The Best Toys for Babies 6–12 Months ♡
Between 6 and 12 months, babies seem to discover something new every day—and suddenly everything is interesting (especially the things they aren’t supposed to have!). The best toys at this age encourage reaching, grabbing, sitting, crawling, exploring, and plenty of supervised chewing.
I rounded up 10 toys that offer a good mix of sensory play, early learning, movement, music, and everyday fun. Instead of filling this list with ten versions of the same toy, I chose different styles so you can find something that fits your baby’s current stage and interests.
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Best Overall — Sassy Stacks of Circles
Best Teething Toy — Nuby Silicone Remote Control Teether
Best Musical Toy — Baby Einstein & Hape Magic Touch Piano
Best for Crawling — Skip Hop Stack & Crawl 4-in-1 Crab
Best Sensory Toy — Fat Brain Toys Dimpl
Best Activity Toy — VTech Busy Learners Activity Cube
Best Montessori-Style Toy — Lovevery Wobble Stacker
Best Soft Toy — Infantino Big Top Discovery Cube
Best Fine-Motor Toy — Fat Brain Toys InnyBin
Best Budget Toy — Bright Starts Oball Classic
Sassy Stacks of Circles
BEST OVERALL
A simple toy that does a lot. The textured rings are easy for little hands to grab, explore, and stack while encouraging fine-motor skills and hand-eye coordination. I also like that babies can enjoy the rings individually before they’re ready to actually stack them.
Nuby Silicone Remote Control Teether
BEST TEETHING TOY
Babies always seem to want the real remote, so I love the idea of giving them one of their own. This silicone remote teether gives little hands something safe to grab, press, and chew while the different textures help soothe sore gums. It’s also small enough to toss in the diaper bag for on-the-go entertainment.
Baby Einstein & Hape Magic Touch Piano
BEST MUSICAL TOY
This little piano lets babies make music with just a touch—no traditional keys to press. The bright colors, sounds, and simple cause-and-effect play make it fun for younger babies, while older babies can start experimenting with making their own little tunes. I also like the wooden look because it feels a little less like another bulky electronic toy.
Skip Hop Stack & Crawl 4-in-1 Crab
BEST FOR CRAWLING
This playful crab gives babies a reason to get moving. Its movement can help hold their attention during tummy time and encourage them to reach, scoot, and eventually crawl after it. I also like that it combines movement with stacking and sensory play, giving babies different ways to enjoy it as their skills grow.
Fat Brain Toys Dimpl
BEST SENSORY TOY
There’s something oddly satisfying about pushing these colorful silicone bubbles back and forth—and babies seem to agree. Dimpl gives little fingers plenty to poke, push, and explore while encouraging fine-motor skills and sensory play. I especially like that it’s simple, doesn’t require batteries, and is easy to bring along in the diaper bag.
VTech Sit-to-Stand Learning Walker
BEST LEARNING TO STAND
This is one of those toys that can keep being useful as your baby reaches new milestones. The activity panel gives sitting babies plenty to press, spin, and explore, while the walker gives older babies something to hold onto as they practice pulling up and taking supported steps. I like that you get both floor play and early walking practice from one toy.
Wooden Object Permanence Box
BEST MONTESSORI-STYLE TOY
This simple toy turns dropping a ball into a surprisingly fun little challenge. Babies can practice grasping, reaching, and hand-eye coordination while beginning to learn that an object still exists even when they can’t see it. I like that it encourages focused, hands-on play without lights, sounds, or batteries.
Manhattan Toy Winkel Rattle & Sensory Teether
BEST TEETHING & GRASPING
This colorful little toy gives babies plenty of loops to grab, twist, and explore. The lightweight design makes it easier for little hands to hold, while the soft loops give teething babies something interesting to mouth and explore. I like that it combines sensory play, grasping practice, and teething in one simple toy that’s easy to toss in the diaper bag.
Moonkie Stacking Cups
BEST FOR OPEN-ENDED PLAY
These simple stacking cups give babies lots of ways to play as their skills grow. They can grab, knock over, nest, and eventually stack the cups while practicing hand-eye coordination and fine-motor skills. I especially like that the different sizes, numbers, and textured designs add more opportunities to explore without lights, sounds, or batteries.
Melissa & Doug Flip Fish Soft Baby Toy
BEST SOFT ACTIVITY TOY
This soft activity toy gives babies lots to explore without adding another hard plastic toy to the pile. The different textures, crinkly pieces, and colorful details encourage little hands to grab, touch, and investigate. I especially like it for floor play and tummy time because there are plenty of little details to keep babies interested while they explore.
Which Baby Toy Should You Choose?
The best toys for babies 6–12 months don’t have to be complicated. At this age, simple toys that encourage reaching, grabbing, exploring, sitting, crawling, and eventually standing can provide plenty of entertainment while supporting new skills.
If I were narrowing this list down, I’d choose a mix of toys rather than several that do the same thing—something for stacking, something for sensory play, something for movement, and a favorite that’s easy to bring along when you’re away from home.