Some toys are outgrown in a season. Others are put away carefully and brought out again, years later, for someone new. Heirloom wooden toys belong to the second kind. They are made from beech, maple or lime wood, finished with oil or water-based colour and shaped simply enough to become a horse, a boat or a bridge as the game requires. They take knocks well and soften with handling. This Christmas, we have gathered the nostalgic toys we would give a child we love, from Danish and German workshops and a few Scandinavian studios, with notes on how to choose wood, finishes and the safety marks that matter.
Why heirloom wooden toys endure
The appeal is partly nostalgia. Many parents remember a wooden train or a set of blocks more clearly than anything that needed batteries. But the case for wooden toys is practical too. A well-made wooden toy does very little on its own, so the child does the rest. A rainbow of arches becomes a tunnel, a cradle or a fence. A horse needs a rider and a story.
Good wood also ages honestly. Scuffs and soft edges become part of a toy’s history rather than a reason to replace it. That is what turns a Christmas present into one of the heirloom gifts that is handed down to a younger cousin and eventually to the next generation.
How to choose heirloom wooden toys
A beautiful wooden toy should also be a sound one. These six steps cover what to look for.
- Choose solid hardwoods such as beech, maple, alder or lime wood and look for FSC certification where it is offered.
- Check the finish, favouring natural oils, beeswax or water-based stains over thick gloss paint that can chip.
- Look for the CE mark, which shows the maker declares the toy meets EU toy safety rules, or the UKCA mark for Great Britain, where the CE mark is still recognised.
- Read the age guidance, because toys with small parts must carry a warning for children under 36 months.
- Run a hand over every edge and joint, since a well-made toy has no splinters, sharp corners or loose pieces.
- Choose a toy that can grow with the child, such as blocks, figures or a train that can be added to over the years.
The edit: heirloom wooden toys for Christmas
Prices were checked on 28 October 2026. They are approximate and may vary by delivery country.
Eleven pieces from makers we trust, from small figures to a dolls’ house. Each is chosen to be played with, kept and passed on.
Kay Bojesen, Monkey, Small, Teak and Limba
First carved in 1951 and made today from plantation teak and limba wood, with every grain a little different. Sold as a design object: a christening gift for the shelf, then the bedroom, then a home of their own.
Rosendahl · 139,95 €
Kay Bojesen, Rocking Horse, Small, Beech
A little beech horse in Bojesen’s rounded, good-humoured line. A decorative piece for a nursery shelf and a natural companion to the monkey.
Rosendahl · 69,95 €
Grimm’s, Rainbow Natural, 6 Pieces
Six wooden arches left in their natural grain and finished with a plant-based oil. Small hands stack and sort them; later they become a tunnel, a cradle or a bridge.
Grimm’s · 29,50 €
Grimm’s, Building Set Four Temperaments
Sixty-one free-form blocks in lime wood, in colours and shapes drawn from the four temperaments. Closer to sculpture than to a construction kit.
Grimm’s · 147,95 €
Ostheimer, White Horse
Carved from maple and painted by hand in the Ostheimer workshop in Germany, for children from three. Ostheimer figures are collected one at a time, so this is a beginning rather than a set.
Ostheimer · 25,50 €
BRIO, Classic Figure 8 Set
Twenty-two pieces made entirely of wood: an engine, two wagons, a station, a crossing, a bridge, fourteen track pieces and three trees. Suitable from two years and compatible with every BRIO track that follows.
Ravensburger · 61,99 €
PlanToys, Pull Along Snail
Made in Thailand from chemical-free rubberwood with water-based dyes. The shell rolls and the body inches forward, which delights a child who has just begun to walk.
Die Eule · 31,00 €
Konges Sløjd, Wooden Animal Train
Six magnetic carriages in FSC-certified beech, each carrying an animal. Suitable from 18 months and CE marked.
Konges Sløjd · 49,95 €
Kid’s Concept, Dollhouse
Three levels, opening doors and a roof that lifts away, in MDF and FSC-certified beech. It comes fully furnished and the back wall reverses to plain white for children who want to decorate their own.
Kid’s Concept · 177,95 €
Ferm Living, Animal Hand-Carved Giraffe
Carved from wood and painted by hand. Tested as a toy for children from three. One of a small menagerie that can be gathered over several Christmases.
Ferm Living · 27,00 €
Liewood, JORDY Vehicle Set, 3-Pack
A helicopter, a police car and a sports car in solid beech, with wheels that turn smoothly. Shaped to fit small hands and compatible with the JORDY parking tower.
Liewood · 30,00 €
Nostalgic toys by age
Wooden toys rarely come with complicated instructions, but they do come with age guidance. As a rough guide:
From 18 months. Simple vehicles and pull-along toys, such as the Konges Sløjd train or the PlanToys snail, reward a child who is newly steady on their feet.
From two years. A starter railway, such as the BRIO figure-of-eight, introduces building and planning. It can grow every birthday.
From three years. Open-ended pieces and small figures, such as the Grimm’s rainbow, Ostheimer animals and the Ferm Living giraffe, come into their own as stories become more elaborate.
For the shelf. The Kay Bojesen monkey and rocking horse are design pieces. Give them early and they become part of a child’s room for decades.
How to care for wooden toys
Wipe wooden toys with a barely damp cloth and let them dry in the air, away from radiators. Never soak them or put them through a dishwasher, which can raise the grain and lift the colour. Oiled toys can be refreshed once a year with a little food-safe oil or beeswax balm, worked in with a soft cloth. Keep them out of strong sun, which fades both painted and natural wood. And when they show their age, let them. A worn edge is part of the story.
For more presents for children and the rest of the family, see our Christmas gift guide. A small wooden toy also sits well at the centre of a hamper for new parents.
Frequently asked questions
What makes a wooden toy an heirloom?
Solid hardwood, a durable natural finish and a timeless design. Heirloom wooden toys are simple enough to suit any decade and well made enough to survive several childhoods.
Are wooden toys safe for babies?
They can be, if they are designed for that age. Check the age guidance, look for the CE or UKCA mark, avoid small parts for children under 36 months and inspect older toys for splinters or loose pieces before passing them on.
Which wood is best for children’s toys?
Hard, close-grained woods such as beech and maple are the most durable. Lime wood is softer and lighter. It is often used for carved and stained pieces. Look for FSC certification where it is offered.
