Is it not completely overwhelming how many toys are available for little babies?! How is a parent to know which ones are good and which ones are a waste of money? Yes, every baby has different likes and dislikes, so just because your little one goes ga-ga over a certain toy doesn’t mean mine necessarily will. But isn’t there a way to narrow down the choices?

Yes.

As a mom who is nearing the end of baby’s first year and as an occupational therapist who is always looking for toys that will promote children’s overall development (specifically their fine motor, cognitive, gross motor, oral motor, self-help, and language skills), I decided to take a look at today’s popular toys and create a list for you.

Here were my criteria in making this list:

1. The toy must serve at least two different purposes. Toys are expensive and we want to get the most bang for our buck, right?

2. The toy must be relevant for at least 3 months of baby’s life. Babies go through phases in what catches their attention, so we want toys that will outlive those fleeting interests.

3. The list as a whole must cover all major developmental skills babies are expected to acquire in the first year of life. As a bonus, the list should also include some toys that can be used even after their first birthday. How’s that for money-saving?

It’s worth mentioning that babies often find objects around the home to be more fascinating than store-bought, professionally crafted toys. An empty water bottle filled with dry rice or your favorite set of plastic mixing bowls will likely strike their fancy far more than a rattle that was tested in Fisher Price’s toy lab. Unfortunately, you can’t add a homemade rattle to a baby registry, so check out the list below to find out which toys can follow your little one right up to their first birthday. This post contains referral links, which means if you click over and wind up making a purchase, Mama OT will receive a small commission to help keep this blog running, at no extra cost to you (thank you!). Read my full disclosure here.

Remember, too, that as great as toys are these days, YOU are your baby’s best teacher. Your interaction with baby is more valuable and life changing than any toy. So don’t swap baby’s quality time with Mama or Daddy for time spent alone with the “perfect” toy. Engage and talk with your baby while he or she plays with and explores new toys, and watch how your bond with each other grows. It’s a win-win…got it?!

Alright, here we go!

1. Baby gym

You can literally use a baby gym from day one. Some are much more expensive than others, but you really don’t need a fancy one to serve your baby’s purposes. Ideally, you want a baby gym that has loops from which to hang plastic links and toys. Because newborns can really only see high contrast objects (particularly black & white) that are about a foot away, the baby gym should be bright, colorful, and high contrast. Make sure to place baby on her back, side, and tummy while in the gym (click here for tummy time tips). If your baby spits up a lot, the gym’s easy-to-wipe mat will make it a cinch to clean the spit-up without dirtying your floor, and you can disconnect the bottom and toss it in the wash whenever you want.

Add plastic links (toy #2) to hang toys closer to her eyes and hands so she can learn to reach and grasp. Put toys in various positions: placing them over the middle of the body encourages hands to come together at midline (a VERY important skill); placing toys to the side encourages rolling to the side and, eventually, rolling all the way to tummy. Don’t put the gym in storage once baby learns how to roll, sit up, and crawl — I guarantee you she will find new uses for this vertical play structure, some of which you never would have thought of on your own! Buy in most baby stores or find online here.

Developmental skills encouraged: tummy play, rolling, midline play on back or in sitting, reaching, grasping, hand-eye coordination, depth perception

Approximate age relevant: 0-12 months

2. Plastic Links

A set of plastic links is one of the most versatile toys for baby’s first year and only costs about five dollars. Add them to the baby gym as mentioned in Number One. Hang them from the overhead handle of baby’s car seat or stroller for on-the-go entertainment and to keep toys from flying out as baby gets older and begins to toss toys to the ground. Though these links aren’t soft like teething toys, babies love to put them in their mouths and explore the bumpy, wavy textures. These links are a must-have for both babies and their caregivers! Buy in-store at Target or online here.

Developmental skills encouraged: reaching, grasping, hand-eye coordination, oral exploration, oral discrimination, tactile exploration

Approximate age relevant: 0-12 months and beyond

3. Mirror

Some baby gyms include an unbreakable mirror, and you don’t necessarily have to buy a special baby mirror in order for your little one to develop a love of his own reflection. Use plastic links (toy #2) to hang a handheld mirror from the baby gym (toy #1)…see how all these pieces are starting to fit together? You can also place a full-length mirror on its side or place baby in front of a mirrored closet door to give him a chance to play with his reflection. Mirrors can also be used for motivation, distraction, or entertainment during tummy time and when learning to sit. Whatever kind of mirror you decide to use for your little one, just make sure it’s safe to use and is secured in a safe manner to protect both the mirror and the baby. Buy in most baby stores or online here.

