At 6 months old, many babies suddenly become more interested in the people and things around them—and they’re also likely more curious about checking out some real baby toys at this age. To find the best toys for 6-month-olds, you’ll need to understand where they are developmentally, but it’ll also be fun to explore their budding interests and personalities by seeing which playthings most appeal to them. Try musical toys, like the LeapFrog Learn And Groove Play Drum, interactive baby books to boost their early language skills and toys that promote motor skills like a set of soft baby blocks. Read on for the best toys for 6-month-olds.
Appeal to their fledgling skills and newfound interests with the best toys for 6-month-olds. Power Dc Motor
As a mom to three kids and a product reviewer and tester, I’ve seen my fair share of baby toys. To learn more about what makes for the best toys for 6-month-olds, I also spoke to four experts, including two pediatricians. “Play allows for creative learning and is essential for healthy brain development,” pediatrician Dr. Esther Liu, chair of the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Center, told me.
By giving babies the tools they need to play and explore their world, you set them up for success in all areas of development. Whether you’re looking for a gift or just want to grab something special for your child, here are some of the best toys for 6-month-olds. After reading this story, you might also want to peruse our best toys for 1-year-olds story, or pick up some more tested and proven baby gear, such as the best high chairs or the best diapers.
These textured, squeezable blocks are soft so baby won’t get hurt when they knock the stack down. “Before they are even able to stack blocks independently, babies will explore blocks by passing them back and forth between their hands and banging them together,” says Dr. Charissa Chamorro, clinical psychologist in New York City.
This interactive push toy includes a removable activity board that’s filled with fun toys for non-mobile babies, including musical keys and a faux telephone. It’s perfect for tummy time, and then, as they get ready to start trying out those first steps, it can be pushed around the room. Just remember to keep any dangerous areas, including stairwells and the kitchen closed off with a baby gate whenever you introduce a wheeled toy like this. Pediatric physical therapist Kaitlin Rickerd, however, explained that a push walker can actually help to encourage babies to crawl and pull to stand as they reach for the interactive toy. This walker is ideal starting at 9 months of age for most babies, but younger ones can use the removable activity board, too.
According to Dr. Chamorro, mirrors encourage “baby to engage and interact with their reflection, [and] they can practice smiling and they will even start to make sounds when looking at their reflection.” She also explained that parents can point out body parts and name emotions. It’s a simple toy that can support many aspects of baby’s development, plus it’s adorable to watch them check themselves out.
These soft blocks won’t hurt if baby falls down on them. The set includes two cubes, a pyramid and a ball, all designed in high-contrast colors to appeal to babies. The objects also feature tags, a mirror and a bell.
This activity center lets babies grow into all the fun. Once they’re able to hold their heads and trunks up solidly, they can be placed in the chair for short portions of the day to explore all the fun toys. There are mirrors, buttons to press, sounds and songs, shape sorters and more. Once they start thinking about climbing out of it, transform it into an activity table for tots.
Two out of three of my kids have been fascinated with cars from a very young age. These animal race cars are simple for babies to operate: they only need to press down on the top to make them go. For best results, use them on a hard surface or low pile carpet. To help develop language skills, repeat words like “go,” “vroom vroom” and “beep beep” as you play.
If your 6-month-old is trying to crawl but isn’t quite there yet, this puppy might be the motivation they need to get going. Place it a few feet away from your baby and watch as the dog wiggles and sings. Across three modes of play, the dog sings songs, repeats phrases and reviews letters, numbers, colors and shapes.
This sweet set includes several baby toys, but the real treasure is the box. It’s really fun for babies to put things in and out of containers. “At this time, they become very interested in the concept of things being able to disappear and still exist, later reappearing,” says Dr. Chamorro. Playing like this can help them understand object permanence.
Rattles, a car, a suction cup toy and a teether: this wooden set has so many interesting toys for babies. If you’re looking for gifts for a 6-month-old you don’t know very well, this Hape collection is a good option, because it has a few different types of toys.
Rickerd recommends rolling toys that move away as babies crawl toward them. This wooden roller will encourage them to crawl across the floor. It’s brightly colored, and it makes noise, both of which are enticing to babies.
In my experience, babies love any toy that involves dropping something through a hole and then watching it come out the other side. Dr. Chamorro explained that babies enjoy watching objects disappear then reappear because they are beginning to understand object permanence. This is an engaging way for them to work on their memory and to begin to understand the world in a more abstract way.
This sweet wooden penguin toy wobbles as babies reach for him, teaching them a few things about balance and motion. His arms also shimmy a bit as he waddles, and he plays a few bell-like sounds at a moderate volume, inspiring kids to play with him.
