Choosing the best baby toys for under 1 year can be confusing. Babies grow and develop rapidly during their first year, and the toys that captivate a newborn probably won’t interest a curious 10-month-old.
The right toys do more than entertain – they help babies build important developmental skills like hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, sensory awareness, language development, and problem solving skills while making playtime fun.
As a mom of 3, I know how important having the right toys can be to keep infants entertained and happy. I created this guide to break down the best baby toys for every stage of your baby’s first year, along with tips on how many baby toys you need and what features to look for in baby toys.
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What Makes a Great Toy for Babies Under One?
The best baby toys are often very simple and provide just as much (if not more) educational value as expensive electronic ones. I recommend looking for these features when picking toys for your little one.
- Free from small parts that pose choking hazards
- Easy to clean
- Durable enough for chewing and drooling
- Designed for your baby’s developmental stage
- Brightly colored or high-contrast for visual stimulation
- Engaging without being overstimulating
- Made from non-toxic materials
Best Baby Toys for Newborns (0–3 Months)
During the first few months, babies primarily focus on seeing, hearing, and learning to move their bodies. To help them as they explore these things, I love the following toys.
Baby Play Gym
My twin girls absolutely adored their Fisher-Price play gym as newborns. When they played, this is where they did it most often. They loved to lay on their backs and look at the hanging toys above. A play gym also provides a safe place for tummy time, while encouraging babies to reach for dangling toys.
High-Contrast (Black & White) Cards or Books
Newborns see high-contrast black and white images best. You can get black and white flash cards, soft cloth books, or board books to help strengthen vision development, encourage visual tracking, and build their attention span.
Small, Soft Rattles
Rattles that are small and lightweight enough for tiny hands introduce babies to cause and effect learning. They encourage grasping, listening, and hand coordination
Best Toys for Babies 3–6 Months
At this age, babies become much more interested in grabbing, chewing, and exploring. Here are my top toy picks for this age.
Fabric Books
Soft books encourage early literacy, while being completely safe for babies who love putting everything in their mouths. These types of books typically include different textures, crinkle sounds when touched, and peek-a-boo flaps. They stimulate multiple senses all at once.
Silicone Teething Toys
Teething often begins around this stage. I recommend picking teethers that go in the freezer (preferable) or refrigerator and that are easy to grip.
Musical Toys
All 3 of my kids absolutely adored this Baby Einstein musical toy! It plays 10 different classical music songs when buttons are touched and it lights up. It will grow with your child too. I remember my kids taking this toy around the house with them once they were walking.
Best Toys for Babies 6–9 Months
Babies become increasingly mobile and curious during this stage. Your baby will likely start sitting without support at this age. Your little one should also be rolling over and might start crawling. Here are some good toys that can be used in conjunction with these big developments.
Stacking Cups
Stacking cups are one of the most recommended baby toys because they teach size comparison, cause and effect, hand-eye coordination, and problem solving Plus, they are perfect toys to use in the bathtub as well.
Soft & Textured Balls
Soft and textured sensory balls encourage rolling, crawling, throwing, and grasping. The different textures provide additional sensory exploration.
Musical Toys
Simple musical instruments introduce babies to rhythm and sound and they are loads of fun. My kids adored tap and play pianos and drums at this age.
Jumper
A baby jumper provides opportunities to practice standing, bouncing, reaching, and grasping. Interactive toys attached to the jumper can encourage exploration and coordination. Choose an age-appropriate jumper and always supervise your baby during use. My twins absolutely loved their Fisher-Price jumperoo and preferred it over the Baby Einstein jumper we had.
Best Toys for Babies 9–12 Months
Older babies that are about to become toddlers enjoy toys that challenge new skills. This is also the stage where some kids start standing and walking.
Shape Sorters
My kids loved their Fisher-Price shape sorter. Shape sorters introduce spatial awareness, problem solving, fine motor skills, and persistence. Don’t be alarmed if your little one does not master it right away. It took my kids into the toddler years to figure it out, but they did enjoy practicing at this age.
Push Toys
As babies prepare to walk, push toys help improve balance, coordination, and confidence. The VTech Sit-to-Stand Learning Walker was a huge hit in our house, I highly recommend it.
Soft Blocks
Soft blocks help babies stack, knock down towers, improve hand control, and learn about cause and effect. These types of blocks are safe to put in their mouth. You can also get blocks that have numbers to get started teaching counting.
Simple Wooden Puzzle
A very easy wooden puzzle encourages fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, problem-solving, and early learning, while giving babies a chance to practice grasping and manipulating pieces.
Best Baby Bath Toys for Under 1 Year
Bath toys make bath time fun and should not be forgotten. The good news is you just need very simple, traditional toys. Here is a list of my kids favorites.
- Squirt bath toys
- Magnetic fishing toy
- Rubber ducks
- Stacking cups (listed above as well)
I recommend getting this bath toy organizer. You also need to check bath toys for mold, especially the toys that squirt water. They are not expensive and can easily be replaced or just thrown away if they get mold.
Best Language Development Baby Toys for Under 1
One type of baby toy for under 1 year that didn’t get enough mention on my list are language development toys. The first year is an exciting time for language development as babies begin discovering sounds, gestures, and early communication.
The right toys can encourage listening, imitation, babbling, and interaction through fun, engaging play. Here are my recommendations for the best language development toys.
- Board books – my kids favorites include Where’s Spot and Llama Llama Red Pajama
- Touch & feel books – my kids favorites include Pat The Bunny and That’s Not My Lamb
- Animal sound toys
How Many Toys Does a Baby Need?
Babies don’t need dozens of toys. A small collection of high-quality toys that are rotated every week or two often keeps babies more engaged than a room full of options. Consider including:
- 2 sensory toys
- 2 teething toys
- 2 books
- 1 musical toy
- 1 stacking toy
- 1 play gym or jumper or push toy (depending on age)
Rotating toys helps keep playtime exciting, encourages babies to explore familiar toys in new ways, and maintains your baby’s interest while reducing clutter.
The best baby toys for under 1 year are those that match your baby’s current stage of development while encouraging curiosity, movement, and exploration.
From high-contrast toys for newborns to stacking cups and push toys for older infants, each toy offers opportunities to build important skills through play.
Rather than filling your home with dozens of gadgets, focus on a thoughtfully chosen collection of safe, durable, and engaging toys. Your baby will benefit most from toys that invite interaction, not only with the toy itself, but also with you during playtime. Have fun and I hope you get time to enjoy playtime with your little one!
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