These Are the Best Toys for Babies Right Now

Babies under 6 months can easily become overstimulated, and this play gym takes that into consideration, giving parents the ability to hide or reveal each play zone on the mat. It’s also easy to assemble, machine-washable, and made with organic materials and nontoxic finishes. Bonus: It can grow with babies by turning into a play fort.

These high-contrast soft squares can be attached to almost anything, such as a stroller bar or play gym, for additional engagement and fascination. 

Rachel Coley, a pediatric occupational therapist and Lovevery child development expert based in North Carolina, says to prioritize toys that can be played with in new ways as your child grows. “Open-ended toys like blocks are those that can be used in many ways and easily combined for even more variety.”

This super-cute sensory toy for babies encourages little hands to practice gripping and squeezing. Each mouthable silicone tab on the toy has a different texture to explore, and the tabs each produce different sounds when pulled. 

Don’t let the simplicity of this toy fool you. It can quickly become a favorite, first for grasping and gnawing on, and later for rolling or kicking to crawl or chase after. It wipes clean easily and is compact enough that it’s easy to toss into a diaper bag for on-the-go play. 

While this can’t help with the drool (sorry), this silicone teether will bring relief to those tender gums. The subtle textures on the toy make the chew all the more satisfying, and the easy-to-grip shape can help your baby’s grasp development. Bonus: It can also suction to a high chair table or stroller tray, which gives the baby a satisfying wobble toy to play with.

There’s so much tactile goodness packed into this soft package. It has crinkle pages, fabric peek-a-boo flaps, a tethered bunny that squeaks, and all sorts of textures, ribbons, and pom-poms that will pique your baby’s curiosity. 

Bath toys are notorious for growing mold in nooks and crannies, so instead of squeezy toys that may inevitably become sludge-filled, try these stacking cups. They help develop baby’s hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills and have endless play possibilities, such as “boats” that float, a tall tower, or something baby can gather water in and watch as it rains out of the different-shaped holes.

“Unbreakable mirrors are my favorite toy, as babies begin to recognize their reflection,” Assa says. “There’s nothing cuter.” While the baby won’t know that the adorable face staring back at them is their own (young children typically don’t recognize their reflections until about 15 to 18 months), they will be endlessly fascinated by what they see. This baby-safe mirror has an easel back, making it simple to prop in front of a baby as they do tummy time, and there’s a rolly trackball and sweet little bee to touch and examine. 

Attachable toys are exceptionally convenient for parents, and you can tell they are attachable because they have a loop somewhere on the toy that multipurpose baby ring links can hook on to. You can add these to a variety of places, such as hanging this caterpillar friend from a low kitchen cabinet for floor play while you are cooking, on a stroller bar, or elsewhere. I’ve even gently attached these links and toys like the caterpillar right onto a baby’s shirt or pant leg pocket or loop during supervised play so that they aren’t constantly losing their toy when they are too little to keep hold of it. This caterpillar in particular is fun to hold while you read the baby the corresponding classic book, or on its own, as babies love to learn cause and effect by making it jingle, crinkle, and rattle.