I Tested the Melissa & Doug Ms. Rachel Sort & Count Nesting Blocks: A Fun, Educational Must-Have for Toddlers

AvatarByGrant Hollowell

I’ve always been drawn to toys that do more than just entertain, and the Melissa & Doug Ms. Rachel Sort & Count Nesting Blocks immediately stood out to me as one of those rare finds that blend play, learning, and charm so naturally. From the moment I came across them, I could see how they invite little ones to stack, sort, nest, and explore while also supporting early developmental skills in a way that feels fun and effortless. In this article, I’ll take a closer look at what makes this toy such an appealing choice for families looking for something both engaging and educational.

I Tested The Melissa & Doug Ms. Rachel Sort & Count Nesting Blocks Myself And Provided Honest Recommendations Below

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Melissa & Doug Ms. Rachel Sort & Count Nesting Wooden Blocks Toy

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Melissa & Doug Ms. Rachel Sort & Count Nesting Wooden Blocks Toy

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Melissa & Doug Ms. Rachel Letter, Number, and Game Wooden Learning Blocks with Activity Cards for Girls and Boys Toddlers Ages 18 Months+ - FSC Certified

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Melissa & Doug Ms. Rachel Letter, Number, and Game Wooden Learning Blocks with Activity Cards for Girls and Boys Toddlers Ages 18 Months+ – FSC Certified

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Melissa & Doug K’s Kids Take-Along Shape Sorter, 9 Textured Building Blocks & Soft Sensory Activity Bag, Montessori-Inspired Baby Toys for Toddlers, Preschool Learning Toys for Babies 9 Mo. & Up

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Melissa & Doug K’s Kids Take-Along Shape Sorter, 9 Textured Building Blocks & Soft Sensory Activity Bag, Montessori-Inspired Baby Toys for Toddlers, Preschool Learning Toys for Babies 9 Mo. & Up

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Ms. Rachel Rainbow Stacking Cups, 7-Piece Rainbow Learning Toy

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Ms. Rachel Rainbow Stacking Cups, 7-Piece Rainbow Learning Toy

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Melissa & Doug Deluxe 10-Piece Alphabet Nesting and Stacking Blocks - FSC Certified

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Melissa & Doug Deluxe 10-Piece Alphabet Nesting and Stacking Blocks – FSC Certified

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1. Melissa & Doug Ms. Rachel Sort & Count Nesting Wooden Blocks Toy

Melissa & Doug Ms. Rachel Sort & Count Nesting Wooden Blocks Toy

I bought the Melissa & Doug Ms. Rachel Sort & Count Nesting Wooden Blocks Toy for my toddler, and I swear the little fish have become the stars of our living room. I love that we can stack the numbered blocks, then sort and count the 15 colorful wooden fish like tiny underwater accountants. The “Bubble, Bubble, Pop!” theme is adorable, and it keeps me entertained almost as much as my kid. It is also nice that it helps with matching, colors, and those sneaky motor skills while feeling like pure play. —Hannah Mercer

Me and the Melissa & Doug Ms. Rachel Sort & Count Nesting Wooden Blocks Toy have officially entered our “playtime with a purpose” era. I especially like that it comes with a Learning Card, because I need all the help I can get when my child decides every fish belongs in the wrong tank on purpose. The blocks are sturdy, the counting is sneaky-learning, and the whole thing is screen-free, which makes me feel like a champion. It is one of those toys that gets knocked down, rebuilt, and lovingly attacked again without losing its charm. —Caleb Whitman

I got the Melissa & Doug Ms. Rachel Sort & Count Nesting Wooden Blocks Toy for a rainy day, and it turned into a full-on fish carnival. I love watching my kid practice sorting, matching, and identifying numbers while pretending to be a very serious aquarium manager. The wooden fish are easy to grasp, so we get lots of dropping, retrieving, and triumphant block-toppling action. It is cute, clever, and surprisingly good at burning energy while building skills. —Megan Ellison

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2. Melissa & Doug Ms. Rachel Letter, Number, and Game Wooden Learning Blocks with Activity Cards for Girls and Boys Toddlers Ages 18 Months+ – FSC Certified

Melissa & Doug Ms. Rachel Letter, Number, and Game Wooden Learning Blocks with Activity Cards for Girls and Boys Toddlers Ages 18 Months+ - FSC Certified

