Toys

Best Toys for Baby

by Amy L. Hogan


Shop The Story

Hide Shop Show Shop
Best Toys for Baby
Shop Story

Newborns need lots of love as well as swaddling, snuggles and tummy time. But around 3 months old, something magical happens, and they start to become much more alert and aware of the wondrous world around them. This is the perfect time to introduce them to a whole new slew of the best baby toys designed to not only entertain but also stimulate their developing senses. But with rattles and teethers and exersaucers available in every shape, size and color, where’s a parent to start? And what exactly makes for a good baby toy?

 

When talking about the best toys for babies, Baby Einstein toys and Fisher-Price are brands that come up a lot because they repeatedly make quality products that are baby tested and parent approved. When looking for a toy, you first want to consider how much room you have for storage. It’s also important to figure out the right balance between high-tech gadgets that can be operated by an app and the old school ones that don’t even require batteries. Babies can benefit from a mixture of the two, for sure.

 

And of course there are tons of different toys made specifically for every possible need and developmental milestone during your child’s first year. In order to make the unending maze of toy options a little more easy to navigate, let’s look at the major categories of the best baby toys out there.

 

 

  • Best Sensory Toys

 

Manhattan Toy Winket Rattle And Sensory Teether Toy

 

Infantio Textured Multi ball Set

 

 

Baby Einstein Bendy Ball Rattle Toy

 

 

Splashin' Kids Inflatable Tummy Time Premium Water Mat

 

Baby Einstein Rock Light And Roll Guitar

 

 

  • Best Car Seat Toys

 

Taf Toys Toe Time Infant Car Seat Kick And Play Activity Center

 

 

TOYMYTOY Kid Baby Spiral Bed Stroller Toy Monkey Elephant Educational Plush Toy

 

 

OBall Flex 'N Go Activity Arch Take-Along Toy

 

 

Amazing Baby Feel And learn Soft Book

 

 

Baby Einstein Travel-Pillar Discover Toy Bar

 

  • Best Crib Toys

 

Mini Tudou Baby Musical Mobile

 

 

Baby Einstein Sea Dreams Soother Crib Toy With Remote, Lights and Melodies

 

 

Musical Baby Action Center

 

 

Fisher-Price smartConnect Deluxe Soother

 

 

SwaddleMe Slumber Buddies Soother

 

  • Best Bath Toys

 

Munchkin Fishin' Bath Toy

 

 

Munchkin Learn Bath letters & Numbers

 

 

Yookidoo Spin N' Sort Spout Pro

 

 

BOON Jellies

 

 

Crayola Color Bath Dropz

 

  • Best Toy For Development

 

Baby Einstein Innovation station Activity Cube

 

 

Fisher-PRice Laugh And Learn Around The Town Learning Table

 

 

Blizzard Penguin- The Buckle Toy

 

 

JOYIN Musical Activity Cube Play Center

 

 

The Play Gym By Lovevery

 

  • Best Soothing Toys

 

WubbaNub Infant Baby smoothie Pacifier

 

 

Vulli Sophie The Giraffe Teether

 

 

The Baby Shusher Soother

 

 

Miracle Blanket

 

 

MamaRoos 4 Bluetooth-enabled Baby Swing

 

  • Best Tummy Time Toys

 

Fisher-Price Deluxe Kick N' Play Piano Gym

 

 

Playgro Convertible Tummy Time Mirror And Book

 

 

Micelec Cute Cartoon Owl Baby Infant Tummy Time Crawling Play Mat

 

 

Baby Einstein Nautical Friends Play Gym

 

 

Gigglespots

 

  • Best Classic Toys

 

Fisher-Price Rock-A-Stack

 

 

Melissa & Doug Shape Sorting Cube

 

 

The First Years Stack Up Cups

 

 

Playskool Sit N' Spin

 

 

Fisher-Price Classic Farmer Says See 'N Say

 

 

Jumbo Polka Tunnel

 

 

PopKids Ball Pit

 

 

Simba ABC Roll And Crawling Toy

 

 

Fisher-PRice Zoom 'N Crawl Monster

 

 

Fisher-PRice Go Bay Go! 1-2-3 Crawl Along Snail

 

  • Best Toys For Walkers

 

Bright Starts Gourmet Shop 'N Cook Walker

 

 

Hape Push Mower

 

 

Waliki Hopping Horse Hopper

 

 

Melisaa & Doug Chomp & Clack Alligator Push Toy

 

 

VTech Stroll & Discover Activity Walker

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now that you know the range of toys available, let’s stop playing around and break down the best toys for baby.

 

Best Sensory Toys

Image Credits: Amazon

Manhattan Toy Winkel Rattle and Sensory Teether Toy

Price:$14.00

The twisting colorful, soft, safe (PBA and lead free) tubes are eye-catching and easy for baby to grasp and chew on. The toy even makes a soft, rattle sound to capture baby’s attention. It’s learning time every time your little one holds this awesome ball in their tiny hands.

Specifications:
My 4 month old grandson enjoyed it a lot and now reaches for it when he wants something to gnaw on.
My son has loved staring at this since he was 2 days old. It travels well and you can smash it down and it always bounces back into shape.
This toy is awesome! It really helped my daughter with her grasping ability.

What Reviewers Are Saying:
My 4 month old grandson enjoyed it a lot and now reaches for it when he wants something to gnaw on.

Image Credits: Walmart

Infantino Textured Multi Ball Set

Price:$6.00

The bright colors and interesting textures of these six BPA-free unique balls help stimulate a baby’s curiosity and tactile development. Plus, no batteries! They’re lightweight, clean up easily and don’t take up much space, which makes them just about perfect newborn toys as far as parents are concerned

What Reviewers Are Saying:
My grandson loves to pick up these balls but spends most of his time chasing after them.

