Confused about what kind of toys to give to a one-year-old child? Overwhelmed with the different choices available?
Don’t worry; you are not alone!
Toy shops and online stores offer a vast choice, in front of which one can feel confused, especially if the child in question is still a baby.
Stick with us to know:
- Best Toys For Babies 0-12 Months
- The different types of baby games and toys
- A detailed buyers’ guide
- ..and a lot More!
After reading this article, you will get a suitable toy for your baby based on his developmental milestones within the first year of age.
Let’s get started with our review now..
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- Introduction
- Toys For 0-3 Months Old Baby
- 1 – Fisher-Price Precious Planet 2-in-1 Projection Mobile
- 2 – The First Years First Rattle
- 3 – Fisher-Price Soothe & Glow Seahorse
- 4 – Sassy Floor Mirror
- 5 – Bright Starts Tummy Time Prop & Play
- Toys For 3-6 Months Old Baby
- 1 – Baby Einstein Take Along Tunes Musical Toy
- 2 – Jumbo Baby Activity Gym & Ball Pit
- 3 – Brilliant Basics Stack and Roll Cups
- 4 – Splashin Kids Inflatable Tummy Time Premium Water mat
- 5 – Fisher-Price Rattle and Rock Maracas Musical Toy
- Toys For 6-12 Months Old Baby
- 1 – Bright Starts 3-in-1 Around We Go Activity Center & Table
- 2 – Fisher-Price Baby’s First Blocks
- 3 – Skip Hop Baby Activity Center
- 4 – VTech Touch and Swipe Baby Phone
- 5 – VTech Sit-to-Stand Learning Walker
- Buyer’s Guide: How To Buy Baby Toys For Babies 0-12 Months Old
- FAQ
- Our Verdict: Best Toy For Babies 0-12 Months Old
- Conclusion: Best Baby Toys For 0-12 Months Old Kids
Introduction
Kids’ toys range from buildings to small ride-on means of transport (motorcycles, toy cars) and from games that stimulate logic to those that develop flair and creativity.
Babies love playing with toys with bright colors, cute sounds, and different textures as they awaken their senses while interacting and playing.
Not surprising…
Newborn babies are super curious about everything around them.
As long as mom and dad make very simple expressions or actions, the baby will laugh happily.
Many new parents prepare a lot of toys before the baby is born, but in fact, babies like different types of toys as they grow up month by month.
In other words: we recommend you buy age-appropriate toys to get the best out of the playing experience!
Getting colorful, musical, and exciting baby toys encourages them to play more and make the experience more enjoyable.
Soft toys, like a stuffed animal or a soft blanket, still work – especially during nighttime. However, toys with more features stimulate their growing minds.
It is essential to know that one-year-old and younger babies like toys that interact back with them.
Sounds and movements are the main things to look for when buying their toys.
Related: 10 Best Toy Boxes: Let’s Keep Them In Place!
Are Toys Important For Newborns and Little Babies?
Yes! Toys are essential in the early stages of a baby life.
Babies are ready to use their senses and discover the surrounding from day one! Their brains develop quickly daily, making them able to discover the new world with their five senses.
During playtime, babies improve their hand-eye coordination skills. That’s why we highly encourage parents to get a suitable toy for each stage.
Getting a 3-months-old baby a big kid toy won’t make him more intelligent or better than his peers.
It will frustrate him and you for not being able to play with it properly.
So, consider your baby’s age before shopping for a toy..
Now, let’s look at what kind of toys 0 to 1-year-old babies like in different months of age!
Related: Sensory Games and Toys For Children: Are They Really Important?
Toys For 0-3 Months Old Baby
Babies who are less than one month old will not grasp things, nor will they sit upright. At this time, what they are most interested in is what they see and hear around them.
The one-year-old babies’ vision is also blurred, and their eyes can only focus on something about 20-40 cm in front of their eyes.
In the case of newborn babies, we don’t recommend you get more than one soft toy, as they spend most of the time sleeping.
That’s being said,
They can buy some brightly colored toys that can make sounds, which can calm the baby and help him sleep.
Related: Best Baby Swing For Small Spaces
1 – Fisher-Price Precious Planet 2-in-1 Projection Mobile
Bottom Line: This is a battery-operated crib toy that keeps your baby entertained while laying down on his bed.
Pros
The ceiling projector enhances the visual development
The remote control offers more convenience
Cons
The sounds are relatively low
The quality is not the best
Cannot change the music from the remote
Works only with flat-edged cribs
This baby crib mobile is one of the hanging toys for newborn babies!
