
The Best Baby Toys for Their First Year
These colorful and simple toys support your baby's developmental stages through the first 12 months.

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There’s a lot of play packed into your baby’s first year—from watching and reaching to grabbing, banging and eventually stacking. Toys can give them ways to explore textures, practice fine motor skills and discover what happens when they shake, squeeze or drop something.
Before becoming an editor at Babylist, I was a preschool teacher, and I have a degree in early childhood development. As a mom of two, I’ve also seen how babies find new ways to play with familiar toys as they grow. I drew on my professional and personal experience to choose the toys on this list, along with expert advice on what to look for throughout the first year.
“Play is the best tool we have to support our child across every area of their development, and toys can play a huge role in that,” says Jill Lerman, a play and parenting coach and early childhood educator. But you don’t need a packed playroom or a specific toy for every milestone. A few options that match your baby’s age, interests and emerging skills are a good place to start.
Below, you’ll find our favorite toys by type—from play gyms and rattles to sensory books and stacking toys—to help you find options for how your baby plays now and as they grow.
Best Play Gyms & Tummy Time Toys for Babies
A place to stretch out, kick and reach gives your baby plenty to explore. Play gyms offer toys to look at and grab, while mirrors and floor-level toys give them something interesting to check out during tummy time.
Best Rattles & Easy-to-Grasp Toys for Babies
When your baby starts reaching for things, toys with easy-to-hold shapes give them something to grab onto. These picks offer different ways to grip, shake and explore—and plenty of chances to drop something and try again.
Best Sensory Toys & Soft Books for Babies
A crinkly page, a bumpy ball or a glimpse of their own reflection can give your baby something new to investigate. These sensory toys bring different textures, sounds and sights into play, with plenty for little hands to explore.
Best Cause-and-Effect Toys for Babies
Push a button and something pops up. Drop a ball and see where it goes. These toys let your baby explore what happens when they take action—and repeat it as many times as they like.
Best Stacking Toys, Blocks & Balls for Babies
There’s plenty to do with blocks and stacking toys before your baby builds their first tower. Picking them up, banging them together and knocking down something you’ve built are all ways to play, with stacking and building to explore as their skills grow.




