They have great texture and are the perfect size for little hands.

My three children, who range in age from 3.5, 20 months and 4 months all play with these balls together. I like that they’re so easy to clean.

Image Credits: Walmart

Baby Einstein Bendy Ball Rattle Toy

Price:$6.00

Babies love to shake, rattle and roll this colorful lightweight caterpillar ball, which is easy for small fingers to grip. And the rattling ball inside the bigger ball triggers learning time by keeping little ones amused for hours while helping them develop their fine motor skills.

What Reviewers Are Saying:
I wouldn’t leave the house without this ball! It’s the only way to get my newborn to stop crying in the car or stroller.

It’s easy for my baby to hold and the colors are bright. The price is great too for hours of enjoyment

My baby is always trying to figure out how to use his little fingers to try and get at the little ball on the inside.

Image Credits: Amazon

Splashin’kids Inflatable Tummy Time Premium Water Mat

Price:$22.00

Tummy time is extremely important for a baby’s development but many don’t enjoy the activity. This cheerful water splash pad play mat, made of heavy-duty PVC, enchants tots with colorful floating fish and toys. They’ll be strengthening their head, neck and shoulder muscles without fussing as they bat and swat and reach for the adorable sea creatures.

What Reviewers Are Saying:
My four month old loves playing on this. He has a blast trying to eat all the fish.

This is a great product for my baby. The instructions were clear and the quality is amazing. I love it and will send this to friends as gifts.

My baby loves looking at the little foam animals in it! All in all it’s a great product for babies especially the ones that hate tummy time.

Image Credits: Amazon

Baby Einstein Rock Light and Roll Guitar

Price:$15.00

This Baby Einstein baby toy transforms your nursery into a stage and your infant into a star. Mini Mozarts can play 10 classical songs by pushing the buttons or spinning the rattler ball while lights flash in tune to the beat. It’s an asset to tummy time and can also be held and carried by bigger tots.

What Reviewers Are Saying:
Our boy played this before he could crawl! Now that he can walk and run he still rocks it. He once threw it off the balcony 30 feet to a concrete driveway and it didn’t miss a beat. This is one solid toy.

If my 10 month old could talk he would give this one two thumbs up. He loves to play music by pushing the big buttons.

This is perfect for my 9 month old. She enjoys rolling the ball and it makes strumming sounds. I like that it has two volume settings, neither of which are too loud, and it can be switched off, which makes for easy transportation.

Best Car Seat Toys

Image Credits: Amazon

Taf Toys Toe Time Infant Car Seat Kick and Play Activity Center

Price:$40.00

The Toe Time infant car seat toy is a revelation for the rear-facing riders. Music and crinkle/jingle plush characters encourage your little one to kick and reach and play along while on the road. The baby-safe mirror is an absolute hit with the diaper crowd, who could spend hours admiring their perfect baby faces.

What Reviewers Are Saying:
My expectations were very low when I ordered this before taking my son on a six hour car ride. But he LOVES it. The bumps in the road set off the music and he dances and kicks along to the tune. Overall, it’s just what we need to make car trips fun.

It’s a perfect fit in my car. The baby loves grabbing and playing with the toys and she even learned to kick her feet at the movement.

It’s a lifesaver. No more tossed toys or fussy baby.

Image Credits: Amazon

TOYMYTOY Kid Baby Spiral Bed Stroller Toy Monkey Elephant Educational Plush Toy

Price:$13.00

The musical, plush toy attaches easily to car seats and strollers. Bright animals and teething rings dangle with movement and work to stimulate and develop baby’s vision, offering surprise sounds like squeaks when squeezed and pinched by curious baby fingers. The happy, engaging animals are sure to entertain little ones on even the longest car rides. Oh, and it’s machine washable, which is ideal in case of car sickness.

What Reviewers Are Saying:
It’s really well made and I like that it plays It’s a Small World. My toddler likes to dance and play with it along with our baby.

This is much higher quality than the price suggests. It wraps easily around the handle of a car seat and stays in place. My baby loves it.

It’s very versatile because of the coils. We have it on the car set and my son loves to eat it and play with the toys. Best part is it can be washed when it gets dirty.

Image Credits: Walmart

Oball Flex ‘n Go Activity Arch Take-Along Toy

Price:$17.00

It’s perfect for parents on the go! This easily moveable Bright Starts toy fits in baby’s carrier and stroller, so it’s perfect for keeping little ones entertained no matter their mode of transportation. The swinging monkeys instigate swats and shrieks of laughter while the colorful rattle and Oball toy encourage baby to reach and grab while taking a walk on the wild side. The height is even adjustable to grow along with baby.

What Reviewers Are Saying:
My son loves this and so do I because I can put it on the car seat, swing and stroller. I love that you can configure it in so many different directions. “My daughter is about to turn two months old and loves this toy. It attaches easily to her car seat. She smiled immediately at it and loves to bat at the toys. This is a great toy to stimulate your newborns mind.

Baby loves this toy. It was easy to clamp onto the car seat cup holders. Feels secure. He stares at it constantly when we use it.

Image Credits: Walmart

Amazing Baby Feel and Learn Soft Book

Price:$10.00

Baby’s first book! This soft educational toy is full of textures that help make learning fun. Each page features bright colors, patterns, letters, materials and textures that encourage learning as little ones discover new things every time they play with it. The ring secures the book onto car seat handles easily and saves Mom and Dad — and Grandma and Grandpa and the babysitter! — from having to pick it up 1 million times a day. And it cleans up easily with soap and water.

