Best Baby Toys 0-6 Months

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Babies from 0-6 months go through tremendous brain development. During the first six months of life, infants meet various milestones physically, cognitively, and emotionally. Their eyesight develops rapidly, allowing them to begin to make out people and objects farther and farther away.

They gain control over their fine motor skills and can hold toys and bring them to their mouths. They begin to understand and interact with the world around them. 

I have compiled a list of my tried and tested toys that my baby girl used and that I thought were helpful and worth purchasing (if I was to do it all over again.) You’ll see little glimpses of pictures of my baby girl using some of the toys too!

This list of best baby toys 0-6 months is full of great options that your little one will probably love too.

If you also have a preschooler then don’t forget to check out my Best Educational Toys for Preschoolers as well.

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Choosing Toys for Babies 0-6 Months Old

There are many considerations to make when selecting the perfect infant toys. Above all, you want toys that are baby-safe. These types of toys would be appropriate for infants to mouth and contain no small parts that a child can choke on. They would also be sized perfectly of those little hands.

Babies learn through their senses and you have probably noticed how they seem to always be putting things in their mouths! This is just one of the ways they can learn about their environment and the things in it.

Look for sensory-stimulating toys with interesting fabric + textures to feel and mouth, fun sounds, and interactive features such as buttons to push or tabs to pull.

Also, keep in mind your child’s developmental level when choosing appropriate toys. The youngest infants will prefer black and white, high-contrast imagery, so it is best to save brightly colored books and colorful toys for when they are a little older. Younger infants will need toys that are easy to grasp, while older babies will be working on perfecting their pincer grasp, and gaining the ability to grip different-sized toys. 

We have compiled a list of the best baby toys for babies 0-6 months old. These are all items that we have tried and loved! 

Quick Guide to Baby Toys by Stages

Babies tend to go through predictable stages of development. Here is a quick preview of what you might expect to see at each stage, along with what toys would help to complement their development. 

Keep in mind that all babies grow and meet milestones at their own pace! Always consult with your pediatrician if you have any concerns about your baby.

0-2 months

• Holds head up during tummy time
• Looks at & begins to focus on toys

Toys for 0-2 months

• High contrast cards/books
• Hanging toys & linking rings to practice focusing & tracking

3-4 months

• Begins to reach for toys
• Puts hands in mouth

Toys for 3-4 months

• Tummy time mats 
• Rattles & textured balls

5-6 months

• Grasps toys
• Rolls over
• Enjoys looking at self in mirror

Toys for 5-6 months

• Teething toys
• Baby safe mirror

Recommendations

Fisher Price Grow With Me Tummy Time Llama

This toy is great for strengthening those little back, arm, and neck muscles so your child can get some extra tummy time in. Get it here on AmazonGet it here at Walmart

This toy is great for strengthening those little back, arm, and neck muscles so your child can get some extra tummy time in.

Tummy Time Mat

My little one loved this tummy time mat and used it daily for about 3 months. Get the product hereGet it here at Target

My little one loved this tummy time mat and used it daily for about 3 months.

Here is our list of the best baby toys, 0-6 months:

1. Play Gym

Lovevery is a toy subscription box that we will dive into later on in the list, but we will start by featuring their play mat. Play gyms are a fun floor toy for pre-crawlers.

My baby girl really enjoyed moving around the mat.

The Play Gym from Lovevery is unique in that babies will enjoy playing in it long after they have learned to sit up and crawl. Simply use the cover to turn it into a fort that kids will love sitting inside to read or play. We love all of the features that Lovevery’s play gym offers from a card pocket to feature different cards (with images geared toward babies’ visual development) to fun toys that make rattling sounds. Read more in our Lovevery Play Gym Review post. This post goes into additional details on why this play gym is so great!

Fisher-Price’s Rainforest Music & Lights Deluxe Gym is also a great option and a bit more budget-friendly. It is perfect for small spaces and contains lots of interactive and developmentally appropriate features. A great bonus is that the toucan at the top of the mat is removable, allowing on-the-go fun. 

You can’t go wrong with either of these play gyms. They will provide your baby with hours of fun and you will find yourself using these for many months, getting your money’s worth!

This teething toy is a great option for babies up to six months old. Its shape makes it easy and fun for babies to grasp, chew and suck on. 

I love how this mushroom doubles as a toy and a soothing item. It’s perfect for anyone who prefers not to use pacifiers. One way that young infants self-soothe is by sucking on a breast, pacifier, or their hands. Because of its shape, Mimi the Mushroom can help calm a fussy baby or entertain them when you are out and about. 
If the mushroom is out of stock, try out the penguin version.