Fisher’s projection mobile has multiple functions: rotation, music playback, night light, and remote control.
The music box can play piano melodies of Mozart, Bach, and Beethoven for 20 minutes and the sound of ocean waves, white noise, etc.
It simulates the sound of a heartbeat.
In addition, it has a projection night light function, which can project cute animal images on the canopy.
You can remove the canopy when your baby grows up and direct the projected image to the ceiling.
The music and lighting effects are beneficial during bedtime!
Keep in mind, though; it is better to attach it to a crib with flat edges. Otherwise, it will be challenging to mount it.
Above all, you can control it remotely to keep your baby sleeping peacefully.
2 – The First Years First Rattle
Bottom Line: This lightweight and soft baby rattle is perfect for infants and babies to develop their sensory skills.
Pros
Works as a teething toy
Lightweight and portable design
It helps develop the baby’s grasping abilities
Cons
It might be too large for a teether.
Quality is not the best
This rattle is a cute and small toy that helps exercise the baby’s tiny hand grasping ability.
Besides, the colors are also very bright with high contrast features, which can effectively develop the baby’s visual stimulation.
The fun rattle sounds also improve the baby’s hearing – like most musical stuffed animals.
The best part?
It includes soft surfaces that are perfect for teething babies, and it is small enough to fit in any diaper bag.
You can wipe the surface using a damp cloth and mild soap and then air dry it for cleaning.
3 – Fisher-Price Soothe & Glow Seahorse
Bottom Line: If you are looking for a cuddly toy that your baby can self-use, then this is right for you.
Pros
Super soft and cute
Durable and good in quality
Cons
shorter operating time than other toys
Fisher’s comforting little seahorse can also be regarded as a “net celebrity toy“! Almost every parent will buy it for their babies.
The seahorse can make enjoyable music, and you can adjust its sound for your baby’s convenience.
The soft touch and cute light help develop your baby’s sensory skills while touching it, hearing the music, and looking at the light.
The best part?
It helps your baby know the cause and effect relationship as they get the idea of how to activate its light and music.
Besides, it has an auto shut feature; after 5 minutes, the lights fade away, and the music turns off automatically.
It offers eight lullabies and comes in two colors of blue and pink, to choose from.
Keep in mind to remove the music player when you want to wash it.
4 – Sassy Floor Mirror
Bottom Line: When the baby is lying in front of the mirror and observing himself, he can touch and explore this toy with his hands!
Pros
It makes tummy time enjoyable
Lightweight and portable
Easy to clean
Cons
It keeps toppling over
The mirror has a slight distort focus
It doesn’t have any sound effect
When your baby is doing tummy time or playing on the floor mat, you can put this mirror in front of him to keep him busy looking at their own reflection.
Babies under three months may not realize that the person they see in the mirror is themselves, but they will enjoy it and have fun staring at it.
While turning three months old, they will recognize the person in the mirror to be themselves.
This baby safe mirror will improve your baby’s vision and keep him engaged and entertained.
Besides, there is a small bee on one side that the baby can click and rotate while playing with, and a cute ladybug on the other corner keeps him busy discovering.
Keep in mind, though; it might fall and touch your baby’s face. So make sure to wipe it before using it to stay on the safe side of any skin irritation scenarios.
5 – Bright Starts Tummy Time Prop & Play
Bottom Line: This play mat makes tummy time enjoyable and comfortable for babies.
Pros
Very comfortable for tummy time
Perfect to use while traveling
Machine washable fabric
Cons
The mat is on the thinner and smaller side
Less quality material than other baby mats.
This baby mat is super cute and can comfortably support the baby for tummy time, and it comes with an additional pillow for extra comfort.
It is more than a tummy time mat…
There is a small mirror for the baby to observe himself and a tiny fish-shaped teether to play with and bite.
It is perfect to use in many positions; your baby can play on this mat while sitting or laying on it.
Above all, the toy’s size is perfect to fit wherever you want in the house and portable to use while in the stroller or car seat.
All things considered,
Parents who use this mat recommend placing a pad underneath it to make it thicker, especially when using it on hardwood or tile floors.
When it comes to cleaning, you can spot clean the surface or machine wash it.
Toys For 3-6 Months Old Baby
The eyesight of babies at this age has gradually become clearer.
They still like toys with bright colors and sound, but compared to 3 months ago, their motor skills have been well developed.
They would prefer to play with these toys by themselves!
The 3-month-old baby can stretch his hands freely. Parents can buy toys with small hanging pendants or some spherical toys that the baby can quickly grasp.