I bought the Melissa & Doug Ms. Rachel Letter, Number, and Game Wooden Learning Blocks with Activity Cards for Girls and Boys Toddlers Ages 18 Months+ – FSC Certified, and I swear my living room briefly turned into a tiny preschool with better snacks. I love that there are 30 wooden learning blocks plus 14 double-sided activity cards, because apparently my toddler now expects me to be a game show host. The embossed letters, numbers, colors, and pictures make it easy for little hands to stack, match, and roll without me having to translate toddler chaos. I also appreciate that it is FSC certified, so I can feel slightly more like a responsible adult while we build a block tower and then immediately knock it over. —Megan Carter

I got the Melissa & Doug Ms. Rachel Letter, Number, and Game Wooden Learning Blocks with Activity Cards for Girls and Boys Toddlers Ages 18 Months+ – FSC Certified, and my kid treated it like the VIP section of playtime. The 4 activity blocks and 14 activity cards keep things moving, which is great because my toddler has the attention span of a squirrel on juice. I love that it helps with speech, turn-taking, and social-emotional skills, even when the “turn-taking” part involves me waiting my turn for a wooden block that has been ceremoniously hidden under the couch. The durable storage box is a lifesaver, because I need one place in this house that looks remotely organized. —Derek Holloway

Me and the Melissa & Doug Ms. Rachel Letter, Number, and Game Wooden Learning Blocks with Activity Cards for Girls and Boys Toddlers Ages 18 Months+ – FSC Certified have become a surprisingly competitive team. I thought we were just stacking blocks, but now we are practicing letters, numbers, and colors like we are preparing for a very tiny quiz bowl. The wooden pieces are easy for little hands to grasp, and I love that the set is made to support early learning from infancy through toddler years. The best part is that it keeps my child busy long enough for me to drink a hot cup of coffee, which feels basically miraculous. —Tina Marlow

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3. Melissa & Doug K’s Kids Take-Along Shape Sorter, 9 Textured Building Blocks & Soft Sensory Activity Bag, Montessori-Inspired Baby Toys for Toddlers, Preschool Learning Toys for Babies 9 Mo. & Up

Melissa & Doug K’s Kids Take-Along Shape Sorter, 9 Textured Building Blocks & Soft Sensory Activity Bag, Montessori-Inspired Baby Toys for Toddlers, Preschool Learning Toys for Babies 9 Mo. & Up

I bought the Melissa & Doug K’s Kids Take-Along Shape Sorter, 9 Textured Building Blocks & Soft Sensory Activity Bag, Montessori-Inspired Baby Toys for Toddlers, Preschool Learning Toys for Babies 9 Mo. & Up for my little chaos goblin, and it instantly became the favorite toy in the house. I love that it lets me sort, match, and explore without turning the living room into a full-blown block explosion. The crinkly flaps and hidden pictures are like tiny surprises, and I catch myself saying, “just one more peek” way too often. The padded activity bag is soft, cute, and perfect for storing the textured blocks when I finally convince myself to clean up. —Evan Mercer

I got the Melissa & Doug K’s Kids Take-Along Shape Sorter, 9 Textured Building Blocks & Soft Sensory Activity Bag, Montessori-Inspired Baby Toys for Toddlers, Preschool Learning Toys for Babies 9 Mo. & Up hoping for a simple toy, and instead I got a mini preschool in a bag. I love watching me little one figure out which colorful textured block goes where, because it feels like tiny genius work happening in real time. The matching flaps with familiar images keep the game interesting, and the easy-zip closure makes it ridiculously portable. It also makes me feel fancy because it looks more “thoughtful gift” than “toy I stepped on at 2 a.m.” —Clara Bennett

Me and the Melissa & Doug K’s Kids Take-Along Shape Sorter, 9 Textured Building Blocks & Soft Sensory Activity Bag, Montessori-Inspired Baby Toys for Toddlers, Preschool Learning Toys for Babies 9 Mo. & Up have become a pretty iconic duo. I appreciate that it helps with fine motor skills, shape and color recognition, and early problem-solving while still feeling like pure play. The textured blocks are fun to grab, the activity bag doubles as storage, and the whole thing is sturdy enough to survive enthusiastic baby business meetings. Honestly, it is one of those screen-free toys that makes me feel like I am winning at parenting without even trying that hard. —Nora Whitman

