Every movement, expression, and sound your baby makes must hold special meaning for you. While babies spend most of their time after birth sleeping, they undergo rapid physical and emotional development. The best developmental toys for babies are their closest companions during this period.

As babies develop so quickly, their needs change month by month, requiring regular updates to their toy collection. This article features a list of the best developmental toys for babies at various stages. Read on to find out!

The Best Developmental Toys for Babies by Age Group

In the first year of life, your baby will gradually develop coordination between their eyes, hands, teeth, and legs, progressing through four key stages. Here we’ve made a list of the best toys for newborns during these key periods to help them grow.

Newborn to 3 Months: Focusing on Sensory Exploration

During the first 0-3 months of life, your child will gradually adapt to the coordinated movements of the eyes and hands. At this time, they need toys that can stimulate their vision and hand strength. You can try the following categories:

• Mirrors: You can take your baby to try looking in a mirror, which will improve their perception of faces and objects and is good for socialization later on. Please note that it is recommended to keep your baby 8-12 inches away from the mirror.
• Rattles: Prepare a small rattle that your baby can hold. Playing with this will not only stimulate their sense of touch but also work on finger grip.
• Play Mat: Spread it out on the floor and take your child with you. Try playing the game with them lying prone to exercise their arms and legs.
• Picture Books with High-Contrast Colors: Show your child some colorful pictures with animals or food. These materials help your child's cognitive development.

3 to 6 Months: Grasping, Reaching, and Tummy Time Fun

At 3-6 months, you'll notice your baby’s hands are ready to open fully. Driven by curiosity, they’ll begin reaching out to grasp anything that catches their attention—and likely bring it to their mouth to bite (their first teeth often emerge around 6 months). This is the perfect time to introduce toys that are safe to bite on. Just note that the toys should be large enough to prevent accidental swallowing.

• Teethers (Textured or Chilled): Your child can use these toys to chew after the teeth have erupted. But remember to prepare ones that can't be shoved completely into the mouth, or they may swallow them.
• Squeeze Toys: Prepare squeeze toys of different shapes and sizes for your baby to grasp. This will develop their manipulation of strength.
• Peek-a-Boo Toys: At this point, you can play hide and seek or find objects with your child. These activities help your baby understand that things still exist even when they can’t see them.

6 to 9 Months: Sitting Up, Cause & Effect, and Object Permanence

Congratulations! Your child can now sit up fully, which also allows their upper body and hands to work together better. It's time for you to prepare some finer and more advanced toys.

• Baby Blocks: Building blocks develop your baby's brain function, hand-eye coordination, and fine hand movements.
• Sound Toys That Roll: These toys will entice your child to try crawling and work on their limb strength.
• Busy Boxes: This type of toy develops your child's awareness of objects. They will better understand what it means to manipulate objects and what cause-and-effect relationships exist between the movement of objects.

9 to 12 Months: Crawling, Cruising, and Fine Motor Refinement

By this stage, your baby’s limbs are strong enough to support sitting and standing independently. As they begin to work on crawling and walking, they will need toys that encourage movement while providing support to prevent falls.

• Push and Pull Toys: Now that your baby can pull and tug, it’s a good time to introduce toys they can push or pull along the floor. Choose ones with a steady base to help them move safely while building balance and coordination.
• Activity Tables: With buttons to press, shapes to spin, and sounds to explore, these tables keep little ones engaged while encouraging them to stand and cruise around the edges.
• Educational Toys: Around this age, babies are soaking up words, sounds, and patterns. Toys that tell stories, play music, or introduce simple concepts can support early language and listening skills. A great example is the Alilo Baby Bunny Story Music Player, which combines songs, bedtime stories, and soothing sounds in a toddler-friendly design, perfect for quiet time or learning on the go.

How to Choose the Best Developmental Toys for Babies?

Parenting experts recommend choosing toys that make sounds and have high contrast, bright colors, and rich textures. These toys not only stimulate your newborn's auditory, visual, and tactile senses but also build motor skills and social awareness.

There are so many of the same products, and you may wonder how to choose the best ones. To make things simpler, here are the key features to look for:

• High Contrast Patterns: High-contrast patterns, such as black and white, will give your baby a stronger visual stimulus that will capture their attention.
• Interactive Toys: Toys that make soft sounds or music when touched will not only excite your baby but also stimulate them to make sounds.
• Toys that Are Easy to Grip: Choose toys that are light enough for your baby to wield and are easy to grip. Textured surfaces are better, which can stimulate your baby's sense of touch.
• Ensure Safety: Always make sure that toys for infants are safe for babies. Don't choose toys with too many small parts, as your baby may try to swallow them, causing choking. Toys should be larger than your baby's mouth.

Conclusion

Infants experience rapid development of visual, auditory, tactile, and motor skills from 0-12 months. It’s essential to choose the best developmental toys for babies according to their different stages of growth.

When shopping for toys, focus on high-contrast patterns, bright colors, and safe, baby-friendly materials. These simple features can go a long way in supporting your baby’s development. Hope this article helps you create the most enjoyable bonding moments with your child.

FAQ

What are the best toys for early childhood development?

The best toys for babies are simple ones that help them see, hear, and touch new things. Bright colors catch their attention, sounds keep them curious, and different textures help them explore with their hands. Good choices are rattles, teethers, soft toys, play mats, and peek-a-boo toys.

What is the best toy for a 3-month-old baby?

At this age, babies love toys that make gentle sounds and are easy to grab. Soft rattles or musical mobiles are perfect. They help build hand strength and get your baby making sounds. Bright pictures of animals or food are also fun to look at and help with early eye development.

What toys are not recommended for babies?

Avoid toys with small parts, sharp edges, or loose batteries, as they can be choking or safety hazards. Also, skip anything with long strings or cords. Toys that are too loud or heavy can overwhelm babies. Always check labels for age-appropriateness and choose items made from baby-safe materials.