What Reviewers Are Saying:
This is one of our absolute must haves. We received it as a gift and our baby absolutely loves the crinkly noise it makes. She also loves playing with the plastic rings that are attached to it.

Great item. Grandson loves it. As he grows the book grows with him.

Image Credits: Amazon

Baby Einstein Travel-Pillar Discover Toy Bar

Price:$18.00

This happy caterpillar delights all of baby’s senses. Straps easily attach the toy to most carriers, which makes parents happy. But babies are more interested in the eight classical tunes it plays, in addition to the fun noises made by the rattle, clacking keys and ratcheting airplane propeller. The dangling fish and keys are irresistible to curious kiddos who will happily kick and grab at them while on the go.

What Reviewers Are Saying:
Baby loves this and I find it very easy to remove and add. Helps keep baby away on way to daycare in the morning and entertained instead of crying.

This is great for long car rides! It was perfect for our family vacation and it doubles as a floor toy when we’re home because my baby loves it so much.

My baby just got interested in this at four months. She pulls on the two items that hang and reaches for the head of the caterpillar.

Best Crib Toys

Image Credits: Amazon

Mini Tudou Baby Musical Mobile

Price:$40.00

This is not your mama’s crib mobile! It’s hip and high-tech and combines music and motion with a projector. Oh, and it’s remote controlled. There are 20-, 40- and 60-minute timer options to customize the songs, melodies, instrumental tunes and nature sounds to your baby’s sleep needs. The projector shows soothing images and doubles as a night light to help comfort tots during quiet time and naps, while the gently rotating characters help exercise baby’s eyesight.

What Reviewers Are Saying:
This is the cutest best crib mobile I’ve ever seen. Our baby girl loves it. It’s the only way I can put her in her crib at night and not have her cry. Such a lifesaver! I bought another one just in case this one ever breaks.

Super cute design, music is great and it’s very colorful. My six week old loves to watch it and coos at it. I’m pleased with my purchase.

This is a great mobile. I’ve had a hard time finding one that moved and had lights and sounds. The horses are cute and cartoony. The music has very good sound and adjustable levels.

Image Credits: Walmart

Baby Einstein Sea Dreams Soother Crib Toy with Remote, Lights and Melodies

Price:$40.00

This adorable light-up aquarium turns naptime into an undersea adventure for little ones. The Sea Dreams soother combines softly glowing light effects with classical melodies. We love that it has a Drift Off feature that gradually eases up the lights and sounds every 10 minutes to help those bundles of joy drift off to dreamland. It fits most cribs rails, has adjustable light and volume ranges and can also be controlled remotely to help avoid unnecessary wakeups (whew!).

What Reviewers Are Saying:
This soother is great. My daughter loves watching the lights and sea creatures when she’s awake and at night the lullabies and ocean sounds put her right to sleep. It’s a great purchase!

My 7 week old is completely mesmerized. I love that there is an option to have just the sound with no lights. I was hesitant at first to pay this much but after getting it, I think I would have paid more for it based on how much my son loves it.

This toy has really helped calm our daughter who has been having trouble wanting to go to bed. She LOVES it and we love that it’s helped us sleep in a little longer on the weekends since she wakes up and starts playing with the aquarium instead of crying for us to come get her.

Image Credits: Walmart

Musical Baby Action Center

Price:$44.00

Your baby may never want to get out of their crib again! The Musical Baby Action Center promotes pretend play and development of coordinating skills. With lots of brightly colored moving parts and see-thru sections, the sturdy plastic toy easily attaches to most cribs or playpens. The lights and sounds of the choo-choo train will enchant early risers.

What Reviewers Are Saying:
I credit this with helping keep my child in bed until the sun rises. It’s miraculous.

I got this for a gift and planned to return it but once we opened it up my son became obsessed. He can play with it for hours on end.

Image Credits: Amazon

Fisher-Price SmartConnect Deluxe Soother

Price:$50.00

This has everything you need to help soothe a newborn who has days and nights mixed up, or tot who’s a little bit older and needs some extra help drifting off to dreamland. You can even program and control the SmartConnect Deluxe Soother from the palm of your hand because it has its own app. In addition to soothing light projections, the smart device also plays music and plugs into the wall, so you never need to worry about batteries dying in the middle of the night.

What Reviewers Are Saying:
My husband tells everyone how much sleep this thing has saved us. Our bedroom is across the hall from our baby’s room and it works well. In the middle of the night if our baby wakes and has trouble settling, we turn on the music before going I the room, and almost every time it helps her settle back to sleep. We so rarely have to go I her room at night.

This product is fantastic to say the least. It looks nice, like it belongs in a child’s room. The options for all the colored lights are a nice touch. Overall a great buy!

I love this soother! It has plenty of music and sounds to choose from and the sleep stages is such an awesome addition. I love the star projection and the nightlight option. You can use all 3 at once or pick and choose.

Image Credits: Amazon

SwaddleMe Slumber Buddies Soother, Grey Elephant

Price:$25.00

If creating a tranquil sleeping space for your bundle of joy is a priority, then this infant toy is for you. The lovable elephant is cuddly and also plays music and a heartbeat sound, which is especially soothing to newborns, as well as projecting stars around the room to chase away the darkness. The petite pachyderm doesn’t take up much space but will fill a nursery with soft, gentle, comforting love.

What Reviewers Are Saying:
This has really helped my little guy with his night time sleep issues. It’s been a great addition to our home.

My daughter loves this elephant. It brightens up the whole ceiling and looks beautiful. I love the color options and being able to control the volume of the music.

OK so let me be frank: my daughter loves this thing to death. She has been playing with it for four years and still loves it. This thing is amazingly tough and does what it says. The stars are bright when you put in new batteries and grow dimmer over time.