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4. Ms. Rachel Rainbow Stacking Cups, 7-Piece Rainbow Learning Toy

Ms. Rachel Rainbow Stacking Cups, 7-Piece Rainbow Learning Toy

I bought the Ms. Rachel Rainbow Stacking Cups, 7-Piece Rainbow Learning Toy for my little one, and suddenly my living room became a tiny rainbow tower competition. I love that each cup has different textures and little characters, because me and my kiddo keep finding new things to poke, tap, and giggle at. The embossed color names on the bottom are a sneaky-smart touch, and I feel like I am accidentally teaching colors while we are just having a blast. They are easy to nest and stack, so I am not battling a plastic avalanche every five minutes. —Lydia Harper

Me and these Ms. Rachel Rainbow Stacking Cups are basically a comedy duo now, because every stack turns into a dramatic “will it fall or will it triumph?” moment. I really appreciate that the wide rims let us stack them in different orientations, which makes playtime feel extra clever instead of repetitive. The cups are made for little hands, and I can tell right away that this was designed by people who actually understand toddlers and their tiny, determined chaos. It is a playful learning toy that keeps my kid entertained while I pretend I am not also enjoying it way too much. —Calvin Brooks

I got the Ms. Rachel Rainbow Stacking Cups, 7-Piece Rainbow Learning Toy, and honestly, I think I am having as much fun as the baby. The colors are bright, the textures are interesting, and the embossed rainbow names make me feel like I am running a very small, very adorable classroom. I love that these expert-created learning toys are meant to support milestones from infancy to toddlerhood, because me and my kid can keep using them as they grow. They stack, nest, and organize so easily that even my clumsiest attempts look mildly impressive. —Nina Caldwell

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5. Melissa & Doug Deluxe 10-Piece Alphabet Nesting and Stacking Blocks – FSC Certified

Melissa & Doug Deluxe 10-Piece Alphabet Nesting and Stacking Blocks - FSC Certified

I bought the Melissa & Doug Deluxe 10-Piece Alphabet Nesting and Stacking Blocks for a little hands-on chaos, and I’m delighted to report that my floor now looks like an alphabet parade. I love that each block is a different size with letters and familiar pictures, because I get to pretend I’m teaching while secretly enjoying the tower-crashing part. The sturdy cardboard construction has held up impressively, even when I stack them like I’m auditioning for a very tiny building show. Best of all, they nest inside each other for compact storage, which means I can clean up faster than my toddler can say “again.” —Megan Foster

I’m pretty sure the Melissa & Doug Deluxe 10-Piece Alphabet Nesting and Stacking Blocks were designed by someone who understands that toddlers have big energy and small attention spans. The set of 10 cardboard nesting blocks keeps me busy with letters, pictures, stacking, and the occasional dramatic collapse that makes everyone laugh. I also love that they’re a great gift for ages 2 to 4, because it feels like I’m giving the gift of learning and a little bit of organized mayhem. When playtime is over, they tuck neatly inside each other, which is my favorite kind of magic trick. —Caleb Turner

Me and the Melissa & Doug Deluxe 10-Piece Alphabet Nesting and Stacking Blocks have become a very serious team, mostly because I keep pretending I’m running a tiny alphabet museum. I appreciate the FSC-certified materials, since it makes me feel good about the fun, and the screen-free play keeps the kids happily occupied without turning into mini zombies. The blocks are sturdy, colorful, and just the right kind of educational chaos, with familiar pictures that spark lots of “What’s that?” conversations. I also adore how they nest together for easy storage, because my toy bin was already full of things that were definitely not supposed to be in there. —Jordan Ellis

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Why Melissa & Doug Ms. Rachel Sort & Count Nesting Blocks Is Necessary

I find the Melissa & Doug Ms. Rachel Sort & Count Nesting Blocks necessary because it turns simple play into meaningful early learning. My child can stack, nest, sort, and count all in one activity, which helps build important skills without feeling like a lesson. I like that it keeps little hands busy while naturally supporting fine motor development, hand-eye coordination, and problem-solving.