Developmental skills encouraged: tummy play, head control, social emotional skills, self-awareness

Approximate age relevant: 0-12 months and beyond

4. Oball with rattle

I love the rattle OBall. Rattle and ball, all in one. It is amazingly diverse and somehow appeals to babies of all ages. It’s webbed design makes it easy for new babies to hold (thanks to the grasp reflex in the first couple months), and you can even hang it from the baby gym with a few plastic links so baby can bat it around and make it rattle. The fact that it is fairly symmetrical and doesn’t have another ball in the middle of it (like some other brands) means it’s easy to roll and bounce with your baby as she gets old enough to sit up and play with it…did you know that learning to roll a ball back and forth with an adult is a great way for babies to learn about the back-and-forth dynamics of communication? “Ball” is even a common first word for many new talkers. You can also hide the ball under a blanket and shake the rattles as baby learns that objects still exist even when she can’t see them (called “object permanence”). Additionally, the OBall’s flexible material makes it easy for a teething baby to chew on without hurting her gums or existing teeth (as opposed to some harder balls of similar design). This ball is bendable, easy to clean, and virtually indestructible. But the best part is its price: it’s less than five dollars and can be used for well beyond baby’s first year. What a deal! Buy in-store at Target or online here.

Developmental skills encouraged: grasping, midline play, transferring between hands, hand-eye coordination, oral exploration, auditory localization, object permanence, give-and-take interaction, joint attention, eye contact, pointing when rolls away, crawling

Approximate age relevant: 0-12 months and beyond

5. Sophie the Giraffe

Sophie is so hot right now. This miniature rubber giraffe is all the rage with today’s teething babies and after owning her for several months, I can see why. She is marketed as a toy that appeals to all the senses. Really, she’s a rubbery toy that is easy for babies to hold, squeaks when squeezed, and is a delight to chew. The thing Sophie has going for her over traditional teething toys is the fact that her legs are perfectly tailored for chomping with the back sides of the mouth as babies spend months preparing to pop out their one-year molars. But she’s also great for chewing with the front of the mouth as well. There aren’t many teething toys as diverse as Sophie. Not only that, but baby can announce your arrival in a public place by chewing on her surprisingly loud, squeaky haunches as you push the stroller through the grocery store and politely say to the people around you, “Sorry…he’s teething.” Because of her squeaky nature, Sophie can also be used as an interactive toy as you hide her under a blanket and squeak her hindquarters or as you squeak her in an effort to motivate your almost-crawling baby. Sophie runs a little on the pricier side, but, PLEASE, don’t be scared away by the price. Sophie is well worth it, especially for when baby is in full-fledged teething mode. Buy in specialized baby stores or online here.

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Developmental skills encouraged: grasping, hand-mouth connection, oral exploration, sound localization, object permanence, midline play, transferring between hands

Approximate age relevant: 0-12 months and beyond

6. Set of small bath squeeze toys

Many baby development websites will tell you to buy or make finger puppets and “perform” for your newborn baby in the first weeks of her life to help engage her and develop her senses of sight and sound. Finger puppets? Really? I don’t even know where to buy finger puppets. A set of bath toys, however, gives you instant access to an entire cast of characters (and voices). They will be useful not only for making a fool of yourself during those bleary-eyed newborn days of sleep deprivation, but also for engaging your little one during bath time as she sits in the tub and attempts to pick them up while they bob and float around evasively. Once she gets a hold of them, she’ll probably definitely want to put them in her mouth. Yep! They work great as teething toys too, especially Mr. Octopus with those long tentacles and that squishy head (maybe he and Ms. Sophie should hang out sometime). And, of course, bath toys can be used well beyond the first year as kids learn how to squeeze and squirt water with those all-important hand muscles.

Developmental skills encouraged: visual tracking, reaching, grasping, midline play, transferring between hands, banging together, oral exploration, oral discrimination, hand strengthening

Approximate age relevant: 0-12 months and beyond

7. Set of small rattle balls



You can’t go wrong with these because, again, they are super diverse. The best, in my opinion, are the ones that all make different sounds (e.g., bell, rattle, coins), because babies can begin to learn the differences between them. They are small enough for babies to hold in one hand by the time they are sitting up, but large enough for them to slobber all over before they are able to sit up, without posing a choking hazard. The various balls can be used as motivators when learning to roll and crawl, and they are also lots of fun to put into (and under) cups and bowls once baby is old enough to use both hands to play with containers. Buy online here.