Best Bath Toys

Image Credits: Walmart

Munchkin Fishin’ Bath Toy

Price:$8.00

The magnetic fishing rod casts a spell on baby at bath time. Kids get the added bonus of working on their hand-eye coordination and learning cause and effect as they try to catch the sea creatures bobbing around the bathtub. Parents will especially love that the magnetic bobbers are air-tight, which means no messy, moldy toys to toss next month.

What Reviewers Are Saying:
Fun little fishing toy. Your kiddo can pretend to reel it in and it makes a clicking noise. Definitely a keeper.

My two sons were excited to get their fishing rods. It was a great idea to use magnets in the small toys and helps the boys work on their hand eye coordination. The toys are sealed to keep water out and avoid mold issues and the rod has a little hole to drain out any water that gets in.

It’s adorable! I got it for my son for Christmas. He has early signs of autism so it’s hard to find toys that he will actually show interest in. Thank you!

Image Credits: Walmart

Munchkin Learn Bath Letters & Numbers

Price:$5.00

If you have one toy in your house and or tub, it should be these foam shapes. They’re the best baby toys for teaching ABCs and 123s, as well as colors, simple spelling, group sorting and the science of getting them to stick to the side of the tub. And even the youngest of bathers will delight in teething on any item from this non-toxic 36-piece set of floating fun. They’re pretty much indestructible and dry quickly, which is every parent’s dream criteria, right?

What Reviewers Are Saying:
My daughter loves playing with them. She’s learning her ABCs

My nieces love these.

They’re a constant in my house. I give them to every friend who has kids.

Image Credits: Amazon

Yookidoo Spin N Sort Spout Pro

Price:$28.00

This educational toy introduces kids to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) concepts, including physics, through some seriously wet-and-wild play. A battery-operated bath spout recycles the tub water so tots can have waves of fun splashing, filling and straining their way to being squeaky clean. Parents love how safe it is, since it doesn’t affect water temperature or levels. The only downside is that you’ll have to drag your crying kiddos out of the tub, since they’ll never want to stop playing with this fun faucet.

What Reviewers Are Saying:
I absolutely love it and so does my son. He is 11 months and plays with the constant water flow and cups. Turns on and off by simply pushing the orange googled eyes. This is probably an item I would purchase as birthday or baby shower gifts for others. It is totally worth it.

Having a toy that pumps water so my son can have a running faucet without having the actual tub faucet on, is a dream come true for someone who previously had to clean up after an overflowing tub and a little wild who insisted he ‘didn’t have enough eater yet.’ This toy was the answer to me losing my mind when I need to entertain my son.

My daughter loves it. We’ve been using it for a month every day and it works very well. I highly recommend it. Excellent cost for a very good toy.

Image Credits: Amazon

BOON Jellies

Price:$13.00

This toy sucks… in a good way! The vividly colored set of 9 plastic jellyfish are the perfect size and shape for little hands to hold. They love to scoop them up out of the water, and the jellies have suction-cup tentacles that help them climb the tub and walls. They even stick to themselves. Each jellyfish has an open design that allows it to air dry easily, which means no gross mold is going to grow.

What Reviewers Are Saying:
These helped my daughter become comfortable transitioning into a regular tub. She was terrified. Finally these Jellies were the thing that got her into that tub. She absolutely loves them and they stick to any surface.

Fun toy for my girls. Just don’t let them stick them to their skin it leaves a red mark, I learned the hard way

Highly recommend. One year and another baby later, these are still a favorite toy for many reasons. Boon Jellies span a wide age range. My now three year old always comes back to them, which is very rare for him. I’ve never had a mold problem.

Image Credits: Amazon

Crayola Color Bath Dropz

Price:$16.00

Let’s be real, clear bathwater is boring. Leave it to Crayola to figure out a way to add pizzazz to tubby time. Kids of all ages will enjoy dropping one or two of these fizzy, non-toxic tablets into the tub to turn it blue, pink or yellow. It’s a great way to teach even the tiniest tots about primary colors and what happens when blue and yellow swirl together to make a great green. Of course, parents love that all it takes is one tablet to dye an entire tub-full of water a vivid hue without staining sensitive skin and the tub and tiles.

What Reviewers Are Saying:
One tablet is enough to color the whole tub and it doesn’t stain anything. I mixed the tablets and got amazing results!

My daughters loves these. They add an extra bit of magic to their baths and they love choosing the colors. My kids want to stay in the tub because of these. I’m truly amazed!

For a while my daughter hated bath time. It was such a hassle. Nothing helped until I found these. She loves bath time again and enjoys picking new colors for her water. They’re fun and they don’t stain. It’s perfect. The only flaw is they need to make new colors.

Best Toys for Development

Image Credits: Nordstrom

Baby Einstein Innovation Station Activity Cube

Price:$70.00

Sorting beads, looping mazes and sliding doors cover every side of this wood and plastic multisensory cube. Your baby budding scientist will love learning time when exploring every inch of the optical illusions and interlocking and rotating blocks, which will be a family favorite educational toy for years to come. Whether a baby is working on tummy time or is already toddling around on two feet, this Baby Einstein toy will grow along with them.

Image Credits: Target

Fisher-Price Laugh and Learn Around the Town Learning Table

Price:$40.00

ot only does this development toy feature 9 lights and more than 120 songs and sounds, but it also grows along with your baby, thanks to addable legs when baby is standing and three levels of interactive technology, in English and Spanish, for whatever learning stage your baby’s in. This toy teaches about ABCs and 123s as well as foods and colors.

What Reviewers Are Saying:
Super easy to put together and comes with batteries. It kept my super-active 8 month old entertained for hours.