In case you don’t know,
…babies who are three months old can start to raise their heads and chests slowly. So you can buy some toys to help them make tummy time…
After four months, babies may try to start crawling everywhere, so you can give them toys that encourage crawling, such as crawling blankets, softballs, and moving little animals.
1 – Baby Einstein Take Along Tunes Musical Toy
Bottom Line: This is a cute, colorful, musical toy that entertains your little one with different sounds and lights.
Pros
Small size to suits babies and carry around
Easy to use and clean
Colorful, lightful, and musical toy
Cons
The plastic material is less durable
Your baby will love playing with this colorful and musical toy, as he has the option to switch between 10 different melodies.
What most parents like in this item is the size…
It is perfect for little babies to hold by their little hands easily and perfect to carry anywhere you go.
Besides, it has different volume options for your convenience.
When it comes to the cleaning part, make sure to wipe it with a damp cloth and mild soap or wet wipes without immersing it in water.
2 – Jumbo Baby Activity Gym & Ball Pit
Bottom Line: This is a multifunctional playmat that converts into a big ball pool for your baby to play in.
Pros
Good quality material
Versatile design
Cons
The mat is not padded
Challenging to clean for some parents
Infantino playmat is a piece that you can use for your baby from day one until toddler years. It has many different activities that your kid will enjoy playing.
Different types of toys give various benefits for your baby’s development..
Mirrors improve your baby’s visual skills and make tummy time a fun thing to do.
The best part?
Your baby can enjoy his time while laying or sitting down on this excellent mat. Plus, it comes with a small pillow that you can use to support your little one while doing tummy time or while sitting there.
Once your baby can sit alone – without support, you have the option to convert the mat into a giant ball pit for your kid to enjoy.
There are 40 balls included…
Most importantly, the overall design of this mat is versatile, making it super easy to move from one room to another.
For your convenience and to make the room tidy, this mat comes with a storage sloth to put the balls away.
3 – Brilliant Basics Stack and Roll Cups
Bottom Line: These lightweight cups come in different sizes, colors, and numbers to develop your child’s recognition abilities.
Pros
It offers an open-end play experience
Develops the baby’s senses
Teaches colors and numbers
Cons
Not that durable
The cups don’t hold tightly above each other
These Stack and Roll Cups consist of a bell ball that rings and 10 stacked cups of different colors and numbers for your baby to differentiate.
There are many ways to play with this toy!
Each ball has a bell inside to make a ball with a jungle sound when the baby moves it, which is perfect to attract the baby and improve his hearing sense.
If your baby snaps the cups together, he will create five balls to roll around and gain some building skills.
But if he prefers to nest the cups inside each other, he will create a tower of different colors.
Babies can start with the simplest way of trapping pillars and explore various playing ways step by step. Hence, experience the different shapes, sizes, and colors day by day!
4 – Splashin Kids Inflatable Tummy Time Premium Water mat
Bottom Line: This small playmat has a mini water world inside that moves along with your baby and makes tummy time a fun activity to do.
Pros
Teaches the cause and effect relationship
It helps develop the baby’s motor skills
Leak-proof material
Cons
Frequent cleaning is a must to avoid having mold
The toys might stick together inside
Tummy time is an exercise that your baby can start doing as soon as you get home from the hospital.
Yes, you read this right..
Tummy time is highly recommended for infants to strengthen their muscles. But the truth is, not all babies like it!
This squishy water mat is a sensory toy that is soft, colorful, and exciting for an enjoyable tummy time.
All you need to do is to blow out the outer part, fill out the inner one with water, put it on the floor, and now your baby is ready to lay flat on his tummy.
The best part?
The inside sea creatures and little toys move while your baby’s hands touch it or squeeze any side of the mate, creating a perfect sensory learning experience.
Above all, it is small enough for your baby to push, pull, and hold.
5 – Fisher-Price Rattle and Rock Maracas Musical Toy
Bottom Line: These are small sticks that are easy to hold by your baby and joyful to play with.
Pros
Lightweight and easy to use
Safe and simple design
Promote tactile exploration
Cons
Challenging to clean
Not suitable for teething
These cute sticks make a “rustling” sound when your baby shakes them, making him experience new, funny, and exciting sounds.
Besides, the colors of these sticks are exceptionally bright to attract the baby’s attention and encourage him to grab one and hold it.
The overall design helps babies develop their senses by playing with different textures, colors, and sounds.
Most importantly, shaking the toys makes the baby use different muscles, developing his fine and gross motor skills.