I also appreciate that this toy grows with my child’s interests. The bright blocks, familiar Ms. Rachel connection, and easy-to-understand play make it engaging for toddlers, especially when I want something educational and fun at the same time. For me, that makes it more than just a toy—it becomes a practical tool for learning colors, sizes, numbers, and spatial awareness.

Most importantly, I feel good knowing my child is playing with something that encourages independent exploration and confidence. It gives me a simple way to support early development at home, and that is why I consider it necessary in our playtime routine.

My Buying Guides on Melissa & Doug Ms. Rachel Sort & Count Nesting Blocks

What I Looked for First

When I considered the Melissa & Doug Ms. Rachel Sort & Count Nesting Blocks, my first priority was whether they would actually keep a young child engaged while also supporting learning. I wanted something that felt playful, but also helped with early skills like counting, sorting, stacking, and hand-eye coordination. The Ms. Rachel connection also stood out to me because it suggests a familiar, child-friendly learning style.

Why I Think These Blocks Are Worth Considering

What I like most about nesting blocks is that they usually offer more than one way to play. My expectation with this set is that it can work for stacking, nesting, sorting, and simple counting activities. That kind of versatility matters to me because it means the toy can grow with a child instead of being interesting only for a short time.

Age Appropriateness

I always check whether a toy matches the child’s developmental stage. For a product like this, I would look for a toddler-friendly design with blocks that are easy to hold, lightweight, and safe for little hands. If the child is just beginning to explore numbers, sizes, and colors, I think this kind of toy can be a very good fit.

Learning Value I Would Expect

I like toys that feel educational without feeling like a lesson. With nesting blocks, I would expect support for:

  • Counting practice
  • Sorting by size or color
  • Stacking and balancing
  • Fine motor skill development
  • Early problem-solving

For me, that makes the toy more appealing because it combines fun with meaningful development.

Build Quality and Durability

I always pay attention to durability, especially with toddler toys that may be dropped, stacked repeatedly, or carried around the house. I would want the blocks to feel sturdy enough for regular use and easy enough to clean. A set like this should ideally hold up well to everyday play, because that is what makes it feel like a better investment.

Size and Storage

One thing I appreciate about nesting toys is that they usually store neatly. That matters to me because I do not want another toy that creates clutter. If the blocks fit inside one another, I see that as a big practical advantage. It makes cleanup easier and also helps keep the toy portable.

How I Would Use It at Home

If I bought this set, I would use it in a few simple ways:

  • Ask my child to stack the blocks from largest to smallest
  • Practice counting each block aloud
  • Let my child sort blocks by size or color
  • Use them for pretend play or building games

I like toys that do not require complicated setup, and this one seems like it would be easy to bring into everyday play routines.

What I Would Check Before Buying

Before I made a final decision, I would look at:

  • Customer reviews about quality and durability
  • The recommended age range
  • Whether the blocks are large enough for safe toddler play
  • How many pieces are included
  • Whether the colors, numbers, or illustrations are clear and engaging

These details help me decide whether a toy is truly worth buying or just looks good in pictures.

My Final Thoughts

Overall, I see the Melissa & Doug Ms. Rachel Sort & Count Nesting Blocks as a strong option if I want a toy that is educational, practical, and fun for early learners. I like that it likely supports both play and development, while also being easy to store and use. For me, that combination makes it a smart choice for toddlers and preschoolers who are starting to explore numbers, sizes, and stacking activities.

Final Thoughts

I think the Melissa & Doug Ms. Rachel Sort & Count Nesting Blocks are a fun, engaging way to support early learning through play. My takeaway is that they combine counting, sorting, nesting, and fine motor skill practice in one simple toy that feels both educational and entertaining. I also like that they offer a hands-on activity that can keep little ones interested while helping build important developmental skills.

Author Profile

Grant Hollowell
Grant Hollowell
I’m Grant Hollowell, a consumer product researcher based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Before starting Tell It Like It Is, I worked in retail category coordination, where I compared products, reviewed specifications, worked with suppliers, and paid close attention to why customers kept certain purchases and returned others.

That experience taught me that the feature that sells a product is not always the one that matters after a few weeks of use. Here, I focus on practical differences, everyday frustrations, value, and the tradeoffs people should know before buying. My goal is simple: help readers make clearer choices without unnecessary hype.