My 3-year-old and 1-year-old both enjoy this table.

My daughter instantly started playing with it and this has quickly become a favorite of all the toys she got for Christmas.

Image Credits: Amazon

Blizzard Penguin – The Buckle Toy

Price:$30.00

The super soft plush penguin features different-shaped buckles to help little ones develop and strengthen their fine-motor skills, hand-eye coordination and problem-solving skills. It also introduces baby to counting and colors. Bonus: The buckles make it super easy to strap on to the outside of any bag or purse, and it also boasts a zippered pouch for tots to hide their favorite treasures.

What Reviewers Are Saying:
Both my daughters love these. They are excellent for busy work and to my surprise are great to grow with as the kids learn numbers, colors, zippers etc. Definitely buying these as gifts!

I actually like the fact that some of the buckles are harder to put together than others. It makes it a little challenging. If your babe is anything like mine, they’ll be up for the challenge. My girl loves to hug, snuggle and kiss this lil fella.

My little girl really loves this penguin. It keeps her interest for a while. I’ve noticed that the buckles keep her so busy in the car that she doesn’t take her shoes and socks off while I’m driving!

Image Credits: Amazon

JOYIN Musical Activity Cube Play Center

Price:$28.00

Baby Bon Jovis and little Lady Gagas can take center stage with this toy. It can transition from a karaoke mode with a realistic sound-effect microphone to music mode with five different instrument sounds to let babies express themselves creatively. It helps with kids’ listening and motor skills as they push the buttons, make the sounds and watch the lights.

What Reviewers Are Saying:
Absolutely amazing and durable. My son loves it. He plays with it pretty roughly and it hasn’t endured any damage.

Our three month old grandson loved it!

This product is exactly as described and does not disappoint.

Image Credits: Amazon

The Play Gym by Lovevery

Price:$140.00

Child development experts designed this super cool play gym. These toys are great because they are able to develop and grow along with your baby. From a soft place to practice tummy time to a fascinating place to sit and swat at dangling friends, this is one development toy that covers all the bases. And we like that it’s made out of sustainable wood and decorated with non-toxic finishes, soy ink and organic cotton. Even better? It has a cover that transforms it into a play tent for even more fun.

What Reviewers Are Saying:
I’m a mother of three and I wish I’d had this mat from the beginning. I was skeptical that it would be worth $140 but was so happy to see that the Play Gym by Lovevery is nothing like the others, in all the best ways.

Our 3 month old loves her morning play sessions on this play gym. I am amazed at how long she can stay focused and attentive while lying on the gym. She coos at the cards with the baby face pictures. I enjoy seeing her progress.

In a word, wow! This activity mat is fantastic. It’s simple and pleasant to look at.

Best Soothing Toys

Image Credits: Walmart

WubbaNub Infant Baby Soothie Pacifier

Price:$18.00

It’s a cold hard fact that one of the most annoying aspects of parenting a baby is having to constantly pick up their pacifiers. That’s where this WubbaNub becomes an asset in every nursery and diaper bag. A cuddly plush creature, we’re particularly fond of the Mary Meyer Amber Fawn, which is firmly attached to a medical grade silicone Soothie pacifier. The dynamite duo help keep the paci close to baby, which means one less task for Mom to juggle. Plus, it’s machine washable so cleanup is a cinch.

What Reviewers Are Saying:
Love these so much, I purchased multiples and give them as gifts!

Gift for my niece. Her momma loved it and so did the baby.

Image Credits: Walmart

Vulli Sophie The Giraffe Teether

Price:$24.00

Nothing soothes sore gums and satisfies a teething tot like Sophie! This long-necked rubber teether is quickly becoming a classic, as more and more moms are blown away by just how much their tykes love to gnaw on her horns and hooves. And she makes the cutest squeaky noise when chubby hands give her a squeeze. We also love how the 100% natural rubber toy has been decorated with food-grade paint in contrasting spots and coloring to help stimulate baby’s vision and make her easily recognizable as a trusted friend.

What Reviewers Are Saying:
My baby really loves chewing on Sophie. It does smell wonderful and even my toddler seems drawn to Sophie, always stealing it from the little one. It even came in a nice keepsake box.

Sophie lives up to the hype. My son loves it and won’t touch any other teether unless it’s Sophie.

Very happy with this product. I bought it for my grandson. He loves it and carries it around and takes it to sleep.

Image Credits: Target

The Baby Shusher Soother

Price:$35.00

Doctors, experts and parents all agree that newborns find a shushing sound really comforting, most likely because it mimics the familiar noises of the womb, which is why the Baby Shusher Soother is such an asset to every parenting arsenal. The colorful battery-operated device makes loud, rhythmic noises at multiple volumes for either 15 or 30 minutes, to naturally trigger a baby’s calming reflex. Anything that gets us a couple extra minutes of sleep is worthy investment. Since it wipes clean and is compact enough to fit easily into any bag, it guarantees a peaceful night’s sleep for you and your bundle of joy, no matter where you go.

What Reviewers Are Saying:
I can’t count the number of times I’ve swaddled, swayed and shushed trying to calm my baby. This gadget allows me to rest my voice a bit, which is really nice.

I have to admit that I was skeptical that it would work. My baby was notoriously fussy sleeper and no amount of shushing ever got her to quiet down. I was pleasantly surprised by this great product. It did help calm her down!

The MN Children’s Hospital uses this with every child. Its’ a no brainer to purchase if you have a newborn. It’s great!