This sweet drum lights up and teaches kids songs and more in both Spanish and English. Dr. Harvey Karp explained that “a baby-appropriate toy drum that they can rat-a-tat-tat on” can support gross motor development. This can also keep them entertained while they work on sitting independently.
Babies love to listen to music, so it’s no surprise that musical instruments tend to be a hit with this age. Dr. Liu explained that toys with buttons, such as this adorable toy avocado guitar, teach babies cause and effect. They’ll rock out to the six songs and 10 guitar riffs included in this toy. Just don’t forget the batteries.
Instead of pushing buttons, the technology on this musical toy allows babies to simply touch the board to make sounds. It has three modes: instrument, color/animal and freestyle. I love that you can set this toy on the floor or on their high chair for tabletop playtime.
As babies become more mobile, it’s essential to have a safe place to set them down. This Deluxe Sit-Me-Up Seat is not only a safe place to sit, but it’s also a musical entertainment center. Set the piano at their feet or hands so they can play a tune, and when they don’t need the seat portion anymore, detach the piano for a fun standalone toy.
This mat is filled with floating sea creatures, and it’s a mess-free way to get in some sensory play, especially during tummy time or just while seated on the floor. “I really like the water mats on the floor to encourage babies to work on their upper body and core strength and engaging them without the flashing lights and noise that can distract them,” says Dr. Liu.
Oballs are easy for 6-month-olds to grab while they’re working on their pincer grasp and grip strength. This toy is an Oball, car and rattle in one. Babies will enjoy watching the beads move while they push it along the floor. Best of all? No batteries required.
Babies can listen to the rain sounds and watch the beads fall down as they play with this musical rattle. It has some longevity too as many toddlers will also enjoy making rain sounds and shaking the toy.
“Sensory toys that feature different textures are also great,” Dr. Karp said. This multisided cube from Manhattan Toy features ribbons, crinkle paper, a teething ring, various soft textures and more. It also comes in bold, high-contrast colors that are appealing to 6-month-olds’ developing vision.
Sensory play scarves are arguably the most used toy in my kids’ playroom—they’ve loved them since they were babies, and my 5-year-old still plays with them. Try stuffing them into a box or between other toys so your baby can pull them out and work on their fine motor skills. We like to use them to play peek-a-boo, too. As they get older, kids will find countless ways to play with them.
For young babies, this food truck set offers a sensory experience with toys that rattle, squeak and crinkle. They’ll also enjoy playing peek-a-boo with the objects as you put them in and out of the truck. Once they’re older, kids can use this set for pretend play, so it’s one that will last for years. Plus, at the end of the day, you can pack all of the toys into the food truck, eliminating some of the clutter toys tend to create in the home.
Never underestimate kids and their desire to play with cups. “Stacking cups are one of my favorite toys to promote development. Babies can work on fine motor and problem-solving skills by learning to stack the cups, and caregivers can promote problem-solving skills by playing hide-and-seek with different-sized cups,” said Dr. Chamorro. This set of eight brightly colored cups are fun to play with in and out of the bath and are BPA-free.
This bath toy easily fills with water and then sends down rain showers when your 6-month-old picks it up, creating a gentle water sensory experience. For kiddos who despise the bath, this toy might just entice them to stick around a bit longer. Traditional squirting bath toys develop mold easily, but this one comes apart for cleaning.
Made of recycled plastic in the U.S., this Mickey Mouse-themed seaplane floats on the water. Babies might enjoy spinning the propeller as Mickey cruises around the tub. A bonus: it’s dishwasher safe for easier cleaning.
Dr. Chamorro explained that books can help babies develop communication skills and fine motor skills as they learn to turn pages. This classic book that many of us know and love is an ideal addition to the bath toy rotation as this edition is designed to get wet.
These floating bubbles are mesmerizing to watch: the bubbles float, and the animals inside stay upright as the bubbles float along. Toss them in the bath and play some games with your baby. Baby can try to pull them to bottom and watch them pop back up, or you could make some light waves to toss them around the bath or encourage your baby to try to grab them. They’re easy to wipe clean but can build up soap residue over time if you don’t keep them dry and clean between baths.
Don’t underestimate books when it comes to playtime for babies. This one incorporates puppets, music and animal sounds, all of which are sure to be a hit with 6-month-olds. They’ll learn more about this popular song and thrill to meet all these friendly animals.
Typically, I steer clear of overly electronic toys, but when a mom of a 6-month-old recently asked for toy recommendations in a moms’ group that I’m in, this was by far the most recommended toy. It includes buttons and manipulatives, and it plays songs and sounds. All of these buttons and other things to check out are sure to hold your little one’s attention.
