Medically Reviewed by: Dr Amanda Gummer
If you're wondering whether or not babies actually need toys, especially if they're not on the go, you might be surprised to know that the best toys for 6 to 12-month-old babies can help them with their development.
At around 6-months-old, your baby will start to interact with their surroundings and may be showing signs of starting to crawl too, and the best baby toys can help develop their fine and gross motor skills.
For starters, this is a great age to allow your baby to explore the noisier toys such as musical toys or electronic toys, that help to teach cause and effect. These sensory toys often feature lights and sounds and are fab for stimulating your little one's senses. Meanwhile, toys that involve baby's touch help to develop their hand-eye coordination while providing hours of fun and engagement. Plus right now, Black Friday is in full swing and so it's a perfect time to shop for bargains and make a start on your Christmas shopping.
The best toys for 6-12 month-old babies at a glance
The same can be said for shape sorters and activity cubes. These also encourage your little ones to develop their problem-solving skills. Additionally, baby walkers are recommended at this age to help them with the transition from sitting to standing to walking as this can help towards developing their muscles and coordination skills.
You'll find that all the best toys for 6-month-olds are colourful and have lots of texture. So that way, it'll keep your bubba engaged all while fine-tuning their skills. We've also tried to choose toys which will store away easily as well as some that you can take away with you on your travels.
If you're looking for some toy ideas to get you started, scroll down for lots of inspiration with help from our mum testers as well as some expert guidance and advice from founder of The Good Play Guide and child development expert, Dr Amanda Gummer.
How we chose and tested the best toys for 6-12 month olds
We chose these toys based on what our own little ones love to play with at home, as well as real mum reviews and the top developmental toys recommended to us by parents. Many of these products have been featured in the Mother&Baby Awards, where we put every product to the test, rating their usability, design, quality, value for money and, of course, durability, as we know how much their toys go through! Find out more about how we test products for Mother&Baby. We also spoke to child development expert Dr Amanda Gummer, to ensure that you get the best advice, and applied this when selecting the best toys for your baby's development over the next few months.
Types of 6–12-month-old toys
Stimulating senses – Anything with bright colours, loud noises and different textures will be great for stimulating your child's senses and act as a sensory toy for their development.
Physical development – Things like baby walkers, rolling balls and activity tables can really help encourage your little one to move, whether that's crawling or finding their feet and becoming more comfortable on their feet.
Hand-eye coordination – Problem-solving toys such as stacking toys or fun puzzles can really help develop their hand-eye coordination.
Creativity and imagination – Any toy that helps your child's imagination grow including instruments, role play toys and even toys that require a response can help improve their imagination as they grow.
How to choose the best toy for your 6-12-month-old
While there are a few important things to consider before buying a toy for your tot, the main thing is choosing toys to aid their development says Dr Amanda Gummer. "Encourage creativity, problem-solving, and independent play to support your baby's growth and well-being."
• Safety: Always check the age suitability of any toy before purchasing it for your child. You should also make sure any toy meets regulatory safety requirements, making sure it features the CE mark. "Prioritise safety when selecting toys. Always ensure they are durable, age-appropriate, and free from potential hazards." Amanda says.
• Storage: It's important to check the dimensions of any toy before you buy to make sure it will fit into your home or toy cupboard.
• Ease of use: Some toys can be quite tricky to set up and operate, so it's worth checking to see how easy a toy is to use before buying.
According to Dr Amanda, when selecting toys for your baby, parents should consider their developmental stage, interests, and safety. "Opt for toys that are age-appropriate, durable, and free from small parts that could pose a choking hazard. Look for toys that offer hands-on exploration and interaction, such as manipulative toys, stacking blocks, and shape sorters, which encourage fine motor skills and problem-solving." Amanda explains
"Try and choose toys with bright colours, different stand-out patterns, and interesting textures to stimulate your baby's senses. I love the benefits of interactive toys that produce sounds, lights, or movement that can capture your baby's attention. Any toys that inspire creativity and the use of imagination are great to help your baby learn at their own pace." Amanda continues.
Do I need toys for my 6 to 12-month-old?
When you're trying to drawback on your spending as a family, you may be questioning whether or not toys are worth your money. But according to Dr Amanda Gummer, toys are essential to your baby's healthy cognitive and physical development.
"As an advocate of play in the early years, toys play a vital role in stimulating your baby's development during this critical stage. They serve as tools for exploration, learning, and sensory stimulation, providing valuable opportunities for your little one to engage with their environment and develop essential skills. From enhancing fine and gross motor skills to fostering cognitive abilities and promoting social interaction, the right toys can support multiple aspects of your baby's growth. Toys are fun! They can spark curiosity, encourage problem-solving, and ignite creativity, which will help lay the foundation for future learning and development." Says Amanda.
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AmazonIt was also shortlisted for a 2020 Mother&Baby Award.
Parent testers loved the bright flashing lights and vibrant colours of the walker which instantly caught their toddler's attention, keeping them engaged and entertained as they navigated around. The range of activities provide additional stimulation, promoting cognitive and motor skill development. Parents also loved the compact design, making it easy to store away when not in use.
Parents also commented on how easy it was to clean, as it can easily be wiped down. It's also great in supporting those first steps and balance.
If you'd prefer an alternative to a baby walker, you might prefer the SMOBY Play Table.
Read the full VTech First Steps Baby Walker review
Pros
- Can help toddlers develop their balance and first steps
- The walker also acts as an activity table and sit and play centre
- It's easy to keep clean
Cons
- Product doesn't include batteries
| Suitable for ages: | 9 months+ |
| Dimensions: | 46 x 40 x 50cm |
| Materials: | Plastic |
| Batteries required: | Yes |
- Light up buttons
- Shape sorter
- Role play phone
- Textured wheels
- Easy grip handle
©MOTHER&BABYOur parent tester loved the design of the Melissa & Doug Multi-Sensory Peek-a-Boo Berry! She thought it was a simple design, but still engaging. As someone who's not a fan of bright colours, our tester also found the red design to be lovely.
