Quick answer: The best baby toys from 0 to 12 months follow your baby's senses. Choose high contrast baby toys and a crib mobile for 0–3 months. Add a baby play gym and light baby rattle toys at 3–6 months, then food-grade teething toys for babies at 4–9 months. Stacking, push and baby bath toys suit 9–12 months.
In the first year, your baby's toys do a lot of quiet work. They give tiny eyes something to focus on, give hands something to grab, and give mouths something safe to explore. This month-by-month guide covers the essentials, from baby rattle toys and teethers to play gyms, mobiles and bath toys. It explains what to look for at each stage, and the safety checks every parent should know.
In this guide:
- 0–3 months: high contrast toys and crib mobiles
- 3–6 months: play gyms and rattles
- Teething toys for babies
- 6–12 months: sensory, stacking and bath toys
- Quick toy guide by month
- Baby toy safety checklist
- Our picks
- Frequently asked questions
0–3 months: high contrast baby toys and crib mobiles
Newborns see bold shapes and strong contrast more easily than soft pastels, which is why high contrast baby toys in black, white and red are so popular. Soft cloth books and contrast cards give your baby something interesting to look at during tummy time or cuddles.
A crib mobile adds gentle movement above the cot. Hang it out of reach, and remove it once your baby can push up on hands and knees (often around 5 months), so it cannot be pulled down.
- Black-and-white cloth books for tummy time
- Soft spiral toys that wrap around a stroller or car seat handle
- A musical or rotating mobile for the cot
3–6 months: baby play gym and rattle toys
Around 3 months, many babies start batting at objects and bringing their hands together. A baby play gym (a mat or wooden frame with hanging toys) is ideal at this stage. Baby can lie underneath, look, reach and kick. Wooden play gyms look lovely in a living room, and soft mats fold away easily.
This is also the time for baby rattle toys: light, easy to grip and pleasant to shake. Look for rings or handles small hands can hold, and sounds that are soft rather than loud.
Teething toys for babies: what to look for
Many babies start teething between about 4 and 7 months, and almost everything goes into their mouth. Good teething toys for babies are:
- Made from food-grade silicone or untreated natural wood
- One solid piece, or very securely joined, with nothing that can break off
- Easy to wash; many silicone teethers can be washed in warm soapy water
- Textured, with bumps and ridges babies enjoy exploring
- Sized so they cannot fit entirely into the mouth
Check teethers before every use and replace any with cracks, tears or loose parts. Teethers are for chewing and exploring. If you are worried about your baby's teething, speak to your doctor or health visitor.
6–12 months: sensory toys, stacking and bath time
From 6 months, babies sit, roll and then crawl, and their play becomes more active. Sensory toys for babies with different textures, crinkly fabric, gentle sounds and rolling balls keep them busy. Suction-cup spinners and rattles stick to a high-chair tray. Roly-poly tumblers wobble back up when pushed.
Bath time becomes play time too. Baby bath toys that float, pour or spray turn washing into a game. Choose hole-free toys, or ones you can open and dry, so water does not sit inside. Our ultimate guide to baby bath toys goes deeper, and you can shop the range in our bath toys for babies collection.
As your baby nears their first birthday, simple Montessori-style toys like stacking rings, object permanence boxes and shape sorters become favourites. Our guide to Montessori toys for 1 year olds explains what to choose next, and you can browse our Montessori toys collection.
How to play with your baby (it is simpler than you think)
You do not need a room full of toys. A few well-chosen pieces and your attention matter most. Simple ideas many families enjoy:
- Show and tell: hold a high contrast card or rattle about 20–30 cm (8–12 in) from your baby's face and move it slowly side to side.
- Tummy time with a friend: lie down facing your baby with a cloth book or mirror between you.
- Reach and grab: under a play gym, swap the hanging toys every few days to keep them interesting.
- Peekaboo with toys: from around 8 months, hide a rattle under a cloth and let your baby find it.
- Splash and pour: in the bath, show how a cup fills and empties, and let your baby try.
Rotating a small set of toys, putting some away and bringing them back later, keeps playtime fresh without buying more. Talk, sing and name what your baby is touching. Your voice is the best "toy" in the room.
How many baby toys do you really need?