Developmental skills encouraged: reaching, grasping, midline play, transferring between hands, banging together, sound localization, sound discrimination, object permanence, visual tracking, joint attention, pointing when rolls away, crawling

Approximate age relevant: 0-12 months and beyond

8. Busy ball drop

Yes, this toy includes more rattle balls and, no, baby won’t be operating the ball tower from birth. These balls are smaller than the ones in the previous point, which makes them easier for younger babies to hold. However, all three balls sound the same, which is why I still feel the variety set in Number 7 is important. They can be used similarly to the earlier rattle balls but, once baby can sit up and play with both hands at the same time…watch out. She will be working on her ball dropping skills all day long as she figures out how to intentionally release the balls down the ramp and watches them go down, down, down, down, down. You can make the tower as short as you want in order to accommodate the beginner, or you can place it on higher surfaces (like the couch or coffee table) to provide an increased challenge for babies who are practicing their standing, squatting, cruising, walking, and kneeling skills as they retrieve balls that fall to the floor. Buy in most baby stores for as little as $5 (K-Mart) or buy online here.

Developmental skills encouraged: tummy play, grasping, reaching, releasing, hand-eye coordination, depth perception, midline play, transferring between hands, banging together, sound localization, visual tracking, sitting, standing, cruising, squatting, kneeling, walking

Approximate age relevant: 0-12 months and beyond

9. Board books

I cannot overstate the importance of introducing books to children early on. Lay on your back next to your newborn baby and flip through a board book filled with highly contrasting colors and shapes about a foot from his eyes. Prop the book open so he can look at it while laying on each of his sides. Engage him with a book during tummy time. Use books as part of pre-nap or pre-bedtime routines. Try books that have a sing-songy rhythm, a phrase that’s repeated over and over, or that aren’t too visually overwhelming. As baby becomes comfortable sitting with you to read and look through books, help him develop fine motor skills by encouraging him to assist you in turning pages and opening flaps. The key here is to make sure you enjoy (or at least tolerate) the books you read together because you will be reading them A LOT. A few fun ones include I Went Walking; Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?; Goodnight Moon; and Where is Baby’s Belly Button. Don’t forget to check your local library or garage sales for free or almost-free books before you go spending big bucks on something baby is probably going to bite a chunk out of before the end of year one.

Developmental skills encouraged: tummy play, midline play, sitting, reaching, visual scanning, turning pages, joint attention, pointing

Approximate age relevant: 0-12 months and beyond

10. High chair suction toy

Let’s face it, babies are crazy about putting things in their mouths. Sometimes it seems the only way you will be able to get them to use their hands rather than their mouths is by gluing their toys to the table. Well, thankfully, toy companies have got your back. I’m a big fan of these spinning suction toys that rattle and play music every time they’re spun. You can detach the suction base and hang the toy from a baby gym so younger babies can stare at them like a mobile or develop their understanding of cause and effect as they bat at it and activate music while laying on their backs. You can keep it detached and take it along as entertainment for the stroller or car seat. Or you can keep it all together and suction it to the high chair tray to help baby learn how to use something other than her mouth to play with toys. One tip: moisten the bottom of the suction cup in order to help it stick better and not go flying across the room after being aggressively smacked by an excited baby…I speak from experience on this one. Find these toys in-store at Babies R Us, Target, or online here.

Developmental skills encouraged: depth perception, reaching, hand-eye coordination, cause and effect, midline play

Approximate age relevant: 0-12 months and beyond

11. Soft, crinkly blocks

You’d be surprised at how early on babies get into these things. The colors and crinkly sounds are enticing to them (kind of like the sound of a potato chip bag being wrinkled) and their soft texture makes them easy for even a new baby to grab onto. Some blocks even have little bells in them for additional stimulation. Use them as motivation during play on the tummy, sides, and in sitting. As babies get older they can safely bite, chew, and slobber all over these blocks without a care in the world. Stack them up and let baby knock them over again and again until, one day, she learns how to stack one on top of the other all by herself. Buy them in-store at Babies R Us or online here.

Developmental skills encouraged: midline play, tummy play, sitting, reaching, grasping, transferring between hands, releasing, hand-eye coordination, cause and effect, object permanence, oral exploration, sound localization, sound discrimination, depth perception

Approximate age relevant: 0-12 months and beyond

12. Ring stacker

A classic. You may be skeptical about how much fun this simple stack of rings can be for a 0-12 month old…I was too. But a new baby is fully capable of holding onto one of those rings with one hand (remember that grasp reflex?), and the red ring on top also doubles as a rattle. The circular shape encourages him to learn to hold with two hands in midline and, yes, they are also the perfect size for placing in the mouth. And remember this: babies learn new skills through repetition, repetition, repetition. Once they can use their hands to play while sitting up, they will figure out how to take the rings off one by one and, as soon as you replace them, they’ll take them off again…and again…and again. Similarly, they will steadfastly practice their new love of placing rings on the stick by taking off, putting on, taking off, putting on, taking off, putting on. Increase gross motor challenge by placing the toy on a raised surface. I’m telling you, this toy is a goldmine of fun, just you wait and see. Buy in most baby stores or online here. .