A trusted brand for years, Fisher-Price has been making some of the best baby and toddler toys, and the Tummy Time Llama is no exception. This toy is a tummy time support pillow shaped like a llama. Prop your baby up over the llama and let them engage with the toys. As your child gets older, the llama can be a cuddly friend. 

The Tummy Time Llama is fun for babies, helps them develop strength in their neck and upper body, and doesn’t take up a lot of space. It comes with a mirror, rattle, and teether that can be removed from the llama, so it’s almost like getting four toys in one!

Tummy time strengthens the neck muscles, which babies will need to be able to roll over and eventually sit up on their own. Providing babies with time on their tummies is so important, especially in the first few months of life. Make this time fun and engaging with a tummy time mat. 

If your baby dislikes tummy time or gets bored quickly, you might want to change up their view. Not only does this water mat get kids playing during tummy time, it also adds a fun sensory component to their exploration. They will love squishing the mat and watching the ocean creatures swim around inside. 

This toy was definitely one of our favorites. I would place my daughter on tummy time for a few minutes each day while I sat next to her.

Linking rings can help babies develop their fine motor skills. They are large and easy for little fingers to grasp. They are versatile as well. Use them to secure toys to a car seat handle or connect a long chain to let Baby shake and explore. 

I love these from Bright Starts because of the bright colors and different textures on each ring, providing tactile sensory stimulation. 

A fun mom-hack for these rings is to attach one to a tank top or bra if you are nursing your baby. As they get older, they can fiddle with the ring rather than poking you in the face or pulling hair! 

This toy is perfect for carrying along in the diaper bag. There are lots of baby light-up toys you can find and this is one of the best! There are two volume options. The louder option would be perfect for car rides while the softer volume is ideal for playtime at home. 

A fun little bonus is the rings on the caterpillar can be moved up and down and rattled together. 

There are 10 songs on the music toy and it is truly one of the best toys for babies 0-6 months and beyond! My kids adored this musical toy, even at almost four years old my son is still drawn to it.

This baby activity toy grows with your infant! You can use it in many different ways. The piano is removable and becomes a fun toy for a baby who can sit up to play with. Both of my children LOVED this toy! They enjoyed laying on their back and kicking the piano with their feet and during tummy time they would listen to the music and watch the keys light up. 

The piano detaches and the music is pleasant and sweet. There are different modes on the piano: music & songs, sounds, shapes, colors & animal sounds, and free play piano. 

The toys on the hanging bar are removable, so you can mix and match them with your baby’s favorite hanging toys.

My baby girl loved this toy. She played with it for many many months. When she was younger she would lay down and kick her little feet to create music. Once she started sitting then she loved sitting up to play the piano.

This clip-on toy is soft and perfect for taking on the go. Hanging toys are always great because they can be clipped onto car seats, strollers, and more. I love soft toys like this one that can be easily taken in the car and have lots of different features. 

Freddie makes crinkle sounds, squeaking sounds, and has a mirror so babies can look at themselves. And, bonus! The back of Freddie is black and white! Perfect for the youngest infants’ visual development. 

Don’t you just love toys that have multiple uses? Even better when they are inexpensive, like the under $10 Cuddly Teether Fox! The fox is easy for small fingers to grasp and has fun crinkle sounds when squeezed and hugged. Both feet are teethers as well as the ring at the center of the toy. 

When babies just won’t stop chewing on everything, give them the Teether Fox for some comfort.

Does your baby need relief from sore gums? These Gel Teether Keys are perfect! You can put them in the refrigerator for a cool sensation on those new little teeth. I also love the different textures on each key that babies will love exploring with their fingers and mouth. 

Once the baby is done chewing on them, keep them around! They are perfect for early pretend-play activities. 

11. Books

It is never too early to start reading with your baby! The youngest infants will love looking at high contrast books–these are great for their visual development. As babies get older, find books with bright colors and interactive features such as touch and feel books. 

Look here for more details on reading benefits → Why Read to Your Child?

Here are several great options to start with! 

This is another great option for tummy time support. What’s especially great about the Prop-A-Pillar is that it also assists in sitting up. When you feel your baby is ready, the soft toy gives them a comfortable surface to strengthen the muscles in their trunk. Babies should have good head control to use the seated support–they should be able to hold their own head up steady.