You can spot clean the fabric with a wet wipe or damp cloth and mild soap and air dry it when it comes to cleaning.
Toys For 6-12 Months Old Baby
Babies six months old can support themselves to sit up, and many babies can crawl very fast.
After the baby is six months old, there will be a lot of toy choices. You can start to finish building blocks and play appropriately with Legos, for example.
It is recommended to prepare some toys with more complex designs and diverse play methods for your baby or some exciting activity center.
In short: it is possible to let the baby sit and play for a while so that parents can also take the opportunity to relax.
1 – Bright Starts 3-in-1 Around We Go Activity Center & Table
Bottom Line: This is a multifunctional activity center for your kid to run around, sit, and play safely.
Pros
Comfortable and rotating seat for extra fun
It can be used by more than one kid
Perfect to use on any kind of floors
Cons
Challenging to clean
The assembly is not that easy for some
If you want your baby to sit and play for a relatively long time, then this kind of activity center is a good toy!
In general, it’s safer than the baby walker…
It is more than a baby toy; it works for toddlers, where babies can sit and play while toddlers (or big babies) can stand and play.
There are many gadgets on the table, so your baby can press this or touch that little toy based on his preference!
Most importantly, the height of the seat is adjustable to meet your baby’s growing body.
It offers more than 15 different activities for your kid to enjoy during the day. It will not be boring to play for a long time!
Keep in mind, though; it is a little bit challenging to clean. So make sure to keep your hands there whenever your baby spits or drops food while sitting inside.
2 – Fisher-Price Baby’s First Blocks
Bottom Line: If you are looking for an exciting way to teach your kid the different colors, shapes, this is the suitable toy for him.
Pros
Multifunctional filters that fit anywhere.
Super easy to clean
Develops different types of skills
Cons
The lid is easy to come out
A fundamental building block that allows babies to recognize various shapes, sizes, and colors.
It is designed for little hands to grasp…
It teaches your kid the idea of taking out and putting back these shapes in their correct place.
It is kind of developing their organizational skills!
These shapes are square, circle, triangle, and star come in a perfect box to keep them hidden and organized.
The best part?
While playing with this cute toy, your kid will develop hand eye coordination, improve problem-solving skills and motor skills as well.
When it comes to cleaning, these are the easiest toys to clean! You can wipe clean them or just put them in the sink for a quick water-soap rinse!
3 – Skip Hop Baby Activity Center
Bottom Line: This is a comfortable, durable, and convertible activity center that grows with your baby to meet his different needs.
Pros
It is a Three-stages toy that grows with your baby
Easy to assemble
Practical and versatile design
Cons
It doesn’t fold up for storage
Cleaning is challenging for some
Once your baby becomes more active, he will look for toys to grab and touch with his little hands, and he will definitely love the ones that interact back to his input.
This jumping chair can rotate 360 degrees, with a discovery window on the desktop that allows babies to see their little feet while playing.
The legs are well designed for a table stand, and they are detachable for easy storage.
The cloth seat is very comfortable to sit and move his body from side to side to try the musical piano or play peek a boo with the owl.
Most importantly, it is a perfect toy to develop baby balance and fine and gross motor skills.
Besides, it encourages sensory development in many areas and prompts the baby’s core strengths.
Once your baby grows up and becomes a toddler, you can remove the seat and cover it onto a flat play table suitable for some art and playdough activities, for example.
For cleaning, you have to follow the instructions and only clean the whole toy with a dry cloth.
4 – VTech Touch and Swipe Baby Phone
Bottom Line: If you are looking for a lightweight and small toy for your baby to have fun anytime and anywhere you go, look no further.
Pros
It helps develop the baby’s imaginative play
Lightweight and portable design
Cons
The touchscreen is not that durable
Babies like to pretend everything that adults around them do. Talking over the phone is common to do while at home, work, or even driving!
…and all babies like playing pretend!
The Vtech baby smartphone makes your baby engage in an imaginary conversation in a super cute way!
In addition, this colorful toy teaches your kid the ABCs, numbers, and a few simple words in a musical way!
The best part?
This simple toy helps improve the baby’s fine motor skills while using his fingers and hands.
Besides, sliding the screen to get different moods and touching the apps to get different colors improve his hand-eye coordination abilities.
5 – VTech Sit-to-Stand Learning Walker
Bottom Line: If your baby is trying to stand up and ready to be a little walker, this toy will help make the mission more enjoyable.
Pros
Suitable to use for many years
Super easy to assemble
Durable and versatile design
Cons
It is slippery on a tile floor
Runs pretty quickly
This Vtech walker is a practical toy suitable for your kid to play with while sitting down or in a standing position.