Stackers and shape sorters are classic baby toys. According to Dr. Karp, toys like these help develop fine motor skills as they pick up each item, stack them and sort them. The set from Fisher-Price includes five stacking rings and 10 shape sorting blocks and the container.
I like to use Poke-a-Dot books to help with language development. Say the word of the animal or the sound it makes as you poke its dot. As babies learn to poke the dots themselves, they’ll also begin to work on their fine motor skills and finger strength. Of course, you can’t deny the educational content of a book either.
Many of the experts I spoke to recommended toys that encourage parents to play peek-a-boo and sing songs with their babies, making this musical, soft-sided fox in a box ideal. The fox pops up and down and sings, making for engaging playtime for baby. I like this toy for babies when compared to a traditional jack-in-the-box, because you don’t need to fuss with stuffing the toy back into the box for them—it does it on its own.
Forbes has reviewed hundreds of baby and kids toys and gear, including everything from diaper bags to swing sets. We care deeply about safety and selecting safe, useful—and fun—items for families.
As a mom to three kids and a product reviewer specializing in parenting, I’m constantly researching and testing toys, both formally and informally, and I drew on this experience when selecting toys for this story. The editor of this story, Rose Gordon Sala, is also a mom to three and steeped in reviewing baby gear and toys, including attending industry trade shows to see and handle new items and monitoring safety recalls.
Additionally, I spoke to four experts in the baby play realm for this article to ensure ideal toy selection: pediatric physical therapist Kaitlin Rickerd, PT DPT; clinical psychologist Dr. Charissa Chamorro, PhD; Dr. Esther Liu, MD, chair of the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Center; and Dr. Harvey Karp, a pediatrician and founder and CEO of Happiest Baby, maker of the Snoo smart bassinet.
This article is regularly reviewed and updated. It was last updated in August 2023.
I selected these baby toys based on those items that I’ve tested and used in my own home with my children, as well as those recommended by the pediatric experts interviewed here.
Other toys were selected because they demonstrated those features recommended by those experts as being ideal for development, so things like sensory toys or those that improve fine motor or language skills. The experts I interviewed helped direct me to the types of toys that would best engage babies. They also spoke to me about why babies need to play, where 6-month-olds are at developmentally and how parents and caregivers can support their play and development.
I also tried to include toys of the highest quality, which meant those with the best reviews and ratings and from the best regarded brands. I included a mix of plastic and non-plastic toys and preferred to steer toward those items labeled as free of BPA, phthalates and PVC.
Dr. Chamorro recommends that babies play with toys in each of the following developmental categories: communication, gross motor skills, fine motor skills, problem-solving skills and social skills. She suggested toys such as blocks, baby books, stacking cups and mirrors.
Young babies like to put just about everything in their mouths, so safety is incredibly important when choosing a toy for a 6-month-old. “The best way to know if a toy is safe and appropriate for your baby is to check the label,” says Dr. Karp. “All toys are age-graded based on choking or safety risks and the physical and cognitive skills a child needs to play with the toy. Make sure you avoid any small toys or toys with small parts. And, when you can, opt for toys made of natural materials that are phthalate-, PVC- and BPA-free.”
I aim to help you save on taxes and money management costs. I graduated from Harvard in 1973, have been a journalist for 48 years, and was editor of Forbes magazine from 1999 to 2010. Tax law is a frequent subject in my articles. I have been an Enrolled Agent since 1979. Email me at williambaldwinfinance -- at -- gmail -- dot -- com.
I aim to help you save on taxes and money management costs. I graduated from Harvard in 1973, have been a journalist for 48 years, and was editor of Forbes magazine from 1999 to 2010. Tax law is a frequent subject in my articles. I have been an Enrolled Agent since 1979. Email me at williambaldwinfinance -- at -- gmail -- dot -- com.
I'm a tech journalist working and living in Gloucestershire, in the UK. I ran my own PC hardware review website for many years before transitioning into freelance writing. I've covered everything from the rise of Bitcoin and the encroachment of anti-privacy laws, to tabletop wargaming and advances in virtual reality. I've written, authored, edited, and copywritten for a broad array of the most prominent publications, including Digital Trends, Lifewire, PCGamer, The Inquirer, and KitGuru. I've also written two novels, and contributed backstory and dialogue to a handful of games. I am passionate about all the cutting-edge hardware inside and out the latest gadgets, PCs, and consoles, even if I can't always afford them.
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I am an accomplished author, journalist, and photographer who specializes in consumer technologies. Please visit my website at www.JasonRich.com and check out my eBook, \"iPhone 14 Pro Max Digital Photography\" (www.iPhoneBookShop.com). I am also the author of The Remote Worker's Handbook (Entrepreneur Books) that'll be published in March 2023.
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