Image Credits: Amazon

Miracle Blanket

Price:$30.00

Getting a baby swaddled tight enough to stay put is worthy of an Olympic gold medal. But for those of us barely getting the bronze, there’s the Miracle Blanket. This 100% cotton wonder makes swaddling effortless, thanks to its triple-patented arm flap design and roomy length. It helps extend baby’s sleep by keeping their arms contained and unable to flail and scratch their own face. We like that it’s available in many colors and patterns, but you can never go wrong with natural beige.

What Reviewers Are Saying:
Once I started using this both my babies slept through the night. I can’t imagine my life without this.

This is the real deal! The material is super soft and has just enough stretch that you can make it nice and snug. Best of all little arms stay put right where they are supposed to.

Totally amazing and necessary product if you have a baby who breaks out of swaddles easily but needs them desperately to sleep. The Miracle Blanket is really the only way to go for babies like mine who are really strong and squirmy in their sleep.

Image Credits: Amazon

MamaRoo 4 Bluetooth-Enabled Baby Swing

Price:$215.00

One of the most-popular baby registry items is the MamaRoo. And for good reason. This is the soothing baby swing of the future and our dreams, wrapped into one smooth, sleek bundle. With 5 unique motions and speeds, and even an MP3 plug-in, there are countless combinations to keep your baby cooing and snoozing. Babies love that it mimics Mom and Dad’s movements as it sways from side to side. Moms love that it’s super chic and machine washable, so it’s easy to keep looking just as good as the day your newborn came home.

What Reviewers Are Saying:
The fact that I’m able to sit at my computer and write this review means this is worth 5 stars. My newborn has not slept without being held since we brought him home from the hospital. He’s currently asleep within five minutes of going in the MamaRoo.

I’m so happy with this product and my baby enjoys it as well.

I bought two of them for my daughter who has twins! It’s a life saver for sure!

Best Tummy Time Toys

Image Credits: Amazon

Fisher-Price Deluxe Kick ‘n Play Piano Gym

Price:$50.00

The colorful zoo animals enchant and encourage babies to explore the world around them while on their tummies. They love to reach for the light-up keyboard keys, and the dangling animals on the arch motivate them to work on rolling over. It plays up to 20 minutes of continuous music, which helps make it more fun for a baby to spend enough time each day on the tummy and will continue exploring the gym as they grow and develop.

What Reviewers Are Saying:
My baby has loved this gym mat since she was only 2 months old. The songs are adorable and I find myself singing long. I can see that the will love this when she can sit up too. Great product!

My kid is such a kicker and loves this. It’s definitely worth every penny!

Colors are great and the noise and graphics make back and tummy time more fun for my beautiful niece!

Image Credits: Walmart

Playgro Convertible Tummy Time Mirror and Book

Price:$19.00

Finding a way to distract a baby from the fact that they are actually doing tummy time is key to keeping them content during the crucial activity. This book expands into multiple mirrors and is easily propped up on the floor. Babies learn self-recognition and love to gaze at their own adorable faces, which gets them to lift up their heads for longer periods of time. And the bright colors and patterns help stimulate a baby’s vision. We love that it’s portable and takes up minimal space in the playroom.

What Reviewers Are Saying:
This is the single best toy I’ve ever used for tummy time. My little love can’t get enough of seeing herself in the mirrors.

Image Credits: Amazon

Micelec Cute Cartoon Owl Baby Infant Tummy Time Crawling Play Mat

Price:$20.00

Tummy time is a real hoot with this adorable owl mat. The super soft material is gentle on a baby’s sensitive skin, and the different colors, textures and fabrics make a baby want to explore it all. The addition of a padded pillow elevates this tummy time mat to a family favorite.

What Reviewers Are Saying:
It is so cute. My daughter loves it and so does my granddaughter. It was easy to put together and was a fair price. We love it.

Image Credits: Walmart

Baby Einstein Nautical Friends Play Gym

Price:$48.00

This interactive underwater-themed play gym transforms tummy time into an undersea adventure. The whale is soft and huggable, making it the perfect prop pillow while working those muscles, and the starfish toy plays eight classical tunes and soothing ocean sounds, plus has lights that the baby can learn to control. We love that it’s loaded with developmental toys, like a crab bead chaser, baby-safe mirror and cards with pictures of the ocean friends. Babies love to dive into this sensational sea-themed toy.

Specifications:
I love that it’s machine washable. My 9 week old has been playing with it for two weeks and just loves the star. He is very interested in this during tummy time.
“It’s cute with bright colors and characters.
My 5 month old has been getting so bored and cranky I was at a loss what to do for him. Bought this out of desperation and I wish I had it months ago! He absolutely loves it and stays happy and entertained for so long!

What Reviewers Are Saying:
I love that it’s machine washable. My 9 week old has been playing with it for two weeks and just loves the star. He is very interested in this during tummy time.”

Image Credits: Amazon

Gigglespots

Price:$12.00

These small circles may not look like much, which is EXACTLY what we love about them. The high-contrast black-and-white spots are specifically designed to entertain and enhance a baby’s growing brain. We can’t believe how focused a baby is on them during tummy time. They are printed on water-resistant cardstock ,which makes them durable and easy to clean, and there’s Velcro attachments so they can stay where you want them — instead of in baby’s mouth.

What Reviewers Are Saying:
My son absolutely loves these. I use them for tummy time. They’re amazing. I also stick them to the wall for diaper changes and on the fridge when I need to get something done in the kitchen.

I wanted something unique and useful. Gigglespots is perfect because it’s geared toward baby’s first six months of development.

These are great. My baby stares at them for hours.

Best Classic Toys

Image Credits: Walmart

Fisher-Price Rock-A-Stack

Price:$6.00

Look familiar? With its bright and colorful rings, this old-school Fisher-Price toy introduces baby to the concept of sorting and stacking and helps with their hand and eye coordination.