The toy is designed with a loop that can quickly hook onto a pram, car seat, or even a changing bag to take on the go. Thanks to one of the textured rings in the middle, it can help with teething pains, and the different materials can help with sensory exploration.
It might not be ideal for older babies who are looking for more stimulation, but it's ideal for smaller babies.
Pros
- The teething ring can help with teething pains
- Encourages sensory and exploration
- Small enough to fit in a bag and hook onto prams
Cons
- Might not be as exciting for children over 7 months
| Suitable for ages: | Birth+ |
| Dimensions: | 25 x 3cm |
| Materials: | Cotton, polyester, satin |
- 3 x textured fabrics for sensory
- Attachment loop
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©MOTHER&BABYThe Smoby Little Activity Table is designed to help develop children's fine motor skills, balance and more. Our parent tester, Charlotte, found that it kept her son focused, and he loved exploring the different elements.
While some tables can be vibrant, this one is a great subtle and gender-neutral design, with the focus being on the interactive elements.
Our tester mentioned that it was a bit tricky to build, but once it was built, she found her little one loved it and couldn't fault the product.
Pros
- It's a gender neutral design
- It can help develop children's fine motor and balance skills
- There's lots of interactive elements that keep little ones engaged
Cons
- Our tester found it tricky to assemble
| Suitable for ages: | 12+ months |
| Dimensions: | 47 x 47 x 53cm |
| Material: | Plastic |
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©MOTHER&BABYbabymori.com
This Wooden Rainbow Stacker has a beautiful, neutral design that makes this toy ideal for passing on to siblings and friends little ones, too! They're designed with smooth edges for safety, and are made from natural beechwood.
Our parent tester, Melissa, loved the subtle design of the toy, especially compared to the bright colours of the Melissa & Doug Multi-Sensory Strawberry. If you are looking for something that will support more than just tactile play, you might prefer VTech First Steps Baby Walker.
The Wooden Rainbow Stacker is easy for little hands to hold, and our tester also mentioned it looked nice displayed in her daughter's nursery.
Pros
- Helps to encourage tactile play
- It also looks nice as decoration
- The edges are all smoothed to ensure safety
Cons
- Some people might prefer brighter colours rather than muted tones
| Suitable for ages: | 12 months+ |
| Dimensions: | 25 x 13 x 5cm |
| Material: | Natural beechwood and MDF |
- Made from non toxic paints
- Smoothed edges
- Encourages tactile play
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©MOTHER&BABY
This learning toy suits your baby's needs as they grow and provides plenty of ways for them to play. With each of the six eggs that crack open to reveal different faces and colours, they can play hide and seek, shape sort, colour match, and more.
Our parent tester loved how engaging the TOMY Toomies Hide and Squeak Eggs were, and were her grandchilds favourite toy to play with. It's great for boosting cognitive and physical development too.
It's a great toy for taking on the go, but if you want a bigger toy that's engaging in the same way, you might prefer the Smoby Little Activity Table.
Pros
- Helps to develop fine motor skills
- They store away in an egg-carton container for easy storage
- Encourages shape and colour recognition
Cons
- The eggs need to be pressed quite hard to hear the chicks 'chirp'
| Suitable for ages: | 6+ months |
| Dimensions: | 17.2 x12.6 x 7.7cm |
| Material: | Plastic |
- Easy to store
- Engaging
- Chick squeakers
©MOTHER&BABYOur tester thought these Rosa & Bo Woodland Friends Nesting Babies were unlike any other stacking toys and that they were beautifully designed. Being BPA free, she also found it reassuring to know they were safe if her baby decided to chomp on them.
Designed so that they can also be used in the bath, the toys create a fun element of play where your baby can help to develop their hand-eye coordination, as well as help to develop early number concepts.
The tester, Melissa, was slightly concerned that when they aren't stacked, they could be broken by falling on them or being thrown. So, if you were looking for an alternate stacking toy with different materials, the Wooden Rainbow Stacker would be an excellent choice.
Pros
- Beautifully designed and easy to hold
- Develops early number concepts, counting and fine motor skills
- They're also suitable for water play
Cons
- They could potentially break when thrown or be stepped on and broke
| Suitable for ages: | Birth+ |
| Dimensions: | 16 x 10 x 10cm |
| Material: | Plastic |
- Encourages hand eye coordination
- Water-safe
- BPA free
- Chiming bunny centre
How should I use toys to help their development?
Dr Amanda says there are ways to maximise the developmental benefits of toys for your baby. "I believe it's essential to engage in purposeful and interactive play. Actively participate in playtime with your little one, offering guidance and encouragement as they explore and interact with their toys. It’s not difficult to create a simple but stimulating environment by introducing a variety of toys that target different senses and skills, from sensory-rich textures to engaging sounds and different, bright colours. It’s worth rotating toys regularly to maintain your baby's interest and provide new challenges for them, which in turn will foster curiosity and exploration. Playtime is a great opportunity to bond with your baby, nurture your relationship and create positive associations with learning and discovery - always make time for play!"
About the expert
Dr Amanda Gummer is a child development expert who founded The Good Play Guide in 2012. Amanda has a PhD in Neuropsychology, the Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education and over 20 years’ experience working with children and families. Having worked in children’s industries for many years, Amanda is now widely considered as the UK’s go-to expert on play, toys and child development.
Samantha Ball is a Features & Reviews Editor for Mother&Baby, having written for the brand since 2018. She's a mum of two and loves browsing for the best and current trending products for little ones and for cute seasonal outfits.