.) You are not limited to a preset design and can assemble your own track: a simple circle, a few turns, or something even more complex. The highlight of the track is, of course, the bridge; your child will simply live zooming little trains across it.

The expandable track designs are only one of the highlights of this product. The Tiny Land train set is versatile and compatible with many other popular brands, such as Thomas, Chuggington, and Brio, to name a few. A great addition to the collection of a little railroad fan. This product is also less expensive than some of its competitors.

Sometimes your child would want more active playtime. Thankfully, all pieces of this train set are strong and sturdy, so don’t fear the tears. If something falls apart, you can easily get it all back together and go on playing like nothing happened. And if you’re travelling or moving, there’s a cute-looking storage box.

As you can see, the Tiny Land train set is a perfect gift to keep your little one happy and well-occupied.

Tiny Land WT0001 Wooden Train Set for Toddler in the use

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price $0.00
Stock In stock
ASIN B07DF91SF1

 

Infographics

Comparison of Wooden Train Sets for Toddlers That Encourage Child's Development

What Is a Wooden Train Set?

There are certain toys that kids can't do without and one of them is a train set, a popular and surely a must-have toy in any nursery. The market offers a great number of sets with wooden trains which differ by material, size, and a number of pieces included. You can find simple sets for smaller kids with bigger pieces and some real masterpieces for teens and adults. Commonly, wooden train sets are known to be more eco-friendly and suitable for kids use, they aren't easy to break and they can easily last for several years of play. Train sets have a positive effect on child's development and can help kids improve coordination, imagination and social skills through playing together with other children. Don't hesitate any longer and pick one of the best train sets from our review.

You can also consider play dishes and dollhouses that your child will surely love playing with.

Best Wooden Train Sets

What Features to Compare

A quality wooden train set is a great investment in your child’s development. However, when it comes to choosing an appropriate train set for your child, some important features should be taken into consideration.

Recommended Age

Today, most toys include a suggested age range. On that, a wooden train set is not an exception. Normally, the age levels for toys are determined by safety factors. In addition to being safe, toys for kids should match their stages of development and appeal to their interests. So, toys are ranked by popularity for a particular age group. In terms of safety, some toys have small parts that can be swallowed, thus they are not intended for children under 3 years old. At this age, children stop taste-testing small pieces, unlike younger kids who need to have a direct experience with the world. Thus, if you have decided to buy a toy, recommended for 3-year-olds and older, keep small items away from your child to avoid ingestion hazards.

Play Possibilities

Play possibilities and the diversity of track pieces are also important for building unique routes and creating your own busy cityscape. A wooden train set with lots of pieces like straight and curved train tracks, bridges, and level crossings allows for complex layouts by changing the track configuration with trains, freight cars, and other vehicles running on a railroad track. It's great when the set has plenty of extra pieces, such as buildings, human and animal figures, to create different environments and stimulate your child’s imagination. If you are not sure that your little one will be interested in this train themed activity, you can buy a starter set and then add extra track pieces.

Track Dimensions and Features

Surely, a train set that takes up half your room or even the entire room will fascinate children and adults alike. However, not everybody is fortunate enough to have space for a separate playroom to keep all toys organized. But there is no problem at all with a plethora of wooden train sets of different sizes on the market. Before buying a set, take a closer look at the additional features it provides. It may come in a box that could be saved as storage for the set. Also, it can be a battery-powered locomotive with moving parts, flashing headlights, smoking action, and realistic sounds. If you are planning to add more pieces to your existing set for a large expansion, you need to check if it’s compatible with popular wooden railway systems. After taking into account all the above-mentioned features, it will be easier to make an informed choice.

FAQ:

Q: Are wooden railway sets compatible with other train sets?

A: Most train sets are compatible with popular wooden railway systems like, for example, Fisher-Price, Melissa & Doug, Brio Railway, yet, we'd still recommend you to check compatibility of the chosen set with other systems in advance. 

Q: Are your wooden toys safe for kids?

A: Safety is one of the key parents' considerations when choosing toys for kids. The good thing is, all wooden train sets from our shortlist have been thoroughly tested by manufacturers and they all comply with legal safety requirements, so you can be sure, none of the sets from our picks can make any harm to your kid. 

Q: What's the best layout for children?

A: Most children like layouts with tunnels to see the trains disappear and reappear. Also, they love animations, such as flashing crossing signals, operating crossing gates, and oil pumping accessories with bubbling tubes. Kids are interested in operating freight cars - animated box cars and log dumpers. Besides, they like to hear the whistle and see the smoke of steam locomotives.

Q: How does a battery train set function?

A: Put the batteries into the tender car, then connect to the engine, and push the engine switch. Neutral, forward, or backward settings make the train move along the track. Adjust the smoke setting to control the sound of the trains.

Q: What should I use as replacement ingredients to make the train engine smoke?

A: You can use water and corn oil for making the train engine smoke. But it's better not to use vegetable oil since it can damage the train heating element.

Q: What is the best scale for beginners?

A: The larger scales are recommended for younger railroaders. Electric train set requires adult supervision. G-scale or O-scale train sets are easier to manage. Also, they are big and colorful. The larger scales are also good for adult beginners.

Q: Is it hard to set up an electric train set?

A: Most modern sets have snap together track and color-coded wiring that easily plugs in.

Q: What is the best way to build a layout?

A: It primarily depends on who it is for. If you plan to build a layout for children, consider the layout's playability. You may build tunnels, bridges, roads, matchbox cars, and wagons without lots of fine details. However, if you create a layout for adults, add more details and realism. Besides, you should decide what it is for. Would you like to make a detailed layout or something fun to play with? There is not much moving action in realistic layouts, whereas a fun layout is your total imagination and can be full of fun things.

Sources:

1. Bea Toome How to Choose a Child's Wooden Train Set, HubPages. March 20, 2012.

2. Laureen Miles Brunelli 11 Good Toys That Entertain (and Educate) Your Child, About. April 23, 2016.

3. Ryan Kunkle Choosing the Right Train Set, About.

4. Wooden toy train, Wikipedia. March 27, 2017.

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