What Reviewers Are Saying:
My baby loves to watch me stack the rings and listens as I tell her the colors. Then she tries to knock it over during tummy time. This is a toy that we will be able to use for a long time.

My son had it when he was a baby 27 years ago so I had to get one for my grandson, too. He’s too little to stack the rings yet but he loves to chew on them and toss them.

My son seemed to love this toy the most out of all of his Christmas gifts. He’s picky but loves it. This is an oldie but a goodie

Image Credits: Amazon

Melissa & Doug Shape Sorting Cube

Price:$15.00

My 19 month old loves this toy. She thinks it rocks. This entertains her for a sold 15-20 minutes at a time, which is great for that age.; This is a quality toy. The shapes are all solid wood and painted nicely.; My daughter absolutely loves this toy! I got it for her when she was about 6 months old and now she’s figured out how to put the shapes in and loves it.

What Reviewers Are Saying:
My 19 month old loves this toy. She thinks it rocks. This entertains her for a sold 15-20 minutes at a time, which is great for that age.

This is a quality toy. The shapes are all solid wood and painted nicely.

My daughter absolutely loves this toy! I got it for her when she was about 6 months old and now she’s figured out how to put the shapes in and loves it.

Image Credits: Amazon

The First Years Stack Up Cups

Price:$9.00

Youngsters have been stacking things and then gleefully knocking them down since the cave-baby days. These eight colorful cups will keep the wee ones entertained for hours as they find countless new ways to incorporate them into play. This particular type of cup has numbers embossed on the bottom as an added bit of educational fun. They’re perfectly portable, which means they’ll be just as fun to play with in a sandbox as a snowstorm.

What Reviewers Are Saying:
The first couple of times these cups were just cymbals in my baby’s hands. Once the banging durability test was done she learned a lot. Little did I know that these cups are developing my baby’s motor control, hand-eye coordination and language development.

My baby loves these. She knocks over the towers I build and pushes them around and tosses them. They’re incredibly durable.

Who would have thought that something so simple as various sized cups could be such a hit! My 7 month old daughter fell in love with them as soon as I showed them to her.” They are easy for her to grip and mouth, which is perfect for her at this point

Image Credits: Amazon

Playskool Sit n Spin

Price:$50.00

This popular toy has been getting kids dizzy for decades! The high-quality plastic rotates around the cheerful giraffe core easily, which means that even the littlest of kids can get themselves going with minimal effort. In the age of YouTube videos and tons of tablet time, it’s nice to know that an old-school self-propelled toy is still tops with the preschool crew.

What Reviewers Are Saying:
I have a son who is very very very active. This toy rocks my socks off. On the rainy days when he can’t run off some of that energy outdoors, he will sit on this thing and spin sometimes for a solid 15 minutes.

I bought this for my son and he loves it! He was able to sit and spin from the very first time we showed him. I even took it for a spin, myself!

I bought this for my autistic son, who really likes to spin. He loves it!

Image Credits: Amazon

Fisher-Price Classic Farmer Says See ‘n Say

Price:$0.00

It’s hard to improve on perfection. This See ‘n Say looks and acts exactly like the toy you played with as a kid. It’s as fun as it is educational. Babies have a blast learning and mimicking the 12 different animal sounds, as they learn to identify the different critters. It’s been a must-have in toy boxes for generations.

What Reviewers Are Saying:
As a child of the 70s, I had one of these and am happy to be able to give it to my little ones. My twins love it.

Such an awesome throwback toy. I bought it for my nephew who will surly learn something from it.

It is as fantastic as we remember from childhood. My granddaughter gets it out of her toy box and brings it to us. She loves the sounds.

Best Toys for Crawlers

Image Credits: Walmart

Jumbo Polka Tunnel

Price:$18.00

Busy babies on the move are like magnets for disaster. The best way to keep them safe and out of trouble is to keep them distracted and entertained and challenged. This colorful mesh tunnel is perfect to bust out on rainy days to help the new movers get out some excess energy in a safe, fun way. It’s see-through, so you never have to worry about what’s going on inside.

What Reviewers Are Saying:
Our little granddaughter loves her new tunnel! It’s durable and kid friendly. What a bargain!

This makes an incredible gift.

My 2 year old grandson loves it. The colors are bright and colorful.

Image Credits: Walmart

PopKids Ball Pit

Price:$40.00

A ball pit is hours of fun for kids of all ages! The littlest ones enjoy the sensation of being propped up in the balls as well as swimming around in them. We love that this easy-to-assemble pop-up one is loaded with 200 BPA free balls in a rainbow of hues, which are great for teaching baby colors, sorting and basic counting. Babies are perfecting their gross motor skills and fine motor skills while picking up, tossing and catching the balls.

What Reviewers Are Saying:
The kids are having a blast. I suggest purchasing extra play balls.

This is the best item I could buy. My kids can’t stop playing in it.

Image Credits: Target

Simba ABC Roll and Crawling Toy

Price:$13.00

Toys don’t get much more simple but important than this one. The lightweight, inflatable barrel has a soft jingle bell inside and really makes a baby want to chase after it. Crawling is a lot more fun when you’re chasing after the sweet animals printed on the outside of this surprisingly educational toy that super stimulates baby’s inquisitive mind and busy body.

What Reviewers Are Saying:
My daughter really loved playing with this and it helped strengthen her ability to crawl.

As a grandma, I know these inexpensive glorified beach ball type of toys are wonderful for helping baby to crawl.

The soft jingle bell sound encouraged my kid to play and chase it. She strengthened her leg muscles and eye’s depth perception. It’s a smart toy for such a simple thing.

