Best Toys for Babies 0-6

Months
Playtime is important for infant
development, and these toys can be
a big help (and big fun).
Your newborn’s first few months of life seem to be all about
diapers, feeding and sleep (or lack thereof).

But did you know that playtime is also a major part of your
little one’s development? From cognitive and physical
development to emotional and social growth, the importance
of play is undisputed.

Through play, children of any age—even infants—can learn

about themselves and the world around them. And you can
join in on the fun, too: playing with your baby can help them
achieve important physical milestones, develop their (quickly
growing!) brains, teach them about emotions and social skills
and encourage language development.

And it doesn’t have to get complicated. Especially during

those early months, setting aside some time each day to get
down on the floor to play and read with your little one can
make a huge impact.
What Are Baby Milestones?

Your baby is going to grow and change so much over their

first year. Each achievement they hit—things like smiling,
rolling over, waving, standing and so many more—is called a
milestone.

Baby Milestones for the First 6 Months

There are some basic milestones your baby will begin to hit
over the first six months. (Keep in mind that each baby
develops at their own individual pace; these are a general
guide, but don’t hesitate to talk to your pediatrician if you
ever have any questions or concerns.) Here are the milestones
to look for, according to the CDC.

Baby milestones 0–2 months:

● Holding up their head on their own

 ● Smiling
● Making eye contact and following objects with their eyes
● Cooing and gurgling
● Turning their head toward sounds

Try this: Holding a soft toy in front of your 2-month-old

baby during tummy time is a great way to help with head,
neck, core and visual development.

Baby milestones 2–4 months:

● Social smiling
● Copying facial expressions
● Babbling
● Reaching for toys with one hand
● Rolling from tummy to back
● Holding and shaking a toy

Try this: Rolling a soft ball to your 4-month-old baby and

placing toys about 12 inches in front of them will help
encourage skills like reaching and hand-eye coordination as
they “wake up” from those early newborn days.

Baby milestones 4–6 months:

● Looking at themself in a mirror

● Knows familiar people
● Blows “raspberries”
● Reaches to grab a toy
● Rolls from tummy to back
● Beginning to sit without support

Try this: A quick, simple game of peekaboo with your

5-month-old baby can start to teach complex concepts such as
object permanence and social development.

What Are the Best Developmental Toys for

Babies?
When choosing toys for your new baby, stick with safe, simple
objects that encourage exploration and open-ended play.
Things like rattles and other grabbing toys, balls, activity
gyms and board books are great for encouraging
developmental milestones during your baby’s first six
months. There are even milestone subscription boxes tailored
by age if you’re looking for a little more bang for your buck;
the boxes by Monti Kids and Lovevery are particularly nice
for developmental play.

How We Choose Babylist’s Best Toys for 0-6

Months

Choosing the toys for this list isn’t all fun and games—a lot of
work goes into it, too! We start by researching the milestones
for infant development, with our key sources being the
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the Center for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Then, we personally
test dozens and dozens of toys to find the most
developmentally appropriate (and entertaining) options for
each stage of babies’ first six months. We also consult
hundreds of reviews and suggestions from parents across the
country so you have everything you need to make an
informed decision.