The activity panel that comes in this walker is detachable, making it a perfect floor-toy for your baby to play with before being able to stand up.
The best part?
It offers different activities to help with language development, tactile stimulation, and social skills improvement (f played with other kids).
Most importantly, it is a perfect choice for developing his motor skills while pushing, moving, and using the walker’s various activities.
Buyer’s Guide: How To Buy Baby Toys For Babies 0-12 Months Old
While shopping around for a baby toy, we highly recommend you go through the below buyers’ guide to help you get a suitable one and get the best out of it.
Consider Your Baby Age:
When buying a suitable toy for your baby’s age and developmental level, you encourage him to use his abilities correctly.
Safety Features:
For a safe play experience, baby toys must have no sharp corners or small removable parts.
Besides, make sure that the components used to make these toys are free from any toxic materials.
Durable Design:
Babies use the toy for many months (or maybe years), and, of course, they play with the same toy all day long.
That’s said, getting quality and well-made toys is the best thing to do for a long-lasting play experience.
Ease Of Use:
Well, toys encourage the baby to self-start with some light to medium movement. Especially while using his little fingers…
Thus, getting an easy-to-use toy is highly recommended when it comes to babies’ ability to switch on and off, move, push, or even carry around.
Easy To Clean:
Babies are too small to care about where their bottle is or where their snack is ended up resting.
To make it easy on you, pick a toy that is easy to clean, either by a wet wipe or just to throw it in the washing machine.
Entertainment Feature:
Look for a multifunctional toy where your baby can play with it in different ways, such as lights and music functions.
Educational Factor:
Playing awakens your baby’s senses and encourages him to imagine, create, and think out of the box.
We recommend you get educational toys to help your baby practice skills, solve problems, and encourage roleplaying.
FAQ
Q1: Do newborns play with toys?
You can introduce toys to your baby once you get home after the hospital. Soft, stuffed animals or mini blankets are the best ones for newborn babies. However, babies usually aren’t involved in playing with toys properly until they are 6 months old.
Q2: At what age do babies start seeing color?
Around 5 months old, babies start to distinguish the different colors around them. Their eyes can form a three-dimensional view of the surrounding world and start seeing clearly at this age.
Our Verdict: Best Toy For Babies 0-12 Months Old
Best Toy For Babies 0-3 Months Old
| Product | Rating out of 5 |
| Sassy Floor Mirror | ⭐ 4.5 |
| Fisher-Price Soothe & Glow Seahorse | ⭐ 4.0 |
| Bright Starts Tummy Time Prop & Play | ⭐ 3.75 |
| Fisher-Price Precious Planet 2-in-1 Projection Mobile | ⭐ 3.5 |
| The First Years First Rattle | ⭐ 3.25 |
Best Toy For Babies 3-6 Months Old
| Product | Rating out of 5 |
| Baby Einstein Take Along Tunes Musical Toy | ⭐ 4.5 |
| Splashin Kids Inflatable Tummy Time Premium Wate Mat | ⭐ 4.25 |
| Fisher-Price Rattle and Rock Maracas Musical Toy | ⭐ 4.0 |
| Brilliant Basics Stack and Roll Cups | ⭐ 3.75 |
| Jumbo Baby Activity Gym & Ball Pit | ⭐ 3.5 |
Best Toy For Babies 6-12 Months Old
| Product | Rating out of 5 |
| VTech Sit-to-Stand Learning Walker | ⭐ 4.5 |
| Fisher-Price Baby’s First Blocks | ⭐ 4.25 |
| Skip Hop Baby Activity Center | ⭐ 4.0 |
| VTech Touch and Swipe Baby Phone | ⭐ 3.75 |
| Bright Starts 3-in-1 Around We Go Activity Center & Table | ⭐ 3.5 |
Conclusion: Best Baby Toys For 0-12 Months Old Kids
There are many options for different types, shapes, and brands of baby developmental toys that you can introduce to your little one from day one.
In this article, we reviewed the most popular toys that were used by thousands of parents.
Finally,
It is time to introduce to you our Top pick, Best Value, and Editor’s Choice options.
- The Top Pick goes to: Fisher-Price Soothe & Glow Seahorse
- The Best Value goes to: Baby Einstein Take Along Tunes Musical Toy
- The Editor’s Choice goes to: VTech Sit-to-Stand Learning Walker
We hope you find this helpful article to choose the suitable toy for your baby. You may also want to look at the 8 Best Sensory Toys For Babies