Image Credits: Amazon

Fisher-Price Zoom ‘n Crawl Monster

Price:$36.00 - $40.00

There’s nothing scary about this mega awesome monster. Babies have a blast filling his mouth with balls and also chasing after them. This orange dude really gets the kiddos crawling as they try to grab the balls and grab him while it plays 15 silly songs, sounds and phrases. This makes a great gift for new parents, and we love how little space it takes up in the toy box.

What Reviewers Are Saying:
This toy has been a big hit with both my kids. They love putting the balls in and trying to get them back out.

This is a really fun toy. My baby loves crawling after it as it rolls around.

My daughter was delighted with the colors and the movement of it and immediately took off after it on all fours. I’m glad we have it!

Image Credits: Amazon

Fisher-Price Go Bay Go! 1-2-3 Crawl Along Snail

Price:$44.00 - $80.00

This sweet snail will be baby’s best buddy from tummy time to crawling. It plays music, lights up and, most importantly, glides across the floor with just the most gentle push, which will have baby up on all fours and racing after it. The mirror is equally enchanting and encourages tots to pick it up and chase after it. We have personally seen this snail in numerous doctors offices and daycares, because it’s a whole lot of fun packed into a petite package.

What Reviewers Are Saying:
I’m glad we have it. The mirror is surprisingly durable for an inexpensive infant toy. Both of my girls have played with it and it’s held up well.

This has outlived all of my kids other toys and now my third baby is having just as much fun with it.

My baby loves this toy that she got for Christmas. It encouraged her to reach out and push on the toy because the face lights up and makes noise. Now she squirms after it on her tummy.

Best Toys for Walkers

Image Credits: Amazon

Bright Starts Gourmet Shop ‘n Cook Walker

Price:$45.00

There’s so much for a baby to do with this grocery cart walker. Its wide stance helps unsteady legs learn to step with confidence, which is when the real fun starts. The popcorn pops and there’s a sunny-side egg roller. Buttons light up and make sizzling sounds much to the delight of every kid we know. They especially love that it’s just like the one mom or dad uses at the grocery store.

What Reviewers Are Saying:
My baby loves to play with all of the activities on the cart and is just starting to lean against it while she plays. She’ll be walking soon!

“I looked at a lot of walkers and chose this one because I felt like it had the best chance of still being played with as she gets older. So far she loves it. And I am very happy with my choice.

My daughter learned to walk with this cart and uses it to haul her other animals around. Overall this product is one of the best toys we have in the house. I highly recommend it.

Image Credits: Amazon

Hape Push Mower

Price:$25.00

Not every awesome toy needs to shoot laser beams and play a billion songs to keep a baby’s attention. This wooden push-and-pull toy, finished with water-based paints, mimics a lawnmower and makes an almost soothing clanking sound, which, in our opinion, is way less irritating than most toys. Bonus: no need for batteries!

What Reviewers Are Saying:
My son loves this toy the most out of the four push/pull toys he owns. We have a no batter toy policy in the house and this was perfect for all sorts of skills. The colors are bright and have not chipped even with all of his abuse.

This is my son’s favorite Christmas present. It has super pleasant sound and great durability.

My son hasn’t put it down since he got it. He drags, pushes and carries it all over the house. It rolls easily on carpet and wood floors.

Image Credits: Amazon

Waliki Hopping Horse Hopper

Price:$25.00

I can’t get my kids off of this thing! Seriously, the easily inflatable, durable bouncy animals are the best thing to happen on a rainy day. Kids of all ages will have a blast bouncing around the house on these colorful creatures while perfecting their balance and stability

What Reviewers Are Saying:
My granddaughter loves this thing to death. She plays with it every day and rides it all over the house.

We’ve had this for a while and it’s been abused. My dog even plays with it. I haven’t had to put more air in it. It’s quality.

This toy will be around and loved in my family for a while. The very first time I sat my niece on it and bounced her she started giggling and laughing.

Image Credits: Amazon

Melissa & Doug Chomp & Clack Alligator Push Toy

Price:$40.00

The engaging activities on this wooden walker make it a big winner. Kids go crazy for the three chomping alligators and delight in spinning the butterfly and ladybug beads, but parents are happy that it’s such quality construction. This toy was made to last. The gentle clacking noise when pushed helps toddling tots work on their gross and fine motor skills as well as hand-eye coordination.

What Reviewers Are Saying:
Love it. My baby was 8 months old when I first bought it. He was just starting to stand and trying to walk and now that he has more balance he’s pushing it.

It’s high quality, sturdy and works quite perfectly. Our daughter was even enthralled by the twisty blocks on the handle. This provides a practical and fun way to get up and start moving. It’s been fun watching her slowly get more confident.

Our 11 month old loves this. She has gained so much confident in her ability to walk in such a short time thanks to this push toy.

Image Credits: Walmart

VTech Stroll & Discover Activity Walker

Price:$40.00

We love this walker because of the easy-to-remove activity panel. Babies can enjoy it during tummy time on the floor and then it transforms into a super cool walker. The legs fold up for easy storage, but you’ll never get to put it away because tots can’t get enough of playing with the light-up piano keys, the shape sorter pieces and the interactive animals. It also plays more than 100 songs and noises, to the delight of new walkers. And we also love that the back wheels have two adjustable speed settings, so it can keep unstable walkers steady until they’re ready to pick up the pace.

What Reviewers Are Saying:
I absolutely love this walker. My 7 month old song is trying to walk and has the biggest smile on his face when playing with it.

My son is 2 and has been walking for a long time but still loves playing with this toy. As a parent this was very simple to assemble.

Really good product. Lots of options for kids to play and the colors are nice and bright. I like how there are two settings for the back wheels to adjust the speed.