Developmental skills encouraged: tummy play, midline play, transferring between hands, banging together, reaching, grasping, hand-eye coordination, depth perception, cause and effect, beginning understanding of size

Approximate age relevant: 0-12 months and beyond

13. Play table with removable legs

Play tables are a fairly recent invention in baby land, and the key here is to get one with removable legs. You can then detach all legs to make it a flat-on-the-ground toy for the baby who rolls and plays in tummy time, or you can only remove two legs (that are on the same side of the table) in order to make it slanted at a 45-degree angle for the sitting, crawling, and kneeling baby. Once baby is ready to practice pulling to a stand, add in those last two legs and you’ve got yourself one diverse, long-lasting toy (learn more ways to use a baby play table by clicking here). This toys encourages not only gross motor development, but also many different kinds of hand skills (reaching, pushing, sliding) and key words as well (like open/close, up/down, basic colors, and ABC/123). Buy in most baby stores or online here.

Developmental skills encouraged: tummy play, reaching, midline play, cause and effect, sitting, kneeling, standing, squatting, pulling to stand, cruising, turning pages

Approximate age relevant: 4-12 months and beyond

14. Baby tool bench

I know, this one seems ridiculous. Why would a baby possibly need one of these, right? Well, here’s the deal. When babies are learning to sit up by themselves, it’s helpful to put something in front of them that holds their attention so they can fix their gaze on it as they develop their balance. This particular toy has many different settings that allow for that. If baby isn’t sitting up yet, they can still interact with this toy while laying on her side or engaging during tummy time. But this toy is good for more than just baby’s viewing pleasure. It also includes levers, sliders, and spinners that reward baby for activating them. The specific terms used upon activation are actually ideal pre-academic keywords: up, down (important for pre-handwriting), turn and slide (important for pre-math). The best part, though, is the hammer! Though little babies won’t be using it until well after their first birthday, it is a great resource to have as they experiment with tool use (utensils and pencils are tools, you know) and gain stability in their wrists in order to become superstar writers! Buy in-store at Babies R Us or online here.

Developmental skills encouraged: tummy play, midline play, reaching, cause and effect, sitting, kneeling, sound discrimination

Approximate age relevant: 4-12 months and beyond

15. Push toy for sitting, standing, and walking

To be honest, I like this toy best for what it offers the pre-walking baby. As long as you prop the toy against a reliable surface so it doesn’t roll away, it’s great for the baby who can sit well or is experimenting with kneeling and standing. We OTs love getting kids to work on vertical surfaces (think: easel or chalkboard) because of how it forces them to bend their wrists back (called “extension”) as they play, something that is critical for good handwriting skills. Well, think of this toy as baby’s first easel. And when he’s tired of sitting to play, he can transition to a kneeling or standing position to engage with the buttons. However, it’s best NOT for babies to walk with this toy until they’re able to walk on their own, because it can teach them bad habits when it comes to balance and body awareness. Just make sure you keep your hands on your newly walking baby with this toy because it rolls pretty fast. Buy in most baby stores or online here.

Developmental skills encouraged: sitting, reaching, cause and effect, kneeling, squatting, standing

Approximate age relevant: 5-12 months and beyond

So there it is! Your list of 15 toys for baby’s first year. Riveting, isn’t it? The only major first year developmental skill missing is the pincer grasp (using thumb and index finger to pick up small objects), and I will let self-feeding take care of that one. Keep in mind that many of these toys can be found in any number of discount locations: used toy stores, garage sales, Craigslist, etc. Don’t pay full price if you don’t have to, especially if you don’t end up receiving them as baby shower gifts.

Remember that every baby has unique interests and will respond differently to various toys. I’m not saying your baby has to like all the toys in this list, and I’m not even saying you have to agree with me about how great any of these items are. You or someone you know probably have some favorites that didn’t make it on here. Glad you found something that works! But hopefully you now have a better idea of what kinds of purchases to make when choosing toys for your curious little bundle of joy.

Do your best to enjoy those bleary-eyed baby days and, remember, play is a child’s most important work!

Next up:

7 of the Best Toys for Toddlers

10 of the Best Toys and Games for Preschoolers