Most babies are happy with a small, varied toy box: one or two high contrast books, a mobile or play gym, three or four rattles and teethers, a few textured or musical toys and some bath toys. Choose quality over quantity, and add new toys as your baby reaches new stages rather than all at once. Baby toys also make thoughtful gifts. See our guide to Christmas gifts for toddlers for ideas as your baby grows.
Quick guide: best baby toys by month
| Age | What baby is doing | Toys that fit |
|---|---|---|
| 0–3 months | Looking, listening, short tummy time | High contrast books and cards, crib mobile, soft spiral toys |
| 3–6 months | Reaching, batting, grasping | Baby play gym, light rattles, soft rattles with squeakers |
| 4–9 months | Teething, mouthing everything | Silicone and wooden teethers, teether balls with rings |
| 6–9 months | Sitting, passing toys between hands | Suction-cup spinners, roly-poly toys, textured balls |
| 9–12 months | Crawling, pulling up, dropping and finding | Stacking toys, push toys, bath toys, simple musical toys |
Baby toy safety checklist
Safety tip: Keep cots clear of loose toys, pillows and plush during sleep. Check every toy for small parts, loose threads, cracks and broken seams, and remove anything damaged. Strings and cords on toys should be short. Always supervise babies during play and bath time.
- Follow the age label on every product.
- Choose toys too large to fit fully into a baby's mouth.
- Wash teethers and mouthed toys often.
- Remove crib mobiles once baby can push up on hands and knees.
- Battery compartments should be screwed shut.
Our picks: baby toys 0 to 12 months
3D High Contrast Soft Cloth Baby Books: bold patterns for newborn tummy time.
Black and White Baby Spiral Plush Toys: wraps around a stroller or car seat for on-the-go looking and reaching.
Musical Rattle Stroller Arch and Crib Mobile: an adjustable arch that works on the cot or the stroller.
Wooden Baby Play Gym with Animal Pendants: a calm wooden frame with hanging toys to reach for.
Soft Stuffed Animal Rattles: squeezy, soft rattles that are easy for little hands.
Koala and Elephant Silicone Teether Rattles: a teether and rattle in one.
Baby Sensory Rattle Teether Ball with Textured Rings: rings and textures to grab, shake and explore.
Rotating Ferris Wheel Rattle with Suction Cup: sticks to the high-chair tray and spins.
Rubber Duck Family Bath Set: a classic for splashy bath-time fun.
See the full range in our baby toys collection.
Baby toys as gifts
Buying for a new baby? A themed bundle works well: a high contrast book, a soft rattle and a silicone teether make a thoughtful, practical set. For a baby shower, a wooden play gym or a musical crib mobile is a gift parents use every day. Add a note with the suggested age for each item so parents know when to bring it out.
Related guides
- Christmas gifts for toddlers 2026
- Montessori toys for 1 year olds
- Squishy toys and fidget toys guide
- Busy board for toddlers: how to choose
- The ultimate guide to baby bath toys
- Musical toys for infants
Frequently asked questions
What are the best baby rattle toys for a newborn?
For newborns, choose light, soft rattles with gentle sounds and easy-grip rings or handles. Early on, babies mostly watch and listen while you shake the rattle. They start grasping rattles themselves from around 3 months.
When should I give my baby teething toys?
Many babies start teething between about 4 and 7 months, though timing varies. You can offer clean, food-grade silicone or wooden teethers once your baby starts mouthing toys. Check them for damage before each use, and ask your doctor if you have concerns.
Is a baby play gym worth it?
Many parents find a baby play gym very useful from about 2 to 6 months. It gives babies a safe space to look, reach and kick at hanging toys. Wooden and soft-mat versions both work; pick what fits your space.
Why are high contrast baby toys good for newborns?
Newborns see strong contrast and bold shapes more easily than pale colours. That is why black, white and red books and cards are popular for the first few months. They give your baby something interesting to look at during tummy time.
When should I take down a crib mobile?
Remove a crib mobile once your baby can push up on hands and knees, often around 5 months, so they cannot reach or pull it down. Until then, hang it securely and out of reach.
What sensory toys are good for babies?
Sensory toys for babies include textured balls, crinkly cloth books, soft rattles, suction-cup spinners and gentle musical toys. Choose a mix of textures and sounds, and follow the age label on each product.
Build a happy first-year toy box with our baby toys collection, from first rattles to bath-time favourites.
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