Trying to figure out what toys to put on your baby registry? Looking for a great baby shower gift or new baby gift? Have a baby at home and looking for more ways to engage your baby to have connected time together and support their development? THIS IS FOR YOU.
As a postpartum doula, I see so many families and have learned the toys babies really get excited about, the ones they always reach for, and the ones that stay tucked in the bottom of a basket to never see the light of day. What looks fun to an adult isn’t always the same thing that will engage a young baby. So what toys do the babies really love?
This black and white, high-contrast fabric “book” is excellent for early tummy time. It stands up easily and provides engaging black and white images to entice your baby to lift their head and turn their head to each side. The mirror is a favorite from very early on. The opposite side incorporates red into the images as well, so it grows with your baby’s development. This can also be used hand-held like a fabric book when baby’s on your lap. Affordable, washable, lightweight, engaging…this checks all the boxes.
While we’re on the subject of tummy time, the kick piano gym mat from Fisher Price gives so many options to grow with your baby and can even come apart to open up more room once your baby is rolling. Reddit users have joked about its purple monkey helping to raise their little one as all the babies are obsessed with this cymbal-playing simian. Prefer something more minimalist? This montessori-style play bar comes with a number of toys and, like any of them, can be customized with your baby’s favorites.
The Bright Starts rattle & shake barbell toy is colorful, appealing, and a super easy toy for babies to grasp early on as they’re developing grasping skills. This one is great for drawing their attention and engaging them to reach and grasp.
This strange-looking NogginStik makes babies spellbound! The face lights up for short periods of time and that will catch baby’s eye so well. Usually not a first thing they’re able to grasp, but they stay interested in it for good periods of time and don’t outgrow it quickly. Toys with lights and/or sounds can be a wonderful help for babies who are reluctant to extend their tummy time (as well as your face close by).
Soft, sweet, engaging, and easy to hold. These soft stuffed fox and elephant rattles provide enticing textures babies love for holding and sucking on. The babies seem to choose their favorites and I admit I am partial to the extra-cute fox.
Sandra Boynton is one of my very favorite children’s book authors. And her latest board book, Hey! Look At You!, incorporates all the silliness, adorable animals, and fun read-aloud text you always get from her with the addition of mirrors throughout. This makes it extra fun for super little babies to gaze at their gorgeous selves while you read. Then, as kids grow bigger, the pages encourage readers to make fun animal sounds as they look in the mirror. This really adds to its re-readability and especially makes it fun for families with older siblings who may like to read and play with the book together with their little sibling. Want more great book recommendations? Check out my Bookshop.
Wooden toys are great, simple, long-lasting toys and come in so many styles babies love. Rolling rattles and wooden cars are some wonderful first wooden toy options. For painted wooden toys or those with small parts, be sure to check on the recommended age as even some toys generally used by babies such as stackers are not intended for use by those under 2 or 3 years. This rule of thumb goes for all toys, of course. More simplicity? Playsilks are so engaging for babies and they’ll enjoy them for years to come. Favorites for babies, toddlers, and big kids alike, you can’t go wrong with anything from Sarah’s Silks.
I first heard about this teether/sensory toy from a pediatric PT and wow, do babies love this simple toy! Super light and easy to hold while they explore with chomping on its ends, this is a new favorite.
Speaking of teethers, these corn and carrot silicone teethers are top of the list for babies. Especially the corn cob, with its bumpy “corn” and the nub on its stalk end. The corn and carrot are both super easy to hold and manipulate for tiny hands. And an added bonus is that the handle shape means you can also tether these with a pacifier tether or use links to attach it to the handle of a carseat or stroller so they won’t go overboard when out and about. There are lots of toy links on the market. Many are great. I particularly like ones like these that are BPA-free and that have appealing colors and textures since babies enjoy playing with the links themselves so often, too (like the kid who plays with a box instead of the gift inside, right?). My other favorite teether continues our produce theme with this super-grabbable mushroom teether. This one can be held with a regular grasp or kids can put their fists right up inside the cap and easily keep it where they want it for teething exploration.
Moving to some larger toys, this sensory toy is visually engaging, easy to hold, and great for working on two-handed play. Excellent to introduce by about 3-4 months old and a favorite of many kiddos for playing on a mat or carrying around with them when they’re mobile. Another great one that can be attached to stroller or carseat with links.
The Oball is a wonderful toy to grow into. As babies move on from early grasping to learning to hold toys with both hands and pass toys from one hand to the other across their midline, this ball is such a winner. Its structure makes it super easy for them to hold onto so they can take their time exploring and working on their skills. It’s soft and gentle, but firm enough to keep its shape. These come plain or with small rattle circles for extra interest.
A baby tissue box! But cute little “silks” instead of tissues. They’ll love pulling these out one by one. They’re fun to toss into the air, easy to grab, and will provide tons of fun.
This wooden, jingly penguin wobbler is a bit unwieldy for babies to hold themselves until they are considerably older, but even when little, it’s great to incorporate into tummy time and mat play as they love to reach for it, bap it, kick it, and absolutely delight when they make it jingle.
Don’t forget a soft lovey or two. Choose whatever animals or colors you like, but pay good attention to engaging textures. I like this kind that incorporates soft minky fabric as well as the smooth satin edging. Taggies styles can also be winners We rarely know ahead which one will be baby’s favorite, but whichever one they choose needs to be built strong enough to withstand lots of washings!
And lastly, a few with true longevity. This Baby Einstein take-along tunes toy has been around longer than my tween. It clearly looks like it was inspired by iPods of old, but I have never met a baby who didn’t adore this little toy! With music and lights, it’s engaging as can be. I do recommend having a couple of toys that have music and/or lights to supplement the simpler options, but it’s all down to family preferences. Oh, Freddie the Firefly, I owe you so much for all the joy you gave my kiddo and so many other littles I’ve known! His colors have changed from time to time over the years, but this little guy is every baby’s BFF (best firefly friend). He crinkles, he squeaks, he can hang or not, and he has so much texture and color. 10/10. Stacking cups are absolute musts. These will become towers, tea parties, baths for tiny toys, tub toys, pool toys, and a million other things.
Find this all overwhelming? Still not sure what to pick? The play kits from Lovevery.com are fantastic and they’ll send you a whole variety according to baby’s age. Great toys, super fun, and an excellent variety.
Note: Amazon and Bookshop links are affiliate links. I may earn a small commission from purchases from these links. I only recommend products for which I have real-life recommendations and experience. I otherwise have no affiliation with the sellers or manufacturers of these products.